Zhu Shen and Perry Chen on Film Courage Sep 5, 2010 Show

10-yr-old award-winning film and entertainment critic and budding animator/filmmaker Perry Chen and his mom & executive producer of his first animation film, Dr. Zhu Shen, CEO of BioForesight were interviewed by co-hosts Karen Worden and David Branin of LA Talk Radio’s Film Courage Show in Los Angeles, LIVE,  Sunday Sep 5 at noon, PST.  Listen to the 1-hr interview at the show’s website:

http://bit.ly/aisGNC

(Show Time: Sunday, Sep 5, noon – 1 pm, PST)

Karen Worden, Zhu Shen, Perry Chen, David Branin @ LA Talk Radio FilmCourage show

http://youtu.be/SF1qkMZEIBk

(Watch the video interview outside the studio above!)

Many long-time fans and listeners of the Film Courage Show tuned in to listen to the show LIVE and sent heart-warming comments by live tweets during the show, as co-host David Branin monitored his computer screen.  Perry looked over David’s screen a few times during the show and was excited to see that!

Sample Tweets:

mojave44

LOL Okay, I don’t think @PerrysPreviews could be any more compelling (and big props for showing the luv to Mom) #FilmCourage

pattyfantasia

@PerrysPreviews Very unusual to have child critics. Had a feature written about him in mid March 09 by a San Diego publication #filmcourage

garyploski

Perry pays attention to 4 important elements in his reviews: visuals, story, characters & moral Hi-five Perry! @FilmCourage @perryspreviews

milesmaker

“The face to face will never be replaced” @PerrysPreviews @filmcourage http://www.latalkradio.com/Player_flash4.shtml

pattyfantasia

Media won’t usually come to you. You have to go out and find it said Zhu Shen, mom of @PerrysPreviews #filmcourage

RadFX

I like that Perry view the negative points as only things to be improved upon, not just criticized. @filmcourage @perryspreviews

mojave44

@filmcourage @PerrysPreviews is inspiring the adults as well today!

garyploski

“I appreciate your appreciation.” 10 year old Perry of @PerrysPreviews thanking his mom on @FilmCourage

RadFX

@filmcourage I think we could all learn something from @perryspreviews on his hard work and good spirit. #aspiring2actwritedirect #Film

Philontilt

Wow! Perry (@PerrysPreviews) is an inspiration for young and old (I’m in the young side). Great show, @filmcourage. #filmcourage

cosmosherry

@perryspreviews Enjoyed your interview on @filmcourage today! You and your mother are very special people. Peace to you both. =)

khorifaison

Can’t wait to hear archive of @perryspreviews on @filmcourage today! Hope its posted soon. He has a really strong moral base that’s great!

marty_lang

@perryspreviews You r quite welcome. That was an amazing @filmcourage show today! Best of luck with your career, Perry. You’re doing great.

RexSikesMovieBT

you rock young man you rock all the bestwishes congrats on great show @perryspreviews:

mojave44

@perryspreviews @BioForesight Interview was a really delightful part of day. You are a very impressive young man Perry!

Under5Feet

@perryspreviews Perry, keep up the great work! Looking forward to more of your writing =)

mojave44

.@PerrysPreviews speaking at TEDx in Redmond, WA — LOVE it! #filmcourage

philseneker

Perry!!! You preach it brother!! Where are my kids?? They need to listen to you! #filmcourage @filmcourage

marty_lang

“Each child has something special and unique, and a child’s voice should be heard by adults.” Truer words never spoken, Perry. #filmcourage

marty_lang

It is so nice to see a mom who’s so supportive of her young son’s burgeoning career-and making sure his homework gets done. #filmcourage

mojave44

“We’re all carbon based lifeforms – there’s nothing to be nervous or scared about” ~ Perry Chen I have new hero!

pattyfantasia

Perry got great support from his teacher and his Mom in doing film reviews. They have had a 3 way collaboration on this. #filmcourage

pattyfantasia

Perry is 10 yrs old now and started writing film reviews about 2 yrs ago. He mentioned what a great Mom he has #filmcourage

Film Courage show co-hosts Karen and David are wonderful and prepared in-depth questions for both Perry and Zhu.  The time went by fast, and listeners responded positively with the lively interview.  Perry gave this show 5 out of 5 starfish, it’s “Perrific!”

Perry Chen & mom Zhu Shen@ LA Talk Radio (photo by David Branin)

Perry & Zhu met Karen and David at the San Diego IndieFest in March 2010 when Perry co-hosted the festival and interviewed the stars and filmmakers.  Karen /David had a 2-way interview with Perry, where Perry gave sage advice to young filmmakers, among other things:

http://www.youtube.com/user/filmcourage#p/u/75/7oF3psAl2K0

Perry and mom Zhu attended the Los Angeles Film Festival in June 2010 and met Karen and David again.  Perry looks forward to sharing his updates and exciting projects he is working on, including the animation short “Beyond the Forest,” which he is collaborating with Oscar-nominated animator Bill Plympton.

On Sep 18, Perry will be speaking at the TEDx conference on Microsoft campus in Redmond, WA.  This is a special conference organized by kids, for kids, featuring all kids speakers who are inspiring and accomplished in their own rights.  The goal of the conference is to inspire children to make positive changes in the world, regardless of how young they are.  A live broadcast is available on Sep 18, from 2-7 pm for viewers to watch the speeches on the conference website:

http://www.tedxredmond.com

———-

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, filmmaker and animator.  He is the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood.

Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District.

Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country.  He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 30 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web.  He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, the youngest blogger on Animation World Network, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  His reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Listen to his radio show on www.wsRadio.com/perry

Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/perryspreviews

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1300 followers)

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (~ 5 million connections)

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Perry Chen speaking at Chinese film awards & reception (photo by Angel Burns)

Sep 1, 2010, World Journal

by Dominic Lee

云南民族电影制片厂厂长伍匡文率领的中国电影代表团一行九人，携带九部新片前来圣地牙哥参加第七届国际儿童电影节。访问期间受到当地电影工作者与侨界热烈欢迎。美中两国的小编剧、小影评家与小主持人在联欢活动中快乐相聚，各展才华，让人刮目相看。

Exec Producer Zhang Baoying of "New Year is Really Nice" receiving award from Col Viki Lin (photo by Dominic Lee)

这 次国际儿童影展放映九部中国电影，其中六部有编导人员随行。代表团团长伍匡文带来的是「遥远的诺邓」；山东「母女档」编剧刘炜、王一诺带来的是「春雨沙 沙」；导演张津与太太刘华（制片人）带来的是「尼玛的夏天」；上海电视台主播耿南燕带来的是「男生贾里新传」；北京电影人王清欣带来的是「浩昊大闹无字 城」；河南电影人张宝盈、冯萍带来的是「新年真好」。

其中在河南农村拍摄的「新年真好」荣获本届电影节的最佳儿童故事片奖。另外三部影片「土楼故里」、「我是外星人」与「特区少年」放映后也深获好评。

电 影节期间，洛杉矶「美亚文化交流集团」与圣地牙哥的「全美华人文化教育基金会」，以及巴博亚公园国际村的「中国馆」（House of China in Balboa Park）为中国电影代表团联合举办了欢迎会。文教基金会会长曾晶、美亚集团副总裁唐玲、国际儿童电影节董事长本奈特（Dan Bennett）分别致词，祝贺中国儿童电影取得的成就。代表团团长伍匡文致答词，感谢东道主与侨胞的关心，并强调中国儿童电影必将以更可爱的形象进军国 际影坛。

当晚联欢会的小主持人李翎西、电影「春雨沙沙」的编剧之一王一诺都是活泼、阳光的高中女生，而应邀担任电影节评委的 陈彬睿(Perry Chen) 是年仅十岁的小男生。他们三人以大方淡定、又充满稚气的表现给晚会增色不少。来自济南实验中学的王一诺为大家演唱了英文歌曲；美国出生的陈彬睿则对 九部中国影片分别给予中肯的评价，其中「尼玛的夏天」与「春雨沙沙」尤其得到他的赞赏。

出席联欢会的嘉宾还包括文教基金会理 事长黄青、「中国馆」负责人薛显荣、华夏中文学校校长邢彬、前校长沈珊、川渝同乡会会长苏飒、相关社团负责人龚洁、刘兴坚、方向明、高玮、沈竹，以及专程 从中加州爱德华空军基地赶来的华裔空军女上校维琪．林（Col. Viki Lin）。圣地牙哥的华裔少年儿童为来宾表演了精采的舞蹈与武术。

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award-winning producer Liu Wei of "The Rain in the Spring" with child film critic Perry Chen @ Chinese film awards, San Diego (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen, 10-year-old film & entertainment critic and the youngest judge for the Chinese films at the 8th annual San Diego International Film Festival, charmed the attendees at the reception and awards ceremony held at the Hall of Nations, Balboa Park, San Diego on Aug 28, 2010.

Perry Chen 2010 Film Jurist Appreciation

Of the nine Chinese children’s films shown at the festival, five won awards in acting, mixed media, animation, etc., including:

“The Rain in the Spring”

“Nima’s Summer”

“New Year is Really Nice”

“A Village So Far Away”

“HaoHao Makes Havoc in Wordless City”

Perry’s personal favorites are “The Rain in the Spring” and “Nima’s Summer.”  He met and spoke to director/producer of both films at the festival, and talked about why he liked these films at the awards ceremony.  “The language of cinema is universal.  No matter where the film is from, it has the power to move you and make you think.  These Chinese films are case in point,” remarked Perry.

After introducing himself as a child film critic and animator, Perry said, “I also write for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine.  Given the recession and many journalists losing their jobs, I am making a decent profit as a paid columnist.”  This remark drew the loudest cheer and laughter from the audience at the event.

Perry Chen speaking at the film awards

Producer Liu Wei talking to Perry Chen in Balboa Park (photo by Zhu Shen)

“The Rain in the Spring showed that a great teacher can nourish his students just like the spring rain nourishes the crops.  Nima’s Summer shows us that friendship can overcome animosity.  Both films have superb acting, rich storyline and characters, and powerful moral.  I hope more American families can enjoy wonderful Chinese films like these, and more Chinese audience can experience the thrill of American movies.”

(L to R) Perry's mom Zhu Shen, Perry Chen, Nima's Summer director Jin Zhang, producer Hua Liu at awards

director Zhang Jin with Perry Chen @ Balboa Park (photo by Zhu Shen)

The audience enjoyed Chinese kung-fu and dance performances, and listened to speeches from festival organizers and representatives from the Chinese film delegation.

Golden Dragon Kung-fu performance at the awards

Chinese filmmakers with film festival organizers and voluneers

———-

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, filmmaker and animator.  He is the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood.

Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District.

Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country.  He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 30 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web.  He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, the youngest blogger on Animation World Network, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  His reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Listen to his radio show on www.wsRadio.com/perry

Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/perryspreviews

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1300 followers)

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (~ 5 million connections)

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Perry Chen speaking at Chinese film delegation reception while mom Zhu Shen is the emcee, July 31, 2009

Published on San Diego Entertainer Magazine, Aug 26, 2010. Click below to read full review:

http://www.sdentertainer.com/arts/reviews-arts/9-chinese-childrens-films-showcased-8th-annual-san-diego-international-childrens-film-festival-aug-2729-2010/

by Perry S. Chen

Following the successful first visit from the Chinese children’s film delegation in 2009 that brought us eleven feature films screened at the San Diego International Children’s Film Festival, nine films will be showcased this year on August 27-29. There are two location for this year’s festival.

Aug 27 and 28
Balboa Park’s Hall of Nation (west of the Organ Pavilion). 1549 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Aug 29
AMN Healthcare Auditorium. 12400 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130

This year’s movies are even better than last year’s.  I am honored to be asked as one of the judges and vote for the awards that will be given at the gala on Aug 28.

Several films this year are about a person (a teacher or a child) adapting in an unfamiliar place.  My favorite film is “The Rain in the Spring.”

A teacher’s wish is to teach kids who will grow up to be better than the teacher.  That is exactly the case for Mr. Zhou, a physics teacher and headmaster in a village in Shandong province who captivated his middle school students with fun experiments.  The school had no wall in the back, so animals and thieves could get in.  Every night, someone stole his physics “magic box” and hid it behind the school.

……

In China, spring rain is a metaphor, because in the spring, the rain helps grass grow just like a teacher helps kids succeed.

This film is riveting and moved me to tears.  I give it 4 starfish.  It is about hard work, perseverance, and a teacher’s devotion.

A great teacher can nourish children like a spring rain nourishes crops.

My second favorite is “Nima’s Summer.”

In this awesome live action meets Chinese anime film, Nima, a teenage yak herder from Tibet, finds himself transplanted to a metropolis middle school.  Nima develops a passion for soccer and sees everyone as his friend.  The problem is that he doesn’t realize that the schoolyard bullies, Feiyang and his sidekick, do not see him as a friend.  In the end, Nema overcomes many obstacles and winning the hearts of his teachers and fellow students (including his foes).

I give the film 4 starfish. It is “Perrific,” with an interesting storyline and tidbits of hilarious animation woven into it.  I also wish there were more live action scenes of Tibet and Nema herding Yaks.  It would show more contrast with Nima’s city life.

I hope many families and lovers of film and Chinese culture will come and enjoy the festivities this year on Aug 27-29.

A filmmaker panel discussion on Aug 27 at 3 pm about how US filmmakers can get their films co-produced and distributed in China will be held at Balboa Park’s Hall of Nations (same venue as film screening).  All San Diego filmmakers are welcome to attend.  All film screenings and panel discussion are free and open to public.  Enjoy!

Detailed listing of films and screening time:

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=1381

———–

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, filmmaker and animator.  He is the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood.

Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District.

Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country.  He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 30 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web.  He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, the youngest blogger on Animation World Network, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  His reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Listen to his radio show on www.wsRadio.com/perry

Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/perryspreviews

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1300 followers)

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (~ 5 million connections)

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Cindy Freeman (moderator), Kevin Sean Michaels, Perry Chen, and Dean DeBlois at panel discussion

Film Method

Episode Fifty: Icons Panel #4

The Icons event was held during Comic Con 2010 and showcased different types of pop culture including art, film, music and fashion. Film Method conducted a total of four panels at the event. Here is the recording from the fourth panel of the day with 10 year old film critic/animator Perry Chen, Director Kevin Sean Michaels and the director of How to Train Your Dragon, Dean DeBlois.  Cindy Freeman is the moderator.

Listen to the interviews and panel discussion:

http://film-method.com/2010/08/25/episode-fifty-icons-panel-4/

Perry Chen – Film Critic/ Animator

At 10 years old, Perry Chen is the most influential and award-winning child film & entertainment critic, speaker, TV personality, radio talk show host, reviewing movies and family-friendly entertainment with his unique, kids-friendly starfish rating system on a multi-media platform on TV, radio, print, and web.  He is an entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine and was the first child film critic invited to present at the prestigious Annie Awards for animation, the youngest blogger on Animation World Network (AWN), the youngest member of Asian American Journalist Association (AAJA), and San Diego Press Club, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communications’ annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  Perry has been a frequent star on the red carpet and credentialed journalist interviewing filmmakers and stars at major film festivals, movie premieres, and press junkets. He is a speaker at a TEDx conference.

Perry has become an authoritative spokesperson for his generation about movies with his insight and humor from a child’s perspective, combining entertainment and education for kids.  Perry is also an award-winning artist, filmmaker and animator, partnering with Oscar-nominee Bill Plympton to create a new animation short, “Beyond the Forest,” about a young Jewish girl’s survival during the Holocaust.  Perry became a national sensation on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric and NPR with Liane Hansen.  He has been extensively featured on regional, national and international media.  Perry’s Previews webseries is slated to launch in the summer of 2010. Visit http://www.perryspreviews.com for details.

Kevin Sean Michaels – Director

Kevin Sean Michaels was born and raised in New York City. He started making films at age thirteen with a Super 8 home movie camera in the style of silent movies. Michaels was the Art Director for Troma Entertainment for three and a half years, working closely with filmmaker Lloyd Kaufman on Troma’s film “Poultrygeist! Night of the Chicken Dead,” as well as numerous DVD extras. He founded his own production company, Vamp Productions in 2005.

Michaels is known for his documentaries, “Vampira: The Movie” was his first documentary released on Alpha Video in 2008. Since then, he has produced “The Wild World of Ted V.Mikels,” about the grind-house filmmaker, due in stores March, 2010 also on Alpha Video. In 2008, Michaels met David Lynch and is producing a documentary,”Beyond The Noise” about a teenager’s journey learning Transcendental Meditation.

He is working on a project with horror legend Ingrid Pitt on ananimated short on her experiences in the Holocaust with 10 year old art prodigy Perry Chen and two-time Oscar nominee Bill Plympton.

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7^th ANNUAL SAN DIEGO INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S FILM FESTIVAL

Presenting nine full-length Chinese children’s films!

AUG. 27-AUG. 29: HALL OF NATIONS, BALBOA PARK and AMN Healthcare Auditorium

Free admission to film screenings for everyone!

The 7th Annual San Diego International Children’s Film Festival announces an extension to the festival, a final weekend of numerous full-length Chinese family films, with many of the filmmakers appearing in person.

The festival is proud to present nine full-length children’s films from China, Aug. 27-29 at the Hall of Nations in Balboa Park and the San Diego Central Library downtown. These films represent the best in current Chinese family cinema. The films are subtitled, and are suitable for anyone of reading age and older. In addition, a panel discussion on current film opportunities in China will also be held on Friday Aug 27.

Perry Chen, the 10-year-old award-winning film critic and entertainment personality from San Diego will speak about his new animation short about a young Jewish girl’s survival during the Holocaust, and show a preview of it, as well as his “Perry’s Previews Webseries.”  Perry is among the judges to vote for best film awards.

The screenings and discussions are free for everyone.

The schedule:

Friday, Aug. 27, Hall of Nations, Balboa Park:

10:30 a.m. “Tequ Children” (90 min.)

Four short films tell a full story of modern Chinese children’s life.

1 p.m. “Tulou My Home” (93 min.)

Three college students went to a distant village as volunteers, learning the differences between modern and traditional lifestyles. Beautiful historical Tulou architecture and cultural background are explored.

3 p.m. Panel discussion:

China is experiencing an explosive film growth, with more new productions than ever before. Yet it remains difficult for U.S. filmmakers to distribute and market their films in China? How can U.S. filmmakers get their work screened in China? Several of the Chinese filmmakers and cultural representatives will offer advice.

4 p.m. “A Chinese E.T. Boy”

A semi-sci-fi film about a country boy’s dream to be an astronaut, as well as a rock musician’s and Chinese western-folk singer’s aspirations.

Saturday, Aug. 28, Hall of Nations, Balboa Park:

12 p.m. “New Year Is Really Nice” (92 min.)

Featuring Q&A with filmmakers Baoying Zhang, Qingxin Wang and Ping Fen

2 p.m. “New Boy JiaLi”  (89 min.)

4 p.m. “Nima’s Summer” (80 min.)

Q&A with filmmakers Jin Zhang and Hua Liu

Sunday, Aug. 29,

AMN Healthcare Auditorium

12400 High Bluff Drive, San Diego, CA 92130

12 p.m.  “A  Faraway Village” (95 min.)

Q&A with filmmakers Kuangwen Wu and Ping Cao

2 p.m. “The Rain in the Spring” (93 min.)

Q&A with filmmakers Wei Liu and Yinuo Wang

4 p.m. “Haohao Makes Havoc in Wordless City” (85 min.)

An animation based on Chinese word charaters. Bugdevil sends Word Soldiers to Wordless City waiting for Haohao and his friends, who find the three treasures to get Word Machine repaired.

For more film festival information, visit www.sdchildrensfilm.org, e-mail sdchildrensfilm@cox.net, or call (760) 805-9510.

——–

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, filmmaker and animator.  He is an entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood.

Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District.

Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country.  He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 30 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web.  He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, the youngest blogger on Animation World Network, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  His reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Listen to his radio show on www.wsRadio.com/perry

Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/perryspreviews

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1300 followers)

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (close to 5 million connections)

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Perry Chen with TV personality & AAJA pioneer Connie Chung@ AAJA opening night (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen with AAJA pioneer Lloyd LaCuesta (KTVU Fox South Bay Area) @ AAJA opening night (photo by Zhu Shen)

10-yr-old award-winning film & entertainment critic, TV/radio personality Perry Chen who writes for the “San Diego Entertainer” magazine (www.sdentertainer.com) attended the annual AAJA (Asian American Journalist Association) convention as its youngest member ever.  The 2010 convention was held at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel & Spa Aug 4-7.  http://www.aaja.org

Perry and his mom Zhu Shen, who is also the executive producer of his first animation film “Beyond the Forest” and his radio talk show “Perry Previews the Movies,” met many new friends, some already connected on Linkedin and Facebook!  They enjoyed receptions and informative panel discussions with fellow journalists.  Perry hopes to find a great mentor through AAJA.

Perry Chen & Vickie An of "Time for Kids" at AAJA opening night reception (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen with CNN's Victor Hernandez after AAJA media panel (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen with Julie Tam (NBC Dallas) & filmmaker Saqib Siddik@ AAJA

Perry with AAJA member Ky Trang Ho (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen with Kim Blaz of LA Times @ LA Times

Perry @ AAJA J-camp discussion (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen@ CBS Evening News with Katie Couric sign (the program that featured him 5-31-09) (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen @ LA Times

AAJA opening night (photo by Zhu Shen)

AAJA opening night (photo by Zhu Shen)

AAJA opening night (photo by Zhu Shen)

AAJA media panel (Jenny Hammel, Victor Hernandez, Elice Hu) (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen with mom Zhu Shen @ LA Times

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(R to L) Director Dean DeBlois, Perry Chen, Director Kevin Sean Michaels, moderator Cindy Freeman @ Perry's Previews Webseries premiere panel discussion during Comic-Con (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry Chen speaking @ USD (photo by Zhu Shen)

program director Jodi Waterhouse with Perry Chen @ USD

On Aug 3, 2010, award-winning 10-year-old entertainment & film critic, animator Perry Chen  spoke to high school students attending the University of San Diego “Blazing My Trail” program.  Other young “trailblazers” Jason O’Neill and Suamhirs Rivera were also featured during the week-long program Aug 2-6, 2010:  

http://www.sandiego.edu/success/Students.php

http://www.sandiego.edu/success/ParentsandEducators.php

In a lively 40 min presentation including Perry’s Previews webseries trailer:

http://youtu.be/yN0UNCoBNNw?a

Bill Plympton’s award-winning short films “The Fan and the Flower,” “Guard Dog,”

http://www.plymptoons.com (Bill Plympton’s website)

Perry Chen watching animation films with students @ USD presentation (photo by Zhu Shen)

students listening to Perry Chen speak @ USD

Perry Chen shaking hand with student attendee @ USD

Perry entertained the high school students with humor, dazzling visuals, and insight from a young trailblazer.  “What I have learned in the past year and half is that all successes are built on the foundation of hard work,” he told the students, enthralled with his presentation.  “If you believe, you can achieve!  Dream big, and do something about it.”

USD program director Jodi Waterhouse (R) interviews Perry Chen

program director Jodi Waterhouse interview Perry Chen @ USD

In an interview with USD program director Jodi Waterhouse after his presentation, Perry said, “a lot of kids have big dreams, but often don’t take any action.  If you don’t take action, you will not make your dream become real.”

Perry enjoyed giving the 40 min presentation, his longest ever.  He autographed his “How to Train Your Dragon” movie review for Ms. Waterhouse.

program director Jodi Waterhouse with Perry Chen & his movie review@ USD

Perry and his mom Zhu Shen also enjoyed meeting fellow speaker Jason O’Neill and his parents Nancy & Don O’Neill.

Perry Chen with Jason O'Neill @ USD (photo by Zhu Shen)

Zhu Shen, Perry Chen, Jason O'Neill, and Nancy O'Neill@ USD (photo by Don O'Neill)

Venue:

Manchester Conference Center

University of San Diego

5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492

Program Information

Blazing My Trail program provides students the opportunity to work on their critical thinking skills. The program is designed to increase students critical skills for lifelong academic, personal, and professional success.

Through out the sessions young Trailblazers will speak about the exciting work they are currently engaging in the community and in their own lives.

Space still available.

Program and registration contact:

Jodi Waterhouse
Director, Corporate and Professional Programs
Contact: jodiw@sandiego.edu | (619) 260-4231

University of San Diego
Office of Corporate and Professional Education
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
Phone (619) 260-4000
Fax (619) 260-5988

—————–

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, filmmaker and animator.  He is an entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine and is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood.

Perry started writing movie reviews using his unique kids-friendly starfish rating system on his website (www.perryspreviews.com ) as an 8-year-old third grader at San Diego’s Torrey Hills Elementary School from the Del Mar Union School District.

Perry became a national sensation when he debuted on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric in May 2009 as the youngest film critic in the country.  He was featured on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen in March 2010, and has reviewed over 30 movies and DVDs on a multi-media platform: TV, radio, print, and web.  He is the youngest member of the Asian American Journalist Association, the San Diego Press Club, the youngest blogger on Animation World Network, and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  His reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Perry’s Previews Webseries trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN0UNCoBNNw&feature=autofb

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Listen to his radio show on www.wsRadio.com/perry

Read his press releases http://pressroom.prlog.org/PerrysPreviews/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/perryspreviews

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1300 followers)

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/perryspreviews (over 6 million connections)

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Young Hearts Versus the Undead
A postcard from Comic-Con

Written by WGAW member F.X. Feeney

Those who founded it can barely recognize it now, if at all. What had begun in August of 1970 as a small but passionate enterprise with 200 people in attendance has mushroomed across four decades into a phenomenon that attracts upwards of 125,000 people annually, among them the film industry’s most famous and powerful. In an era whose aesthetics and revenues are driven by comic-book fantasies, Comic-Con has become the nuclear engine of the industry.

The San Diego Convention Center is a massive fleet of conjoined meeting rooms and exhibition halls that looks as if it could contain an aircraft carrier. Inside, the 125,000 people may as well be twice as many, psychologically multiplying as you herd among them to tour massive displays put up by companies that produce and promote True Blood, Twilight, and games, gothic apocalypse fantasies (lots of those), monsters you’ve never heard of but will in a year. All roar from loudspeakers like carnival barkers while costumed assistants disgorge brilliant swag (comics, cards, posters, figurines) into the avid mitts and shoulder-to-toe backpacks most passersby are toting: Trick or treat!

……

The most coveted of the grand showcases (Green Lantern, Matt Groening) proved nearly impossible to get into, unless you were willing to loiter on line for three hours ahead of time. Press-passes worked no magic in such circumstances. Mind you, this is an observation, not a complaint: Comic-Con exists for fans, not reporters. A pro can always wait a year for the Green Lantern. Nor is Matt Groening entirely remote to any scribe who lives in Los Angeles. At the WGAW AWC-hosted animation writers panel in one of the meeting rooms upstairs, the best question of the hour was asked by a ten-year-old film critic and budding animator with his own website, on assignment for San Diego Entertainment magazine: Perry S. Chen.

Perry Chen asking co-director /co-writer Dean DeBlois of "How to Train Your Dragon" at Comic-Con animation writers panel

Perry Chen asking question to director Dean DeBlois at Comic-Con writers panel

“I notice that many DreamWorks animation films such as Shrek have crude humor like farting,” he asked Dean DeBlois, co-writer and co-director of How to Train Your Dragon: “Your DreamWorks film does not. Why is that and what’s your view on crude humor in animation?”

Asked with a child’s directness, this was nevertheless the question of one interested in making films. DeBlois, charmed, answered: “No disrespect to my friends who made Shrek,” but then was moved to talk more deeply and specifically than usual about the ins- and-outs of how he and his writing partners, William Davies and Chris Sanders, make a place for something uniquely character-driven in a market where crudity has become the norm.

Perry Chen with Director Dean DeBlois post Comic-Con panel Q&A (photo by Zhu Shen)

Young Mr. Chen’s enterprising energy and curious nature struck this reporter as an example of the saving grace of Comic-Con. Even when bombardments to the senses grew overwhelming, even when you might feel you’re in a giant madhouse navigating a sea of lost souls who are all wearing somebody else’s fantasy, every once in awhile you encountered actual individual creativity and felt restored.

……..

In an interview for the current issue of Written By, Bradbury had assured Writers Guild members and subscribers that he would make his way to Comic-Con, which he’s loyally attended from the very first. He was close to its founder Shel Dorf, and was an early and ardent supporter of the Fest, back when it was largely attended by a few dozen teenagers with shared passions for comics, graphic artists, and the fantasies of Bradbury and J.R.R. Tolkien.

Two of these, writers Greg Bear and Dave Clark, were present to hear this year’s talk. Both men’s lives have been deeply marked for the better by their decades of subsequent friendship with Bradbury: Bear is the acclaimed author of over 30 science fiction novels (among them Blood Music, The Forge of God and Darwin’s Radio), several of which have won Hugo and Nebula awards; Clark, whose Comic-Con continuity was interrupted by an early ’70s tour in Vietnam, is a dealer in fine wines who continues to write poetry, draw and make fine art in his spare time. Apart from being wryly amused at what their old club had become, they fondly remembered a moment that dramatically illustrates the committed openness, spontaneity, and authenticity that Bradbury was impressing upon his listeners.

According to Bear, long before Comic-Con was a twinkle in anyone’s eyes, “We wrote Ray a fan letter, and to our amazement he not only wrote back but said if we ever found ourselves in Los Angeles, he would take us to lunch.”

The two aspirants immediately made an appointment and boarded a bus as soon as they could. In those days, Bradbury wrote in a private office on Wilshire Boulevard; after giving his guests the cook’s tour, he took them to a fancy restaurant. “We ordered hamburgers,” Bear recalls, softly shaking his head. “But Ray’s response was kind. He said to us: ‘You may be missing an opportunity here, gentlemen,’ and proceeded to tell us a funny little story about a similar faux pas he’d made on his first trip to Europe. At the end of it, we ordered something else.”

Both have since become avid gourmets, and Clark runs a winery, but what abides with deepest warmth in their memories is that the Maestro gently coaxed them out of their adolescent hiding places with a smile, and above all, a story.

Onstage at Comic-Con, Bradbury biographer Sam Weller amiably, expertly moderated for the crowd, concisely footnoting details for the assembly as needed, bending to Ray’s good ear and distilling all questions to their essence so as to get the maximum answers. Together they told of how Bradbury, who has never in his life sat behind the wheel of a car, visited JPL in Pasadena in the late 1990s while the interplanetary rover was making its first explorations of the Martian surface. The technicians handed him the robot’s joystick and invited him to steer it. At day’s end they furnished him with a specially engraved, one-of-a-kind Martian Driver’s License, to commemorate the occasion – the only driver’s license he has ever had in his life.

When Weller asked for a special round of applause in honor of Ray’s upcoming 90th birthday on August 22, the crowd went him one better: They stood and sang “Happy Birthday”—quite a powerful, heart-filling chant, even downright Gregorian. Lay congregations in churches seldom if ever sing with such enthusiasm, or heart, or unity. And why is that?

It felt like an illumination of what writing is for.

There were no costumes in the room, interestingly enough. These were readers—and writers, too, one could surmise from some of the questions—who wore their imaginations within. All ages were represented, but even those in middle age had remarkably youthful, unlined faces. Greg Bear, Dave Clark, and the other teenagers of 1970 who founded this convention in Ray’s company are now in their late 50s but bear the same bright stamp in their eyes. So does Perry Chen, at the beginning of his creative life.

Some energy greater than Bradbury himself, a force he has been privileged to channel in his amazingly productive life, had brought these people together in this room and called their voices forth. Call it creation—what else could promote such religious feeling, or tantalize the world of strangers outside the room to dress up like superheroes? For all the hype surrounding Comic-Con, this was the essence of the experience, and Bradbury was rightly enthroned at the very hub of it.

“Great artists,” wrote Pascal, “Do not show us their own riches. They show us ours.”

© 2010 Writers Guild of America, West. All Rights Reserved.

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Perry Chen at Cyrus red carpet premiere, LA Film Festival (photo by Zhu Shen)

10-year-old award-winning film critic Perry Chen is invited to speak at the TEDx conference to be held at the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington on September 18, 2010.  This unique conference is organized by kids, attended by kids, and featuring speakers who are all high-achieving kids!  The theme is “Power to the Students.”  The main organizer is 12-year-old author & speaker Adora Svitak.  See all speakers’ profile:

http://www.tedxredmond.com/speakers.html

http://www.tedxredmond.com (main website)

Perry Chen’s speaker profile:

When most people think “film critic,” they probably think of Roger Ebert and star ratings, Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic. Movie reviewer Perry Chen is giving them something new to think about. With a creative ”starfish” rating system and insights on movies’ believability and moral, this ten-year-old entertainment personality is attracting a wide following on his website, radio show, and frequent newspaper columns. Currently, Perry is animating an educational short film about a young Jewish girl’s survival during the Holocaust, “Beyond the Forest,” in partnership with Oscar-nominee Bill Plympton.

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