By Robert Goldrich
Film is a universal language. That’s why this charming :30 promoting the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is so apropos in that it deploys kids from different parts of the world speaking in their native tongues. For those of us not fortunate enough to be bilingual, much less multilingual, we finally understand what each is saying when towards the middle of the commercial we hear an American girl speak in English, “The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.”
Animation playfully helps transition the spot from one kid to the next–the first animated visual being a film reel which rolls toward the first child; later, animated flowers bloom around another youngster. This feel-good spot ends with all the kids on camera, beneath a giant admission ticket to the 22nd annual festival, which contains the dates of the event (Oct. 27-Nov 6). Also appearing below the ticket are a phone number and Web site address (www.cicff.org) for those interested in getting more info. The opening night festival gala was hosted by actor/director Harold Ramis.
“Come See My World” was directed by Karen Carter of Ebel Productions, Chicago, for DDB Chicago.
Carter related that during the shoot day, “We had 33 children speaking over 17 languages. It was the United Nations of Kids….The idea of the spot is kids inviting other kids to the festival.”
The director added, “I want to teach my children about the world outside their front doors and communicate how important it is to embrace our differences. I know that the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival helps provide that through a visual medium my kids enjoy most–film.”
The event is billed as the largest festival of films for children in North America; it featured more than 200 animated and live-action films from 40 countries. Carter has been involved with the fest for 10-plus years as a juror as well as a filmmaker. Her film Me In A Box was shown at the 2000 festival.
Jason Schettler executive produced the spot for Ebel Productions, with Amy DiPrima serving as producer and Jay Riippi as production manager. The DP was Alan Thatcher.
For DDB, creative director was Gary Alfredson and the writer was Sandy Suminski.
Editor was Kim Salter via Vitamin, Chicago. Audio post mixer/sound designer/music composer was Skooby Laposky of Oratai Sound Salon, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Elliot Lim and Matt Wilson of Vitamin served, respectively, as animator and 3-D effects artist.
Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. Explore Generations, Old School vs. New School, In “Poppa’s House”
Boundaries between work and family don't just blur in the new CBS sitcom "Poppa's House" starring father-and-son comedy duo Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr. They shatter.
"It's wonderful to come to work every day and see him and some of his kids and my sister and my brother and nieces and nephews. They all work on this show. They all contribute," says the senior Wayans. "I don't think there are words to express how joyful I am."
Wayans plays the titular Poppa, a curmudgeonly radio DJ who's more than comfortable doing it his way, while Wayans Jr. plays his son, Damon, a budding filmmaker who's stuck in a job he hates.
"My character, Pop, is just an old school guy who's kind of stuck in his ways," says Wayans, who starred in "In Living Color" and "My Wife and Kids."
Pop yearns for the days when a handshake was a binding contract and Michael Jordan didn't complain if he got fouled on the court. Pop laughs at the younger generation's participation trophies.
"It's old school versus new school and them teaching each other lessons from both sides," says Wayans Jr., who played Coach in the Fox sitcom "New Girl."
"They (the characters) bring the best out in each other and they're resistant initially. But then throughout the episode they have revelations and these revelations help them become better people," he adds.
The two have worked together before — dad made an appearance on son's "Happy Endings" and "Happy Together," while son was a writer and guest star on dad's "My Wife and Kids." But this is the first time they have headlined a series together.
The half-hour comedy — premiering Monday and co-starring Essence Atkins and Tetona Jackson — smartly leaves places in the script where father and son can let... Read More