Perry Chen, 9-year-old Prodigy Movie Critic A Major Hit on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric

(published on “We Chinese in America” June 12, 2009)

A huge truck with large CBS 8 logo and soaring antenna parked in a quiet Torrey Hills neighborhood at 4:30 pm on Sunday, May 31. CBS 8 Reporter Steve Price and cameraman Charlie Landon hopped off the truck to get ready for live coverage of a celebration party at the home of Perry Chen, a 9-year-old third grader from Torrey Hills Elementary School, who has become a renowned film critic and media personality in San Diego for his sophisticated, insightful, and often humorous reviews of G and PG-rated family movies.

This night, Perry will debut on national TV: CBS Evening News with Katie Couric will introduce him as the most prominent child film critics in the country to millions of viewers in an exclusive feature. At 6:24 pm, the last segment of CBS Evening News started. “The new animated movie ‘Up’ soared off with $68 million this weekend, winning the box office race. ‘Up’ got a boost from rave reviews, including one California writer who called it ‘amazing’ and gave it four and a half starfish out of a possible five. Other big films have had to face the starfish test too, as CBS news correspondent Ben Tracy reports.”

Hours of filming and interviewing by the CBS News crew were condensed to a spectacular 2.5 minute feature, with this opening line from Ben Tracy: “In the movie world the critics hold a lot of power. But very few hold their mom’s hand when they show up at the theatre.”

“Wise beyond his years, Perry might just be the youngest movie critic in the country, and has filmmakers who invited him to private question and answer sessions. He has become so well known in movie circles that Perry gets invited to special press screenings before a movie even comes out,” reported CBS 8’s Price.

Indeed, since writing movie reviews in October 2008, Perry was invited to meet and interview the acclaimed French director Michel Ocelot and renowned Pixar “Up” director Pete Docter and producer Jonas Rivera, the creative force behind the first animated feature ever to open the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in May 2009. Perry is a columnist and movie critic for “We Chinese in America” weekly newspaper, and has been featured in ten San Diego newspaper and print media, including La Jolla Light and San Diego Ranch Coast News

“I like epic movies and sentimental movies,” said Perry when asked about his favorite type of movies. “What are you going to do when your movie critic days are over?” asked Price. “I want to be a filmmaker. I love movies and want to experience what it’s like to make a movie myself. I’ll make kids movie with action,” said Perry.

Loud cheers erupted when the CBS feature finished. “This is once in a lifetime experience,” Perry commented when prompted by Price, about watching the CBS show with friends. “I give it FIVE starfish. It’s Perrific! My coined word for Perry and terrific together.”

Perry took bows to his adoring friends and gave appreciations to a few special people, including his mom and Ms. Joli Harris, Perry’s teacher from Torrey Hills, who has been a wonderful mentor to Perry. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Perry on this creative project. It is so ‘real life’ and helps to bring to light that writing has purpose and meaning, not just an assignment from a teacher. It is a great marriage of education and entertainment, making it both motivating for Perry to write and for others to read. Perry has been able to grow as a writer through this process, becoming more thoughtful, descriptive, and able to expand on his ideas. Through this, his patience has grown, allowing his love of writing to grow as well. It is my hope that this will inspire others to engage in similar creative pursuits.” Said Ms. Harris.

“Working with Perry on his movie reviews has been such a rewarding journey for me personally. I firmly believe that each Child has natural talents and great potential. It could be creative writing, art, science, math, invention, and so on. It’s up to the parents and teachers to uncover and nurture these natural talents in their children and students so that they can unleash their creativity and let their imagination take flight. Perry’s success is a wonderful example of the three-way partnership among parent, teacher, and student.” Commented Dr. Shen, who plans to give educational seminars this summer in San Diego about “How to uncover and nurture your children’s hidden talents.”

On display throughout Perry’s home are Perry’s drawings and paintings under the guidance of his beloved art teacher Ms. Helen Yuan who teaches at the Golden Dragon Kung-Fu Institute four days a week. This summer, Perry plans to experiment with sculpture from renowned sculptor Lynn Forbes at Lynn Forbes Sculpture Studio in Carlsbad.

“Perry is definitely going to be whatever he wants to be,” predicted Price as he wrapped up the live coverage.

After his successful Fox 5 TV debut on May 25 to review Pixar’s “Up”, Perry will be back on Fox late June to review 20^th Century Fox’s “The Ice Age III: Dawn of the Dinosaurs” which opens on July 1 nationwide.

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For Perry’s reviews, updates, upcoming events, and to sign up for free newsletters, visit www.perryspreviews.com

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