Oprah Staff:
The video is of my 10 year old son, Jackson, who is also the youngest professional movie critic in America. Jackson (a.k.a. "Lights-Camera-Jackson") has had his own movie reviews website (www.lights-camera-jackson.com) for about a year and a half, and in September he got his own weekly film critic segment on a local TV station. He's also been doing movie reviews on the radio since he was 7 1/2.
Jackson is an amazing talent. I couldn't link his TV review work for you due to copyright issues, but you can see his segments here:
http://capitalnews9.com/content/living/lightscamerajackson/Default.aspx
and you can read his reviews, listen to his podcasts and see his box office wrap-up on his site.
But one of his most incredible talents is his ability to do impressions. He was born with the ability to hear a voice, sometimes only once or twice, and then duplicate it. Obviously his love for the entertainment business leads him to doing many celebrity impressions (the one's on this clip are of some of the 2008 Oscar nominees), but he also does political figures, cartoon characters and regular people. It's really something to watch and hear.
Nothing against the other kids you have on your site, they're all very talented, but when was the last time you heard a 10-year do impressions...and just NAIL THEM? I'm guessing never.
The other thing that makes Jackson so unique is that he is a "Kid Critic" - he reviews Kids/Family movies from a kids point of view. Other kids, and PARENTS especially love this, because they get insight and advice on a movie they might be thinking of taking their kids to...from a real kid...and not some 45 year old man who, for obvious reasons, can't relate to these films the way a 10-year old can.
And Lights-Camera-Jackson knows his stuff. He is a student of film and pop culture. He can tell you the actors, plot, release date and box office take of practically every movie that's been released in the past 3-years. And he knows the year that every Disney film came out - cold.
Last year he saw 46 films in the theater. Some weekends we hit one Friday night another on Saturday.
And, along with his reviews, he also does celebrity interviews. I know he'd love to ask Oprah a few questions about her film career.
Check out his website and on-air work. I think you'll agree that Jackson fits your criteria as both smart and talented.
Thanks for allowing me to write to you about him and I appreciate you considering him for the show.
Sincerely,
Dan Murphy
Jackson would make a great guest on your show as he could also do review some recent films or, and this would be very timely, do a SUMMER MOVIE PREVIEW.
Hello Oprah Show!
This is Matthew Dane Peavoy. I just turned 15 years old. I'm a classically trained accordionist and pianist from Central Alberta, Canada. I've been playing piano since I was 4 and accordion since I was 8.
Normally the words accordion and classical never meet in the same sentence, but I have put a unique twist on this largely traditional, yet absolutely magnificant instrument. I have come to love the classics, being much more complicated and appreciated by everyone that I play for. I have been found to get numerous standing ovations, while also being able to bring some audience members to tears with my interpretation and feeling of the piece. This is what sets me apart from other performers, as I literally feel the music and listen and enjoy it while I play.
The accordion is the only instrument that can represent a full 50 piece orchestra, and I have not found an instrument that I can't represent with this versatile instrument [piccilo, oboe, violin, basoon, organ, snare drum, egg shaker, etc]. The accordion, unlike instruments like the piano for example, can make notes start soft and grow into grand chords, like many wind instruments. I can also represent the violin's bowing by use of the bellows and I have discovered how to make the accordion laugh and cry.
The accordion is also one of the most difficult instruments to play, balancing bellow control, note accuracy, dynamics, touch, phrasing, which bass buttons to press [impossible to see], and all at the same time remembering to breathe [least important to me, yet very crutial!]
I have been through many competitions and great performances. I have competed numerous times in local festivals on piano and accordion. I have performed at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, in August of 2007 with the Calgary Jarosh Accordion Ensemble. I have also competed in the American Accordion Association/American Teacher's Guild International Competition in Washington D.C, placing second in one category.
My greatest achievement to date is winning the Red Deer Festival of the Performing Arts' top award, out of 6,000 people, which was a performance opportunity to perform with the Red Deer Symphony Orchestra, which took place on December 8, 2008, with Maestro Claude Lapalme conducting. I played this piece, Czardas, with the full 50 piece orchestra backing me up, along with playing Ave Maria that evening. It has been the highlight of my musical career and an absolutely amazing experience!
I am currently also studying Grade 10 Royal Conservatory piano in addition to playing Trombone, Alto Sax, Euphonium, Trumpet, and numerous percussion instruments. I have also arranged several pieces for my Junior High Band, and composed several pieces on piano and accordion. I have also been referred to numerous times as a prodigy on accordion and piano, though I am not yet willing to place this title on myself.
I hope you enjoy these selections, "Czardas" and "Dark Eyes" as much as I do. Please listen to my other submissions. This opportunity would revolutionize the entire accordion world, as this style of playing is largely unknown.
Thank you!
Matthew Dane Peavoy
Jonathan is 5 years old and spends alot of time doing math for fun.
Since he was very young, he has been very interested in letters and numbers.
He now can read and write and do some math in his head and on paper.
Hope you enjoy the video.
Thank You,
Tanya
14 year old Allison in the recording studio recording her version of Ave Maria. She released this recording in 2008 as a tribute to her grandmother who is battling cancer. The recording has been nominated for single of the year for 2008 in the Hawaii Music Awards. We are asking for everyone's prayers for her grandmother. To hear the completed version go to : myspace.com/allison808 or hawaiimusicawards.com .
Allison was recently chosen Hawaii's Super Kid of 2008. To see the story go :http://kgmb9.com/main/content/view/12497/104/ .
to see more of Allison check out her you tube channel at at youtube.com/allisonhawaii .
Allison loves to watch Oprah every night with her mom!!
These are my boys Charles, III and Zachariah on the drums. Pure natural talent. I am a Worship Pastor in my church, and they are just enjoy their hobby.
Zachariah is 8 and Charles, III is now 14
My Grandfather is the first song that Drew ever wrote. He was inspired by the PTA Reflections Theme " A Different Kind of Hero" and the one person that came to Drew's mind was his Grandfather.
Drew is an amazing kid with what we truly know to be , is a gift from God. And even though he has had big opportunities past through his life, we still wait for the real reason, for his keen vocal ability and songwriting skills, to be revealed to us. Drew continues to write about HEROS in his life.
This video is of an amazing 9 year old drummer named Isaiah Fogle (currently 10 yrs old). He plays drums for our church and for the youth jazz group Neo Jazz Collective. In this video, the second drumset that he plays is set up for a left-handed player. He is basically playing backwards because he plays right-handed! Isaiah realizes that he has been blessed to play at such an advanced level at such a young age. If you would like to read his bio and see more of his playing please visit his website at www.isaiahfogle.com. Be Blessed!
Daniella is 25 months old. She has mastered her Alphabet at age 15 months and can identify all her letters and many numbers. She also can identify different shapes. She knows all her colors. She knows how to use a laptop computer. She spells very well as you can see in the video. She loves to sing. She knows more than 10 Christian songs. She also recites Psalm 100 from the Bible. She is fascinated with President elect Obama. Whenever she sees his picture via media or magazine, she threw up both hands in the air and yelled, "President Obama!" We both love her dearly. She like animals, but her favorite toys is pen and paper. She will cry for pen and her book, but will not cry for a toy.