Artistic ambitions and creative imaginations guided by tips from industry insiders make the CICFF’s Take One! Workshops wildly successful. Thanks to a generous grant from the Hot Topic Foundation, the 23rd Annual Chicago International Children’s Film Festival invites children ages 7-14 to participate in the 2006 “Take One!” Workshops, October 21-22nd and October 28-29.

Whether you crave center stage or behind the scenes operations, the “Take One!” workshops have something for every innovative and determined young mind. Participants are afforded a broad selection of imagination-rich workshops catering to the creative spirit. In So You Think You’re FUNNY? budding comedians of all ages can learn the basic of film comedy and explore the comedic mediums of physical, scripted and improve comedy. Or join radio, TV, and movie personality, Shadoe Stevens, (America’s Top 40, Hollywood Squares) who used his skills and imagination to build a home-based one mile radio station at the age of 10! Shadoe is set to share his voice and personality with young enthusiasts ready to learn the basics of creative vocal use in Speakin’ Out with Shadoe Stevens.

Budding animators have two terrific choices -- the Festival’s signature Dream Screen II workshop (October 21-22) led by Mary McKay and Get It Moving (October 28) with Little Airplane Production’s Jen Oxley.

The festival’s first ‘sound design’ workshop will be offered at Chicago’s own Experimental Sound Studio led by Lou Mallozzi. And for all those aspiring actors, REM Studios will present Casting Call a two-day auditioning workshop!

“The Hot Topic Foundation is truly visionary in supporting hands-on filmmaking workshops for children,” said Nicole Dreiske, Founder and Director of the CICFF. “Giving children them the tools and technology to express themselves creatively through film is an invaluable experience.”
Take One! Workshops of the CICFF require an additional fee as indicated. Workshop space is limited, so sign up is encouraged in advance. For information regarding workshop selection, fees, times and locations, please contact the CICFF at (773) 281-9075 or visit www.cicff.org for reservations and information.

Dream Screen II Animation Workshop
Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22
Noon to 4 p.m.
Facets Lounge
Facets Multi-Media, Inc.
1517 W. Fullerton Ave
Fee $75 - For ages 11 to 14
Capacity: 25
Don’t wait! Animate! Learn what you need to know to create your own animated film from award- winning animation director Mary McKay. Sign up for this intensive, hands-on animation workshop where you will brainstorm story ideas, make your own animation figures from clay, design backgrounds and bring your creation to life. After this two-day crash course you will become an instant “film celebrity” because your original short film will have its world premiere during the second weekend of this year’s festival!

Casting Call ! – Audition Workshops for kids
Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22
Time 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
REM Studios
3511 W. Belmont Ave.
Fee $20 - Saturday session for ages 8 to 11
Sunday session for ages 12 to 14
Capacity: 20
Want to be an actor? Think you’ve got what it takes to make it on the silver screen? Join Robert Latte from Chicago’s own REM Studios, affiliated IMTA and learn how to find your mark, step into the light and make the big impression that will take you from sidewalk to screen.

Sound-Off!
Sunday, October 22
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Experimental Sound Studio
5925 N Ravenswood, Chicago
Fee $35 - For ages 10 to 14
Capacity: 15
Can you hear me now....? Having great sound is crucial to a great movie. Sound tells you where to look, how to feel and sometimes leaves an impression stronger and longer lasting than the images of the film itself. Let Lou Mallozzi of the Experimental Sound Studio show you how it’s done. Learn the basics of how sound works, proper microphone technique and create your own sound track to surprise clips on the fly.

So You Think You’re FUNNY?
Saturday, October 28
10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Facets Lounge
Facets Multi-Media, Inc.
1517 W. Fullerton Ave
Fee $20 - For ages 7 to 11
Capacity: 20
What’s funny and who says so?? This lively workshop will provide an outlet for budding comedians of all ages. Stage and screen actor Nate Sears (host of Nickelodeon Live!) will introduce participants to ‘basics’ of film comedy and explore three ways of making films funny - visual and physical comedy; scripted or joke-driven comedy and improv comedy. Bring your gags, your best jokes, your silliest costumes and your funniest stories!

Get It Moving! – An Animation Workshop
Saturday, October 28
12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Facets Lounge
Facets Multi-Media, Inc.
1517 W. Fullerton Ave
Fee $35 - For ages: 11-14
Capacity 15
Stretch your imagination in this four-hour workshop led by Emmy Award-winning Animation Director, Jennifer Oxley of Little Airplane Productions, the company behind The Wonder Pets, Go Baby Farm and Oobi. Learn the cutting edge animation techniques that sent these great shows and several others into the hearts and homes of kids all over America. Play with the basic physics of stop-motion animation and recreate your favorite fairy tale with other budding animators.

Speakin’ Out with Shadoe Stevens
Sunday, October 29
Ages 11-14
11:30 a.m to 1:00 p.m.
Experimental Sound Studio
5925 N Ravenswood, Chicago
Fee $35 - For ages 11-14
Capacity: 15
Do you have a voice that the world needs to hear....but no one’s listening? Want to learn basic tips on using your voice and personality in creative ways for film and television? Step into this workshop led by Shadoe Stevens, star of radio, tv and film(and the unforgettable voice of the Grammy and Emmy Awards). Come ready to breathe, focus and let ‘em hear it.