10-yr-old Award-winning Celebrity Film Critic Perry Chen to Attend Oscar Night® America ~ San Diego Charity Event

 Perry Chen, Carmel Valley's 10-year-old award-winning film critic, animator, and entertainment personality will be attending a special Oscar Night® America ~ San Diego event, as a celebrity guest with his mom and film producer Dr. Zhu Shen.

The charity event is organized by Community Campership Council, a children’s charity organization, the only organization sanctioned by the Academy to host this official Oscar Night®   event in San Diego. On Sunday, February 27, charities in 50 cities will host official Oscar® viewing parties during the 83rd Academy Awards® ceremony as part of Oscar Night® America (ONA), the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ grassroots outreach program.

The Academy sanctions charities across the country to host celebratory viewing parties on Oscar® Night with proceeds directly benefiting the charities.  All parties will feature the live broadcast of the Awards presentation; many will integrate Hollywood-style party elements, including red carpet arrivals, local celebrities, “paparazzi” photographers, predict-the-winner contests and live entertainment.

“We are very pleased to announce that Perry Chen will grace the red carpet as a special guest at this year’s Oscar Night®   America ~ San Diego event.  Of all the film critics we could have invited, Perry Chen is the most appropriate because of our focus on enriching the lives of San Diego youth.  Perry is a role model for his generation and has already accomplished more than many film critics twice his age.  Our guests will be participating in a Predict the Winner contest and Perry will be announcing his pick for the animated feature category. The mission of the Community Campership Council is to enrich the lives of San Diego youth and proceeds of the event will be used to send San Diego kids to camp.”

“We had an enthusiastic turnout last year and were able to send 80 kids for a week at 24 San Diego area camps,” said Rob Sauvajot co-chair of the San Diego event. “We hope that being the sanctioned Oscar Night® America event will help us raise awareness about the importance of getting kids outdoors and help us raise enough to send twice as many kids to camp this year.”

“Oscar Night® generates excitement all over the world. With the Academy’s help, our guests will feel like they are on the A-list,” quoted co-chair Jerry Hemme. “The Academy will provide our party guests the same official program distributed to guests at the Oscar® presentation at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. The appearance of Perry Chen will add to the excitement.”

Watch Perry’s interview of Oscar-nominated animated feature directors Lee Unkrich of Toy Story 3 and Dean DeBlois & Chris Sanders of “How to Train Your Dragon” at the Academy of Motion Pictures on Feb 24, 2011:

http://youtu.be/2sSFebMQ37s

“I am thrilled to attend the 2011 Oscar Night®   America ~ San Diego charity event, organized by the Community Campership Council to help more kids go to summer camps,” said Perry Chen.  “I have enjoyed going to summer camps in San Diego in the past few years to learn about animals in the world famous San Diego Zoo and Sea World; practice gymnastics and swimming; make ceramics art and painting; hone my acting skills, and so much more!  I hope more people will join me at the Oscar Night® America ~ San Diego charity event to help our kids go to these fun summer camps to learn and play.”

Oscar Night® America – San Diego tickets are available at www.kidstocamp.org

Perry’s company Perry’s Previews and Amazing Kids! are also organizing the first ever “Amazing Kids! Perrific Oscar® Picks Contest,” inviting kids 6-17 worldwide to predict best animation feature Oscar® winner on Feb 27, 2011 among three nominees (How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3, and The Illusionist).  Contestant can unleash their “inner Ebert” by sharing why they pick the film in 50 words or less.  The contest ends Saturday Feb 26, 2011, the day before the Oscars®.  Enter NOW:

 http://mag.amazing-kids.org/contests/amazing-kids-contests/a

The contest is sponsored by Disney Pixar and DreamWorks Animation, each giving away 20 Blu-ray DVDs of the Oscar®-nominated “Toy Story 3” and “How to Train Your Dragon” to contest winners.  Entries are coming from China, India, the UK, Canada, in addition to the U.S.  Perry is eager to have more San Diego kids participate in the contest and become his Facebook fan by visiting his Perry’s Previews page: http://www.facebook.com/PerrysPreviewsFan

The contest ended on Sat Feb 26, 2011. Winners will be announced the week of Feb 28, 2011, following the Oscars on Feb 27.

Press release about the Kids Oscar® Picks contest:

http://www.perryspreviews.com/?p=2265

San Diego Union Tribune online news story about the Kids Oscar® Picks contest:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/18/kid-critics-can-pick-the-oscars/

Watch Perry on NBC “Today in LA” show and commentary on this year’s nominees for best animation Oscar®:

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/station/as-seen-on/The_Young_Film_Critic_Los_Angeles-116114914.html

Watch Perry’s interview of San Diego kids about their Oscar® pick for best animation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI5Ym0TLRnk

Visit Perry Chen’s movie review website for updates on movie reviews, upcoming events, promotions:

http://www.perryspreviews.com

Perry’s Previews (perryspreviews.com) is an online resource for kids, teens, parents, educators, and movie lovers of all ages to read and comment on family-friendly movie reviews from a kid’s perspective. To date, over 50 reviews are listed on a multi-media platform, including TV, radio, print, and web. In addition, Perry’s Previews features Perry’s art and animation videos. Reader participation is encouraged through and via Perry’s website, Facebook fan page

(http://www.Facebook.com/PerrysPreviewsFan) and Perry’s twitter feed @PerrysPreviews.

About Perry Chen – Gifted with a keen eye from a young age, Perry began writing movie reviews for his website “Perry’s Previews” at age 8. Characterized by his starfish rating system, his “Perrific™” favorite movies, and his family-friendly movie choices, Perry is often regarded as one of the great up-and-coming movie critics. The youngest honoree at the recent San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards, Perry also serves as the resident movie critic for the Amazing Kids! Magazine (mag.amazing-kids.org), film critic and blogger on Animation World Network, a leading professional animation industry publication; a movie panelist for the San Diego Union Tribune with over a million weekly readers; and the San Diego Entertainer Magazine’s youngest columnist and entertainment critic, reviewing films, restaurants, and entertainment events.

Perry has been featured in numerous publications and television interviews, including a recent (October 22, 2010) article in Variety, which spotlighted the top 3 up-and-coming young movie reviewers; and The Young Icons, a nationally-syndicated TV show.  In May 2009, Perry made his national television debut on CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, and in March 2010, he appeared in his first national radio interview on National Public Radio (NPR) with host Liane Hansen. Perry’s hobbies outside of film reviews include drawing, reading, folding origami, exploring nature, and gardening. Perry is represented by Rebel Entertainment Partners, a talent agency in Hollywood; and Shamon Freitas Agency in San Diego.

Contact Information:

Zhu Shen, Ph.D, MBA

CEO, Perry’s Previews
Email: perryspreviews at gmail dot com
Phone: 858-761-7955

www.perryspreviews.com

For Community Campership Council, contact:

Beth Huss

kids2camp@sbcglobal.net

858-268-9888

www.kidstocamp.org

'Perry's Previews': First-Ever Kids Oscar Picks contest; Gnomeo & Juliet previewed & MORE!

Amazing Kids! and Perry’s Previews Announce First-Ever “Amazing Kids!’ Perrific Oscars Picks! Contest”: Young Entrants to Predict Best Animated Feature of 2010.

Amazing Kids! ® (amazing-kids.org) and Perry’s Previews ^TM (www.perryspreviews.com) announced today that entries are now being accepted for their first-ever “Amazing Kids!’Perrific Oscars^® Picks!” Contest. Amazing Kids! and Perry’s Previews are challenging kids and teens worldwide, ages 6-17, to predict the Oscar^® winner for Best Animated Feature of 2010 for the upcoming 83^rd Academy Awards® and make their voice heard.  Contestants are asked to name which of the top 3 Oscar^®-nominated feature animation films, How to Train Your Dragon, Toy Story 3, and The Illusionist, they predict will win at the Academy Awards ceremony on February 27, 2011.  Contestants have the option of submitting the reason for their pick in 50 words or less on the contest site:

http://mag.amazing-kids.org/contests/amazing-kids-contests/amazing-kids-predict-the-oscars-contest/

Prizes will include DVDs of the best animated feature film of 2010 Oscar® nominees and winner, and will be awarded to contest winners in a random drawing from those entries which correctly predict the Oscar winner. In addition, one grand prize winning “Best Essay” entry will receive copies of all three DVDs.  The winners’ names will be featured on the Amazing Kids! website, amazing-kids.org with a following of nearly 1 million yearly visitors, and in the Amazing Kids! Magazine (mag.amazing-kids.org), as well as on Perry’s Previews (Perryspreviews.com).  The winners will also be announced in the contest’s media sponsor, Kid Scoop, a syndicated weekly kids’ educational activities column appearing in over 300 newspapers across the U.S. (www.kidscoop.com/).

Updates: DreamWorks Animation and Disney Pixar have become the contest sponsors, each sending 20 Blu-ray DVDs of “How to train Your Dragon” and “Toy Story 3″ as prizes for winners!  Entries have been received from China, India, the UK, Canada, in addition to the U.S.

The “Amazing Kids!’ Perrific Oscar^® Picks!”contest is one of several movie-related contests planned by Amazing Kids! and Perry’s Previews in the coming months, including an upcoming kids’ movie review writing contest for kids which will be judged by Perry Chen, Amazing Kids! resident film critic, along with some of today’s most prominent adult critics.

The deadline to submit entries for the “Amazing Kids!’ Perrific Oscar^® Picks!”  is February 26, 2011, one day prior to the 83^rd Academy Awards.  More information and contest rules can be found on the main “Contests” page on the Amazing Kids! website: 

http://mag.amazing-kids.org/contests/amazing-kids-contests/amazing-kids-predict-the-oscars-contest/

Updates: DreamWorks Animation and Disney Pixar have become the contest sponsors, each sending 20 Blu-ray DVDs of “How to train Your Dragon” and “Toy Story 3″ as prizes for winners!  Entries have been received from China, India, the UK, Canada, in addition to the U.S.

The “Amazing Kids!’ Perrific Oscar^® Picks!”contest is one of several movie-related contests planned by Amazing Kids! and Perry’s Previews in the coming months, including an upcoming kids’ movie review writing contest for kids which will be judged by Perry Chen, Amazing Kids! resident film critic, along with some of today’s most prominent adult critics.

The deadline to submit entries for the “Amazing Kids!’ Perrific Oscar^® Picks!”  is February 26, 2011, one day prior to the 83^rd Academy Awards.  More information and contest rules can be found on the main “Contests” page on the Amazing Kids! website: 

http://mag.amazing-kids.org/contests/amazing-kids-contests/amazing-kids-predict-the-oscars-contest/

Watch Perry interview kids on the street about their own Oscar picks:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VI5Ym0TLRnk

Listen to our show on Canadian radio talk show “Cutting Room Floor” with host Casey Ryan from Jan 29, 2011 show, featuring Perry Chen, Zhu Shen (mom & Perry’s animation film co-producer), Alyse Rome (Amazing Kids founder), and Karina Bessoudo (VP of Marketing, Toon Boom Animation, Perry’s animation short sponsor) discussing the contest and Perry’s new animation film:

http://recordings.talkshoe.com/TC-81947/TS-445615.mp3

About Amazing Kids! ®

Founded in 1998 by Amazing Kids! President Alyse Rome, Amazing Kids! (http://amazing-kids.org)  is a children’s educational non-profit organization and award-winning website dedicated to inspiring excellence in children, while helping them to realize their amazing potential and launch their dreams. A recent recipient of the American Library Association’s Top 24 “Great Websites for Kids” for 2010, the Amazing Kids! website supports kids’ achievement, creativity, critical thinking, and literacy through hosting ongoing creative contests and publishing the award-winning, kid-created Amazing Kids! Online Magazine.

For the past 13 years, Amazing Kids!’ Contests, http://amazing-kids.org/contests, have become widely-known and respected as one of the best online resources for kids contests (and appear in the top 2 listings for “kids contests” in Google rankings).  Amazing Kids!’ Contests continue to receive the support of a “Who’s Who” of highly respected national and international corporations who act as contest sponsors.  Past Amazing Kids! Contest sponsors have included such well-respected companies like DreamWorks Animation, Nintendo America, Carnival Cruises, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Random House and Ty, Inc.

PERRY PREVIEWS GNOMEO & JULIET

Perry Chen at Gnomeo & Juliet press screening (photo by Zhu Shen)

www.perryspreviews.com.

Liked: This film is a clever twist on a Shakespeare classic with a pair of sworn enemies: the blue gnome Gnomeo and the red gnome Juliet falling in love. It has one humorous gag after another. I like the many rich supporting characters, like the green frog, Featherstone, the flamingo and a canine-like blue mushroom who sniffed around. My favorite scene is when Gnomeo and Juliet fought for a rare orchid like acrobat.

Disliked: The ending is too tidy in order to please youngsters. Another flaw is when Juliet got herself in trouble, her father superglued her feet to a pedestal to keep her safe, but when the garden was destroyed, she magically freed herself, and nobody got hurt!

Would I recommend it? Find out from my Union Tribune review:

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/feb/11/citizen-critics-on-gnomeo-juliet/

Copyright 2011 by Perry S. Chen

Perry’s Previews and Amazing Kids invite kids 6-17 worldwide to enter the first-ever “Amazing Kids Perrific Oscar Picks” contest to predict which of 3 animation films will win best animation Oscar, you could win DVDs of Toy Story 3, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Illusionist! Details:

http://mag.amazing-kids.org

http://mag.amazing-kids.org/contests/amazing-kids-contests/amazing-kids-predict-the-oscars-contest/

———–

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, TEDx speaker,  filmmaker and animator.  He writes about movies for San Diego’s largest newspaper, the Union Tribune with over 1 million readers.  Perry is also the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine.  He also blogs for Animation World Network, and is the resident film critic for Amazing Kids! with about 1 million readers:

http://www.amazing-kids.org

Perry won the San Diego Press Club 2010 Excellence in Journalism Award, 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 50 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,  and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a kids-friendly starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  He was featured on “The Young Icons,” a nationally syndicated TV show on Nov 20, 2010, and on Variety as one of the most active young film critics in the country:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026037.html?categoryid=4137&cs=1

Perry’s reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Become a fan on his Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Check out his Internet Movie Database (IMDB) profile:

http://www.imdb.me/perrychen

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

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1800 followers)

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

38th Annie Awards for Animation was Dominated by DreamWorks. It was held at UCLA's Royce Hall on Feb. 5

(Photo: How to train your dragon co-directors Dean DeBlois (L) Chris Sanders (R) producer Bonnie Arnold (M) with Perry Chen at Annie Awards red carpet.)

10-year-old award-winning film critic and budding animator Perry Chen said he had a “Perrific!” time at the 38th Annie Awards for Animation in Hollywood, Feb 5, 2011.  He attended the festivities with his mom Dr. Zhu Shen as VIP guests of Toon Boom Animation, a leading animation software company that is a corporate sponsor to his first animation film “Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest,” a short about a young Holocaust survivor based on the true story of actress Ingrid Pitt’s childhood. Toon Boom is also a sponsor of Annie Awards.

Perry and Zhu enjoyed meeting Toon Boom’s CEO Joan Vogelesang at the Annie Awards, who has been to China 20 times in the past few years and continued to see strong demand for Toon Boom’s 2-D animation products in China.  Perry loved being a “lady’s man,” getting a kiss from Joan after giving her a beautiful Chinese silk scarf with Chinese calligraphy as a gift.

Due to the absence of Disney/Pixar at the 38th Annie Awards, Perry predicted How to Train Your Dragon to win major awards here, including best animation feature, best director, best screenplay, best voice, character design, and music.

Perry asked Dean if he could draw something special for Perry from How to Train Your Dragon.  Dean said, “Sure, I would be happy to. I really like the one you drew of me at Comic-Con last year.  Would you like me to draw Toothless or Hiccup?” “Toothless!” said Perry as he watched director DeBlois draw Toothless on the same notepad that he used to draw the director’s portrait at Comic-Con!

Perry Chen watching director Dean DeBlois drawing Toothless for him at Annie Awards (photo by Zhu Shen)

“For Perry… From one artist to another!  Dean DeBlois”

Perry Chen with How to Train Your Dragon director Dean DeBlois and his "Toothless" drawing for Perry at Annie Awards (photo by Zhu Shen)

Dragon co-director Dean DeBlois Toothless drawing for Perry Chen at Annies

Perry spoke to co-director Chris Sanders and showed his support to How to Train Your Dragon by wearing his traditional Chinese dragon outfit and How to Train Your Dragon T-shirt...

...Perry and mom Zhu asked director DeBlois about How to Train Your Dragon 2.  “I will be the only director for Dragon 2 because Chris Sanders is directing another film that will be released in 2012,” he said. “Which of the How to Train Your Dragon book will Dragon 2 be based on?” asked Perry.  “This will be an entirely new movie, because Dragon 1 is so different from the book, we will creative a lot of new stories in Dragon 2 that are not in any of the books.  Dragon 2 is scheduled to release in the second half of 2013, about 2.5 years from now.” commented DeBlois.

Perry was delighted to reconnect with his buddy, actor and voice talent Jay Baruchel (Hiccup), Annie nominee whom he interviewed at the Dragon press junket in March 2010.  Jay acted surprised about Perry’s interview of him was the most watched video on Perry’s YouTube channel with over 2,000 hits.  “Really, I could retire tomorrow,” He joked with Perry who gave him his 5-starfish business card. “Awesome!” said Jay.  He autographed for Perry too: “Perry You’re the man         Jay Baruchel”

     (Photo: Perry Chen, mom Zhu Shen with Annie-winning voice talent Jay Baruchel (Hiccup) at Annie Awards.)

Before the Annie Awards started, Perry also met Annie-nominee David Chai (head of animation studio House of Chai, “Enrique Wrecks the World” nominated for best animated short), who together with Perry, are among 70 animators who created “Guard Dog Global Jam,” an animation short based on Bill Plympton’s Oscar-nominated Guard Dog.

Perry Chen with David Chai (behind Perry) and his animation gang at Annie Awards (photo by Zhu Shen)

Perry had some fun moments with his animation short collaborator Bill Plympton who did storyboard and character design, and director Kevin Sean Michaels (Ingrid Pitt: Beyond the Forest) at the Annie Award and earlier to review and discuss feedback about the short.  The feedback from Plympton and Michaels were very positive!

http://www.toonboom.com/products/toon-boom-studio/userstories/story/?id=PerryChen

(Toon Boom Animation: Producing a First Animated Short at 10 Years Old)

Perry enjoyed reconnecting with ASIFA-Hollywood President Antran Manoogian and talent manager for the Annie Awards Ned Lott whom he worked with in 2010 as an award presenter.

As Perry predicted, DreamWorks swept the awards, taking 15 out of 24 awards, including 10 for How to Train Your Dragon.  A full list of winners are on Annie Awards official website:

http://www.annieawards.org

The Annie Awards this year was hosted by Tom Kenny, who had hosted these awards five times previously.  His great sense of humor and impromptu quick-witted comments were enthusiastically received by the audience.  Voice talent James Hong (Mr. Ping, Kung Fu Panda Holiday) gave one of the funniest award acceptance speech.  Winsor McCay award recipient Brad 

(Perry Chen with Annie-winning voice talent James Hong (Mr. Ping-Kung Fu Panda Holiday: photo by Zhu Shen)

“This is truly a night to remember,” said Perry before leaving the post-awards party at about midnight.

Perry wants to remind his fans and friends about participating in the first-ever Kids Oscar Picks contest for kids 6-17 worldwide to predict best animation Oscar winner from the three nominated films, ending on Feb 26, 2011, details below:

http://mag.amzing-kids.org

Become a fan on his Facebook to receive updates about the contest and upcoming movie reviews:

http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Perry S. Chen is a 10-year-old award-winning film critic & artist, TV/radio personality, Annie Awards for Animation presenter, TEDx speaker,  filmmaker and animator.  He writes about movies for San Diego’s largest newspaper, the Union Tribune with over 1 million readers.  Perry is also the youngest columnist and entertainment critic for the San Diego Entertainer Magazine.  He also blogs for Animation World Network, and is the resident film critic for Amazing Kids with about 1 million readers.  Perry won the San Diego Press Club 2010 Excellence in Journalism Award, 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 50 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,  and the youngest honoree of Cox Communication Channel 4’s annul Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Perry reviews films on a kids-friendly starfish rating system, 5 being the best.  He was featured on “The Young Icons,” a nationally syndicated TV show on Nov 20, 2010, and on Variety as one of the most active young film critics in the country:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118026037.html?categoryid=4137&cs=1

Perry’s reviews are available on his website: www.perryspreviews.com.

Become a fan on his Facebook & get updates about our “Amazing Kids Perrific Oscar Picks” contest and other movie reviews/events:

http://www.facebook.com/perryspreviewsfan

Watch his videos on www.youtube.com/perryspreviews

Check out his Internet Movie Database (IMDB) profile:

http://www.imdb.me/perrychen

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

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/perryspreviews (over 1700 followers)

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