Go behind the "screens" and onto the red carpet with our Tribeca Kids Access student reporters. Come along with our press team as they attend film premieres, Drive-In screenings, and gala events, and visit local Tribeca community merchants.

The Tribeca Kids Access team is a talented group of 5th- through 8th-graders from downtown schools who ask the tough (and silly) questions for YOU!

We will update this site throughout the Festival, so check back and see all that's happening at the Tribeca Film Festival from a kid's point of view.

TKA Reporters' Favorite Spots in Tribeca

Community Kickoff Party

Opening Night: Whatever Works

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles at the Drive-In

Racing Dreams

P-Star Rising at the Drive-In

Only When I Dance

Downtown Youth Behind the Camera

Family Festival Street Fair

Our City, My Story

Kobe Doin' Work


 
 

Get to know the 2009 Tribeca Kids Access reporters!
 

Abril

Age: 10
Favorite Movie: The Parent Trap (2nd version)
Favorite Book: Marley and Me, Twilight
Favorite place to hang out in the hood: Hudson River Park
Favorite place to eat in Tribeca: Cosmopolitan Café

Hey Guys!

On Thursday we had our first meeting together! I was shy at the beginning, but as I talked to everybody, I noticed they were so nice that I just forgot I was shy! I wish we did this EVERY Thursday! Everyone was so nice to me!

I interviewed Jeffrey and he was very nice and funny. I learned a lot of cool things about him, like he wants to be a lawyer and loves playing computer games! He loves the color blue just like me!

Then we did a role-play kind of thing. One person from the cast would be the celebrity and two other people would be the reporters! This was a really fun way to practice!! It was a really good idea because we got to know each other more and because it was a warm up interview! The next time I see the cast and crew will be at one of the events I am covering!

I am really excited and soooo happy that I got picked! When I got told, I cried!! I think it’s an honor to be picked to be a Tribeca Kids Access reporter, and I will have so much fun!

I'll talk to you guys again after I do my interviews! Wish me luck!

Love,
Abril
 

Allison

Age: 13
Favorite Movie: Legally Blonde
Favorite Book: Twilight
Favorite place to hang out in the hood: Barnes & Noble
Favorite place to eat: Gee Whiz

I was very excited before going to the media session on Thursday, April 2, 2009. I was wondering all day what activities would be happening. How many kids would be there? Would this be a boring session filled with only information on grammar and English? Or would this be a hands on event? These questions filled my head as I walked to the media session site. When I entered the main entrance of the Tribeca Cinemas, I finally got to meet Sandy, the person in charge of the media meeting. This is really nice, I thought. I saw these kids that I had never actually met before (except for Egan). Other than that, this was a completely new experience for me.

When we did the different activities such as interviewing someone new or pretending to be on the red carpet, this was all really challenging and different for me. However, when I was matched up with Margaret, I instantly clicked with her. She role-played as my interviewee and interviewer.  I enjoyed being on the press side of the red carpet. For the second activity, Margaret and I interviewed Mr. Carl Glassman, the photographer (Publisher and Editor of The Tribeca Trib).  At that moment, I felt that I was the only one there. It seemed as if I had everything under control. Mr. Glassman was having a friendly chat with me. When the media session was over, I was shocked to find that time had flown by so quickly. As I left the building, I was pumped to start my first assignment.
 

Egan

Age: 13 (the end of April)
Favorite Movie: The Librarian
Favorite Book: Eragon
Fun fact: Egan plays the guitar, piano and flute.

Hi, I’m Egan from Tribeca Kids Access.  I had a great opportunity to learn first hand how Reporters do interviews. My fellow reporters all met for our first and only training session on Thursday. We learned what it takes to conduct an interview session on the Red Carpet. It is cool that we can get up close to the stars and ask real questions.  I was a little shy at first with all the lights, cameras, and actions, but quickly discovered it wasn’t so scary. It’s about being curious with the questions you ask. In the next few weeks I plan to study the Tribeca Film Festival ("TFF") movies and events so I am ready to ask good questions.  We learned it’s important to prepare, and that is what I'm planning to do.  I'm hoping to get tips and suggestions from my family and friends.

If I get to see a movie, I’ll let you know my thoughts and experience. I am looking forward to working with my fellow reporters to cover the awesome events at the 2009 TFF!
 

Gavin

Age: 10
Favorite Movie: Coraline
Favorite Book: “Seekers” series
Favorite place to hang out in the hood: Barnes & Noble
Favorite place to eat in Tribeca: Bazzini

I really enjoyed the media session. It was very cool to learn about how to ask someone questions that don't have a "Yes" or "No" answer.

I liked it when we pretended Peter was Mel Brooks and I interviewed him.

The media session taught me something I never knew about myself: I can be a reporter!
 

Jeffrey

Age: 11
Favorite Movie: The Forbidden Kingdom
Favorite Book: The Lightning Thief
Fun fact: Jeffrey is involved with Robotics

I just got back from the Tribeca Cinemas, where I practiced my kid reporting skills! When I first went inside, I felt a knot in my stomach—there were so many unfamiliar people. Soon I stopped being nervous, because everyone was friendly. One of the people I met was Sandy, the Director of Tribeca Kids Access. She told me to smile when my picture was being taken. I also got to know Abril, another kid reporter. We interviewed each other. I learned that Abril skipped the third grade, her favorite color is blue, and her favorite series is Twilight.

We also learned about reporting on the red carpet. Peter told me that, as a kid, I will have an advantage over older reporters. He says famous people are used to regular grown-up reporters, and they like to talk to us kid reporters because we are so unusual! I’m not sure if I believe that. After all, what are the chances of a famous person talking to a kid? I’m excited to find out the answer to that question soon.
 

Margaret

Age: 11
Favorite Movie: Twilight
Favorite Book: Harry Potter series
Favorite place to hang out in the hood: Washington Market Park
Favorite place to eat in Tribeca: Bazzini

On Thursday, I had a lot of fun. It was already a good day, but when I went to the Tribeca Kids Access meeting, it got even better.  There were several other kids at Tribeca Cinemas besides me and my classmate, Gavin, who were reporters as well. I remember Sam, Allison, Jeffrey, Egan, Truman, and Abril. After listening to some helpful tips from Peter and Sandy, we watched a few videos of kid reporters at work from previous years. Peter talked a lot about how curiosity is the main key in reporting. He said that you should act as if you're really interested in what the interviewee is saying, even if you're not. For example: if I ask a question that they answer with "Yes, it's a lot of fun doing the Family Film Festival and other events," you would answer with something like, "So are you a big fan of the Film Festival?" You wouldn't go on to a completely different question.

After that, we did a few exercises. For the first one, we split up into pairs. I was with Allison, and for the next five minutes, we learned as much as we could about each other. We learned a lot, and when our five minutes were up, we introduced each other to everybody else... and the camera. Once everyone had taken their turn, we did another exercise, with mainly the same pairs, but this time we pretended that we were actually at a red carpet event, interviewing a celebrity. When we finished that, we listened to a few more tips and information about the Film Festival, and then went home.
 

Truman

Age: 11
Favorite Movie: Twilight
Favorite Book: The Lightning Thief
Favorite place to hang out in the hood: Barnes & Noble and friends’ houses
Favorite place to eat in Tribeca: Churrascaria Riodizio and Gee Whiz

Hi Guys!

I went to interview “boot camp” (except it was fun!). It was my 3 hours of fame! It was so fun but weird at the same time. Now I know how it feels to be a celebrity! We got to sit in those director chairs and be interviewed at the same time. It was the only time we had to “train” to be a professional interviewer. I got to interview Egan. It turns out we have a lot in common! We both play guitar, we both like the color blue, we both like the book The Lightning Thief and a bunch of other stuff. All in all it was AWESOME!
 
Truman
 

Sam

Age: 12
Favorite Movies: The Dead Poets Society, Titanic, Into the Wild, Juno
Favorite Books: The Secret Life of Bees, The Hunger Games and the Harry Potter series
Favorite place to hang out in the hood: Barnes & Noble
Favorite place to eat in Tribeca: Zuckers Bagels
Fun fact: This will be Sam’s 3rd year on the Tribeca Film Festival’s red carpet

When I got to the pub (Tribeca Cinemas) I already felt welcomed. It was refreshing to see new reporters and new faces. Once I got to know some of the reporters better, I felt more comfortable within our "reporting family". While we interviewed each other out in the hallway, I was able to learn some new facts about Gavin that showed me how alike we are. I felt so excited to be doing another year of reporting with Sandy and Pete.
 

Check back soon for new blogs from our cub reporters!