The
movies have the Oscar, Broadway has the Tony, television has the Emmy—and high
school musical students of eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey
have The Freddy! For the first time, America gets to take home
the audience favorite at films festivals around the world, including the Dallas
International Film Festival and the Nashville Films Festival, where it won the
“Documentary Channel Audience Award.”
Virgil
Films & Entertainment is delighted to present MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS on
DVD, adorned with incredible bonus features on February 21st for a
suggested retail price of $19.99.
Synopsis
Across the USA, high school sports are regularly
lavished with funding, publicity, and scholarships, while theater departments
struggle to put on the school musical hoping for some recognition of their own.
Helping to settle the score are the “Freddy Awards,” a live television event
that celebrates excellence in high school musical theater. Illustrating that
arts education encourages the same teamwork, camaraderie and confidence as
sports, MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS follows three theater troupes on their creative
journeys to the elaborate award ceremony – the “Super Bowl” of high school
musical theater.
*DVD Special Features:
- ON STAGE WITH MVP
- SISTER MARY THERESA
- VIC’S INTERVIEW
- VIC COPES
- ZACH’S PARTY
- STATE THEATRE HISTORY
- HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
- NAZARETH REFUSES
- A PRAYER FOR THE FILM
- OUTTAKE REEL
- SUNDANCE INTERVIEW
- TRAILERS
- INTRO BY OPRAH WINFREY
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Distributor: Virgil
Films & Entertainment
Genre: Documentary
Director:
Matthew D. Kallis
Running Time: 95 minutes
Format:
16:9 Widescreen
Sound Format: 5.1
Dolby and stereo
Rating: NR
Country: U.S.
Language: English
My Thoughts:
I first learned that there was such a thing as the "The Freddy Awards," after watching the documentary, "Most Valuable Players" on Oprah's new network last year. The Freddy Awards recognize excellence in high school musical troupes in eastern PA and western NJ. This documentary follows three of these musical troupes, as they vie for the coveted titles like, best actor, best actress, best chorus, best orchestra, best set and best costumes. Winners each receive scholarship money, to help pursue their dreams of careers in the arts. Great huh? I think so?
Filmmakers Matthew D. Kallis and Christopher Lockhart share their love and experience with art education in schools, by filming this documentary and showing the camaraderie, as well as drama that goes when performing and preparing for the Freddy Awards. If you are a fan of Glee and High School Musical, then you will love this raw look into the real lives of high school drama club performers. This 90-minute documentary is filled with laughter, tears and nail biting moments, all leading up to the awards being handed out. It is nice to see small communities in PA and NJ bond over these coveted awards, and take so much pride in their high school arts programs. With films like these, I am hoping that educators and local politicians will see how important the arts are in schools, as many of these programs fall to the wayside or are cut out of budgets all together.
So, if you love documentaries, this is one not to be missed. It provides an honest and real look into the lives of some of the best young thespians, who will hopefully continue to pursue their passion for the arts.
In addition to this captivating documentary, make sure you watch the bonus features, which include funny outtakes, interviews with those involved in the film. You will also learn more about the history of state theatre and the Freddy Awards through these added features. If you missed "Most Valuable Players" when it aired on OWN last year, here is your chance to watch this raved about documentary.
Filmmakers Matthew D. Kallis and Christopher Lockhart share their love and experience with art education in schools, by filming this documentary and showing the camaraderie, as well as drama that goes when performing and preparing for the Freddy Awards. If you are a fan of Glee and High School Musical, then you will love this raw look into the real lives of high school drama club performers. This 90-minute documentary is filled with laughter, tears and nail biting moments, all leading up to the awards being handed out. It is nice to see small communities in PA and NJ bond over these coveted awards, and take so much pride in their high school arts programs. With films like these, I am hoping that educators and local politicians will see how important the arts are in schools, as many of these programs fall to the wayside or are cut out of budgets all together.
So, if you love documentaries, this is one not to be missed. It provides an honest and real look into the lives of some of the best young thespians, who will hopefully continue to pursue their passion for the arts.
In addition to this captivating documentary, make sure you watch the bonus features, which include funny outtakes, interviews with those involved in the film. You will also learn more about the history of state theatre and the Freddy Awards through these added features. If you missed "Most Valuable Players" when it aired on OWN last year, here is your chance to watch this raved about documentary.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this DVD from the vendor in order to write up an honest review. The views above are mine and mine alone.
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