A recent article in the New York Times entitled "When the 'Mean Girls' Were Teen Girls" gave us a look into the history of the stars of the Broadway hit "Mean Girls". The Tony-nominated musical is based on Tina Fey's movie by the same name. In the article three of the stars - Ashley Park, Taylor Louderman and Kate Rockwell - contrast the characters they play with their own high school experiences. Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, multi-award winning selfie filmmaker, believes there is much to gain from comparing fantasy entertainment to real-world experiences.
"The women who play the mean girls in the Broadway show, 'Mean Girls' were girls themselves," Dr. Holstein stated. "Their responses in The New York Times to how they really were as girls are fascinating. The general consensus was that they were grateful not be involved with social media. Also, they had talents that came through in high school without being squashed. Their advice to young girls can be summed up by Taylor Louderman's remarks: 'Find qualities about yourself that no one else has and love yourself'.
"As a positive psychologist/filmmaker my mission is to inform the public through drama, at times comedic about the developmental issues kids, tweens and teens go through.
"To do this I have developed an unique nitch in which I create Selfiesasfilm and administer 'The Selfie Project'. In my films, such as 'Conflict,' selected for the New Jersey International Film Festival at Rutgers, to premiere June 9th, 2018, 'Selfies' are used as part of the fimmaking. Megan Brown, who stars in 'Conflict' did much of her own filming using a smart phone. Combining the depth of feeling generated by her taking control of her own filming, with the skills of a film crew and then the further skills of a talented film editor, Francesso Nuzzi, leads to a powerful message in less than five minutes. The message is that kids, in this case, a young teen, are vulnerable. The girl is vulnerable to all sorts of things: a bully, drinking, drugs, feeling abandoned by her parents, feeling lonely in school, etc. The audience is left with a push to think and solve problems. Growing up can not be just left to the kids.
"To help us understand what is really on the minds of kids, I've created 'The Selfie Project'. This is a way for kids to make selfies that can be uploaded on to You Tube and then shared on www.selfiefilmmakers.com. 'The Selfie Project' show is in the pilot stage of development. Here kids will present their selfies on a critical subject in their lives and then discuss in round table fashion about their thoughts and feelings with each other and experts. To further get the message out as to what is on the minds of kids and how to help people of all ages achieve happiness, THE ENCHANTED SELF Podcast show will once a month bring kids and experts on board with me to discuss issues and possible solutions.
"THE ENCHANTED SELF helps people achieve happiness. Happiness is something we work at. It involves understand the fragility of kids emotionally and psychologically as they grow. They must be handled with care. At each stage of life critical items are on the agenda for them. Young children are very fragile emotionally. If they are mishandled, such as being separated suddenly from a loving parent they may be damaged for life. Up until adulthood the sense of belonging, being cared for and valued by the adults in the child's life is critical. By late childhood, and the tween and teen years lots of things must go well for each child. However, in a society that is filled with the drama of school shootings, drugs, alcohol, insufficient mental health care, bullying, body shaming, excessive social media use, things get tough for the individual child.
"We should value and handle our children responsibly:
"As a Parent or Guardian: Nurture your child at each stage of development. Spend quality time, make sure you stay on top of medical or psychological needs of your child. Stay involved and available.
"As a Society: 1. Good prenatal care available to all. 2. Safe day care and home care for young children. 3.Schools that are safe. 4. Mental health care easily available for kids of all ages and their families. 5. A recognition as a nation that we care about kids, even others that suddenly show up on our doorstep. We need to try to keep families together, as a sudden separation can lead to permanent psychological damage to youngsters. 6. An understanding that damaging our most precious gifts to the future takes away a positive future for all. After all, the person who instigates as school shooting was a child once."
Dr. Holstein is currently developing "The Selfie Project" to help kids share their feelings and thoughts in a meaningful way via Selfies that can reach millions. "The Selfie Project" provides a way for young people to go public on a number of subjects. Bullying is real, school violence is real, drama because of social media is real for kids.'The Selfie Project' is giving voice to those subjects. A pilot TV show is in the development phase. Teens will have a chance to discuss via their Selfies and in discussion with Dr. Holstein, various topics that affect their lives, from friend drama to fear of assault weapons. As of this moment, teens can share a link to their Selfies and Dr. Holstein will consider them for inclusion on her website, SelfieFilmmakers.com.
Holstein's short films have won numerous awards and accolades.
The Truth A Short Film:
Garden State Film Festival Premier - Best Pop Song 2016
Golden Door Int. Film Festival - Official Selection - September 2016
Grove Film Festival - Showing - May 2017
Female Filmmakers Film Festival - Official Selection - 12th of 92 films
Roselle Park Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection - September 2017
The Truth A Short Short Film:
FilmOneFest Premier - July 2016
Chain Film Festival - Official Selection - August 2016
Jersey City Int. Television and Film Festival - Official Selection - November 2016
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection- May 2017
Secrets A Coming Of Age Selfie Film:
Alice Guy-Blache Women In Cinema Award - Nomination - October 2017, Golden Globe International Film Festival
NewFilmmakers, Manhattan- Official Selection, January 24, 2018
Brightside Tavern Shorts Fest Film Series - Best Experimental Film nomination - March 2018
Brightside Tavern Shorts Fest Film Series - Best New Jersey Short nomination - March 2018
Brightside Tavern Shorts Fest Film Series - Best Concept nomination - March 2018
Hang on To Your Shorts, Official Selection - April 2018, Nominated for Best New Jersey Drama and Best Experimental Film
Shown March 1 1018 as one of 6 outstanding women’s films at the Behane Center in Jersey City, for Women’s History Month by Golden Door International Film Festival.
Brightside Tavern Film Festival, Season 7 - Best Experimental Film - March 2018
Falling In Love A Coming Of Age Selfie Film:
Brightside Tavern Film Festival-March 2017- Best Experimental Film Nomination, Second Place Award as Best New Jersey Film Short
Grove Film Festival, Official Selection-May 2017
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Best Experimental Film nomination - May 2017
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Best Concept Film nomination - May 2017
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Megan Brown Rising Star Award - May 2017
Love Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection - February 2018
Conflict:
Official selection to premiere at the New Jersey International Film Festival at Rutgers University on June 9th, 2018
Semi-finalist in the JELLY Fest Film Festival, June, 2017
'Secrets' was been selected for inclusion in "Passages: Women in Transition," Women In Media - Newark's 2018 Women's History Month film festival, held on March 27 – April 5, 2018 at Rutgers University Newark, New Jersey, and at various satellite venues in the area.
'Falling in Love, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film, is detailed in a new ebook: 'A Selfie Film - Falling In Love' by Dr. Holstein. This ebook presents issues and stories behind the creation of Dr. Holstein's "selfie films", which utilize cutting edge New Media technology. Topics and questions for discussion can be used by a parent and a child, or a group of hundreds as universal subjects of growing up and handling tough issues are presented.
‘Secrets, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film,’ has been selected for screening at the Jersey Shore Film Festival in early August and has been nominated for an award.
Dr. Holstein is featured as an Entrepreneur in the Asbury Park Press, early June.
Dr. Holstein makes a number of her books and films available to be used as fundraising tools. She requests that any verified charitable organization interested in raising funds contact her via email. She is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at barbara.holstein@gmail.com. More information is available at her website at http://www.SelfieFilmmakers.com.
Profile:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was 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 Your Tango, 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
barbara.holstein@gmail.com
732-571-1200
http://www.thetruthforgirls.com
http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com
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