I watched MAKE A CIRCLE at SXSW EDU 2025, followed by an engaging Q&A that deepened the experience even more. The film is a powerful, emotional journey that doesn’t just spotlight early childhood educators — it uplifts them in a way that feels long overdue. As a retired 30-year veteran of teaching high school seniors,… Continue reading SXSW Edu Film Review: Make A Circle
Author: Laurie Coker
The Lego experience at SXSWEdu 2025
Attending the LEGO Experience at SXSWEdu was a delightful adventure that perfectly blended play with education. One of the highlights was a fun workshop where small groups collaborated to reroute salmon and smolt around a dam using LEGO bricks. This hands-on activity sparked creativity and fostered teamwork and problem-solving skills, making it a fantastic way… Continue reading The Lego experience at SXSWEdu 2025
SXSWEdu 2025 Film Review: Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under the Gun
Premiering at SXSWEdu 2025, “Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under the Gun” presents a poignant and deeply unsettling exploration of gun violence in America through the eyes of its most vulnerable victims: the youth. This 30-minute documentary, produced by PBS News Student Reporting Labs in collaboration with 14 student journalists from cities like Philadelphia, Oakland,… Continue reading SXSWEdu 2025 Film Review: Run, Hide, Fight: Growing Up Under the Gun
SXSWEDU FILM 2025: Counted Out – The importance of math
“Counted Out” asserts that math is not just a subject confined to classrooms but a vital tool that permeates our daily lives. From the relationships we cultivate to the news we consume, to the candidates we vote for and the job opportunities available to us, the film illustrates how an invisible layer of math underpins… Continue reading SXSWEDU FILM 2025: Counted Out – The importance of math
The Gorge – Action, Sci-Fi, and Romance Collide in an Implausible but Entertaining Thrill Ride
Scott Derrickson’s The Gorge is a visually striking, genre-blending film that delivers thrilling action sequences and an unexpected dose of romance, even as its plot stretches the limits of plausibility. With a talented small cast led by Miles Teller and Anya Taylor-Joy, the movie combines sci-fi, action, and romance in a high-stakes narrative that keeps… Continue reading The Gorge – Action, Sci-Fi, and Romance Collide in an Implausible but Entertaining Thrill Ride
AFF 2024: Spetember 5 – a tense take on Munich 1972
At first glance, ‘September 5’ might complement Spielberg’s Munich, both films addressing the tragic hostage crisis at the 1972 Olympics. However, Tim Fehlbaum’s intense drama zeroes in on a different angle: the ethical and logistical challenges faced by journalists trying to cover an unprecedented act of terrorism as it unfolded live. Set entirely in ABC’s… Continue reading AFF 2024: Spetember 5 – a tense take on Munich 1972
Coker’s Top 10 Best and Worst Films of 2024
Best Films of 2024: A Year of Bold Storytelling 2024 was an interesting, if not strange, year for cinema, with filmmakers pushing boundaries and telling stories that resonated deeply. Here are my top picks for the year, showcasing the diversity and creativity of storytelling on screen. Wicked Directed by Jon M. Chu and starring Cynthia… Continue reading Coker’s Top 10 Best and Worst Films of 2024
The Six Triple Eight – Perry’s take on the long over-due story of first all-Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps
Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight brings to the screen a fascinating and long-overdue story about the 6888th Central Postal Battalion, the first and only all-Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps unit deployed overseas during World War II. Inspired by actual events, the film centers on their mission to tackle a mountain of undelivered mail accumulated… Continue reading The Six Triple Eight – Perry’s take on the long over-due story of first all-Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps
Austin Film Festival 2024: The Perfect Club – a fresh take on coming-of-age
Moana 2: while lacking is a visual and auditory triumph
“Moana 2” sets sail into the world of its predecessor with dazzling animation and standout voice performances, yet its narrative struggles to capture the magic and emotional depth of the original film. Despite its uneven story, the sequel remains a visual and auditory triumph, with a talented cast that brings the characters to life, especially Auli’i… Continue reading Moana 2: while lacking is a visual and auditory triumph