Broad Humor Film Festival

By Kristy | May 26, 2009

We are happy to announce that the broads of the Broad Humor Film Festival have decided to invite us to participate in their festival. Our first comedy festival…in fact, it’s a festival about women and comedy! The festival takes place in Venice, CA and it’s coming up: June 12-14th. Not sure if we can make it, but another opportunity for you SoCal folks to come see our show. And I am sure you will be in good company!!!

Topics: Broad Humor Film Festival, Screenings, Los Angeles, festivals | No Comments »

“A brilliant and honest documentary about growing up”

By Kristy | May 2, 2009

Though we couldn’t make it to the Leeds Young People’s Festival, we were impressed by their spiffy catalogue and this short but sweet review from MediaFish, Leeds only film club run exclusively for and by young people. Check it out and hear what they have to say!!

Topics: UK, Screenings, Leeds Young People Film Festival, reviews | No Comments »

Award-winning film on puberty, race, class and gender

By Kristy | May 1, 2009

Help us spread the word about our DVD release!

Going on 13

A Documentary Film By Kristy Guevara-Flanagan and Dawn Valadez

FOUR GIRLS OF COLOR COMING OF AGE IN CONTEMPORARY URBAN AMERICA

”Three Stars. Recommended!”

—K. Fennessy, Video Librarian

”Every college library should own this DVD.”

—Melanie Bishop, Associate Professor, Arts & Letters, Prescott College

”…frank and compelling. An excellent choice

for discussions about what it means to become a young woman in today’s society.”

—Robin Levin, School Library Journal

In time for the end of the fiscal year, we would like to offer you a 10% discount off the DVD of GOING ON 13, a candid and award-winning documentary exploring the complex lives of four diverse pre-teen girls as they navigate school, struggle with their families, and flirt with an intensely sexualized popular culture.

Along with its up-to-date 37-page discussion guide, GOING ON 13 is a crucial tool for educators in the fields of sociology, education, psychology, gender studies, youth development and more. Shot from the point of view of these incredibly resourceful and resilient young women, GOING ON 13 bridges the generation gap and helps spark essential dialogue about such difficult and sensitive issues as puberty, gender, race, class and diversity. With two girls of color in the White House, PBS-bound GOING ON 13 is a germane and fundamental film that goes far beyond traditional media coverage.

”A must see for anyone working in education, social work, or the allied fileds.”

—Karra Bikson, Assistant Professor, NYU’s Silver School of Social Work

A timely review of our film by author, Sharon Lamb

By Kristy | February 25, 2009

We just love Sharon Lamb’s work, Packaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers’ Schemes, which is why we asked her so early on to be an adviser to to our project. She recently shared the film with one of her classes and wrote one of the best reviews we have gotten to date! Please check out her book and website.

Packaging Girlhood

And (my) Oscar goes to … GOING ON 13

I (Sharon) just screened this film with my Psychology of Girls and Women class. WOW. It is a wonderful film. I was slightly involved at the beginning of their (Kristy Guevara-Flanagan & Dawn Valadez) project, previewing their short version, but had no idea it would turn out so well. The directors followed 4 girls, Ariana, Isha, Rosie, and Esme for 4 years, until their 13th birthday. There’s Esmeralda, Mexican American; Ariana, African American; Rosie, mixed race Latina; and Isha, an immigrant from India. The film uses a mix of intimate interviews, cinema vérité, and stop-motion animation.

What I love so much about the film is that every topic I am concerned about, every topic I teach about, appears in the film and in a subtle and nuanced way. This isn’t your typical documentary where people’s lives get so overdramatized and then statistics keep appearing to remind you of a dark present and a darker future. Instead the girls lives and the girls just beautifully speak for themselves. Isha — a very good girl who just for a moment or two in the film delights in what it might mean to be bad — was thoroughly watched and protected by her family in positive and not so positive ways. I saw a hint of rebellion to come. Rosie’s story of depression and recovery was fantastic — I kept wanting to put her in a hippie alternative school where she’d be appreciated. She really begins to withdraw and become sullen in a major and pathological way — her intelligence is so unmet in the world around her except perhaps by her mother who is struggling with her own demons. Esmerelda? The transformation from self-hate to self-love for her was and is important for all of us to see. We picture girls victims of self-esteem problems and body-image issues, but we rarely see their rising above that, even if momentarily. The first to have a boyfriend, her wholesale buy into heterosexual romance bodes disaster at every turn, and yet no disaster arrives. Ariana,stays so teriffic throughout the film, with no lapse of energy or self-possession. Early in the film she protests the teacher showing Bring It On, a PG-13 movie about cheerleading (to 10 and 11-year-olds, mind you), after she has brought in an alternative, Love and Basketball. The teacher mistakenly gives the kids a vote over the films and the cheerleader movie wins. Ariana is broken-hearted — and she rightly mumbles something like, they just want to see those panties. There’s also a scene in a sex ed class that is hysterical, although the well-meaning teacher (is he a gym teacher? a bio teacher?) was totally serious when he answered his students’ questions. One girl asks “when do you know if you’re ready to have sex?” Tough question? Nope. Has to do with ovaries, eggs, menstruation! I’m sure every parent in the audience will cringe at that one! The diversity represented by these 4 subjects is not what the movie is about. It’s simply about girlhood; their diversity is their context, their particularity. We see them in their uniqueness and appreciate how their different families shape them, but in the end, all that they say and experience is thorougly and recognizably everygirl. I was so afraid that some if not all of these girls were doomed. And yet none of them were or are. So what was it that left me with the feeling that these girls are going to be ok? I saw resistance, rebellion, self-love, and girls interested in reading, studying, confronting injustice. I saw a lot of wisdom. In short, this film is subtle, moving, nuanced, powerful, and right on. I’ll use it as a teacher, and encourage my school library to buy it.

Topics: Academy Awards, Sharon Lamb, awards | No Comments »

The San Joaquin Children’s Film Festival

By Dawn | January 28, 2009

(NOTE: I wrote this at the festival and forgot to publish it!)

Today (1/17/09) I arrived in Stockton with my son Rigo and my nephew Teo on a mission to enjoy the San Joaquin Children’s Film Festival, screen GOING ON 13 and sell DVDs.

We are staying in a beautiful hotel on the delta (I think the same delta that had the lost sea lion!) and the boys have come prepared to watch movies and play xbox…it is a long weekend after all. They are great companions and really quite funny. They have already given out more than half of the postcards I brought! Great promo people for a children’s film festival!

Rigo’s 13th birthday!

Teo at Rigo’s birthday

We all went to see Darius Goes West. We all were moved by this story of a community of young men on the road to get Darius, a young man from Athens, Georgia with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), to the west coast and get his wheelchair pimped out by “pimp my ride.” The film made us all think about why some places are accessible and others are not and how people who use wheelchairs are seen (or not!) by non-wheelchair using people. My boys were refreshingly conscientious and reflective after seeing the film–WOW that POWER of FILM! I, for one, have decided NEVER to watch Pimp My Ride or MTV again (not tough but I LOVE PMR!!). The producers wouldn’t even consider pimping Darius’ wheelchair! How jacked up is that? With that simple move they could have educated a whole new generation about DMD and done a world of good towards raising awareness and finding a cure. Sometimes I wonder if all of the money and ego in the media just makes people ill!

Tomorrow we screen the film. There is a buzz in Stockton! I’ve met great people so far and the festival director, Sophoan, is just a great guy! A real visionary. It is an honor to be here. I’ve met a couple of people who’s family members are or were farmworkers. My mom and her family were all farmworkers and I truly appreciate the labor and sacrifices of their lives. I and most of my friends are really wimps in comparison.

Time to get the boys off the IV of TV! I’ll post tomorrow but check out the links!

Dawn

Topics: California, Central Valley, aspirations, Birthdays, documentaries, being 13, festivals | 1 Comment »

We Won, We Won!!

By Kristy | January 10, 2009

Cine Golden Eagle Award Announcement

The Cine Golden Eagle Award! Another award under our belt feels great. Sometimes it feels like things are winding down…and then something else happens and we realize things are just beginning! We will have our broadcast in October for Children’s Health Month on American Public Television. We have just finished our DVD (!!) which is now available for purchase on our website and, for classroom or library use, at our distributor, New Day Film’s website. We were interviewed for the Stockton Record for our up-coming Central Valley Premiere and we still have another screening in the Bay Area after that!

Central Valley Premiere!

Our first public screening for 2009, will be at the San Joaquin Children’s Film Festival in January. We are happy to have been selected as the Closing Night Film for this inaugural festival. This will be our Central Valley Premiere and we will be screening in the historic Stockton Empire Theatre

Sunday, January 18 at 6:00 PM

Stockton Empire Theatre

For tickets and information visit the festival website.

Other Upcoming Events!

Join us in Berkeley at the the Pacific Film Archive for a very special BENEFIT screening on February 2, 2009. The proceeds from this screening will be donated to YOUTH TOGETHER, an amazing organization that trains young people in Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond as community organizers. Dawn is a former board member. Tickets are a suggested donation $5-10 (and of course more is welcome!) A silent auction will follow the screening. Both Dawn and I will be present and hopefully a few of the girls.

The theater seats a couple hundred and after our last sold our East Bay screening
we suggest you get there early to make sure you get seats!

Benefit Screening for Youth Together
Monday February 2, 2009 at 7:00 PM
UC Berkeley, Pacific Film Archive: directions

Topics: Cine Golden Eagle, awards, Youth Together, San Joaquin | No Comments »

A very cool mention by Sarah Newton…

By Kristy | January 3, 2009

Girls in their tweens - what is Life really like?

By Sarah Newton on Dec 30, 2008 in Uncategorized

Ariana & Esmeralda

Recently I watched Going On 13 and I was so pleased that the makers of this film then decided to come on my Radio show; following the lives of four young girls you get to see it, all warts and all. They describe this video as inspiring, real and messy and I could not agree more. It is inspiring because you get to see these children get through difficult situations and come out the other side. Messy because you really get in there and get to see how it feels to be living in today’s chaotic life. You feel like you go on a very real journey with these children. If you want to know what it is like being a young girl in today’s society then please watch this film. The great thing about it is the discussions that it opens up. I watched it with my 11-year-old and something quite amazing happened. We were watching one of the girls going through some challenges with school and she said to me, “You know Mum I sometimes feel like that.” From that point we were able to have an honest and open discussion about the reasons why and strategies to cope. Without this film, would she have been able to open up? I don’t know! However what this taught me was how powerful this film is as an aid to communication. If you have anything to do with children, tweens or teenagers then watch this film. Very rarely do we get such an unedited version of life for our young women.

Sarah Newton
Your Gen-Y Guide
Demystify the world of the next generation

Topics: Sarah Newton, UK, radio | No Comments »

Happy New Year! 2009 will be so great!

By Dawn | December 29, 2008

Hi there,

I wanted to wish all of our “fans” a HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEAR! I am SO excited that we’ll have a NEW president, who I actually VOTED FOR and made calls for and gave money to and actually felt involved! I think that’s a first for me (OK I did help with Rock the Vote for Clinton but it never felt like this!!). I am distressed by the recent events in Gaza and hope that the new US administration will participate in a meaningful, diplomatic manner…I’m skeptical but hopeful…

But enough about politics! How great to have a president with PRE-TEEN GIRLS OF COLOR in the White House!! Is that amazing! Does anyone want to send the girls our film as a present? What a great idea. I dare one of you to do this! Let us know if you do.

2009 will be a great year for the film. As I reflect on the past year 2008 was awesome. We started the year off by finishing the film, a feat in itself, went to Taiwan for a sneak preview and then went to premiere at Tribeca! We had 10 days of screenings, parties and promotions. It was great and the girls and their families who went with us hopefully had a great time too. After that we screened at numerous films festivals all across the US and beyond. We WON best doc in LA at a sweet women’s film festival and received great reviews.

And 2009 will be even better. here’s what we are working on:

1) finishing the packaging and selling the film. Check out our website to purchase your home viewing version. If you are at a university, college, school district or non-profit institution please, please, please purchase the film from our page on the New Day Films website: www.newday.net

2) we WILL have a PBS broadcast. We are not sure when yet but are hoping for March (women’s history month) or August/ September (back to school). We’ll keep you up-dated on the dates and times in your local region.

3) we will continue to screen at film festivals and community gatherings:

Join us at the San Joaquin International Children’s Film Festival on Sunday, January 18th. Check out their website for details: http://www.sjiff.org/sjcff09/index.html

AND

Join us in Berkeley at the the Pacific Film Archive (link and
directions) for a very special BENEFIT screening on February 2,
2009. The proceeds from this screening will be donated to YOUTH
TOGETHER, an amazing organization that trains young
people in Oakland, Berkeley and Richmond as community organizers.
Dawn is a former board member. Tickets are a suggested donation
$5-10 (and of course more is welcome!). A silent auction will follow
the screening. Both Kristy and Dawn will be present and hopefully a
few of the girls.

The theater seats over 100 and after our last sold our East Bay screening
we suggest you get there early to make sure you get seats!

What: Benefit Screening for Youth Together (www.youthtogether.net)

When: Monday February 2, 2009
Time:
Where: UC Berkeley, Pacific Film Archive

Contact us with questions: info@goingon13.com or 510-326-0309
We hope you and your family have a fantastic NEW YEAR! Thank you all for your support and for letting your friends and colleagues know about this unique and special film!!

Besos,

Dawn

PS on a personal note: My son turns 13 tomorrow! He went to the Galapagos with his dad, uncle and grandfather during Thanksgiving and has big birthday snowboarding plans! thanks to all of you who have been supportive of me being a full time working mom who is also making a film, what was I thinking?!! thank you for all of your love and support. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Topics: DVD, aspirations, Central Valley, Youth Together, educational outreach, being 13, finishing, PBS, friends, festivals | No Comments »

Live Radio…means you have to call in on time!

By Dawn | November 22, 2008

Our FIRST LIVE RADIO interview was great! It was with Sarah Newton in the UK. It went really well even though I was LATE! Fortunately, Kristy was on time, as usual. I know it must be tough to work with someone who is so TIME challenged and Kristy is a trooper!

If you missed the live broadcast you can load it on to your iPOD and hear it over and over again. Sarah included her 11 year old daughter on the program. They watched the film together and both liked the film for different reasons. I really enjoyed speaking with both of them and I think Kristy and I did a great job!

Check it out HERE!

Also, check out her and e-mail newsletter. She has GREAT advice for raising healthy teens.

NEXT UP:

January 16 to 18, 2009 at the 2009 San Joaquin Children’s Film Festival–Stockton, California
February 2, 2009 at a Youth Together BENEFIT screening–PFA in Berkeley.

See our Screenings page for more info.

Topics: Youth Together, Aliens, teen years, UK, radio, San Joaquin | No Comments »

LIVE Radio Interview-Wed 11/19/08

By Dawn | November 17, 2008

Teenager Alien

We are going to be guests on Wednesday, November 19 at 7:30pm UK TIME / 2:30pm EST on “Help! My
Teenager is an Alien! radio show.

You can listen live, join us in the chat room or call in and ask us a question.

Call-in Number: (347) 324-5003 -OR- Listen Live.

Going on 13…the reality!

What it is really like for children nowadays as they enter the teen years? What are the main issues they
face and how can parents and service providers help them during this crucial, confusing and sometimes
scary journey? Join Sarah and film-makers Dawn Valadez and Kristy Guevara-Flanagan as we discuss their
award-winning unconventional documentary, GOING ON 13. Take a peek into the world of the next generation
and learn how you can really make a difference in their lives.

Topics: England, radio, Broadcast | 1 Comment »

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