Talking to a child about private body areas and inappropriate touching can make any parent feel uncomfortable and awkward, but it’s an important step in keeping your child safe.  Jennifer Parker, a Prevention Education Specialist with a domestic violence prevention education program in Michigan, suggests that speaking with your children about their bodies should be as important as any other safety conversation, “When a parent talks to their child about good touches and bad touches, they should spend just as much time on that as they do any other safety planning.” Use these tips as a guide to assist you in discussion with your child in a relaxed, engaging and entertaining manner.

When you are ready to speak with your child, give them your undivided attention and make sure to proceed at a pace that allows time for your child to ask questions, express their thoughts and voice concerns. “Children will pick up, from the parents, what the parent’s attitudes are, whether they’re expressed in words or in body language or in tone of voice,” said Dr. Kathleen Colborn-Faller, the Director of the Family Assessment Clinic at the University of Michigan.   It is essential to be conscious of yourself and your actions during the conversation.  “It’s almost like you’re telling a story to a child, making it maybe somewhat fun, somewhat interesting,” said Sexual Assault Therapist Marcia Scott.

It’s important for you to make a positive impact when talking to your child so that he or she doesn’t become nervous or develop anxiety regarding their bodies. Being prepared and thinking it through will help communicate the message in an affirmative manner.  When speaking, it’s best to:

• Use a calm voice,
• Keep the information simple,
• Have a sense of humor and,
  most importantly, be relaxed and sensitive as young children can easily become ashamed, confused or reluctant to participate in the conversation.

During the conversation, it’s important to teach your child the correct anatomical terms and not nicknames for body parts. “Many times parents will use, slang terminology for different areas of the body, but just as we talk about our ears, our nose, our hands, there’s no difference to talk about the private parts; the breasts, the penis, the vagina,” said Dr. Mary Jo Malafa, Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at St. Joseph Mercy.  If anything happens to your child, having the correct terminology will allow them to accurately express to you or other trusted adults and possibly law enforcement, exactly what happened, with no confusion.  Otherwise, “A lot of times, the legal system can dismiss it, and not take what they’re saying seriously,” said Marcia Scott.

Remember that open communication between you and your child is vital when it comes to learning about inappropriate touching.  Your child should feel comfortable talking to you about their bodies without embarrassment. He or she should understand that when it comes to their body, they have the right to ask questions and voice their opinions. The ultimate goal of the conversation is that parents need to give children the message that their bodies are something to be proud of, that their bodies are their own, and that they should feel comfortable about themselves and their bodies.

For more information, visit the Daisy website.

Daisy and Clover

Carrie, Stephanie and Lauren take on the guest list.

Nate in the Main Art Theatre front lounge.

Carrie chats about the line-up... One of Us Showcase next!

Danielle and Ellen master the fine art of sitting.

]]> http://www.oneofusfilms.org/lunafest-recap/feed 0 http://www.oneofusfilms.org/regional-roots-at-the-detroit-windsor-international-film-festival http://www.oneofusfilms.org/regional-roots-at-the-detroit-windsor-international-film-festival#comments Wed, 19 May 2010 16:02:10 +0000 oneuvus http://www.oneofusfilms.org/?p=955 The Detroit-Windsor International Film Festival has selected the One of Us Films documentary, Regional Roots: The Birth and Evolution of Detroit and Its People, to show in its summer 2010 event.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Date: June 26, 2010
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Law School, Wayne State University
Cost:  $6-8

One of Us Films will be hosting a showcase of locally produced short films on April 21 and 25 at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak. The line-up includes the documentary, Regional Roots – the Birth and Evolution of Detroit and Its People, which won Best Detroit Doc at the Ferndale Film Festival, This Year Will be Different, a 48-hour Film Project winner for Best Holiday Film, and the narrative shorts, Felix Graves and Hunting Blind.

As the first documentary to receive the Michigan tax incentive, Regional Roots captures 300-years of Detroit history in 26 minutes. Briefly skimming politics and industry to provide context, the film uses the immigrant experience to explain the roots of Detroit’s cultural and ethnic communities. In addition to moving images from the National Archives, local museum and library collections contributed their photos, images and artifacts to create the historical film. Film footage includes Diego Rivera painting his mural, Detroit Industry, and selections from Detroit News reels that haven’t been seen since theater showings in the 30s.

Short films serve both as a calling card for directors and actors and are most often seen at film festivals. For a film community, they create an opportunity for production crew to move up in a department, from 2nd to 1st Assistant Camera for example, earn days on set for union eligibility and for many, provide an entre to a production career.

While Hunting Blind was able to take advantage of the film incentive and had the budget to pay crew, Production Manager Marty Shea had to tap his Chicago contacts to fill key set positions, because qualified, local crew were already booked on long-term feature projects. Shea lived in Chicago, working between the two markets until the incentive passed and he moved back to Michigan.

He hasn’t been the only Michigan born talent to move back. Assistant Director Patrick Priest, returned to Niles, Michigan, where he grew up, to work in the film industry and earn his days for a union card. Priest’s work on the T.V. show, 24, introduced him to actor Brian Kimmet, originally of Ann Arbor, now based in Los Angeles. Kimmet was flown in to work with the Michigan-based cast for Hunting Blind, including Glenn Dossin and Dennis Janiske.

While Hunting Blind was budgeted around $100,000 and employed forty people throughout all phases of the production, the One of Us Films Showcase will also feature Felix Graves, made on a shoe-string budget with volunteers and donated equipment. Keith Jefferies co-directed and shot the film with co-director and writer Jeff Meyers.

Jefferies, who owns Ann Arbor-based Ascalon Films, worked on five short projects and the feature Naked Angel in 2009, “I said I’d never do another short again but having the film incentive really helped us. It’s raising the level of everyone. Even if it’s not an incentive project your working on, the smaller budget films are training new crew.”

Jefferies also shot This Year Will be Different as part of the 48-Hour Film Project, where filmmakers compete to see who can make the best short film in 48 hours. Lauren Thompson produced the short, which used over a dozen non-union actors, many performing on screen for the first time.

The one-hour One of Us Films Showcase will follow LUNAFEST, a touring festival of films for, by and about women. The LUNAFEST program includes the premiere screening of locally produced Best Girlfriends, written and directed by Barbara Troy.

Tickets for the One of Us Films Showcase are $10. Lunafest tickets are $15 for the 2-hour program. You can purchase a combo ticket for both screenings for $20. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, visit www.oneofusfilms.org/screenings

One of Us Films Showcase, April 21st at 8:00 and April 25th at 6:00
Lunafest, April 21st at 6:00 and April 25th at 8:00
Main Art Theater, 18 North Main Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067

Before the internet and digital revolution, films were first made on film.  One of Us, the short that launched the company, is now available on DVD!  This release includes a commentary about the making of the project.  And looking back on it, it’s still amazing to me that a bunch of college kids got together and made something this good–telling a compelling story without seeming dated. …even if none of the people in the movie use cell phones.

One of Us depicts the story of one woman’s emotional struggle after she has been raped by an acquaintance.  As most rapes go unreported, the film’s intent is to provide a window into what happens to a woman when this occurs, her dependence on friends and their varying reactions to the assault.

Buy the film for $19.95 To see the trailer and for more info on the movie, click here.

Jennifer Jill White as Liz.

Screening dates for Royal Oak, Michigan 2010
Wednesday, April 21 at 6:00
Sunday, April 15 at 4:00
Main Art Theatre 118 North Main Street, Royal Oak, MI 48067
Click here to purchase tickets online.

LUNAFEST is completely funded by LUNA and run by a small, dedicated group of LUNA employees. 100 percent of all proceeds are donated to charity – 15 percent to the Breast Cancer Fund and the remaining 85 percent of proceeds go directly back to hosting community organizations.  Over the years, as LUNAFEST has grown from a single annual event to more than 140 festivals each season, LUNA’s commitment to this worthwhile program has grown as well. To date, LUNAFEST has raised over $470,000 for worthwhile women’s organizations, while raising hope and awareness for the stories of women everywhere.

Diane Cheklich’s film, Doctor Reddy, took home the Audience Choice Award last night to the sound of applause at the Mitten Movie Project screening.  This co-production with One of Us Films precedes a feature based on the Dr. Reddy character, which the writer/director is currently developing.

Writer/Director Diane Cheklich center, Carrie LeZotte right Photo courtesy of Riaz Khan

The Mitten Movie Project is a monthly film festival dedicated to screening independent films the first Tuesday of every month at the Main Art Theatre in Royal Oak.   A pre-screening reception starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Main Art lobby where moviegoers can mingle with the directors, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts. After the screening, Q&A sessions are conducted with the filmmakers in the theatre.

Lora Probert, Beth Morrison, Victor A. Mack, Carrie LeZotte, Daisy the Raven

Troy, Michigan – One of Us Films received the 2010 Voice for Victims Award from HAVEN of Oakland County.  The award comes in recognition of producing Daisy Tells a Secret, a ten-minute animation for 4-7 year-olds, teaching about safe adults and body ownership.  Directed by Lora Probert, the educational animation supports one of HAVEN’s main community programs.

Director Lora Probert and Executive Producer Carrie LeZotte

Currently in production are individual parent and educator DVDs, explaining how to successfully use the animation and providing relevant adult-child discussion tips.  The national DVD release is scheduled for May 1st.