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Only the boring are bored…

is what my mother used to say all summer long when I would complain to her that I was bored. It's summer. Are you bored? No, because you are not boring, right? But if you're feeling like maybe you actually are a little bit boring (and really, who among us isn't from time to time) I have a solution for you: EMP Teen Artist Workshops. They've got drums, blues guitar, graphic novel, voice. Tons of stuff. Also scholarships. Also, totally the opposite of boring. LISTEN! They start really soon. Don't sit around thinking about it. Just go do it. Or, y'know, just...be boring. Whatever. It's Friday, what do I care?empsfm.org/camps

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Take This Survey Now!!

Do you love dance? If you do, then Pacific Northwest Ballet wants to hear from you!Pacific Northwest Ballet is doing a survey to see how we can improve for the future. The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete. Everyone who participates will be entered in a drawing to win a season subscription for two to the 2009-2010 season of Pacific Northwest Ballet. To begin the survey, simply go to our website: http://www.pnb.org/survey.htmlWe’ll be asking you some questions about the website, so please take some time to browse the website. A box will automatically appear to invite you to take our survey. Thank you from Pacific Northwest Ballet!

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TITUS: So Unique, So Fresh, So Beautiful

A Review of TITUS at Washington Ensemble Theatreby Tavis H.In the world of theater there are few companies that are truly inspired by the art of the theater. We can almost always count on finding some form of entertainment or cultural enlightenment by seeing a professional production of Frost/Nixon, or Equus. We find the think of the drama as enlightening and peering into the psyche of a disturbed or disgraced character as titillating. However, few of these productions truly experiment or attempt to defy the norms of the theater, and those who do have a tendency to fail in bringing about a glorious revelation or epiphany that makes the theater experience more than entertaining, but cathartic. However, it is not to say that rare gems of theater do not exist, they do: one just has to find them. In the case of Washington Ensemble Theater’s extraordinary performance of TITUS, it found me. On the evening that I watched the absolutely outstanding adaptation of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, simply called TITUS, all was not going well. It started off in a restaurant I had been dying to try that ended up in a big disappointment in the form of mushy gnocchi, it then was followed by a long walk, sore feet, an espresso in my lap, thirty minutes of ironing my pants with an ice cube and a rag, and very low expectations for a theater company that I had never heard of, for a show that’s only redeeming quality is the amount of bloodshed that goes on. So as I marched into the Washington Ensemble Theater’s little black box theater, my low spirits silently mocked how this two hour long show with no intermission would probably end up being like most amateur theater: long, uninspired, and verse recited…incomprehensible. By the end of those two hours, my jaw was dropped, and my cheeks ran red with shame for being so prematurely judgmental. Never before had I seen an avant garde production as tight and powerful in its stature. Every facet, every single scene, resonated an aesthetic beauty in all forms of the art of the stage. The actors, the lighting, the set design, the pure imagination struck a form of awe in me that I have rarely had the opportunity to experience. For example, instead of blood, rose petals were slingshot on stage, or hot tamales were spilt, or instead of the blatant rape of Lavinia there was a disturbingly poetic dance to “All of Me.” It is hard to capture all of the wonderful ideas that were put to use by the Ensemble, however I beg you to take my word on this stellar performance and treat yourself to a wonderful experience, so unique, so fresh, so beautiful. Washington Ensemble Theater, I salute you! TITUS played at Washington Ensemble Theatre May 15th thru June 15th 2009For details on the theatre, and their upcoming season, visitwww.washingtonensemble.org

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What do Britney Spears songs have in common with Medieval Muslim Spain poets?

Join MacArthur Fellow, poet, and translator Peter Cole in workshops for teachers, teens, and general public and find out!Planetary Poetry and Pizza for TeensWednesday, June 24, from 3 to 6 p.m.The Rainier Room located in the Northwest RoomsSeattle Center Explore the night sky with The Museum of Flight’s portable planetarium “Constellations and Cultural Stories,” and stories its beauty inspired in the ancient Greek, Chinese and Native American cultures. MacArthur Fellow, renowned poet and translator Peter Cole will then lead a poetry workshop focusing on both ancient and contemporary texts (including lyrics from Britney Spears songs.) Pizza and socializing will end the event.Free admission to the Friday, June 26 performance of The Planets, at 7pm included with your attendance at workshop.This event is sponsored by The Museum of Flight, Teen Tix, Seattle Arts and Lectures Writers in the Schools, Humanities Washington and Seattle Symphony. This event is free and open to the public and an R.S.V.P. is required to teentix@seattle.gov or (206) 233-3959.

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SIFF Review: 500 Days of Summer

A review of (500) Days of Summerat the Seattle International Film Festivalby Emma K.One of the gems in this year’s festival is undoubtedly (500) DAYS OF SUMMER. A retake on the classic romantic comedy, the film follows Tom (boy-next-door Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and his relationship with Summer (a radiant Zooey Deschanel). Over the course of 500 days, Tom has his belief in love at first sight taken away, but then returned. To say more would be to ruin the charm, kick, and quirk of this story which is utterly refreshing. First time director Marc Webb gives the film a style all its own, mixing moments of tenderness with those of offbeat humor, all set to a hip soundtrack. Unexpected as they are, these touches complete the film’s unique appeal It’s not your everyday romance, but SUMMER will have all aspiring filmmakers wishing they had thought of it first. Slated to be released nationwide, this delight is a must see.This film has already played at SIFFBut the festival continues through the weekendCheck out www.siff.net for complete movie listings

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Night Flight Is A Bumpy Ride

A review of Night FlightAn operetta performed by Book-It Repertory Theatre at The Moore Theatreby Mykhanh P.I have to admit, as I sat through the opening number of Night Flight, I was praying for the pace to pick up. Unfortunately, it didn’t until the second half. Night Flight doesn’t really have a true plot. It is an operetta that has more of a “day-in-the-life” kind of feel to it, giving you a glimpse of what the life of a French airmail pilot was like in 1930s Buenos Aires, as Riviere, the chief, guides his pilots through their night-time ventures using radios and Morse Code. It probably would have worked, except for the fact that there was really no overarching theme to the mostly unconnected series of events. It was very confusing trying to follow the story at first, since the characters never seemed to be properly introduced and some technical pilot terms were used; you couldn’t really figure out who exactly they were or what they were supposed to be doing. The random French words and phrases sprinkled in with the normal American accents was disjointed, and it also didn’t help with the confusion that an actor would abruptly interrupt himself to narrate his own thoughts or actions in the third person before immediately getting back into character. This disrupted the flow even further and was an extremely odd choice to make, as there was no particular, all-knowing narrator and the actors neither broke the fourth wall nor spoke in first person when narrating. If a person couldn’t figure out when a character was narrating or not, it could be very easy to get lost.The second half, however, is another story. When one of the pilots got lost in a storm, the tension and suspense onstage increased dramatically as his fate is left hanging. Everything was so much more interesting and enjoyable as a result of this, and the pace quickened considerably. It was here especially that I would have liked to see the play delve more deeply into a theme; there was so much untapped potential, especially with all the different directions the narration could have gone. For instance, in one emotional monologue, Riviere comes to the conclusion that “Love leads us nowhere.” But otherwise, I was intrigued, particularly with the ambiguous ending.The actors in Night Flight did a nice job of portraying the characters; they made you feel connected and sympathetic towards them. They sang pretty well when you could actually hear them over the live quartet, which made the environment feel even more intimate when coupled with the simple, bare set. The original songs were pleasant enough, if slightly forgettable, although at times, the tango influence was confusing. Using ladders as planes and rolling them across the stage was really clever, and the lights made it really feel as if you were flying among the stars in the night. Overall, it was just an average performance that probably will not inspire you to jump out of your seat and board a plane right away.Night Flight plays now thru June 14th at the Moore Theatre, located downtown on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Virginia.Presented by Book-It Repertory Theatrefor tickets and more information, visit www.book-it.org or call 206.216.0833

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A Spellbinding Tempest

A review of The Tempestplaying at Seattle Shakespeare CompanyBy Jennifer B.A Shakespeare for everyone, which is to say if you enjoy magic, love, and watching a spellbinding performance, then The Tempest is the show to see! The Seattle Shakespeare Company collaborates with internationally known local artists Jesse Sykes and Phil Wandscher, to make a mystically haunting performance. “Her [Jesse Sykes] background as a visual artist shapes her relation to the physical world as much as it influences her earthy, intelligent approach to song composition.” (Seattle Weekly by Hannah Levin, February 12, 2007)This mysterious performance which has a heavy connection to spirits and unspoken wonders starts out simple but then explodes with imaginative events. For every speck of sadness there seems to be a positive upturn leaving you in high spirits. It starts out with a father and daughter pulled from luxury to the fate of being stranded on a deserted island, their only company being a rotten servant and a mystic woman that only the father can see. When the abandoned confront the people that abandon them it is no wonder that there is diverse mix of excitement and emotions. Everyone loves an adventurous love story.The artistic team seemed to be perfectly matched to this performance. Sykes haunting tones would set a mood of complex darkness that would keep the audience intrigued forecasting future events. Magic is made when local artist collaborate.In an amazing use of space, L.B. Morse’s set incorporates the entire stage. There is a wonderful use of color that brings the mystic elements of the show alive before the actors even enter the stage. Walking on the blues of the stage to find your seat draws and intrigues you before you even sit down. There is a seemingly misplaced ladder, however, that during parts of the performance cuts off a section of the audience, making it hard to connect to the action. Otherwise it is well designed to incorporate the small changes in location.Throughout the enactment the costumes where innovative in design and well placed. Every actor’s character was well adorned in a matching article. But the most important costume of the performance seamed to fall short of expectations set by previously appearing garments. The witches’ costume that is worn during her confrontation of the characters that could not normally see her was missing the power that it was supposed to possess. With random wing pieces getting caught and with a simple yet ineffective design it just didn’t seem to match the importance of the action.Seattle Shakespeare always has a strong and effective cast. They have a brilliant use of ensemble and can make even the most awkward scenes appear natural. All the singers captured the chilling nature of the music. The lead of the show was brilliantly played by Michael Winters. This demanding role was accomplished with the greatest care and complexity. A vast range of emotions was needed to accomplish this character that was portrayed to the greatest degree. A more simple character whose performance was not in any way lesser was the comic relief of Kerry Ryan who presence always lit the stage. The audience was filled with laughter from the moment she entered until the moment she left. Her brilliant understanding of comic relief enthralled the whole audience.The performance was well pulled together from beginning to end. Though there were a couple of unexplained elements such as the garments of the main character being a modern hospital robe, which didn’t exactly seem to translate into the theme of the rest of the performance. George Mount remained true to the playwright and captured the magic intended by Shakespeare. Excluding the beginning, the audience was intrigued throughout the show. Though one has to admit that the start of the performance was a fair attempt, it just fell short of the energy that was intended. It was had no big impact which made it hard to connect with the rest of the performance.Going to Seattle Shakespeare Company is always a joyous event. The staff is always cheerful and their excitement for their productions rubs off on the audience members. It is no wonder that they have such a dedicated following. Overall it was a meaningful and inspired performance.The Tempest performs at the center House Theatre in Seattle Centernow through June28, 2009Visit www.seattleshakespeare.org or call 206.733.8222 for tickets and information

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SIFF Review: At West of Pluto

A review of At West of Plutoplaying at Seattle International Film Festivalby Emma K.AT WEST OF PLUTO, a film from Québec, is a meeting between John Hughes’ cult teenage films and the classic nihilism of French cinema. Following a group of fictional kids over the course of 24 hours, PLUTO tries to be “real”. As the directors said before the screening, they wanted the film to be about teenagers not “26-year-olds pretending to be teenagers.” The movie accomplishes this pretty well in the first half. Quirky moments between the different cliques in high school and humorous class presentations given by all the characters set a mood of entertaining eccentricity – the stoner talks about his love for peanut-butter; the preppy girl gives a speech on Ben Affleck. Later on, the plot thickens when a house party goes wrong and an abusive brother returns home. In trying to explore the trials of adolescence, the story focuses too much on stereotypes than on the people behind them. Some moments are rewarding, but the ending doesn’t capture the unique funk of the beginning. PLUTO is not completely realistic, but worth watching if only to see a dog attempt to pull a tree down in segments throughout the entire film. It’s moments like this that are the most fun to watch, and strangely enough the ones most reminiscent of our own offbeat lives.At West of Pluto played this past weekend at SIFF.But, there is one more week of amazing films still to attend!visit www.siff.net for complete listings

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FILMMAKING CAMPS FOR YOUTH

Northwest Film Forum has announced their Summer 2009 filmmaking workshops.Moviemaking in Action: Using Video to Tell Your StoriesMonday-Friday, Aug 24–28, 12–4pmInstructor: Amanda BeckerTuition: $250Max Attendance: 9Recommended for ages 14-17In the beginning there is a story. But what does it take to get from story to screen? This week long, intensive course is designed to help you build a story or experiment with themes, learn the basic techniques of digital filmmaking (including: video cameras, lighting, and sound) as well as discovering the magic behind persistence of vision. We'll work in small groups, developing ideas and learning the basic communication skills necessary to function as a filmmaking team. Your 2-3 minute group films will be edited using Final Cut Pro. The course will conclude with a screening of all finished projects in NWFF's cinema.Mixed Animation CampMonday–Friday, July 13–17, 12–4pmInstructor: Britta JohnsonTuition: $250Max Attendance: 10Recommended for ages 14-17Are you a first-time animator or a seasoned filmmaker looking to pick up some new tricks and skills? Come join us for a solid week of animation! Classic Disney films and TV shows like Gumby were all made before computers and demonstrated a variety of hands-on animation styles which are still used today in films like Coraline. Students will learn these traditional animation techniques by working with drawings, collage, clay, puppets or objects. Each student will create his or her own short film by going through the whole process: planning a project with scripts and storyboards, using movement to give characters expression, and finishing pieces with voiceovers and sound. Finished films will be compiled on a DVD for students to take home and share.Visit the NWFF website for more information, and to register for classes.

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Check out this Video: Around the World in 80 Days

Cool video from Taproot Theatre about their latest production!Click here to see Around The World In 80 DaysTaproot Theatre is located in the Greenwood neighborhood of Seattle.The show plays through June 19, 2009.Visit www.taproottheatre.org or call 206.781.9707 for more information

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Teen Tix 1st Annual Teeny Award Winners

On Monday, May 18th, Teen Tix celebrated its 5th Anniversary with a party at The VERA Project.At that celebration, we handed out The Teeny Awards to several of our Participating Organizations.These awards were voted on by Teen Tix members, and reflect their opinion on what's great about all of our arts venues.Congratulations to all our winners, and a bit shout out to all the other Participatings Organizations who won runner-up status.Here are the winners:BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE AwardAwarded to the venue that offers Teen Tix members the best seat locationsSeattle Repertory TheatreBEST BOX OFFICE EXPERIENCE AwardAwarded to the venue that has the friendliest box officeSeattle Children’s TheatreMOST POPULAR VENUE AwardTeen's most favorite venueSeattle Children’s TheatreMOST POPULAR NEWBIE AwardAwarded to our favorite venue added within the past yearSeattle SymphonyBEST OF SHOW 2008/9 AwardTeen Tixers wrote in their Favorite show in the past yearWomen and Wallace at Young American’s Theatre CompanyTHANK GOODNESS YOU ARE WITH TEEN TIX AwardAwarded to the venue we are most grateful participates in Teen TixSeattle OperaHIGH QUALITY AwardAwarded to the venue that consistently produces the best quality eventsINTIMAN TheatreTHE UP AND COMING AwardTeen Tixers choice of the venue they'd like to attend more of in the futureACTBEST SELLING SHOW IN 2008/9 AwardBased on Teen Tix usage data, the #1 selling show in the past yearSwan Lake, Pacific Northwest BalletBEST SELLING VENUE AwardBased on usage data, the venue most attended by Teen TixersPacific Northwest Ballet

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Earn $75 for your OPINION

Local Arts Organization Seeks Teen InputWe are recruiting teens to participate in a 1.5 hour focus group to beheld June 10 or 11 at 6:00PM in Seattle. You will receive $75 cash forsharing your time and opinions with us about local arts & entertainment.Click on the link below to complete a brief screener to see if youqualify to participate and feel free to forward the link to friends whomay also be interested.Take Survey Now!

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Taproot’s “80 Days” Offers Great Summer Fun

A review of Around the World in 80 DaysBy Jonathan H., age 16Around the World in 80 Days is the third production of Taproot Theatre’s 2009 season, and is sure to stand out as one of their best shows to date. Based on the 1873 novel by Jules Verne, it is a play adapted to the stage by Mark Brown mixing elements of action, romance and very silly slapstick comedy. It’s very similar to typical summer blockbusters: often silly and air headed, but a heck of a lot of fun. The script is extremely witty and the pacing is well fleshed out. Although the best parts in the play come from many of the funny lines delivered by the characters, some of the best parts involve the actors playing a variety of roles: specifically Andrew Litzkey, playing the Narrator as well as 17 other characters throughout the show. The script requires only five actors to play over 30 different parts, which all add to the fun. The play completely follows the original plotline of the novel, unlike Disney’s 2004 box office bomb, with Jackie Chan. The story begins with Phileas Fogg (Ryan Childers), a rich and proper English gentlemen who is a member of the Reform Club, which is all that is known about him from the start as we are given no back story. He has just fired his former assistant for bringing him shaving water at the wrong temperature, when he meets a Frenchman by the name of Passepartout (Nolan Palmer), whom he then hires to fill the position. He makes a bet with the men in the Reform Club that he can travel around the world in 80 days, wagering 20,000 pounds if he can pull it off. He and Passepartout begin their voyage on a train to Suez, in which we find out that they are being followed by Detective Fix (Bill Johns). He is convinced that Mr. Fogg is the bank robber that he is trying to nab, because of Fogg’s wealth and the way that he escaped town right after the robbery. Fogg and Passepartout travel by train into India, where they help rescue a native girl Aouda (very well acted by Alyson Scadron Branner), who is about to be used for a sacrifice. She later decides to join them on their voyage, with Detective Fix following along in disguise. Their voyage continues to take them through Singapore, China, Japan, followed by traveling across the United States, eventually making it back to London. Along the way, they have to overcome typhoons, Native American ambushes, and various other zany situations. As for the five main actors, Ryan Childers has the easiest job of only having to play Phileas Fogg the entire time. He plays it with heart, and he really becomes the character, especially in his movement which mirrors the sophisticated manner he follows at the beginning of the show. He also plays the straight man, not really aiming for a laugh, though his character does spout many a comedic line. Nolan Palmer does a fine job as Passepartout, making a really endearing character for the audience to get to know. Bill Johns is extremely funny as Fix, as he gets the great expressions and body language down with Fix and the other eight characters he inhabits. Of course, Andrew Litzky gets some of the biggest laughs in many of his 17 roles, particularly the grizzled sea captain and the American Yankee. He makes each role stand out above the other, though some of his roles require walking out on stage to say a line and leaving. The set is part of the fun as well. Because the plot line consists of traveling to many different locations, most would expect big set pieces and crazy special effects. For set pieces, the stage consists of two boxes, two chairs, a crate and one stool. And yet, these pieces are used to represent a train, a court house, a boat, a pub, and even (creating a good deal of laughs) an elephant. It is brilliantly staged by director Scott Nolte, who is able to keep a steady pace and create laughs from things not even in the script. He also does a great job directing movement, especially in the typhoon scene or when the characters are sitting on a train or, per say, on an elephant. He deserved to be on the stage for the standing ovation the crowd gave at the performance Saturday night. Some more special recognition goes to Mark Lund, for a beautiful, yet simplistic set. He also set up the exciting soundtrack, which really makes the play more exciting. Monty Taylor, who designed the lights, does some great work as well, especially with the lighting effects in the typhoon scene. Also, Nikki Visel, the dialect coach, for doing an excellent job with the actors with the many dialects used in this play. Though Around the World in 80 Days was written nearly 140 years ago, it still finds its roots for the audience. It plays itself as a period piece, but also as a contemporary piece in its comedy. It’s a very silly show, without any underlying messages, and it doesn’t take itself too seriously, which is very good since it shouldn’t be taking itself seriously. A lot of the scenes play out like sketches from Saturday Night Live, with the people you recognize playing a random character in a different accent. If that kind of humor is to your suiting, this play is for you. If you’re interested in a little summer adventure, this may also be just the show for you. But most of all, if you’re interested in a great night of fun and laughter, I definitely recommend you check this out. I would bet 20,000 pounds you will not be disappointed. You can see Around the World in 80 Days at Taproot Theatre, located in Greenwoodnow through June 20, 2009visit www.taproottheatre.org or call 206.781.9707 for tickets and more information.

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More SIFf Films

A review of Future Wave Shorts 2009by Zoe B.FutureWave Shorts 2009 is a collection of eleven short films. Overall, I found these films pretty disappointing, but there were two gems. “If You Want 2 Get Technical” is a sort of mini-documentary about an unusual African American family living in Brooklyn. The oldest sister, who is gay and in loving relationship, is raising her own child as well as her younger sisters. There’s a cheesy moment or two but mainly it is a really sincere piece (“She’s the man when I want her to take out the garbage”). The other one I really enjoyed was called “A Work of Fiction”. I won’t reveal too much about it because that would ruin the surprise, but the structure is fantastic and makes a relatively mundane plot clever.FutureWave Shorts 2009 plays at the Egyptian Theatre June 6th at 4pm.Highlights of SIFF 2009By Thomas Hustoncourtesy of The Garfield Messenger“In the Loop” – May 21After the US President and British Prime Minister decide to fight another war in the Middle East, US General Miller (James Gandolfini) and UK Secretary of State Foster (Tom Hollander) must work together to stop it. Their plans backfire, however, when Foster accidentally endorses the war in a television interview. “In the Loop” has been compared to “Doctor Strangelove” for its hilarious and biting criticism of war and politics.“Passing Strange” – May 23Each year, SIFF honors somebody in the film industry with a Golden Space Needle Award. Spike Lee will be receiving this year’s award at a special ceremony on May 23 at the Egyptian Theatre. As part of the tribute, Lee will do a full Q&A session with the audience and present his newest film, “Passing Strange,” an adaptation of the Broadway musical about a black artist who travels to Europe to discover himself.“Dead Snow” – May 23 & 27This relentlessly gory Nazi zombie movie from Norway looks horrifically entertaining. Eight Norwegian medical students on a ski trip are interrupted one night by a hiker who tells them about the Nazi occupation of the area during World War II. The Nazi soldiers supposedly froze to death, but as the vacationers soon learn, they weren’t quite dead yet.“The Beast Stalker” – May 27 & 30This thriller from Hong Kong centers around the kidnapping of a young girl by a one-eyed professional hitman. A police sergeant trying to redeem himself from a dark past takes on the case, and an elaborate cat-and-mouse game ensues. Sounds slightly corny, but should be an exciting action flick if nothing else.“Humpday” – June 5 & 7Directed by Seattle-native Lynn Shelton, “Humpday” is a self-proclaimed bromantic comedy. Two old college buddies are dared to make an erotic film for a local porn festival. They see it as an art project, but must also come to terms with the reality of having sex with each other, as both men are heterosexual and Ben is married.“Tetro” – June 10Francis Ford Coppola will be presenting a special screening of his latest film (and first original screenplay in over 30 years), “Tetro.” The film follows 17-year-old Bennie as he travels to Buenos Aires to track down his long-lost brother. Now going by Tetro, Bennie’s brother is wary of any connections to his former life, but once reunited, the brothers revisit their tumultuous childhood growing up with a self-absorbed musical genius for a father.Visit www.siff.net/festival for more complete information on these films, as well as the rest of the 2009 line-up.

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Seattle International Film Festival begins this week!

The Seattle International Film Festival begins its 2009 season this Thursday! Stay tuned to the Teen Tix blog for reviews of this year's films by many of our Teen Reviewers.First up:Princess of AfricaReviewed by Emma K.Marem Ndiaye is a dancer. This is the premise on which Juan Laguna’s documentary Princess of Africa is set. Beautifully shot and articulated, the film examines ambition, jealousy, and family against the backdrop of cultural divides. The setting is as big a character as the people themselves from the beginning – opening on a shot of Marem, a young girl, dancing on a beach in her native Senegal, the film sets the stage to examine the marriage between culture and dance, as well as the line drawn between the talented and the untalented. In the village of Louga lives the family of Pap Ndiaye, an admired “griot”, or musician. Two of his three wives, Kine (Marem’s mother) and Fama, keep his household running while he performs in Europe. The humble home overflows with people – both women’s children and mothers are there laughing, working, and supporting Pap. Everyone praises him and casually describes how life in this plural marriage works: when he is home, Pap alternates between wives every two days. When asked if this lifestyle creates any discord, Kine’s mother shrugs and says, “We are poor, we are black, we agree.”A question this film examines at length is whether or not this harmony is real. In many ways it is, but as more figures are introduced it reveals itself to be precarious. The force behind any uncertainty is Sonia, the third wife. She is a dancer, she is Spanish, and she is Pap’s self professed true love. Kine and Fama say that the arrangement between the three is natural – when she visits, she understands the Senegalese culture, an attitude “uncommon in a white person”. But is there real understanding between everyone? The passion of Sonia’s dance makes Pap love her, inspires Marem, but plants envy in the hardworking hearts of his African wives. Marem’s aspirations are supported, but they are also a constant reminder that she has the kind of talent that drew Pap to Sonia – that drew him away from Kine and Fama. Princess of Africa is a documentary but the story has such depth that is sometimes feels as though it was written by someone with tremendous insight. Each person articulates themselves so well that the dialogue feels like poetry in places, and as each figure’s true emotions are revealed so are some fascinating questions – despite being the chosen one, is Sonia in turn jealous of Pap’s other wives? Does dancing in Europe give Marem the liberty she felt when she danced in her own courtyard? Is talent something that cannot be denied?Director Juan Laguna’s desired connection between a family’s private life and dance does not follow through in every respect. Some of the situations in which he tries to blend the two are not cohesive, but the powerful attention given to the social stigma of being ungifted is intriguing. This theme delivers. Also interesting are the ways in which certain elements are portrayed. In the U.S., where polygamy has become a source of debate as well as an overused punch line, it is refreshing to see the response to plural marriage in a culture that wholeheartedly accepts it. It is given a humanistic meaning as various figures react to it in their own ways – it is the norm, but does that make it easy to live with? Also extremely pertinent is the attention given to ethnicity. Sonia is constantly referred to as the “white person” – even Pap says he finds her mesmerizing because “no other white person” is like her. By developing this theme, the film accentuates the distinction between, but also the beauty of, different races.This documentary achieves a difficult unification between the burdens and blessings of a culture, and the freedoms and restrictions of art. By incorporating sequences that look like watercolor paintings, and at times ironic music, the film becomes more that an expose on race and marriage. It muses on the life that surrounds Marem, the daughter of an African who aspires to live a life like that of the only white woman she knows. Whether or not what she sees around her will influence Marem towards or away from her dream is the crux of this story. If this film is any indication of the fresh and versatile stories that will presented at SIFF, then you do not want to miss this year’s festival. Princess of Africa plays at Pacific Place CinemaJune 4th at 9:15pm and June 7th at 1:45pmvisit www.siff.net for more information, and info on how to order tickets.

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I Heart Michael Cera!!!

Free Preview Screening of Paper Heart Starring Michael Cera!May 20, 4:00pm, AMC Pacific Place CinemasSIFF is hosting a special FREE advance screening of Paper Heart, starring Michael Cera and Charlyne Yi, and YOU are invited. All Teen Tix members may RSVP and bring a friend to attend this special free preview screening on May 20 at 4:00pm.Seats will fill quickly, so please RSVP now. Please arrive early as seating is not guaranteed. If you can't make it to this advance screening, you can see Paper Heart at its regular screenings during the Seattle International Film Festival on May 23 and 24. Learn more at www.siff.net.CLICK HERE TO RSVP! http://eventactions.com/ea.aspx?ea=Rsvp&invite=ghk82w4fxzjcbmte66tnuc41xx6bgtfv4t8tgmv8g30phsxznu9fAbout Paper HeartLos Angeles-based comedian and actress Charlyne Yi decides to travel the country in search of an answer to the age-old question: does love exist? Remaining the only true skeptic among the various people she interviews (from children on the playground and a psychic to long-married couples and scientists), Charlyne and her friend, director Nicholas Jasenovec (Jake Johnson) search for answers and advice. The pseudo-documentary leads Charlyne into uncharted romantic territory when she crosses paths with fellow actor Michael Cera. The romantic tension between both real-life actors appears genuine, but just how much of the film is scripted and how much is real? This self-aware film walks a quirky line as the characters explore the affection, anticipation, and agitation that often accompany love in modern society. By choosing to make love appear awkward, spontaneous, and enchanting, Paper Heart avoids Hollywood tricks and tries to portray something authentic, whatever that may be. Recommended for ages 13+.

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