Bee Movie-Jerry Seinfeld Live!

Humor is one of the most prevalent and essential elements of show business. It is also one of the most difficult things to master in show business. What makes something funny? How do you know your humor applies to and is relatable to the average person in every demographic? When it comes down do it, funny people are people who understand and appreciate the evasive conditional entity that is humor, and Jerry Seinfeld knows humor like the back of his hand.

Speaking with Jerry and hearing his very valuable two cents on comedy didn’t necessarily make us funnier, but it did open our eyes and allow us to appreciate and understand humor in a different way. Something truly funny is funny, no matter the consumer’s age, race, or gender. Jerry Seinfeld understands this —if something’s funny it cuts across. It doesn’t matter how old you are or what country you’re from. If you like funny things, you just know it when you see it, and you respond to it when you see it and it doesn’t matter if it was meant for you or not.” — EXCERPT FROM FEATURE STORY

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RUSH HOUR THREE
Reviewed by Connor McGuigan and Alex Schwartz, Branson School

Waiting for the star and director of Rush Hour 3 in the Presidential Suite of the St. Regis Hotel, we were startled as the beaming face of Chris Tucker entered the room, closely followed by the portly figure of Brett Ratner bringing the room to life. Chris began by sharing stories about his travels all over the world for the last 6 years before coming back to star in this new Rush Hour film. He told us how seeing the world changed his outlook on life and inspired him to do a lot of work in Africa with his foundation. His travels gave him a new passion for helping people and kids as he began to realize his life was more than just being a big comedian and a big star. Chris said, “I’ve become friends the King of Jordan, Crown Prince of Bahrain and all these people who own their own countries. ‘What’s it like having your own country and your own army?’ They said, ‘How did you like working with Jackie Chan?’ I said, ‘Give me a mall, I’ll tell you.’ It’s been exciting and I learned so much. I know now that when I make people laugh in movies, I know I’m helping them forget their problems.”
FF: Brett, what advice would you give to the kids who are aspiring filmmakers?
Brett: Get your video camera, get your friends, make a movie and tell a story. Forget about visual effects, forget about the tricks, tell a great story with a beginning, middle and end. When I was in film school there was no way for people to see my movies. I would show it to all the kids in my class, that’s it. Now you have the Internet and YouTube. They make movies with video cameras now - big movies. Technology today makes it a great time to be a director. There are so many more opportunities for you to become a director. So how do you get out there? It’s about showing your work. Your film is your resume. Like you normally get a job and you work and you have experience and you put on your resume and you send that resume out. Your film that you make is your resume and if it’s bad, okay, it doesn’t matter. Try again, make another one, make another one. Keep making them. If you made about 50 films and no one likes them maybe you should do something else. You know what I mean? But don’t give up. If you give up you’ll never know if you would have made it or not. If you love what you do you’re going to be good at it. As long as YOU are happy doing what you love, okay. Don’t limit yourself.
FF: With budgets for your films escalating, does that compromise your vision at all in terms of what you’re trying to achieve?
Brett: You don’t need money to be creative. An idea doesn’t cost money. Good luck comes with good ideas and bad luck comes with bad ideas. It’s all about the idea.
Brett: The idea was good which helps everything fall into place. The idea is more important than the budget. It’s not about the budget. Movie studios in Hollywood are trying to make a lot of big event movies like Spiderman and Batman, but I’ve seen a movie with one guy in a room alone and it was brilliant. You don’t need a budget. You want to be a filmmaker, think ‘How can I come up with a good idea, how am I going to execute this idea? Remember a filmmaker needs story-telling skills. Tell a story with a beginning, middle and end in the simplest way possible. Have a point of view. That’s the most important thing. — EXCERPT FROM FEATURE STORY

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ARCTIC TALE
By Markita Schulman and Kiersten Romanick, 6th Grade, Mill Valley and Davidson Middle Schools

As we stepped out of the car on that beautiful summer day in San Francisco, we felt excited and nervous because we were about to interview Adam Ravetch, the director of “Artic Tale,” at the Ritz Carlton Hotel! After being escorted upstairs, we opened the door, and there he sat, with a gleam in his eye and a smile so pure; he seemed so nice and happy — any nervous feelings we had melted away, and excitement set in.

Adam Ravetch and his wife Sarah Robertson spent many years out in the Arctic and now they’ve brought their experiences to you in the film “Arctic Tale,” a story about two animal families experiencing global warming with a real family behind the scenes. “Arctic Tale” is an epic wildlife adventure that explores the vast world of the Great North. This film tells the story of a walrus pup and a polar bear cub on their life’s journey from birth to adolescence to maturity and finally parenthood in the frozen Arctic wilderness. The walrus and the polar bear are losing their beautiful icebound world, once an almost perpetual winter wonderland, as it melts from underneath them. So, while Ravetch and Robertson are quite cold, life heats up for the animals!

Originally, Adam Ravetch and his family didn’t know that they would be making a film about the Arctic. While Sarah and Adam had done TV films before, they never dreamt of anything this big. They thought that living in the Arctic would be a good adventure so they gathered their three children and set out to explore. When Ravetch’s skills as an underwater cameraman were put into action, they made a spontaneous decision to bring their TV wisdom to the big screen. It took them eight years to complete their film, but at the end they knew it was worth it. Adam said, “Sarah and I did television films before but this will reach millions and could change the world. Personally, it’s a labor of love.”

For the Ravetch and Robertson family changing the world goes one film at a time, one animal at a time. At the end of their film they suggest that you can change the world too. “Learn more. Take action. We have to change the way we live.
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HAIRSPRAY
Reviewed by Caitlin Firmage, Alexis Baccocio, Aviva Herr-Welber & Kate Alper
Brandeis Hillel School, Mill Valley Middle, Saint Mark’s & The Branson School

“You’ve got to think big to be big,” actor father Christopher Walken tells his daughter Nikki Blonski in the film “Hairspray.” And thinking big we were as we headed over the Golden Gate Bridge to the Ritz Carlton a sunny morning to see the film and interview the cast up close and personal after.

And action!” called the director and choreographer, Adam Shankman. Immediately a catchy tune blasted from the speakers as the actors on stage sprung to life. Amanda Bynes, Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron, Brittany Snow and Michelle Pfeiffer shimmied and danced across the stage to the beat. “Cut!” called out Adam once again. The actors stopped dancing and singing and trudged back to their dressing rooms for a well-deserved break. We loved “Hairspray,” a remake of the popular blockbuster of 1988. The film is fun and upbeat and carries a strong and important message — one of inclusion and acceptance. Amazing choreography with lively songs in amazing dancing and singing numbers keeps you dancing in your seats!

Are you an aspiring dancer, actor or singer? Nikki and Adam give this advice, “Live your life honestly, and the best you can. Don’t fear change and have courage to chase your dreams. Also remember that fear and hatred are the seeds of prejudice.”
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SHREK THE THIRD
…a not-so-average fairy tale
Reviewed by
Tyler Sylla, 7th Grade
Kent Middle School

Extreme adrenaline and anticipation filled me with excitement.
I still felt dumb-founded even days after I found out I’d be covering the official press junket for Dreamworks Animation’s new movie, Shrek the Third. I couldn’t wait to interview the stars as well as the amazing creative team who make it happen on the silver screen.

This opportunity was indeed once of a lifetime ?] getting to see a new hit film and meeting the stars. It was a lot of fun. There’s always been something so unique to me about the Shrek movies — they have always had something that made themselves different from other animated films. Sure, there have been many knock-offs, but none could match up to the lovable characters and their twisted, yet hilarious fantasy adventures. They are timeless, and aren’t afraid to make classic stories look stupid. Also, they appeal to people of all ages. This is why I believe Shrek the Third is a not-so-average fairy tale!
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A GIANT STORY
The smell of hot dogs and peanuts, the sound of the crowd going wild with excitement in the air.
Love baseball?
Ever wanted to play in the pros?
Ever wondered what it's like to be a pro?
Wishing to be closer, that's a baseball game.
It was a beautiful sunny afernoon, perfect for baseball. We were excited to meet and interview our favorite sports heroes- the San Francisco Giants. Not the usual group of stiff and crusty usual sports reporters wanting to learn why a big hitter bunted in yesterday’s game, we were FastForward reporters, determined to get up-close and personal with our favorite stars. Here’s an experience that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.
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ON A ROLL…WITH JONNY MOSELEY
Imagine winning the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics, getting endorsements from just about every major company and have money pouring in from every angle.
You are on top of the world.
Can you be any happier?
Or later in life will you be able to say that you had achieved this same great feeling twice?

For Jonny Moseley, the answer is yes.
Moseley's second trip to the Olympics, where he performed his Dinner Roll, didn't earn him the gold, but he was ecstatic anyway; he had landed his own move that he has been working on for seven years, and nailed it.
And he knew it was the best he had ever done at the Olympics.
FastForward had a chance to interview the 26-year-old Tiburon resident as he was gearing up to appear in the upcoming X-Games in Aspen, Colorado.
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ROCK WITH CHRIS
We heard a knock on the door and in he walked, wearing a black suit and two diamond stud earrings.
Our hearts were racing —we were about to meet someone we’ve been dying to talk to since we were little kids.
Chris Rock is a great actor who had made us laugh until our sides ached.
We had no idea what to say, but then he mentioned the Warriors.
Yes, sports, something we know, we thought to ourselves.
We began chatting freely about basketball, seeing how nice he was.
As we took pictures, Chris showed us his pager with famous people that had paged him — Adam Sandler and Spike Lee, to name a few.
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BEHIND THE BEACH…AT BEACH BLANKET BABYLON
Walking past the chattering line of people waiting to be admitted into Club Fugazi, an usher wearing a fancy tuxedo guided us through a secret side door to our seats in the producer's box.
In front of us, the red velvet curtain shimmered under orange and blue lights.
We checked out the fine details of this cozy theatre with wall-carvings that take you back in time, where buildings were luxuriously detailed.
Suddenly trumpets vibrantly ring out in perfect harmony, as the spotlight falls onto the live musicians…and the show begins.
We had no idea what we were in for.
Not funny — hilarious!
Not clever —ingenious.
Not good — Perfecto!
You think you know entertaining? Not until you’ve seen this show.
This show left us gasping for breaths between laughs and sheer amazement at the crazy, insane energy we experienced onstage, the extravagant costumes and the unbelievable huge hats, the hallmark of the show.
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FAR-OUT AT PIXAR
Wouldn't you just die to know how Cars, The Incredibles, A Bug's Life and Toy Story were created?
Wouldn't you be fascinated if you could discover the pinpointed detail in these animated wonders?
The minute we opened the tall glass doors and stepped into this cool atrium that soared to the sky, we knew we were going to learn lots of cool facts, see great animation and hear amazing stories.
There is a happy vibe in this place.
Greeting you as you enter is a huge statue of Mr. Incredible and his family.
To your left are big statues of Mike, Sully and Nemo.
Oh and you can’t help but get excited by the small, bright red sport car that definitely has character, in fact he IS a character!
Over to the right is a huge arcade room filled with different games inviting us to come play!
Past the games is a cereal room with a huge fridge filled with gallons and gallons of milk and counters covered in every kind of cereal imaginable!
We started out asking the question, what did the word Pixar mean anyway, and why did the company founders choose it?

Randy Nelson, President of Pixar University, began by telling us that the work Pixar artists and animators do requires them to continue to be students, or rather, life-long learners.
Learning is the thing they like best.
The super-talented Pixar film-creators are all different — some of the best artists and technicians in the world, with all kinds of people in between, but what do they all have in common?
They thrive in a learner’s environment, this playground where people collaborate.
Randy pointed out that we might not have classes with all our friends, but at lunchtime, we bump into them.
Pixars’ artists don’t all work on the same project, but it’s important they feel like they’re part of the same place, the same school or the same studio. So they’ve created ways to make sure that everyone has a chance to bump into each other every day so they can collaborate and share creatively.
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ALICE @97.3
What's a seven-letter word for finding out how Alice 97.3 broadcasts its funky tunes and laugh-prompting dialogue plus getting to meet morning duo-extraordinaire Sarah and No Name?
A-W-E-S-O-M-E!
Seeing Alice Radio posters papering the whitewashed concrete walls en route to our destination, we excitedly entered the recording studios of Alice@97.3.
Music pumping out of the speakers in the walls, looking into glass rooms and seeing DJs talking into mics—we knew we were inside a radio station we love.
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INSIDE THE RED BACKPACK-AN INTERVIEW WITH LEMONY SNICKET
It was a series of unusual events.
When FastForward first attempted to contact Lemony Snicket, author of the popular children’s books in A Series of Unfortunate Events, we found him unreachable.
After creating a hand-drawn package to send to his agent at Harper Collins in New York, we were kindly informed that it would be impossible for FastForward to get an interview with Lemony Snicket; Daniel Handler, Mr. Snicket’s representative, would come instead.
A suspicious response, indeed.
When the fateful day arrived, we waited anxiously for the form of this author’s “representative” to materialize out of the morning mist.
Just as the tension was at its highest, a black Mercedes pulled into the parking lot with a stiff, proper driver in front and an obscured figure sitting in back.
The person in the rear briskly and smoothly got out of the car.
"Is that him? Is that him? What does he look like?" we asked.
As fans, we raced outside only to see a man in a cheerless black suit ambling down the street.
But he was carrying, oddly enough, a fire engine red backpack.
If this was not Lemony Snicket, creator of the dreadful and addictive stories of the Baudelaire orphans, who else could it possibly be?
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FAST AND FURIOUS AT INFINEON RACEWAY
Have you ever gone from zero to two hundred and fifty miles per hour in under six seconds in a dragster?
Yes!
At the Infineon Race-way at Sears Point, anything goes.
First we went around the actual raceway in some vans and got up to 70 miles per hour.
We learned that there were many different ways to go depending on the type of vehicle one is driving.
Drag racing isn’t the only thing that goes on here—there’s also enough room for motorcycle, mountain-bike, and go-cart racing.
But the most famous race held here is the one and only stock-car racing.
Drivers are suited up in heavy helmets, protective suits, strong gloves, special shoes, and stable neck collars to hold the helmet in place.
We arrived right before the biggest race ever: The Nextel Stock Car Race. 75,000 people per day will come to watch. That’s three days total, with a whole 125,000 witnesses.
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MAKING NEWS AT ABC7
You can’t be a good reporter or a good journalist if you’re not curious about the world around you.
As a reporter, you have first access to the news so you have an exposure to certain people and certain events, you get to see things from an advantage point that most people don’t get to see and that’s a real privilege.
You conduct interviews, and tell stories about the experience— it’s a neat job.
Having the experience is exciting.
You have a unique place in the community.
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STAR POWER AT THE NICKELODEON KIDS CHOICE AWARDS
The moment was finally here.
I was standing on the orange carpet at UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion watching Will Smith come my way.
Armed with a tape recorder and a stomach full of butterflies, I was somewhat nervous about being able to get my questions out.
I had always wanted to go to Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards.
This was the 19th annual show and over 25 million kids had cast their votes for their favorites in 16 different categories.
The show would feature the hottest stars of T.V., movies, music and sports.
I was excited to cover the event for FastForward as well as the chance to meet and interview many of the celebrities.
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MAKING MAGIC AT ILM
Visualizing new creatures and new environments …images flood to our minds as we enter the magical world of Industrial Light & Magic.
Stepping into their top-secret headquarters whose location we can’t reveal was exciting.
Our imaginations ran wild as we heard the story of our favorite director of all-time,George Lucas, as well as the team of creative model-makers and whiz computer gurus he found.
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ON THE AIR AT KFOG
How is a radio station run?
What really happens behind the scenes?
The FastForward news team got the inside scoop on one of the most popular radio stations on the air—KFOG @ 104.5.
KFOG has been spinning modern and classic rock music for sixteen years.
Their name pays tribute to the San Francisco Bay Area, with the “FOG” in their label coming from the continual fog that we see every day crossing the Golden Gate Bridge.
We learned that every radio station’s name has special meaning.
All stations west of the Mississippi River have four letters and begin with a K.
Then, the station’s founder or employees create the last three letters to convey some message about their station.
This was just the beginning of a cool eye-opening peek into radio today.
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GETTING WIRED
You hear your mom call you for breakfast, waking you from deep sleep. You sit up and hit your head on the top bunk bed. Then you get out of bed, pull on a pair of jeans, get on a T-shirt, and put your cell phone in your back pocket. You put on your shoes, but these aren’t normal shoes. These are rocket powered, flying shoes.

You go to the kitchen and get your orange juice that you drink every day to strengthen your bones. Then your robotic, voice activated TV walks up to you and asks you what channel you want to watch. You tell it to turn to channel 54, Cartoon Network, and ask it to show you Looney Toons. Your flying saucer comes near you and you punch in the name of the breakfast food that you want. The food appears on the plate instantly and you eat it all up.

You pull your cell phone out of your back pocket and dial your friend’s phone number. Then you press a button in the right top-hand corner of the phone that makes a screen pop out in front of your face. On the screen, you can see your friend as a hologram! When your friend calls you, the screen pops out immediately. On this phone, you can use as many minutes as you want and you don’t have to pay any money.

You go to school on your rocket powered, flying shoes. At school, you see your friend has a new video game console with all the games. You want it and decide to clone the game with the cloning feature of your cell phone that has a code to activate it. Now that’s what I call a “wired” day.

Every moment, technology is becoming more and more advanced. While the inventions just described do not exist now, they may in the future. Our visit to Wired Magazine, one of the nation’s most popular technology and science publications in today’s world, opened our eyes and minds to what is coming in the future. This group of amazing reporters sat back, and let us ask the questions as we wanted the “Wired” story.
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