Body Shaming, Social Media, Bullying And The Drive To Be Best - 'Conflict' By Selfie Filmmaker Barbara Becker Holstein To Premier June 9 2018

    WILMINGTON, NC, May 24, 2018 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The media is filled with stories that present challenges teens face today. Most slant toward the negative. Body shaming, social media addiction, bullying and horrendous school shootings are just the tip of the iceberg. Melania Trump recently unveiled her "Be Best" that focuses on well-being and takes a stand against cyberbullying. That is a big, first step.

Selfie filmmaker and psychologist Barbara Becker Holstein sees both danger and opportunity in the fact that the current generation no longer watches TV, but watches the phone instead. She believes that provides an opportunity to reach young people with messages, using their medium of choice. Her latest selfie film, 'Conflict', will premiere at the New Jersey International Film Festival at Rutgers University on June 9, 2018.

"I am thrilled to announce that my latest short film 'Conflict' was selected to premiere at the New Jersey International Film Festival at Rutgers University," Dr. Holstein stated. This is a prestigious film festival. 22 films have been accepted from over 520 entries, and mine is one of them. This is real recognition for my work as a psychologist and a filmmaker. I'm grateful to Megan Brown who once again stars in my Selfie film, doing much of her own filming with her smart phone. Also grateful to film editor Francesco Nuzzi who did such a fabulous job merging Megan's Selfies with traditional film.

"As I think about over 30 years of treating clients, being a school psychologist, doing case study research on women and now being a filmmaker, one thing stands out: Conflict. What a perfect title for my new film in which a young teen tries to come of age shadowed so many current day problems: drugs, bullies, alcohol, preoccupied parents, etc.

"What do I mean by Conflict? When I did my case study research based on women of all ages, I discovered that they all had the capacity for happiness, to achieve positive states of being again and again, what I call THE ENCHANTED SELF(R), but often not the will, or know how to bring happiness into their lives. Some of the limitations were placed by society, its legal systems, and biases and some of the limitations for happiness became ingrained in the women as they gave up, or felt obligated to put others first. Over the years, some of the conflicts for girls and women of all ages have improved: better legal status, more educational doors, such as local, inexpensive two year colleges and improved health care for many. But for many girls and women, the world of easy access to opportunities just doesn't exist and the results are limiting at best and disastrous at worst. Some of these include: mental health disorders, depression often being the most serious leading at times to suicide, drugs, alcohol, early unplanned pregnancies, battering or abuse in families, unfilled dreams and often generation to generation repetition of problems and disappointments.

"Conflicts are complex in society and we suffer the pain of not coming into our own in terms of human potential for many reasons. Still, it has become my life work and passion to help educate and psychologically teach women of all ages, as well as kids and their parents some of the core principles of happiness. These principles if understood and practiced will lead to people developing their talents, strengths and potential. I'm thrilled that Melania Trump is starting #BeBest. I'm sure she and I share certain understandings about human potential. Yes, it is critical to start with kids and of course their parents, teachers and relatives. That's one of the reasons I became a filmmaker. Each small segment of my films, as well as each film as a whole, give rise to discussion and thoughts about what kids need to grow up healthy mentally and socially."

Dr. Holstein offers several ENCHANTED SELF pointers for you to practice with your own children, grandchildren, or even on yourself:*

1. Help kids recognize that they are special. Praise talents and encourage real strengths. Help them appreciate their heritage, and share with them your history, mistakes, successes and a positive sense of their future. Make little of their failings whenever possible.

2. Help them develop their talents, strengths and potential. Maybe no one in your family wanted to play the oboe, but your child wishes to and hates sports. Listen to what works for him or her and help on that path. There are plenty of other kids who can do whatever your child would prefer not to.

3.Help children in your life get the education and opportunities they need to succeed. Sometimes that means repeating first grade and sometimes it means helping raise money for that nephew to go to a special soccer camp in the summer.

4.Help kids not go into overload. Some kids work so hard in school and with after school activities that they don't permit themselves the experience of pleasure and a state of well-being. Help them have more free time and do fun things that they might not think of doing, whether it is a picnic, bird watching, making a cake from scratch. Our overly media savvy kids often don't get enough 'old fashioned' time to relax.

*For further pointers, Seven Gateways to Happiness: Freeing Your Enchanted Self is a good place to start.

Dr. Holstein is currently developing "The Selfie Project" to help kids share their feelings and thoughts in a meaningful way via Selfies that can reach millions. "The Selfie Project" provides a way for young people to go public on a number of subjects. Bullying is real, school violence is real, drama because of social media is real for kids.'The Selfie Project' is giving voice to those subjects. A pilot TV show is in the development phase. Teens will have a chance to discuss via their Selfies and in discussion with Dr. Holstein, various topics that affect their lives, from friend drama to fear of assault weapons. As of this moment, teens can share a link to their Selfies and Dr. Holstein will consider them for inclusion on her website, SelfieFilmmakers.com.

Holstein's short films have won numerous awards and accolades.

The Truth A Short Film:
Garden State Film Festival Premier - Best Pop Song 2016
Golden Door Int. Film Festival - Official Selection - September 2016
Grove Film Festival - Showing - May 2017
Female Filmmakers Film Festival - Official Selection - 12th of 92 films
Roselle Park Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection - September 2017

The Truth A Short Short Film:
FilmOneFest Premier - July 2016
Chain Film Festival - Official Selection - August 2016
Jersey City Int. Television and Film Festival - Official Selection - November 2016
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection- May 2017

Secrets A Coming Of Age Selfie Film:
Alice Guy-Blache Women In Cinema Award - Nomination - October 2017, Golden Globe International Film Festival
NewFilmmakers, Manhattan- Official Selection, January 24, 2018
Brightside Tavern Shorts Fest Film Series - Best Experimental Film nomination - March 2018
Brightside Tavern Shorts Fest Film Series - Best New Jersey Short nomination - March 2018
Brightside Tavern Shorts Fest Film Series - Best Concept nomination - March 2018
Hang on To Your Shorts, Official Selection - April 2018, Nominated for Best New Jersey Drama and Best Experimental Film
Shown March 1 1018 as one of 6 outstanding women's films at the Behane Center in Jersey City, for Women's History Month by Golden Door International Film Festival.
Brightside Tavern Film Festival, Season 7 - Best Experimental Film - March 2018

Falling In Love A Coming Of Age Selfie Film:
Brightside Tavern Film Festival-March 2017- Best Experimental Film Nomination, Second Place Award as Best New Jersey Film Short
Grove Film Festival, Official Selection-May 2017
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Best Experimental Film nomination - May 2017
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Best Concept Film nomination - May 2017
Hang On To Your Shorts Film Festival - Megan Brown Rising Star Award - May 2017
Love Shorts Film Festival - Official Selection - February 2018

'Secrets' was selected for inclusion in "Passages: Women in Transition," Women In Media - Newark's 2018 Women's History Month film festival, held on March 27 – April 5, 2018 at Rutgers University Newark, New Jersey, and at various satellite venues in the area.

'Falling in Love, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film, is detailed in a new ebook: 'A Selfie Film - Falling In Love' by Dr. Holstein. This ebook presents issues and stories behind the creation of Dr. Holstein's "selfie films", which utilize cutting edge New Media technology. Topics and questions for discussion can be used by a parent and a child, or a group of hundreds as universal subjects of growing up and handling tough issues are presented.

Dr. Holstein's new podcast show, THE ENCHANTED SELF PRESENTS, will premiere on May 30th at 7:00 PM. Live on Facebook at Barbara Becker Holstein, available in many venues, including You Tube and itunes. Guests are Francesco Nuzzi, film editor of 'Conflict' and Debbie Storz Higgins, producer of 'Conflict.' The show will air monthly and will be recorded at A Shared Universe Studio.

Dr. Holstein makes a number of her books and films available to be used as fundraising tools. She requests that any verified charitable organization interested in raising funds contact her via email. She is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at [email protected]. More information is available at her website at http://www.SelfieFilmmakers.com.

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. 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 Your Tango, Heart and Soul, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, The Wall Street Journal, Time on line, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.

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