TWO INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS

And both of them have to do with what many persons with Moebius Syndrome have--a facial difference.  One story has to do with a feel-good story about nice things done for kids with a difference; and the other has to do with something good that Hollywood is up to.  Read on:

******************************************

"Lionsgate has tapped John Krokidas, "Kill Your Darlings" director, to direct the film adaptation of Young Adult Novel "Wonder."
The film will be based on R.J. Palacio's New York Times best-seller novel about a 10-year-old with a facial difference.
The story follows Auggie Pullman, whose facial difference has kept him from going to a mainstream school.
Now, he will be entering the fifth grade at Beecher Prep and he wants to fit in but he will have to teach everyone around him that there is more than meets the eye.

Jack Thorne will write the screenplay for the movie.
David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman with Mandeville Films will produce the YA adaptation.
The book "Wonder" hit the shelves in February 2012 by publisher Knopf Books.
The book that is aimed for Young Readers has sold more than two million copies since its publication.
The Palacio best seller has consistently been in the top ranks of the New York Times Best Seller list since March 2012.
It was also listed for high-profile children's literature awards the Carnegie medal and the UKLA Book Club.
Erik Feig, Gillian Bohrer, and James Myers will be overseeing the project.
Lionsgate's Executive VP for Business Affairs Robert Melnik negotiated the deal.
Director Krokidas has mad his directorial debut in the 2013 movie "Kill Your Darlings", starring "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliff and "Amazing Spiderman" star Dane DeHaan.
Krokidas is also set to direct "Young Americans," which will reunite him with Radcliffe and DeHaan.
He will also direct "Standard Happiness Package" for Fox Searchlight and "High Rise" for Fox 2000.

Read more: http://www.franchiseherald.com/articles/8879/20141007/wonder-movie-adaptation.htm#ixzz3G2ZSvC38

****************************************

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The second annual Best Friends Bash was held at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Tuesday night.
Young patients who have facial differences like a cleft palate or a cleft lip got a chance to spend some time with dogs who have had surgery for their facial differences.
Connor Loescher and about a dozen other kids got to hang out and play with dogs like Frankie the Pug and Rumor the Ridgeback.
“It feels good. I get to interact with dogs and learn how they are and feel how they feel. They’re almost like my brother or sister,” Loescher said.
Dr. Scott Bartlett, the Chief of Plastic Surgery at CHOP, says man’s best friend has a special lesson for these kids.
“They’re learning to see that these dogs lead relatively normal lives even though they have a facial difference and I think that shows them that they can lead those lives too,” Dr. Bartlett said.
The evening included lots of petting, lots of treats and lots of love being shared between the dogs and the kids.

Read more: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/10/07/second-annual-best-friends-bash-held-at-childrens-hospital-of-philadelphia/

***********************************