Movies over the holidays

It's school holiday time so yet again lots of films out at the moment to choose from.

This is what we have been watching:

We took the whole family to see Wadjda - the first feature film shot entirely in Saudi Arabia and by a female director. My youngest son was restless through the film (9) - but I felt the biggest impact was on my eldest son (15).   This is an important film to take your children to - how other families live - we had great discussions after this movie.

My youngest son and I went to the preview to Mr Peabody and Sherman. We both enjoyed it - it's been a while since we have seen animation at the movies.  

I am taking the kids to see The Grand Budapest Hotel in the morning. I saw a preview of it and think they will enjoy it as they familiar with Wes Andersen movies.

As all families have different views on what films their children should see - I suggest you visit IMDb and view their parents guide.

MACQUARIE VISIONS - Sydney

It is an breathtaking sight standing in front of St Mary's Cathedral at night, watching it change colour and pattern in front of you. The size of the historical architectures, the lights, the history and story each changing projection tells...if there's an enjoyable way to discover and celebrate Sydney's history and legacy of Governor Lachlan and Elizabeth Macquarie this is it.

MACQUARIE VISIONS starts from St Mary's Cathedral, through Macquarie St to The Australian Consevatorium of Music where historical building are artistically lit up with changing light projection visuals and stories as part of VIVID SYDNEY. Did you know that Governer Macquarie by the end of his term had started at least 200 public projects? Neither did I!

This festivity of light is a great and visually stimulating way to get to know our city in every way. You'll also be visually inspired with the Downer Arch that starts Macquarie St- yes arching from one side of the road to the other! Take the kids between Friday and Sunday and the journey will be light littered with street performers. Keep an eye or ear out for The Organ Grinder performer on Macquaries St, he'll add some musical joy to this visual storytelling journey.

http://www.macquarievisions.com.au/




Review by Kathy Luu

The Book of Everything - Review

My son (aged 11) announced to me on Sunday that "The Book of Everything" was the best play he has ever seen. There are so many elements in this production that will win many hearts during the season at the Belvoir.

Adapted from the novel by Dutch author Guus Kuijer, The Book of Everything tells the story of Thomas, an imaginative, curious and sometimes scared nine year old boy. Thomas documents his life and how he sees the world through his eyes in his Book of Everything.

To escape the oppression himself and his family endure from his over pious and abusive father, Thomas finds comfort that comes in the form of chatting with Jesus, falling in love with the girl with the leather leg, learning about the beauty of books, overcoming fear from his new friends and writing in his Book of Everything.

References to Emil and the Detectives will delight readers of the novel by German author Erich Kaestner.

Kim Carpenter's set design is an absolute knock out and fills the stage with wonder. The interaction between the cast and the audience is fun and lures you right into Thomas's world. We fell in love with Julie Forsyth as Mrs Van Amersfoort, Matthew Whittet as Thomas and John Leary is hilarious as Jesus. The whole cast were all wonderful.

Suitable for adults and children> The Belvoir recommends audiences aged 8 and over - If you have younger children the domestic abuse scenes and themes may be too confronting.

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Season | 27 Dec 09 - 31 Jan 10

Belvoir Theatre, Surry Hills | Bookings or 9699 3444

Special children tickets prices and family packages available

Directed by Neil Armfield | Adapted by Richard Tulloch

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Page to Stage Workshop | Theatre of Image | 15 + 16 July

Conducted by Richard Tulloch and Kim Carpenter

Local Colour - The Newtown colouring-in book

Inner west local artists Fiona Roderick and Maggie Stein have created an original and fun colouring book for kids (and adults) capturing the essence of Newtown. The Newtown colouring-in book has easy to colour illustrations of familiar locations including King Street, local parks and The magic yellow bus.

This would be a fantastic book for children familiar with Newtown and surroundings and would also act as a fun guide to the area on a day outing for non - resident families.

Would be great if every suburb had version!

To find out more information on how to get your copy

Contact fionasusan@hotmail.com | stein.maggie@gmail.com

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Lah-Lah's Big Live Band - Review

When the school holidays come along there are always lots of things on for 5-12 year olds to do but babies and toddler activites are few and far between. Lah-Lah’s Big Live Band show at the Enmore theatre is perfect for all of the above age groups and adults will find themselves singing and dancing along as well.

Tina Harris, Lah-Lah, and her band bring a hands on concert experience to children, helping them discover the magical world of music by playing lots of different styles of music to get them moving and dancing, even encouraging the audience to try out the instruments and meet the performers after the show. There is a double bass, drums, saxophone and accordion to check out, and lots of percussion instruments are brought out for children to play along with the band during part of the performance.

Many parents in the inner west will be familiar with Tina’s musical talents as she runs Kindermusik classes for 0-5 year olds during school terms. You won’t be disappointed it’s a fantastic show, running this week and next week until October 18th at the Enmore Theatre in Newtown. http://www.enmoretheatre.com.au/events/2009/10/07/lah-lahs-adventures-proms-for-little-people

Review by Lisa Clarke

PONYO

PONYO is the latest offering from Miyazaki at Studio Ghibli inspired by the Hans Christian Andersen story "The Little Mermaid". My family and I have enjoyed all films that are created from Studio Ghilbio and we were not disappointed with Ponyo.

In a small town by the sea lives five year-old Sosuke, high on a cliff overlooking the Inland Sea. One morning while playing on the rocky beach below his house, he discovers a goldfish named Ponyo, her head stuck in a jam jar. Sosuke rescues Ponyo and keeps her in a green plastic bucket.

Both Ponyo and Sosuke are fascinated by each other and promise to stay firm friends until Ponyo's father - once human, now a sorcerer who lives deep under the sea - forces her to return with him to the ocean depths.

My three children aged 11, 7 and 5 years all loved Ponyo and are very keen  to  see it again. The english adaption is features voice overs  by Cate Blanchett, Tina Fey, Liam Neeson and Matt Damon.

I will be talking my older children to the Japanese version this weekend so they can experience the film in its true form.

More information:

http://www.ponyo.com.au

http://www.madman.com.au/studioghibli/

Movie Trailer

The Fox and the Child Giveway

We have 5 inseason dble passes to giveaway to the beautiful Fox and the Girl narrated by Kate Winslet. Following his Oscar-winning smash hit March of the Penguins, director Luc Jacquet’s first stab at a feature-length fiction finds him once again communing with nature. Inspired by an unforgettable childhood encounter, The Fox & the Child is a very simply told story about a little girl’s fascination with the cute furry creatures living in the forest around her French country home

If you didn't catch this wonderful film at the Sydney Film festival now is your chance. 

To go into the draw to win a dble pass email info@artsrocket.org with your contact details. ENTRIES NOW CLOSED 

The Fox and the Girl commences 9 July at selected cinemas. 

For more info visit Fox and the Child.

Under the Crystal Sky | 15 May - 3 June | Sydney

Star Made Rainbow | 2008 

Sugar, pigments, origami, modeling compounds, plastic objects, artificial plants and flowers, beads, 

confectionery, straws, tables Dimensions variable (detail)

My daughter and I went the opening night of the exhibition Under the Crystal Sky created Pip & Pop (Nicole Andrijevic and Tanya Schultz).  As soon as we walked into the gallery we were hypnotized by the wonderful sugary formations that took over the whole room.  As we walked around we discovered little treats and wonders within the habitat. 

Under the Crystal Sky created by Pip & Pop, is a vibrant installation lavishly filled with dunes of coloured sugar, embellished with miniature objects and all things sweet, accompanied with a soundscape specifically designed by Big Ear.

The exhibition springs from Pip & Pop’s fascination with thekawaii (cute) aesthetics of Japanese pop culture that ranges from items you come across at the local bargain shop to intricately folded origami pieces, to disposable edible objects.

Meet Pip & Pop in person on Saturday 16 May for a chance to discover the creativity behind the imaginary paradise.

This is an exhibition not to be missed!!

Pip & Pop are one of the three selected finalists of the Japan Foundation, Sydney’s new artist program,Facetnate! Facetnate! is a grant program launched early 2008 to support emerging visual artist/s whose work is strongly influenced by Japan. 

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Dates: 15 May - 3 June 2009

Venue: Japan Foundation Gallery Chifley Plaza, Sydney

Gallery Hours Monday - Friday 11am- 4pm 

Meet the artists: Saturday 11am - 4pm

Admission: Free

More info 

Don't try this at home! | SFF 2009

The Sydney Film Festival this morning announced its line up for this years festival.  I think the highlight of the kids films this year will be The Fox and the Child (Le Renard et L'efant), directed by Luc Jacquet  (March of the Penguins).   I would have liked to see more live action films for kids -  I am having an animation overload at the moment.  Take the family to see one or all films  and support children's cinema within the festival. 

Coraline   

Dir Henry Selick | USA | 100 minutes | 3D Animation  | Australian Premiere

Based on the on the book by Neil Gamain, Coraline is the first stop motion film shot in stereoscopic 3D. The unique visual journey follows the fearless Coraline as she discovers a parallel universe behind a secret door.

Teri Hatcher, who plays Coraline's mother,  will be a special guest of the Premiere on Wednesday 10 June.

Official website: www.coraline.com

Suitable for ages:  8 and over

Wednesday 10 June 6.30pm | Greater Union

Saturday 13 June 12.00pm | Greater Union

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The Fox and the Child | Le Renard et L'efant

Dir: Luc Jacquet | France | 96 minutes | Australian Premiere

Kate Winslet narrates this story of a red headed girl and her friendship with a fox.

Suitable for ages 7 and up

http://www.thefoxandthechildthemovie.co.uk/

Sunday 7 June 12.15pm Greater Union

Sunday 14 June 12.30pm Greater Union

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Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms

Dir: Thomas Borch Nielson | Denmark | 78 minutes | Australian Premiere

A fun loving animation packed with wriggling worms, creepy bugs and wicked disco beats 

Suitable for ages 6 and up

Monday 8 June 12.00pm

Saturday 13 June 2.45pm

Screening with 

Little Dinosaurs 

Dir: Dana Dorian | Scotland | 2 mins

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Brendan and the Secret of the Kells

Dir: Tomm Moore, Norma Twomey | Ireland | 75 mins | Australian Premiere

Adventure, action and danger await 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and and a serprent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells.
  

Official website: http://www.thesecretofkells.com/  

Suitable for ages 6 and up

Saturday 6 June 12.30pm | Greater Union

Sunday 14 June 2.35pm | Greater Union

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Ticket prices: Adults $17.00 Children $7.50

To view the entire program visit the Festivals official website. 

Sculpture by the Sea - Bondi Beach and beyond

Photography by Fiona Hueston

Today we headed out to the Sculpture by the Sea before the crowds hit it over the weekend.
Sculpture by the Sea is a wonderful way to spend time with your family....fresh air, exercise and interactive art.

Unfortunality not all of the Sculptures are interactive. I found it hard to keep up my 4 year old to keep him off the Sculptures that could not be touched ( even though they seemed to be tempting children to climb all over them). It does add an little element of stress to the day because their are adults there without children who feel they need to enforce the no touching rule by yelling or frowning. Not a very nice to experience art as a child.

On a positive note our family favourites:

The Bush Ranger: fantastic for kids to run in and out of the over sized helmet.
Ode to joy: This one is very hidden but is well worth looking for.
Underfoot: They loved pretending the creatures were real
Form of Scenery : Beware, kids love it but are not allowed to touch.
Humpback gunship: One of the most kid friendly sculptures. The kids climb into a metal whale and come out at the mouth.
New nomadic Home: I could not get my 4 year and 7 year old out of this piece. really wonderful>would love to have this in our back yard.
You want to do what??!! (Tow an iceberg from Antarctica) . Great interactive piece on the beach at Tamarama.

My favourite:
Bjorn Godwin:
if you need an extension of time to pay, press#

Check it all out and enjoy. We will go back to experience it all again.

For more information visit:
http://www.sculpturebythesea.com/

The Clockwork Forest - Sydney Theatre Company

A mysterious guest. A girl. A journey. A surprising revelation.

Last week my son ( aged 10 years) and I went to a performance of The Clockwork Forest by Doug Macleod at the Sydney Theatre. This wonderful production is full of clever humour and themes that cover love, friendship and death without patronizing the younger audience.

Morton is a young boy who lives alone at the edge of a dark forest with his four prized clockwork animals. When a huge storm destroys his hut and scatters his possessions, Morton sets out to locate his treasures. On his quest, Morton makes a friend, learns how to defeat monsters, remembers how to smile and finds that there may be more to life that clockwork animals.

Gabriela Tylesova's design is absolutely beautiful and lets children use their imagination and takes them into the many elements of Morton's quest.

I thought some of the younger children may have been scared by some of the scenes but after the performance whilst eating cupcakes I overheard many children sharing their delight in the scary bits.

Windmill Performing Arts and have excelled yet again in bringing quality work to families.

Recommended for children aged 8 and above, and their families.
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Sydney Theatre Walsh Bay
Friday 12 September 7pm Saturday 13 September 1pm & 4pm Sunday 14 September 4pm Saturday 20 September 1pm & 4pm Sunday 21 September 1pm

Ticket Prices:Adult $32Concession/Child $25
EnergyAustralia Family Ticket $99 (2 adults & 2 children, additional child $20)
Sydney Theatre Bookings: (02) 9250 1777
For a list of Schools Performances, visit the Education website.

Picasso and his Collection - QLD

Lucien Clergue Picasso beside a figure from the Marquesas Islands 1955 Gelatin silver photograph Collection: The artist © 2008 by Lucien ClergueCourtesy: Patrice Trigano Gallery, Paris

The exhibition features over 100 works from Picasso's extraordinary collection plus more than 80 important works by the artist himself. A range of documentary photographs also feature. Picasso & his collection' includes paintings, drawings and prints by artists such as Chardin, Matisse, Renoir, Cézanne, Rousseau, Miró, Modigliani and Braque, as well as an extraordinary selection of Oceanic and African works.

Patrick aged 5 visited the Picasso Exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery on Thursday 12th June with his school. This will extend the work his class have been doing on the visual arts theme as well as understanding of what a gallery is.
Patrick attended a kids workshop on Picasso and viewed other displays as they relate to the curriculum.

I asked Patrick questions about his trip to the gallery:
What did you do at the Gallery?
Played with my mask I made and cut out the holes.
Walked around with my friend Nash looking at paintings.
Who is Picasso?
A painter.
Favourite part of the trip to the gallery?
Eating.
What did you see at the Gallery?
I saw lots of different paintings.

Would you visit the Gallery again?

Yes, it was fun.

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Picasso and his Collection
Queensland Art Gallery
9 June - 14 September
Admission fees apply

What Does Red do on Thursday? Review

We saw the performance What Does Red do on Thursday? at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre today as part of the Out of the Box Festival.


The piece was performed by Joachim Torbahn, one of the founders of the German touring performance company Thalias Kompagnons.

The performance revolved around a transparent canvas, in a darkened room, and told the story of a red dot. Torbahn's narration was minimal. He told us that the story was in seven chapters, and at the start of each chapter he explained in a few words what red was about to do.

The story of red then came alive as Torbahn stood behind the transparent canvas and painted each chapter to classical music.

The children in the audience were entranced with the performance from start to end, gasping when Torbahn used a huge paint brush, spontaneously clapping when he painted something impressive, and calling out the names of things they recognised.

The Out of the Box Festival is a highly organised event and despite the crowds of children its attracting, we had no trouble with parking, eating or moving around with a double stroller!

If you live in South East Queensland I highly recommend you go to Southbank this weekend, book yourselves a ticket to What Does Red do on Thursday? and take in the free events which are spread around the arts complexes.

Australian Institute of Music

Music lessons for 3-5 year olds.

My three year old son and I trekked off last Saturday morning for a music lesson at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM). AIM is located near Central Station and was easy to get to although a little harder to get away from.

The music lesson was run by Bronwyn, a very charming and enthusiastic woman, who allowed me to sit in on the class even though parents are usually ushered out of the room for all but the last few minutes of the lesson.

The lesson ran for almost an hour and included a story about Mozart, singing, rhythm games, instrument recognition games and playing music blocks which are a bit like a xylophone that you can take apart. My five year old would have loved it.

Unfortunately this was not a lesson designed for three year olds so my son spent much of the lesson on my lap. Three year old and four year old lessons were previously held on Fridays with five year old lessons held on Saturday mornings.

After the class Bronwyn explained the three year old class structure which is very different and involves one narrative theme per term through which basic music elements are then taught.

There are weekly concerts for students to participate in and many avenues for musical growth whatever your child’s musical interest.

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For more information visit YAIM or contact Tony Ingersent
AIM
1-51 Foveaux Street,
Surry Hills, NSW, 2010.
(02) 9219 5436

Sydney Film Festival - Design a Poster

Where is Winkys Horse?

The 55th Sydney Film Festival is just around the corner and the popular kids strand returns for another year.

One of the highlights during the festival is 'Where is Winkys Horse' the follow up film to a 2007 Film festival favourite Winkys Horse.
Where is Winky's Horse?
Director - Mischa Kamp ; Country - Belgium, The Netherlands.

The full program will be announced in the 8th May.

Get inspired and create a poster to promote the Kids' Films program. The closing deadline is Friday 30 May, after which SFF will display the best 10 posters in an online gallery.
A panel of judges comprising some of the most creative minds in Sydney's design world will pick the winner, which will be displayed at festival venues from 4-22 June.

Anyone aged 16 and under is welcome to enter and the winner will win a family pass to all Kids' Films at this year's Sydney Film Festival.

Better still, your winning design will be exhibited to the whole world on the festival website, and will hang in the foyer of festival venues during June.

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Sydney Film Festival
4-22 June 2008

Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books - Review

Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books is a wonderful start to get your child interested in reading and a love for books. The story stars Parsley Rabbitt who leaps from page to page taking us on his journey of exploring the inner workings of a book. The book features flaps to flip and questions to share creating a special story time for you and your child.

My six year old + three year old both enjoyed this book.

Recomended age 3-6 years

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Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books

Author: Francis Watts Illustrator: David Legge

RRP$19.95 Hardback

ISBN 9780733321450

Strange Kinoko Dance Company - Review

The Strange Kinko Dance Company wooed my two eldest children ( 9 + 6 years) last night at the Sydney Opera House. The dance group consists of five female dancers from Tokyo who explore different persepctives on dance by using everyday objects to question the normality of everyday life.

We ventured out to the 8.15pm show, which may be late for most families ( there is an earlier show at 6.30pm on Thursday) and enjoyed a drink at the Opera Bar before heading in. My children have only been to the theatre during the day so the evening was a special treat.

The performance was exciting and colourful with jumping, sliding and dancing around a crazy selection of furniture created by Melbourne designer Justin Caleo. The changing upbeat soundtrack made the whole piece come alive making the evening a great opportunity to expose children of all ages to dance.

As we walked out my children gave the performance a big thumbs up. My son is the process of putting together a detailed review of the performance, which will be up later this evening.

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The Studio Sydney Opera House
Wednesday 26 September - Saturday 29 September
Tuesday - Wednesday and Friday - Saturday at 8.15pm Thursday at 6.30pm
Adult $30 *Concession $20 ( children under 15) Bookings

photo:Yohta Kataoka

Little Big Shots - Review

With my not-quite-2yr-old daughter in tow, we arrived at Circular Quay by bus (an adventure in itself) on a spectacular spring day along with a friend and her 4yr old son. We joined the ambling trail of strollers and kids around to the Opera House for the final day of the international children's film festival Little Big Shots, stopping to shout at ferries and admire the view along the way.

The woman who welcomed us asked that I leave my fold-upstroller in an unsecured area by the entrance and check my small backpack at the coat check (neither of which I did - I checked the stroller instead and took my bag with me, but nobody seemed to mind) before we were ushered inside. After a short intro by Little Big Shots , the lights were dimmed and the kids shrieked in unison "Lights, camera, action!"

Fourteen short films hand-picked from around the globe were screened overthe next hour, mostly made by adults but a couple by children, the youngest being five when his film was shot! They were all animated except one, which, climaxed with a REAL child setting fire to a "time out"chair with a REAL box of matches, stuck out for all the wrong reasons. Shorts of popular kids' TV series "Peppa Pig" and "Charlie & Lola" from the UK were welcomed with roars of recognition and appreciation by the young audience and worked well as 'real' reference points for the kids in another wise fantasy-driven line up.

The hour's length was the perfect time to spend inside. It went quickly enough that even my daughter, who was at the younger end of the spectrum andwho is given to panicking whenever she is asked to sit still, didn't get frustrated. It was long enough, though, for you to feel you'd gotten your money's worth. I'll be back for the 2008 season for sure.

Review by Annie
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Little Big Shots is still playing around Australia
Adelaide Oct 4-6 Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
Mooroolbark Oct 15 Mooroolbark Community Centre
Geelong Oct 20 - 23 Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Canberra Oct 28 National Museum of Australia

Reading Makes You Feel Good by Todd Parr

In our house we know Todd Parr from Todd’s World which we’ve seen occasionally on ABC kids. So my son was excited to see a book that he instantly recognised as the illustrations are very similar to the before mentioned show. The story itself was not so much of interest to him however, I’m not sure the story is what it’s about.

The book has nice bright pages and a simple, positive message about the joys and uses of reading. Within the illustrations are plenty of words and I think this is where the book succeeds. A lot of time was spent picking out words and recognising letters. This, of course, can be done with any book, but because the subject of the book was reading, everyone was feeling a little more motivated than usual.

It did make me wonder however, don’t all kids want to learn to read? If yours doesn’t, or you think everyone in your house needs a little motivation, then maybe this is the book for you.
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Reading Makes You Feel Good, Todd Parr
rrp: $14.95; paperback; ISBN 9780733319792

Ultimo Science Festival - Review

We visited the ABC centre in Harris st to visit the Ultimo Science Festival.

Children were invited to take part in hands on activities such as looking through a microscope to count the number of eyes on a funnel web spider. They could solder their own flashing light toy and engage with the many scientists who were also there assisting and encouraging.

The highlight for my 9 year old was Ruben Meerman, the surfing scientist who demonstrated some impressive experiments with dry ice, balloons and potatoes.

Stand up mathematician, Simon Pampena, gave an hysterical dancing and screaming performance sharing his passion for numbers with the audience.

My problem now is: How do I explain again to my son those answers he gave for 0 divided by 0?

Review by Kathryn Cronshaw

Other activities included

Calico Bags Block Printing
Using hand carved stamps and artists quality paint to depict processes and systems in nature on a canvas shopping bag. Choosing from an insect’s life cycle, root system of a native grass, stormwater waste stream, fresh water pond life and much much more.

Leonardo da Vinci: Models of Genius
A talk about the working models based on the artist's sketches and notebooks. Demonstrating Leonardo da Vinci's uncanny foretelling of 'modern' innovations such as paddle wheel boats, double hulls for ships, the anemometer and hygrometer.