Attention to Details

Be on your toes and one little mishap won't run your first big assignment!

I'm a first-year kid reporter for Scholastic Kids News Online. Some of my assignments over the past year have included interviewing author Jude Watson and attending the movie premiere of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. Anyone who likes meeting new people, experiencing exciting opportunities, going to different places, and learning to live like an actual reporter, would love this job!

The key to becoming a good reporter is paying close attention to every detail when you are on an assignment. This helped me when I was a rookie reporter. On my first assignment I went to New York City to cover The 39 Clues Advanced Agent Training webcast for the 6th book, In Too Deep.

For most of the event, everything was smooth sailing. I met my editor, had fun decoding messages and puzzles with the audience, and was enjoying the event. I was excited to interview author Jude Watson and some members of the audience.

I used a voice recorder for all my interviews, but decided to take notes, too. I also listened carefully to everything. When I was exiting the building, I checked my voice recorder to make sure that the interviews were recorded and was shocked to realize that nothing had actually taped! My recorder had malfunctioned!

The only reason I was able to finish the assignment was because I paid attention. I understood all the information and answers, took notes, and concentrated while interviewing.

I was also never afraid to ask a question about anything I was uncertain about, or when I needed clarifications. All of this information helped me write a good news story later.

This is why paying attention to details is crucial. If you do that, I guarantee you will be an excellent reporter.

One last piece of advice for those of you who want to be a Kid Reporter: Apply Now! Deadline to send in entries is October 12. As you are working on your entry, remember: this is a very special opportunity, so have fun, be yourself, and cherish the moment.

—Gowtham Balaji

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Gowtham Balaji at the premiere of Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief with movie director Chris Columbus. (Photo Courtesy Gowtham Balaji

On the Red Carpet with Percy Jackson

Kid Reporter fan gets a leg up on rookie adult reporters who haven't read the PJ books!

I looked to my left and then to my right. TV crews from CBS, FOX, and Access Hollywood were setting up their equipment and getting ready for the celebrities. I had prepared well for this red carpet premiere, but I was still extremely nervous, being the only kid among all the adult reporters.

I was at the AMC Loews Theater in New York City at the red carpet premiere for Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.

Despite my anxiety over being the only kid in the crowd, I knew I had a major advantage over most of the adult reporters: I have actually read ALL the Percy Jackson books! I knew the story and characters quite well without ever having to see the movie or even read the press packet.

Being a kid can also create some problems. It took a bit of coaxing to convince the security guards that I was indeed a reporter, even though I had credentials and a place reserved on the rope line along the red carpet.

When I was finally inside and in place along the red velvet ropes, I got my recorder and notebook ready. Suddenly, I heard murmurs of excitement. Logan Lerman was arriving!

The actor who plays Percy strode down the red carpet, stopping to answer journalists’ questions along the way. When he got to me, I introduced myself, and asked a few questions.

“I think everyone can relate to Percy," Lerman told me. "He’s a regular teenager with problems. He has dyslexia, ADHD, and his parents are separated. This movie is about turning your weaknesses into your strengths, and that’s what Percy does.”

This interview taught me two things about Logan Lerman: he's pretty cool and a great speaker!

I also spoke to Brandon T. Jackson who plays the role of Grover, the satyr. He said he had to learn to walk like a goat, which took a lot of practice.

“Chris (the director) had to make sure I kept walking like that for the entire movie,” Jackson said.

Director Chris Columbus also stopped by. He told me the difference between directing this movie and the Harry Potter movies was the improvement in technology for creating visual effects. Columbus directed the first two the HP movies.

“We have gone so far in the visual effects that now the effects are almost seamless,” Columbus said.

He told me to especially watch out for one monster in particular—Medusa! He also explained that they had to create a lot of sets for the movie, including building a model of the Empire State building in the studio.

Kevin McKidd, who plays Poseidon, told me something about his character. He said that it was cool playing a really tall god with special powers. Also, he mentioned that everybody would like this movie because it is a family movie and very fast paced.

Alexandra Daddario, who plays Annabeth, daughter of Athena, said that when playing her character, she got to do some really unique stunts.

“You get to do things you would never do in your real life, like sword fighting and archery,” she said. She also told me she had to stay physically fit to play her character. “Every morning before filming, we had to do aerobics exercises,” Daddario said.

All the cast and the director of the movie stopped to talk with me. I even improvised and added some new questions to the ones I had prepared in advance. I became less nervous and more confident as the interviews continued.

Finally, I spoke to Pierce Brosnan, who plays Chiron. You might remember him from his role as the famous spy, James Bond. He said that Chiron was like a philosopher of the demi-gods. He also explained the difference between playing James Bond and a Chiron.

"James Bond didn’t have to dress up in tights,” he said with a smile. He added that Bond didn’t have to be a half man/half horse either!

After all that excitement, I was looking forward to sitting down and relaxing. I joined all the actors and director in the theater to watch the movie, which doesn't open to the public until tomorrow, Friday, February 12!

I came home at 10:30 p.m. and had to catch up on homework. But I also had a deadline for my movie review and this blog post.

It was hard work, but I experienced one of the most amazing days in my life. I can't get enough of Percy Jackson, and if you can't either, check out fellow Kid Reporter Grace Choi's story and  blog post about her visit to the set in British Columbia, Canada, last year.

—Gowtham Balaji

PHOTO: Kid Reporter Gowtham Balaji and actor Logan Lerman, who plays Percy Jackson, at the red carpet premiere of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. (Photo Courtesy Gowtham Balaji)

The Nerd Herd in Action

Let the robots begin!

Recently, I met the Nerd Herd team from St. Edmund's school in Brooklyn New York. They are competing the First Lego League robotics competition.

The Nerd Herd were finalists in last year’s competition at Atlanta. They also recently won the Brooklyn borough finals and have advanced to the regionals, which will be held soon at the Javits Convention Center in New York City. The team includes sixth, seventh, and eighth graders Gregory Chin, Noelle Mondaya, Nancy Fievre, and Benjamin Kelk. Christine Zaremba is their coach.

This year’s topic was Smart Moves. The team studied and researched the transit authority in their community to come up with a form of transportation that would be easier, faster, and environmentally friendly. They were inspired by the pedaling motion of a bicycle.

            “For this year's research project, we wanted to find an innovative solution that would allow people of all ages to travel at an accelerated pace,” said 13-year-old Gregory Chin. "That would allow people to travel faster, as well as not produce any emissions.”

The team’s robot was named ‘Yellow Submarine,' based on a similar transportation idea already in use called the Shweeb. (A Shweeb is similar to biking in a plastic tube that travels along a monorail.)

“It has been programmed to perform a series of tasks on a set obstacle course with the time limit being two minutes and 30 seconds," Chin explained.

They built two models of the robot. One model shows how the Shweeb actually moves using motors, while the other one demonstrates the concept of movement through pedaling. The robot is programmed using the Lego Mindstorms NXT-G software.

The Nerd Herd continues to work on their robots 10 hours every week in preparation for the next step in competition.

“At practices, the team continues refining their robot, strategizing new missions to create manipulators for and programming the robot to accomplish those missions," said Coach Zaremba. “They also work on their research project and practice their presentation, but above all, they have fun!”

I can’t wait to find out what happens at the NYC Regional competition!  I wish the Nerd Herd good luck!

—Gowtham Balaji

PHOTO: The Nerd Herd at the Brooklyn, New York, competition recently. The group won and is on its way to regional competition. (Photo Courtesy Gowtham Balaji)

 

The 39 Clues Live Webcast Nov. 2

Authors talk clues in live webcast on November 2; Book 6 released November 3.

Which series is action packed with mystery, new clues, and new authors who add their very own twists for every single book?

If you guessed the new hit series The 39 Clues you are correct!

The 39 Clues is a series of 10 books. The next book in the series, Book 6: In Too Deep by Jude Watson, will be released on Tuesday, November 3. (Watson also wrote Book 4: Beyond the Grave.)

You can get a head start on the excitement on Monday, November 2, when award winning actor and children’s book author Whoopi Goldberg hosts the "The 39 Clues: Advanced Agent Training" webcast. The webcast begins at 1:30 PM EST. You can log on and register at: http://www.teacher.scholastic.com/the39clueswebcast/

If you don't know about The 39 Clues, now is a good time to find out. The story is about kids Dan and Amy Cahill who travel the globe to find important clues that could make them the most powerful people in the world! The books are full of suspense and actually make you feel that you are a part of the story. They are also funny. I find myself cracking up when I'm reading. 

I especially enjoy learning about historical figures and the getting the inside scoop on them.

Last but not least, I tremendously like the fact that each book is written by a different author, so if you read The 39 Clues, your favorite author might be coming your way.

I can’t wait to attend the event on Monday and meet the latest author. I’m also a big fan of Watson's Star Wars books.

Authors Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman, Peter Lerangis, and Patrick Carman will be joining Watson for a panel discussion lead by Goldberg. Participating kids will be on hand to ask questions and take challenges.

Participating is easy, but if you can't log on to the webcast, just check back to the Scholastic Kids Press Corps website the next day for my story. I'll have all the juicy details!

—Gowtham Balaji