Xpress, the Coolest Section of the St. Petersburg Times, is the home for features, news and views of interest to young readers. Most of the work in Xpress, which appears on Mondays in Floridian, is produced by the Times' X-Team. The team of journalists ages 9-17 from around the Tampa Bay area is selected every year at the end of the school year to serve during the following school term. The current team of 12 was chosen out of 150 applicants. Watch for X-Team application forms in Xpress during the month of May.
Read the reviews by Xpress Film Critic Billy Norris
X Files
First 'The Simpsons,' now 'The Sims'
By BRIAN ORLOFF
Published September 1, 2003
Fox might have another animated family on the air soon, according to recent buzz. Will Wright, designer for the popular computer game The Sims, is in talks with the network to adapt his computer game into a show. Though only preliminary, we wonder, will the show have the same premise of the game? In the computer game, which has many incarnations, players can design and manipulate their family and the surroundings, building and destroying communities at their whim. There's lots of potential for a show that already sounds like the ultimate in interactive, reality TV.
Let P. Diddy be your pal
Let P. Diddy be your guide to New York City. The N's newest sweepstakes will do just that. A lucky winner and three guests will be whisked to New York for a December weekend courtesy of the N, the teen and tween block of programming on the Noggin cable channel. You'll meet P. Diddy at his Sean Jean clothing studio. Can the weekend get better? How about a suite at the Marriott Marquis, a $1,000 Bloomingdale's shopping spree, $500 to blow at Niketown, VIP passes to Movin' Out on Broadway and more. The contest will be promoted at Loews Cineplex. For information, log on to www.loewscineplex.com or www.the-n.com The contest is open to thoses ages 9 to 17. Contestants also can enter by sending a postcard to: The N's P. Diddy and the City Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 4113, Grand Rapids, MN, 55730-4113. The contest runs through Oct. 16.
Kid makes good with flick
Just because she's 14 years old doesn't mean that Hana Makhmalbaf doesn't know a thing or two about filmmaking. The teen just directed her first feature, Joy of Madness, which is up for the prestigious Best Debut award at the Venice Film Festival. Turns out that showbiz savvy runs in the family; both her father and brother are directors.
X-Press Quote
"I'm the kinda guy who'll watch my girl's show. If she wants to watch Gilmore Girls, all right. If she wants to watch Sex and the City, fine. The only shows I claim are The Simpsons and Friends. Then on Sundays I watch football all day."
- Sensitive Freaky Friday star Chad Michael, 22, tells YM in the September edition.
