The emergence of selfies and their prevalence in society is perhaps unlike any trend we've seen in recent history. While the concept of filming self or friends is not new, the ability to share our creations worldwide certainly is new. What is even more surprising perhaps is the wide acceptance of selfies and selfie films.
Recently Youtube presented a concept entitled "Life In A Day" that will allow people worldwide to film their day and share those videos with Youtube Originals. PBS American Portrait is putting together thousands of people's answers to a series of questions to develop a self-made portrait of America.
These ideas are not new to award winning selfie filmmaker Barbara Becker Holstein, as she has been producing selfie films for years. She has garnered over 90? awards for her films, many of which she calls "selfies as drama". Now Dr Holstein is producing a series of videos that will present the history of Selfie Filmmaking. The first installment is now available on Youtube, Vimeo and Roku.
"What makes Selfie filmmaking one of the great technology leaps of the 21st century,” Holstein stated. “Many factors including: 1.) Almost everyone has access to a smart phone and that means anybody can take photos and make videos any time they choose. 2.) The quality of the cameras in the smart phones just gets better and better and is often equal in quality to much more expensive equipment. Thus smartphones can be used to make dramatic films, record on-the-spot news, give voice to people of every age and status around the world, and still display how well your dog plays the piano.
"With this marvelous device at our fingertips it becomes possible to record the events of our lives. Of course most people have since the beginning of photography captured important personal moments, such as weddings, family portraits, funerals, graduations, etc. But now we can participate in moments that affect all of us, such as the Pandemic. That's why I decided as a positive psychologist and filmmaker to encourage all to become Pandemic historians. 1000 years from now people will be studying our Pandemic. Let's not disappoint the future. I hope everyone will share via selfie videos: what they are feeling, doing, what they long for and what they will take away from the Pandemic when they return to everyday living. Please go to http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com/instructions for instructions."
Dr. Holstein's cutting edge presentations, most recently based on the Covid-19 pandemic issues, can be found on both Youtube, Vimeo and on the Roku channel, titled as 'The Enchanted Self Presents'. Many of Dr. Holstein's short Selfie films are available on Amazon, released by MRG Collective, title: The Selfie Project, Volume 1.
Dr. Holstein recently created The Selfie Showcase, a new project emerging from The Selfie Project, that allows young people to voice their opinions on subjects that matter to young people. She is now accepting submissions from the public for the "Selfie Showcase" and is actively seeking change-makers and mental health professionals to appear on her monthly video podcasts.
The Selfie Showcase allows kids, teens, and young adults ages 13 to 18 to candidly express their concerns, worries, observations and possible solutions by creating selfies or selfie films around important subjects, using a smartphone. Dr. Holstein's mission is to help rectify, in a number of ways, some of the issues young people face by giving them a chance to engage with others in meaningful ways about the anxiety and stress they must grapple with constantly.
Selected participants may appear on the Selfie Project Channel, available on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3uaOTcYF70z5CpBh11VoUQ. They will also appear in the Selfie Showcase on SelfieFilmmakers.com. They will receive a certificate of merit and may be invited to be on Holstein's monthly podcast or perhaps be a part of her next film. Full details, rules for submission and helpful hints can be accessed at the Selfie Filmmakers site at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com/instructions.
Dr. Holstein's unique Selfie Films have taken many awards and have been shown in many film festivals and competitions. Most notable among these are:
The Selfie Project - Accepted at 20 film festivals or film competitions
Conflict and A Bit Of Magic: A Coming Of Age Selfie Film - Accepted at 19 film festivals or film competitions
Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction: A Coming of Age Selfie Film - Accepted at 16 film festivals or film competitions. Also, the song ‘Truths Change and Still Remain’ won an award at the Florence film Festival.
Secrets: A Coming of Age Selfie Film - Accepted at 9 film festivals or film competitions
Lockdown - Accepted at 14 film festivals or film competitions
The Truth: A Short Film - Accepted at 8 film festivals or film competitions. The Song from this film won an award for the best Pop Song of 2016 at the Garden State Film Festival.
Falling in Love, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film-Accepted at 15 film festivals or film competitions.
'Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, A Coming Of Age Selfie Film', and 'The Selfie Project' both directed and created by Dr. Holstein, was shown in Manhattan on February 26 in the Anthology Building as part of the NewFilmmakers Special Program on Women Filmmakers.
Holstein's podcast series is actively seeking change-makers and visionaries to appear on her monthly podcasts. Dr. Holstein hopes to feature members of traditional media, mental health professionals and educators who can make a real difference in the lives of young people. Many of the podcasts feature young people - to give them a voice regarding their concerns and their solutions. Guests, if accepted, can arrange to appear by contacting Dr. Holstein directly.
Dr. Holstein also 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 about the Selfie Showcase is available at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Pandemic reboot selfie films can be uploaded at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Potential podcast guests can contact Dr. Holstein by email. More information is available at her primary website at http://www.enchantedself.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. Her RoKu channel is: The Enchanted Self Presents.
She has been a contributor to Your Tango, Heart and Soul, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Honey Good, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, Women’s World, The Wall Street Journal, Psychcentral.com, 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.enchantedself.com
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