This is the second in a trilogy of blog posts by Sr. Rose Pacatte looking at some of this year's new holiday television movies. The first post, focusing on "Have a Little Faith," can be found here.
Game of Your Life
Friday, Dec. 2
NBC, 8 p.m./7 p.m. CST
NBC's latest Family Movie Night film, "Game of Your Life," is about a serious high school video gamer, Zach (Titus Makin Jr.), who receives a scholarship to an institute of digital design. There, teens form groups of writers, designers and producers and must promise to follow certain rules that involve choices, just like the games they are creating.
At its core, the movie is about character: doing the right thing even when no one is looking.
I think this film may be of interest to grown-ups who would like to know more about this digital universe and its ethical demands and challenges, as well as story-telling techniques.
Best of all, the creators of this "family-friendly" series got the message from television critics and audiences to include kids from all ethnic backgrounds and smart females, though they are still a minority in this series that is still trying to find its legs.
Lea Thomson is very credible as the instructor. The digital jargon just rolls off her tongue, making sense and offering insight into this ever-emerging brave new world of storytelling and communication.
