Pulled deep from the archives, check out this film made over 20 years ago at Facets Summer Camps.

This post is part of our special 45^th Anniversary series where we look back at exciting moments in Facets’ history. Read part one here and submit your own favorite Facets moments here.

The Picky Person at the Potluck Party is an absurdly delightful comedy that could be a great double feature with Luis Buñuel’s The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972). At an eccentric millionaire’s potluck, a guest has her tastes challenged by the dinner options, which include squid Jell-O, boiled fish heads, and frog spaghetti. You’ll have to watch for yourself to see if she decides to indulge in the strange feast or not.

Made at our summer camp in 1999, The Picky Person at the Potluck Party was developed and produced by an all-kid cast and crew. “Giving kids control of the media they watch and create has been the backbone of our children and youth education programs since the beginning,” says Kathleen Beckman, Facets Education Director.

“When we give kids and teens the right tools to deconstruct and understand how media is made, then we can help them better understand the huge amount of media they encounter every single day,” she continues. “Sometimes we need to slow down in this fast-paced world, to be more cautious, to understand how media can be used to manipulate, and to empower kids and teens to have control over their own media consumption.”

It’s hard to imagine, but before Facets’ established our Chicago International Children’s Film Festival in 1983 and our summer film camps in 1993 there were not many – if any – film programs for kids and teens in Chicago. By providing those opportunities, Facets has helped inspire the next generation of filmmakers, film critics, and film lovers.

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