Teens Blog
Attention teen filmmakers: You now have exactly 19 days left to submit your films for this years' Teen Filmmaker Festival, presented by Kalamazoo Public Library, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and Public Media Network! You'll need to submit films and entry forms to the Teen Services Desk at Central Library by 5 PM on Saturday, January 22th, so there's no time to waste. You can also mail your films to: Teen Services Department: ATTN: Teen Film Fest, Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S. Rose Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Make sure your envelope is packaged securely so your film doesn't bite the dust on the way here.
You can read up on all of the official rules and download an entry form on the official Film Fest page, and don't forget to check out clips of last years' winners at the KPL YouTube channel! Take a look at our list of tips and tricks for first-time filmmakers, and don't miss our list of Frequently Asked Questions for more answers!
Have you been to the library lately? If not, summer is a good time to reacquaint yourself with all the activities available to teens…all for F R E E.
First, there’s the summer reading game, designed to keep kids reading during the summer months by enticing them with prizes and opportunities to win raffle drawings for big ticket items like a digital camera or an iPod Touch. If you haven’t signed up yet, come to any branch and let us know you want to play along. It’s painless, it doesn’t require a library card, and all you have to do is keep track of how many pages you read throughout the summer. We even provide you with a gameboard.
Second, there are all kinds of special programs planned for teens this summer. Whether you like crafts, movies, or gaming, there’s bound to be something you’ll enjoy. There’s even a Japanese Swordplay demonstration. Check our calendar for all the options. Some require advance registration…others you can just show up if the spirit moves you. We’d love to see you!
Lastly, there are three recurring groups that meet on a monthly basis throughout the year: Teen Advisory Board (T. A. B), Galley Review Group, and J-Pop Club. Each of these groups always welcomes new members, so bring a friend and come join us!
Summer at the library – it’s not just for little kids any more.
Come celebrate Earth Day (a little bit late) at Central tomorrow evening! At 6:30 in the Van Deusen auditorium, Michigan filmmaker Matt Dunstone will host a free screening of his zany documentary about the industrial pollution and ongoing cleanup of the Kalamazoo River. Matt grew up in Kalamazoo and graduated from Loy Norrix High School, and after college worked on feature films like Office Space and The Rookie before returning to Michigan to produce his documentary.
Kalamazoo, River: US combines music, comedy, and facts into an entertaining and informative mix that the Kalamazoo Gazette calls "a must-see movie for all who reside near the river's shores." The film is open to all ages, and Matt will be hosting a Q&A session afterwards.
Fellow graphic novel fans, let us all rejoice in the latest news of Scott Pilgrim! What's that? You don't know about Scott Pilgrim? Why, it's only the single most awesome graphic novel series of the past whatever years! At once hilarious and touching, the award-winning Scott Pilgrim series combines comedy, romance, science fiction, martial arts, manga, video games, skateboarding and rock music into a graphic novel so amazing, mere description simply does not do it justice- but I'll do my best:
Scott Pilgrim (20-something slacker and bass player for the band Sex Bob-omb) is unemployed and living in Toronto when he quite literally meets the girl of his dreams. Scott's been dreaming about rollerblade-wearing Amazon delivery girl Ramona Flowers ever since she started using his head as a trans-dimensional gateway to make her deliveries on time, and when they finally meet at a party it seems everything's looking up for ol' Scott. But not so fast! Ramona has seven evil ex-boyfriends and they're all coming to kill Scott, so in order to keep himself and his relationship with Ramona he'll have to defeat all of them in hand-to-hand combat. In short, just your average Canadian-slacker-bass-playing-boy-meets-rollerblading-girl-of-his-dreams-and-must-then-defeat-her-seven-evil-ex-boyfriends-who-are-coming-to-kill-him kind of story.
Two days ago, series creator Brian Lee O'Malley released the completely astounding cover art to the long-awaited sixth (and final) volume in the series, Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour! I've posted a small version of the cover here, but you can download a bigger version for your computer or phone at Brian's official site. Now, as if that wasn't enough, some marketing genius saw fit to post the trailer to the upcoming film adaptation Scott Pilgrim vs. The World this morning! The movie, directed by Edgar Wright(who also directed Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz so you know it'll be great), will be released here in the US on August 13. If you've read the series, you'll recognize just how awesomely awesome this trailer is. Check it out!
This year's Teen Filmmaker Festival was another huge success. Despite horrible weather outside, over 200 people came out to enjoy the best films from area teen filmmakers. Shown above, a still from Zach Terry's Defining David Dalton, which took home the Best Film and Peoples' Choice awards. We've got info on all of the finalists on our Teen Film Fest page, as well as links to our YouTube channel where you can view all of the award-winning entries in their entirety. Congratulations to all of our area filmmakers!
Come down to the Kalamazoo Institute of Art tonight at 7 PM for the 7th annual Teen Filmmaker Festival! Doors open at 6:30, so there's time to grab some popcorn and soda, snag a seat and prepare to check out the best films by teen directors of 2010. Check out the updated Teen Film Fest page for info on the films to be screened, prizes, dates and times and more!
Whether you plan to submit an entry in--or attend--the Teen Filmmaker Festival , or you just like to watch movies and hope your favorites win during the Academy Awards show on tv, you should come in and see the current issue of the newest magazine in the teen collection.
Kiki goes to the movies this winter. This issue features articles about the history of iconic movie fashion and on film festivals worldwide, as well as movie-inspired looks for its readers and information about how a feature film goes from idea to silver screen.
According to its website, "Kiki shows you all the different ways you can be involved in design. Seven different departments blend style and artistry with intelligence and creativity..." For instance, one regular feature is the Art Bin which, in this particular issue, gives instructions for projects such as flip books, designing your own lace and creative gift wrapping techniques.
Throw in recipes, book reviews, quizzes, and NO advertisements, and we think you've got a winning combination that taps into the interests of many teens. Come on in to the Teen department on the lower level of the Central branch downtown and check it out, along with all the other magazines we have for young adults.
It's time once again to dust off your cameras, find your props and costumes, and call "Action!" on the Teen Filmmaker Festival, presented by Kalamazoo Public Library, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts and Public Media Network! Want to be the next Tarantino, Scorsese, or Kubrick? Now's your chance to show off your filmmaking skills.
You'll need to submit films and entry forms to the Teen Services Desk at Central by 9 PM on Monday, January 25th, 2010, so there's no time to waste. You can read up on all of the official rules and download an entry form on the official Film Fest page, and don't forget to check out clips of last years' winners at the KPL YouTube channel!
This past Friday, we had an overflow-capacity crowd show up at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art to watch this year's selected films for the 6th annual Teen Filmmaker Festival. The audience grabbed free popcorn, candy, and Jones Soda and took a seat for the hour-plus screening. We had a mix of all different kinds of films this year- science-fiction, comedy, horror, animation, and more... sometime within the same films! We've uploaded the winning films to our YouTube page... be sure to check 'em out if you missed the Festival. And don't forget to catch the replay of the Fest on the Public Media Network to see not just the films but also interviews with the filmmakers, sponsors, and facilitators of this year's event! More info and a list of all of this year's film and winners can be found on the Film Fest page. Once again, congratulations to all of our winning filmmakers and thanks to everyone who participated!
The Oscars may be over, but the 6th annual Teen Filmmaker Festival is almost upon us! We've sat through a mountain of submissions, made some tough choices, and now it's your turn to check out the best films by teen directors of 2009. Check out the updated Teen Film Fest page for info on the films to be screened, prizes, dates and times and more!
Personally, I think we need a "Best Title" category... Winnie The Pooh: Chainsaw Massacre would easily get my vote.