August 2017 - Parks & Recreation - 47

parks, was really more about specific things: How does moss grow
on the roots of a tree? How do pebbles collect in clusters, what
do they look like, and how do we make that look natural? While it
seems effortless, when you're placing pebbles by hand in a 3D environment, it's very difficult to make those things appear natural. "
Careful attention was also paid to the natural attributes of the characters. For example, the squirrels featured in the film walk around on
two legs and gesture with their arms. Brunker says that when they
are running, however, they're always seen moving on all fours. " We
try to keep certain animal behaviors consistent. "

Students attend workshops in acting, directing, improv comedy,
dance, design and puppetry. They also visit a professional theatre
to see a show and tour backstage. The students then create their
own production and take it to local parks.
" We bring together kids from all over Austin. We have four
weeks to write, cast, direct, write songs, and make costumes and
set pieces for the production. Then, we take the production out
to our summer playgrounds program, a free outdoor playground
camp for children 6-12, primarily for kids with high needs, most
of whom have never seen a play before, " says Hasandras.

Hollywood Thinks Green
Surprisingly, Tinsel Town has long embraced stories that center on
environmental themes. In fact, these types of animated movies
date back decades, entertaining children while educating them
about green issues like land conservation and climate change.
They include classics such as: " Bambi " (1942), " FernGully: The Last
Rainforest " (1992), " Over the Hedge " (2006), " Happy Feet " (2006)
and " WALL-E " (2008).
Dickson contends there are Hollywood directors and writers who
believe they have a moral obligation to bring awareness about these
issues through storytelling. However, " the real challenge is to do that
without hitting the audience over the head, because people tend to
act negatively when they think they're being preached to. It's not our
job to tell people how to think; it's our job to make people aware of
issues. And, if we offer a solution, it's just our solution for our characters. Everyone has to make up his or her own mind, " he says.

Surly Across America
To promote the film's August theater release, Surly and " The Nut Job
2 " gang have embarked on a 30-city tour across the United States,
participating in a series of Park Day events. The first Park Day event
kicked off on June 10 during National Get Outdoors Day at Sloan's
Lake Park in Denver. On July 4, Surly appeared at Kansas City's Corporate Woods for its Star Spangled Spectacular, taking photos with
children while encouraging them to clean up the park. Other stops
included Heritage Park in Las Vegas (July 6), Pancakes in the Woods
at Chicago's Emily Oakes Nature Center (July 9), and Dallas End of
Summer Bash at Dallas Parks & Recreation (July 21). This month, fans
of the movie can meet Surly in person at Seattle Seafair in Genesee
Park, August 5-6.

Conclusion
Regardless of the size of your budget, number of constituents or
type of facilities, the key to creating and maintaining a successful arts program is finding what works for you and your residents.
" Give them a 'tribe' to belong to that instills discipline, commitment, integrity, artistry, self-expression and teamwork. Find teachers who are dedicated to teaching and to continuing to learn themselves, " says Feier. The programs mentioned all have one thing in
common: they cultivate ties within the community, resulting in a
strong, healthy community for years to come.
Paula Jacoby-Garrett is a Freelance Writer based in Las Vegas, Nevada (paula.
jacoby.garrett@gmail.com).

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What's the Takeaway?
Dickson says " The Nut Job 2 " is about the strength of friendship and
the commitments we make. " It's more than just a story about a squirrel, " he points out. " It's a story about Surly dealing with something
bigger than himself for the betterment of the community. "
Brunker agrees. " It happens to be a story about animals, but the
theme is really about us all taking care of each other. We're all human
beings and we're all in this together. We've got one world and we
have to look out for each other by looking out for our planet. "
Vitisia Paynich is a Freelance Writer based in Chino Hills, California
(vpaynich@gmail.com).

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