Film and Video Festival
"Through Innocent Eyes: Children in
the Media Environment" debuts April 18

The "reel" world as seen through the eyes of children is the common thread connecting a variety of films, videos and presentations in "Through Innocent Eyes: Children in the Media Environment," the second annual Old Dominion University Film and Video Festival, April 18-24.

The festival features screenings of "To Kill a Mockingbird," voted one of the American Film Institute's Top 100 Films, and the challenging Academy Award-winning motion picture "The Tin Drum," plus a visit by David Newell, who plays Mr. McFeely on PBS's "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood."

Mary Badham Wilt, who played the role of Scout in "To Kill a Mockingbird," will also appear in person to lead a discussion following the screening of the 1962 classic.

A love of film and the media arts is the driving force behind the festival, according to Gary Edgerton, chair of the communication and theatre arts department. That and a desire to connect with the community.

"The theme of children in the media environment is a highly important issue for all of us today and unfortunately it often gets short shrift," Edgerton said. "We hope next year's topic, 'The Kaleidoscopic Lens: Diversity in Film and Television,' will be of similar interest to everyone. Our longterm goal is to eventually grow beyond a local event to a festival of regional interest and importance for Hampton Roads."

Other films being screened and discussed during the festival include: "Hello Hemingway," a Cuban coming-of-age story about a young girl during the time of Hemingway's years on the island; "Kiki's Delivery Service," a film that follows a young Japanese witch on her journey to adulthood; and "Small Change," a realistically and tenderly portrayed testament to the director's belief in childhood as a "state of grace."

The festival schedule is as follows:


April 18

  • Screening of "To Kill a Mockingbird" (129 minutes, 1962, U.S.), 7 p.m., Naro Expanded Cinema, 1507 Colley Ave.,Norfolk. Actress Mary Badham Wilt, who plays Scout in the film, will be the special guest. A reception follows at the No Frill Bar and Grill in Ghent. Admission is $5.50 and includes reception.


    April 19

  • Screening of "Hello Hemingway" (90 minutes, 1990, Cuba), with commentary by Ann Marie Stock of William and Mary, 10:30 a.m., University Theatre.

  • "Animated Children: Portrayal of Children Through Five Decades of Academy Award-Winning Animated Films," including the showing of nine animated short subjects, presented by Terrence Lindvall of Regent University and Kathy Merlock Jackson of Virginia Wesleyan, 4 p.m., Naro Expanded Cinema.

  • "An Evening with Ken Wales," 7:30 p.m., 102 MGB. Veteran filmmaker Ken Wales, producer of the TV show "Christy" and such noted films as "Islands in the Stream" and "The Tamarind Seed" and co-producer of "Revenge of the Pink Panther," will speak.


    April 20

  • Screening of "Kiki's Delivery Service" (103 minutes, 1989, Japan), with commentary by Meiko Ishibashi, senior lecture of Japanese at Old Dominion, 9 a.m., H/NN Room, Webb Center (includes light breakfast buffet).

  • "Making Children's Television: How to Do Well by Doing Good (Shows)," a presentation by Garland Waller of Boston University, owner of Pink Bubble Productions and the winner of two awards from Action for Children's Television, 1 p.m., 104 BAL.

  • Screening of "Surviving Hatred: Witness to the Holocaust" (30 minutes, 1998), 7:30 p.m., 102 MGB. Commentary will be provided by Linda Gonsenhauser of the Darden College of Education, the writer/developer of the film, and Wendy Juren of WVEC-TV, producer of the film.


    April 21

  • "Entertainment-Education for Children: Lessons from Around the World," a presentation by Arvind Singhal of Ohio University and William Brown and Preethi Jacob of Regent University, 10:30 a.m., H/NN Room, Webb Center. A luncheon sponsored by the Communication Club will follow.

  • "The Impact of Media in the Lives of Childhood Experts," a presentation by Old Dominion faculty Thomas Socha (communication), Lou Lombardo (criminal justice), Katharine Kersey (child study and special education), Karen Polonko (sociology) and Elaine Justice (psychology), 2 p.m., Parenting Conference Room, Child Study Center.

  • Screening of "Small Change" (104 minutes, 1976, France), with commentary by Cynthia Marker and Peter Schulman of the foreign languages and literatures department, 7:30 p.m., 102 MGB.


    April 22

  • School performance of "Rumpelstiltskin," produced by Playtime Theatre for All Ages, 9:30 a.m., University Theatre. Admission is $3 for children, $4 for adults.

  • "Kid Talk: Talk Shows for Children," presented by Charles Pugh of WAVY-TV, 11 a.m., 222 Gornto Bldg.

  • Performance of African and early American folktales, presented by the university Speech Chorus, 12:30 p.m., Parenting Conference Room, Child Study Center.

  • Screening of "The Tin Drum" (141 minutes, 1979), Germany), 3:30 p.m., with commentary by Frederick Lubich, chair of foreign languages and literatures, Naro Expanded Cinema. Admission is $4.50.

  • "Blue's Clues": A Discussion," a presentation on one of television's top shows for children, led by researcher/developer Alice Wilder and co-creator/head writer/producer Angela Santomero, 7:30 p.m., 102 MGB.


    April 23

  • Additional performances of "Rumpelstiltskin" for school children, University Theatre. $.

  • A presentation, with video, by David Newell, who plays the part of Mr. McFeely on "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," and the show's producer, Hedda Sharapan, 1-5 p.m., H/NN Room, Webb Center. A reception will follow in Webb Center's North Mall.


    April 24

  • David Newell (Mr. McFeely) visits the Store of Knowledge at Lynnhaven Mall.

  • Public shows of "Rumpelstiltskin," 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., University Theatre. $.

    All sessions are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. For more information call the communication and theatre arts department at 683-3828.