A recent article in the New York Times entitled "Nina Jacobson Has Her Revenge on Hollywood’s Old-Boy Network" presented some startling facts that are nothing but good news for forward thinking film creators. Jacobson heads up Color Force, the company behind 'The Hunger Games'. A link in that article led to a study by USC that showed that gender inequality is relatively unchanged in Hollywood. Barbara Becker Holstein is helping to break down both the gender barriers and old school filmmaking through the use of cutting edge film techniques that resonate strongly with young people.
"As a woman filmmaker and a psychologist, I find that not only are there important stories tied into coming of age to tell, but there are so many new ways to use technology to tell these stories in film," Holstein stated. "I am proud do be an innovator in the above. In my latest film, 'Falling in Love, A Coming of Age Selfie Film', I've taken an historically important part of growing up, falling in love, told a story about the experience and used new technology to make the film. Megan Brown who plays 'the Girl', used her own iPhone to film all of her scenes. Not only that, she chose her own costumes, chose many of the settings and even improvised lines in some of the scenes. Giving the camera to this young actress was a step to her becoming more intimately involved with her part and the project. It also was a step to releasing her creative eye for film. Of course we had a small crew of two camera people for B role shots and scenes. But the real constant work over many months was done by Megan and myself. Me directing her, but from a distance via phone and e-mail. She performing on her own terms. Of course a good plot had to be there. The rest of the crew and actors had to be there, but the essence of the production happened privately and only Megan was there, until she uploaded her scenes to me. It was a fabulous experience and I believe it stands at the Gateway of the Selfie becoming one more art form in the brilliant arena of fine films.
"Megan Brown as a Selfie actress follows in the steps of another girl who did something creative and slightly defiant this year. The Times article, 'An 11-Year-Old Girl Who Calls the Tune for Latinas' tells how Saiai Gonzalez added her beat of creativity and acting skills to a film that in its own way defied anti-Latino rhetoric of the Trump campaign.
"All of this is great news for girls and women in our culture. We want our vision and ways of thinking about the world to be 'out there' in the world at large, at every level from politics to art to business. That can't happen until there is equality in Hollywood. 'Fighting Hollywood's Old-Boy Mentality' in the New York Times is a great start. Nina Jacobson is out there as a diversity-minded producer. Good for her and good for Megan Brown and Sarai Gonzalez."
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein is a visionary who combines Positive Psychology with filmmaking and books to help young girls build self esteem. Dr. Holstein understands at a very deep level the importance of media in the lives of young people. She reaches young people by using the tools they engage with today. Using cutting edge technology, she presents important concepts via New Media films that combine the technology of the video Selfie with a standard film crew. She helps young girls make sense out of a topsy-turvy, selfie-facebook-video-film based reality.
She recently released a new ebook,'A Selfie Film, Falling in Love', based on her successful book for teens and tweens, 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen'. In that falling in love is undoubtedly one of the most important events in a teen's life, she addresses that issue squarely.
Dr. Holstein believes in the power of the Selfie as a new film art form and as a way for girls to gain power. One of Dr. Holstein's recent short films, 'The Truth - A Short Film' uses the selfie concept to paint a portrait of a young girl. The new short film shows us how the girl attempts to deal with life changing problems, concerns, challenges and issues all young girls face. The result is an eye-opening, in-depth exploration of her life, giving the viewer the distinct impression that they have been somehow magically embedded into that life. If the selfie concept were be transformed into an art form, 'The Truth' would be the result. This film premiered at the Garden State Film Festival and its song, 'On The Edge of Something New' won the award as the best pop song of 2016.
The short two minute film by Dr. Holstein, 'The Truth, A Short Short Film', premiered at FilmOneFest in July. The film was chosen as an Official Selection in the Chain Film Festival held in Manhattan on August 13, 2016. The film was also selected by the Jersey City International Television and Film Festival (JCITFF), and was shown on Saturday, November 5 2016 at the Jersey City International Television and Film Festival.
'The Truth, a Short Film', a longer 16 minute portrayal of a girl growing up, was officially selected for the Golden Door International Film Festival held in September 2016. The Rahway International Film Festival chose the 2 minute version as an Official Selection.
Dr. Holstein's entire body of work is great for parents, grandparents, older siblings and teachers to establish lines of communication with the tweens and teens in their lives. Her books have received numerous awards. A recent review of Dr. Holstein's book, 'Secrets', stated, "This book should ideally be stocked in the home libraries of families with children and in school libraries worldwide."
'The Truth' focuses on how teens communicate their deepest needs. A trailer from her new short film, 'The Truth', an Official Choice of the Garden State Film Festival, is available at www.thetruthforgirls.com. The trailer captures the world of technology and its public nature with the intense needs of a young girl to share her most private and most intimate thoughts, feelings, ideas and secrets.
A sequel to 'The Truth', 'Falling in Love, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film', staring Megan Brown, has just finished production. In this first film, which will someday be part of a trilogy, based on 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen', a girl shares her feelings and emotions, and pain as she falls in love, making Selfie Videos of herself. Whether these are another form of the old fashioned diary, or whether she is reaching out to a stranger is unclear. What is clear is her need to find someone or some place where she can share her longings and her hunger to find a home for her intense emotions. She needs to be understood, and to find peace of mind as she works her way through the adolescent storms. Dr. Holstein has already submitted for consideration 'Falling in Love, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film' to several film festivals including Garden State Film Festival and Illuminate Film Festival in Sedona, Arizona.
Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at drbarbara@enchantedself.com. All of her books are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and all other online retailers. More information is available at her website at http://www.TheTruthForGirls.com.
Profile:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website, www.enchantedself.com, was just included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.
Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting.
She has been a contributor to Heart and Soul, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, Time on line, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.
Contact:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
170 Morris Ave.,
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
drbarbara@enchantedself.com
732-571-1200
http://www.newshortfilmthetruth.com
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