Therapist produces video to help kids handle emotions

 


Jeff Natalie, an Erie therapist, has produced a 22-minute video that helps children deal with their emotions. Free copies of “Erie Kids” will be available to all public and private grade schools in Erie County. (JACK HANRAHAN/Erie Times-News)

 


By David Bruce
david.bruce@timesnews.com

Watch out Wiggles, and Barney, you'd better beware.

An Erie therapist has produced a 22-minute music video for children to help them better deal with anger, anxiety and depression.

"The idea for this video came about as I sat around over the Memorial Day weekend last year with my big Sicilian family," said Jeff Natalie, a child, marriage and family therapist. "You see all those videos by the Wiggles, who just sing, and the kids love them. We thought it would be neat if you could also talk to kids about mental health issues."

A year later, Natalie is ready to give free copies of the video "Erie Kids" to every public and private elementary school in Erie County. He will screen the video today for invited school officials and other guests.

Natalie has been involved in every aspect of "Erie Kids" creation. He produced and financed the video, wrote the script and some song lyrics, shot and directed the video, recruited his nieces and brother as actors, and edited the footage.

"I wanted a script that was fun but included information about dealing with anger, anxiety and depression without talking down to kids," Natalie said. "I asked my brother Angelo, who wrote songs for Barney and the cable channel Nickelodeon, if he would write some songs."


 


Jeff Natalie didn’t look far when he recruited actors to star in his video “Erie Kids.” He asked his nieces, including Emily Natalie, right, to act in the video that helps teach children to deal with anger, anxiety and depression. (JACK HANRAHAN/Erie Times-News)

 

Natalie also received permission to shoot at several famous Erie landmarks, including Dobbins Landing, Blasco Library, Presque Isle State Park, the Erie Zoo, the Erie Art Museum and Waldameer Park.

The video's plot involves the Erie Kids dealing with their feelings as they search for a clubhouse. The Erie Kids are played by Natalie's nieces Ellen Phillips, Paula Watson, Faith Natalie and Emily Natalie. Other family members also appear in the video.

"I wasn't nervous about doing this; we're a pretty dramatic family," said Emily Natalie, an Erie School District teacher who also wrote a curriculum that will be given out with the video. "We used to put on plays in our grandmother's house."

The video was shot over 10 days last summer. The footage was edited, songs were recorded, and digital effects added over the fall and winter.

Jeff Natalie said he plans to produce additional videos that focus more on particular emotions such as anger or depression. After spending nearly $5,000 of his own money to finance "Erie Kids," he is creating a nonprofit organization and seek funding for future videos.

"This is just the beginning of the conversation," Natalie said. "My practice is filled with children whose parents are divorced. They have all of these emotions and they don't know how to handle them. I want them to watch this video and talk with an adult if they feel they are having problems."

@ For more information about "Erie Kids," visit www.eriekids.com.