Body Shaming, Social Media, Bullying And The Drive To Be Best - Selfie Filmmaker And Positive Psychologist Barbara Becker Holstein Provides Powerful Resources And Solutions For Kids And Their Parents

    WILMINGTON, NC, February 23, 2019 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For kids, the world has become a very dangerous place, more so today than in any other time in history. We have just experienced the anniversary of the Parkland school shooting. This was but one of many. A new book book by Lisa Damour, 'Under Pressure', details the "Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls." The media has produced hundreds of articles about the stresses experienced by young people. A recent story on the Washington Post website detailed some of the psychological effects school lockdowns create in school age children. Sadly school shootings, while horrific, are but the tip of the iceberg. We must add to that body shaming, social media, bullying, drug abuse and climate change. How did we get here? And what is the solution?

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, Positive Psychologist, author, award winning selfie filmmaker and creator of 'THE ENCHANTED SELF' has created a massive number of resources that kids, parents and grandparents can access to meet these modern-day challenges. Those resources include both selfie films and podcasts. These form the core of her message today, as these are two mediums that engage young people in powerful ways.

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 series is in the development phase with the initial pilot making Film Festival Rounds. Teens will have a chance to discuss via their Selfies and in discussion with Dr. Holstein and other experts, various topics that affect their lives, from friend drama to fear of assault weapons. A recent outtake from one of her latest pieces dealing with a school lockdown can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/318541800. 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.

"As a Positive Psychologist, I realize that reaching our potential and sustaining the emotional energies necessary to live a joyful and productive life are not easy. I believe in giving people lots of healthy ingredients to choose from as they handle the problems of life: coming of age, being an adult, raising kids, working, being the sandwich generation, aging with spirit and wisdom, staying healthy, etc. 'THE ENCHANTED SELF'is a positive psychology potpourri of products, films, Podcasts, books, a play, articles and ideas designed to help people of all ages make the best of their lives. These include The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween and Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen; THE ENCHANTED SELF, A Positive Therapy and Recipes for Enchantment, The Secret Ingredient is YOU!; 'The Locket', a one act play, for middle or high school production; Selfie Coming of Age Films, great for schools, libraries and homes; A Selfie filmmakers contest; Podcasts where kids and parents are welcome to join me, Ted type short videos where I discuss psychological aspects of living, such as anxiety, helping kids achieve, etc.

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 Door 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
Awarded: Best Educational Film Award at the Jersey Shore Film Festival, August, 2018
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
Jersey Shore Film Festival - Best Educational Film - August 2018
Indie Awards - Award of Recognition in 3 categories: Women Filmmakers, Leading Actress and Educational / Instruction / Training

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

Conflict:

Official selection to premiere at the New Jersey International Film Festival at Rutgers University on June 9th, 2018
Semi-finalist in the JELLY Fest Film Festival, June, 2018
Official Selection Golden Door International Film Festival - September 2018

Angst:

Official Selection for the Brightside Tavern Film Festival in early August, 2018

Selfie:

Official selection at the One Minute Film Fest, Teaneck, New Jersey, September 8, 2018

'The Medium, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film'

Selected to be screened at the Young Filmmakers's Screenings in Manhattan in early March, 2019.
Selected to be screened at Brightside Tavern Film Festival, March 3, 2019. Megan Brown nominated for Best Actress.

The Selfie Project Pilot

Independent Shorts Award - Certificate of Achievement Los Angeles, December 2018
Global Indian Film Festival - Selected for screening - Mumbai India
Best Shorts Competition - Awards of Recognition - The Selfie Project Educational/Instructional/Training
Independent Talents International Film Festival- Semi-Finalist
To be screened at Brightside Tavern Film Festival, March 3, 2019. Up for Best New Jersey Short and Best Concept.

'Conflict and a Bit of Magic, A Coming of Age, Selfie Film'

To be screened at 52 Weeks Film Festival
Global Film Festival Awards
Independent Talents International Film Festival, Semi-Finalist

'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 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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