New Short Film, 'The Truth', By Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, Chosen To Be Screened At 14th Annual Garden State Film Festival

    WILMINGTON, NC, January 29, 2016 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein's new short film, 'The Truth', has been accepted into the Garden State Film Festival. The new short film addresses issues that teens and tweens must contend with every day. While teens and tweens struggle with these issues, parents, grandparents and educators may struggle just to understand the issues involved. 'The Truth' is based on her book, 'Secrets: Diary Of A Gutsy Tween', just awarded a Silver Medal in the 2015 Moonbeam Book Awards in the Pre-Teen Fiction category. As a Positive Psychologist, Dr. Holstein is dedicated to helping teens and tweens build self esteem. Much of her focus is on social media and how it affects young people.

In the film, a young girl shares her experiences, feelings and perceptions about important issues - falling in love, hating her mother, hating her parents fighting, being afraid to grow up, being upset that they may move, loving the locket her aunt gives her and feeling loved in ways by her aunt that her parents can't seem to muster, wishing the boy she is in love with would grow taller, confronting her disappointment that she has no relationship with him, sharing her glee at having a best friend and confiding in each other, coming to terms with growing up, letting go of the her first love, getting ready to move and more.

"The film world is catching up with an understanding of how we need the power and beliefs in ourselves that we often have as children. I call that power #THE ENCHANTED SELF(R)," Dr. Holstein stated. "What do I mean by that? Simply that if we disregard the child within us we forfeit a lot of happiness and success. We may even bring on depression. #TheEnchantedSelf is the sense of well-being and happiness that exists when we are true to our authentic selves. And that always includes our early dreams, ambitions, successes, and frustrations. It is within the energy system of the child that the exuberance for life starts. And hopefully it doesn't stop, but it may, if we don't respect our own preferences, interests, talents, and potential."

"Two films clearly bring up #TheEnchantedSelf. 'Joy' is the real life story of a woman (played by #Jennifer Lawrence, who is up for an #AcademyAward for best actress) who's energy to become the person she is meant to be lies so clearly in the little girl that she was. The child who was inventive and creative. Even though that part of her was pushed aside by her parents divorcing and all sorts of other life problems, that girl was still there hidden inside of her. If that girl couldn't come out, she would have remained a very frustrated adult. As Joy says in the film, 'I can't let my family take me down.' And as an aside, millions of us wouldn't have a mop that could be wrung out without dirtying our hands."

"The other film is my short film,#'The Truth'. It is an #Official Selection at the #Garden State Film Festival! As a psychologist, turned author, turned playwright and now turned producer, director and script writer, it is such a treat for me to show my first film at GSFF - having lived and worked in New Jersey for so many years and consider the state my home."

"What is most important about this film is that 'The Truth' reflects #TheEnchantedSelf. The young girl, played by Cassidy Terracciano, has all the angst of moving from childhood to adolescence that most of us have had: a disappointing crush, a move to a new town, questions about growing up, family issues, father needing a new job, etc. She also deals with issues we never had to face. For example, she keeps her diary in a journal and also makes her own Selfie versions of her diary entries that she videos of herself on her phone. There are lots of potential problems there, such as what will she do with those videos? Will they go on to social media sites? Will they be erased? Do her parents know?"

"Yet, she finds a way to take into the next part of her life, the best of herself. It is a secret way that she knows she can't share with her family, but that doesn't matter. It gives her the courage to be herself and hold on to the most precious aspects of herself."

"My dream is that 'The Truth' like 'Joy' will influence and remind us all to rediscover who we really are by remembering the power of our own dreams and aspirations. And if we are parents or teachers we will support and guide the kids in our lives so that their dreams are not crushed."

According to the Garden State Film Festival's website, "The Garden State Film Festival was founded to promote the art of filmmaking on all levels by showcasing a wide variety of film, video and animated works as well as provide educational programs in the creative arts to the public by industry leaders." The philosophy of GFFF "is rooted in the celebration of the independent film genre and the creation of a forum where local and other independent filmmakers can exhibit their work. It was also created to pay tribute to New Jersey's legacy as the birthplace of the American filmmaking industry in Thomas Edison's Menlo Park laboratories where he invented the first film cameras and projectors, to Fort Lee, where the original studios were founded. Our event provides novice and aspiring filmmakers, actors, and others interested in careers in the film business, the opportunity to meet and network with industry professionals in an atmosphere conducive to learning and mentoring."

Dr. Holstein's entire body of work is great for parents, grandparents, older siblings and teachers to establish lines of communication with the tweens and teens in their lives.

The 14th Annual Garden State Film Festival 2016 will be held in Atlantic City, NJ, March 31-April 3, 2016.

Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at [email protected]. All of her works are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and all other online retailers. More information is available at her website at http://www.TheTruthForGirls.com. Information on the film can be found at http://www.NewShortFilmTheTruth.com.

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self , a positive psychology method for happiness. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.

Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting.

She has been a contributor to Heart and Soul, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, Time on line, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.

# # #