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A Wrinkle in Time – DVD/Blu-ray Giveaway Plus Q&A with Deric McCabe

Lolli — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 14:18:48 +0000

Disney invited me to Los Angeles last month as part of the #AWrinkleInTimeBluray, #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and a review copy of A Wrinkle In Time blu-ray were provided, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

A Wrinkle in Time was one of the most impactful and memorable books from my childhood. Did you read A Wrinkle in Time when you were a kid? I read the books over and over again, then checked out every single book Madeleine L’Engle wrote because I loved her so much. I was so excited when the movie A Wrinkle in Time was announced, and now I’m equally thrilled to add the DVD/blu-ray to our home collection.

Storm Reid is Meg Murry, Deric McCabe is Charles Wallace Murry and Reese Witherspoon is Mrs. Whatsit in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

About A Wrinkle In Time

More than 50 years after Madeleine L’Engle’s young adult novel “A Wrinkle in Time” was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal, the big-screen retelling of this timeless classic takes audiences on a transformative journey, exquisitely illustrated through jaw-dropping visual effects, a stirring musical score and diverse, star-studded cast. Three celestial guides, Mrs. Which (two-time Academy Award® nominee Oprah Winfrey), Mrs. Whatsit (Oscar®, Golden Globe® and Emmy® winner Reese Witherspoon) and Mrs. Who (Emmy nominee Mindy Kaling), come to Earth to share their wisdom and love with struggling eighth-grader Meg Murry (Storm Reid) as she journeys across dimensions with classmate Calvin (Levi Miller) and younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe) in search of her father (Chris Pine), a world-renowned physicist who mysteriously disappeared four years ago.

A Wrinkle in Time is now available to own. Get your copy HERE or enter to WIN a copy at the bottom of this post.

PS – don’t miss these Wrinkle in Time printable activity pages!

Q&A with Deric McCabe (Charles Wallace)

Deric McCabe plays Charles Wallace Murry, Meg’s younger brother and co-adventurer in A Wrinkle in Time. He was delightful in the film, but even MORE delightful in person. What an amazing, positive, energetic, purely joyful boy! And FULL of personality!

We sat down with Deric for a Q&A session. Here are some of the highlights of our chat.

How did you get this part?

“They called me and so then I went there and then I was nervous and then they called me back and then I went there in a different scene and then I went back super nervous. And then I went back and back and back and back and back.”

So, it was a long process.

“Yeah.”

What helped you get through the nervousness?

“What helped me? My parents. They did because they were like, don’t worry. They may call you back. They’re going to call you back. And then the time where Ava called me, my mom was like ‘oh, here, it’s for you.’ And I was like, ‘Okay. Hello.’ Not thinking it was going to be Ava, and she’s like ‘hi.’ And I was like, ‘who are you?’ She’s like, ‘Oh, I’m Ava, the one that was doing the auditions.’ I was like ‘wow, hello.’ She was like ‘oh, I was wondering if you would like to work with me on A Wrinkle in Time.’ And I was like, ‘yes. That would be great.'”

Do you remember the moment when you knew you wanted to be an actor?

“This is going to sound really silly. But I was watching the Avengers with my dad. Hi. I was watching the Avengers with my dad and I just saw Scarlett Johansson and I was like oh, I want to do that. And I was like, and I’m going to meet her. So, then I was like, I think I want to do acting. So, they put me into acting and now here I am talking to all you mommy bloggers.”

Do you have siblings and what is your relationship with them?

“I have a baby brother. I tell him that Hulk is bad. No, this is the reason. I have a crush on Scarlett Johansson. And Hulk and Scarlett Johansson just did a movie and I said Hulk, bad, Scarlett Johansson, good. He’s two. And then I have a sister who’s 12 and she’s pretty nice with new people.”

Who are your other acting heroes?

“Okay, so I said Scarlett Johansson. And Chloe Bennett. Just them. You know, they are delightful. You know, I haven’t met them. They are hot and they love me even though they don’t know me. So, that’s one thing.”

What was something you learned in making this movie?

“Oh, I learned the place where they keep their snacks. It’s delicious.”

What was your favorite snack?

“Oh, candy. Oh, and the popcorn maker. Do you want to know why?

“The first time I met Oprah, they make this a really good popcorn and they make butter on it and put some cheddar on it and we were doing stunt practice for the cave, and they said sit down on a mat and then it wasn’t her turn yet. It was Storm, Levi and I’s turn and she just started eating my popcorn. And she was like, who’s popcorn is this? This is delicious. I’m like ‘oh, that’s me. Oprah’s eating my popcorn.'”

Mindy Kaling is Mrs. Who, Levi Miller is Calvin O’Keefe, Oprah Winfrey is Mrs. Which, Zach Galifianakis is the Happy Medium, Storm Reid is Meg Murry, Deric McCabe is Charles Wallace Murry and Reese Witherspoon is Mrs. Whatsit in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

What were your experiences with Mindy Kaling and Reese Witherspoon?

“Mindy, I loved her because, but I didn’t love her only because I couldn’t talk to her. Because she’s always speaking quotes. I couldn’t hear her real words. I was like ‘hey how’s it going?’ And she’s like ‘blah, blah, blah, American.’ But it was only for the scene. But I did actually talk to her. We had some very good conversations.

“And then with Reese, that was amazing. She always gave me hugs on set. They always cut and we’d all just start talking and talking and talking. And then we film the scene. Cut. Talking and talking.”

What are some of your favorite memories from filming A Wrinkle in Time?

“Oh, the hallway seen. The stuntmen were pulling them and they couldn’t see because they couldn’t be in the shot so I stopped and they kept going and I fell on top of all three of them.”

Did they get that on film?

“On DVD. So, get the DVD everyone.”

What was your favorite scene of the movie?

“My favorite scene was the cabbage creature what’s-it scene where she’s just flying. We actually got to be in a robot arm. It’s just this arm colored blue and just juggles me. And then Levi got to do flips and Storm was in a harness. So that was cool.”

Do you have any advice for kids who want to get started in acting?

“Oh, when you don’t get any jobs, keep the faith. Yeah, I think that’s good.”

What is your biggest goal or wish that you have for your career?

“My biggest wish. Probably to work with Scarlett Johansson. Just to work with them (the Avengers), that would be amazing. Especially because they’re always superheroes and I want to be a superhero.”

Which superhero would you choose to be?

“I want to create my own. I don’t want to be another superhero. But I do want to be part of the Avengers. That would be great.”

What was the hardest scene for you to film?

“The end scene. It’s a little brain. That was disgusting. And I had to cry in it so that was hard. And Ava was like, ‘okay, we’re going to do this.’ And the brain was super sticky. It kept sticking to my back. So, I was thinking of something to try. And the wardrobe person comes up and says ‘hey, you have something in your back. Can you stand up and get it?’ And I’m like, ‘oh, I was just in the middle of almost crying.’

“‘This will just take a second.’ Five minutes later, ‘hey, you have stuff on your back. We don’t want that in the scene. Can I have it?’ I was just about to cry. Yeah, that was hard.”

How did you teach yourself how to cry?

“Thinking of my baby brother that was hurt, injured. I did have an acting coach. John, I love you. I had an acting coach that was on set with me every day.”

Deric McCage is Charles Wallace Murry in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

How important was it to you to be a part of this film being part Filipino and Ava wanting a lot of diversity?

“It was really important. Not only that, but it was really important to me in the film because not only am I Filipino but this is my first big role. And I did, oh, yes, nodding heads, that’s great. It was my first big role that I’ve done so, that was really important to me.”

Where do you get your positivity from?

“Oh, my dad. I get that from my dad.”

Storm Reid is Meg Murry, Deric McCabe is Charles Wallace Murry and Levi Miller is Calvin O’Keefe in Disney’s A WRINKLE IN TIME.

About A Wrinkle in Time Blu-ray

Bonus features include BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD):

• A Journey Through Time – Take an up-close look at the making of this magnificent movie with Director Ava DuVernay, Oprah Winfrey, and the cast and crew.
• Deleted Scenes (with optional director audio commentary)

Ant on a String
Aunt Beast
Meg Learns About Calvin’s Dad
Papergirl

• Audio Commentary

Director Ava DuVernay
Producer Jim Whitaker
Co-Screenwriter Jennifer Lee
Production designer Naomi Shohan
First assistant director Michael Moore
Editor Spencer Averick
VFX supervisor Rich McBride

• Bloopers
• Original Songs/Music Videos

“I Believe” performed by DJ Khaled featuring Demi Lovato
“Warrior” performed by Chloe x Halle

Bonus features may vary by retailer. Get your copy here!

WIN! A Wrinkle in Time Blu-ray Giveaway

One reader will win a copy of A Wrinkle in Time (provided by Disney)! Simply enter on the giveaway widget below. US addresses only, please. This giveaway will close on 6/19/2018 at 11:59pm ET, after which a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Good luck!

Entry -Form

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

Peter Pan Signature Collection Blu-ray {Plus Activity Sheets} #PeterPanBluray

Lolli — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 17:14:42 +0000

Disney recently invited me to Los Angeles as part of the #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and a review copy of Peter Pan blu-ray were provided, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

Don’t miss the free printable activity sheets (including recipes, games, coloring pages and more) at the bottom of this post!

Can you believe that Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, is celebrating its 65th anniversary? “Peter Pan” is the seventh title to join the Walt Disney Signature Collection, which includes “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Pinocchio,” “Bambi,” “The Lion King” and “Lady and the Tramp.”

Peter Pan Signature Collection is available NOW on Digital and Movies Anywhere, and will be available on DVD/Blu-ray as of June 5! I am so excited to own this Disney classic and I’ve already watched it with my kids (yes, I had it on VHS, so I’m thrilled to add it to my DVD/Blu-ray collection).

About the Peter Pan Signature Collection

The Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of “Peter Pan” invites adventures of all ages to believe in magic once again and experience a timeless treasure from Disney’s golden age of animation that has stirred the hearts and imaginations of moviegoers worldwide since its original 1953 release. The Signature Collection edition offers over two hours of classic bonus features plus never-before-seen extras (see details below). I got lost in the bonus features and enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed watching the film.

In “Peter Pan,” fantastic adventures await the Darling children—Wendy, John and Michael—when Peter Pan, the hero of their stories, whisks them away to the magical world of Never Land. After flying with Peter and the delightfully impish Tinker Bell past the “second star to the right and straight on till morning,” they explore the enchanted island and Peter’s secret hideout with the Lost Boys, and leap into high-flying battles with swashbuckling pirates and the infamous villain Captain Hook.

Peter Pan Fun Facts

Peter Pan – Origins
• J. M. Barrie – created Peter Pan in stories that he told to the young sons of his friend Sylvia Llewelyn-Davies

• The character’s name comes from two sources: ‘Peter’ from the name of the youngest of the Llewelyn-Davies boys, Peter, and ‘Pan’ from the mischievous Greek god of the woodlands.

• Peter Pan first appeared in print in 1902 in a book called ‘The Little White Bird,’ a fictionalized version of J. M. Barrie’s relationship with the Llewelyn-Davies children.

• The book was used in a very successful play ‘Peter Pan, or The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up.’ This play premiered at the Duke of York Theatre in London on December 27, 1904.

• In 1906, ‘Peter Pan’ was published into a book entitled, ‘Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens.’

• In 1911, Barrie adapted the play into the novel ‘Peter and Wendy’ – which is most often published simply as ‘Peter Pan.’

• ‘Peter Pan’ was released in 1924 as a silent movie, directed by Herbert Brennon, starring Betty Bronson as Peter and Ernest Torrence as Hook.

Walt Disney’s History with Peter Pan

• Walt Disney and his brother Roy robbed their own piggy banks to get enough money to go to see a visiting road production of ‘Peter Pan’ starring Maude Adams. As Walt recalled, “I took many memories away from the theater with me, but the most thrilling of all was the vision of Peter flying through the air.”

• Walt later had the privilege of portraying the part of ‘Peter Pan’ in his school play – “No actor ever identified himself with the part he was playing more than I. I actually flew through the air! Roy was using a block and tackle to hoist me. It gave way, and I flew right into the faces of the surprised audience.”

Walt Disney’s Production of PETER PAN

• Walt’s words on why he made the film: ‘Here is a story, it seemed to me, which had never been quite fulfilled, despite its wonderful career on the living stage. A story which deserved the added dimension of animation on the screen.”

• Walt’s words on his version of PETER PAN: ‘I believe our treatment has enabled us to get more of the playwright’s original intent of robust fun and adventurous excitement in the Never Land exploits. Our version is a little more boisterous; not so timid as some stage presentations tended to become in trying for that definitive charm. I believe we have the adult a little more in mind too, along with the younger members of the family.”

• Working with the Great Ormond Street Hospital, Walt Disney was able to obtain story rights between late 1938 and early 1939.

Kathryn Beaumont with Ham Luske with storyboards for Peter Pan

Animation & Production

• This was the last Disney animated feature film in which all nine of Walt’s “Nine Old Men” worked together as directing animators.

• Women constituted nearly half of the studio talent AND were working within virtually every aspect of production on PETER PAN. From animation to art direction, special effects and Ink & Paint.

• A full week’s worth of steady output by a top-notch animator may only take up five seconds on screen.

• Over a million drawings were completed during the production of this film with over 250,000 separate drawings utilized in the final film.

• At the time of production in 1953, a record number of backgrounds were created and used in the film. Backgrounds totaled 934, compared to 773 for Cinderella (1950) and 736 for Alice in Wonderland (1951)

• The reason behind the volume of backgrounds for PETER PAN, stems from the fact that the principal characters are ‘human,’ and humans have a tendency to move around more than animals. This determined the various camera angles needed to give the production the scope that Walt wanted for his telling of Barrie’s classic story.

• In the time required to design and paint one animated background for PETER PAN a live-action studio could plan and construct an actual movie set.

• The production of PETER PAN represented the highest concentration of talent with the studio’s history to that point.

Peter Pan – Live Action – Wendy/Kathryn Beaumont

KATHRYN BEAUMONT (Voice of and Live-Action Reference Model for Wendy) was 12 years old when she was chosen by Walt Disney to be the voice of Wendy. She said, on working with Walt Disney,

“I found Walt to be such an easy person to be around. I felt so comfortable with him. Having come from another studio, my experience was feeling that it was just a workplace, and I expected that would be the atmosphere at every studio. Until I came to Disney, and I realized, my goodness, this is very, very different. There’s a whole different atmosphere here. Walt himself was visible, where the head of the studio at MGM was not. At Disney, his presence was felt. You’d see him walking down the hall. He’d join the line in the cafeteria at lunchtime. He would pick up a tray, get his lunch and find a place to sit down with someone and just chitchat. I think the whole idea was that we were all team members. It was everyone sharing responsibility and sharing creativity.”

Peter Pan Signature Collection Bonus Features

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL*:

New Signature Collection Bonus

Stories from Walt’s Office: Walt & Flight – “Think of the happiest things, it’s the same as having wings”. One thing you’ll notice inside Walt Disney’s office are all of the models and pictures of airplanes. Walt loved planes and was an aficionado of flying. As a continuation of the “Stories from Walt’s Office” series, we’ll soar into the world of one of Walt’s favorite pastimes and look at the history behind the company airplane he used to scout Central Florida looking for the perfect place to build his second theme park.
A “Darling” Conversation with Wendy & John: Kathryn Beaumont and Paul Collins – Join Disney Legend Kathryn Beaumont (the voice of Wendy) and Paul Collins (the voice of John) as they reunite for the first time in many years to reminisce and discuss their experiences working on Peter Pan, meeting Walt Disney and learning to fly … literally.
“You Can Fly” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the classic Disney song, “You Can Fly,” with fun lyrics on screen and lots of your favorite “Peter Pan” characters.
“Never Smile at a Crocodile” – A new “Oke” rendition and graphic look of the deleted song, “Never Smile at a Crocodile”, with fun lyrics on screen and highlighting the relationship between Captain Hook and Tick- Tock the Crocodile.

Legacy/Classic Bonus

DisneyView
Sing-along Version of the film: Sing along with your favorite songs from the movie.
Growing Up with Nine Old Men – “Peter Pan” is both a story of living with a child’s sense of openness to the world and an acknowledgment that the path to adulthood most often leads away from those qualities. A parallel of sorts to that duality can be found in Walt Disney and his core group of animators, the Nine Old Men, in their lives and in their work. Our short film will look at who they were and the parts they played in one of the most remarkable team of artists that ever worked together.
Deleted Song: “The Pirate’s Song” – Original demo recording of the song played over concept art.
Deleted Song: “Never Smile at a Crocodile” – With music played over static concept art of the crocodile from Peter Pan.
Deleted Song: “The Boatswain Song” – With music played over static concept art of Captain Hook and his crew.
Deleted Scene: “The Journey Home” – A proposed alternate ending where Peter asks the Lost Boys to return home with Wendy and the other children.
Deleted Scene: “Alternate Arrival” – A deleted scene where Wendy and the children are initially attacked by the Lost Boys because Tinker Bell tells them that Wendy is holding Peter captive. We also see in this version of the story that Nana the dog travels to Never Land with Wendy and the children.
Disney Song Select – Simply play the clip from the movie with subtitles underneath it. “The Second Star to the Right” | “You Can Fly” | “A Pirate’s Life” | “Following the Leader” | “Your Mother and Mine”
Audio Commentary Hosted by Roy Disney – Audio commentary hosted by Roy Disney, but carried on by several other people.

Music and More

”Never Land”: The Lost Song – A bonus piece that sets up the backstory of where this lost song was found and how Richard Sherman recomposed it.
Music Video: “Never Land” – Music Performed by Paige O’Hara – A music video of the song “Never Land”
Music Video: “The Second Star to the Right” – Music Performed by T-Squad – A music video of the song “The Second Star to the Right” performed by T-Squad.
Backstage Disney
You Can Fly: The Making of ‘Peter Pan’ – A making-of video of the 1953 Disney classic, “Peter Pan.”
In Walt’s Words: “Why I Made ‘Peter Pan’” – Based upon an article written by Walt Disney retold as a dramatic recreation.
Tinker Bell: A Fairy’s Tale – An introspective video on the creation, history, and personality of the one and only “Tink.”
The Peter Pan That Almost Was – Hosted by Ron Clements and John Musker, we take a look at the storyboards and early concepts of a version of the “Peter Pan” film that never saw the light of day.
The “Peter Pan” Story – An original featurette for the film created in 1952.

*Bonus features may vary by retailer

Peter Pan Activity Sheets

Enjoy this printable packet full of coloring pages, games, and recipes. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD. Enjoy!

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

The Animation Research Library: Disney’s “Secret Weapon”

Lolli — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:31:44 +0000

Disney invited me earlier this month to Los Angeles as part of the #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and prizes were covered, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Not many people, at least people who are not Disney employees, ever see the Animation Research Library (ARL) or the collections housed inside. It’s not open to the public, but it is available to Disney employees at any time. The fact that our group of 25 bloggers got a peek inside this amazing building is pretty incredible.

As we walked down the halls and stepped inside a few of the eleven vaults in the facility, it was easy to imagine hearing Alan Menken working on the music for the Little Mermaid on the piano down the hall (he really did!).

Fox Carny, the manager of research at the Animation Research Library, led our tour, and it was obvious how much he loves his job. He was excited to not only show us original artwork from Peter Pan, in honor of the 65th anniversary of the movie, but to introduce us to the work that goes on at the ARL daily.

The Animation Research Library (ARL) is the repository of all the original art work that was created at Walt Disney Animation Studios from the 1920s to present day. In the ARL building alone, they estimate that they have over sixty-five million pieces of art.

Walt Disney, an artist himself, wanted to keep all original art work so that people could learn from it. The collection was and still is meant to be accessed; the ARL is a living facility.

Fun Fact: Even though all Disney artwork is digitized now, artists and animators say nothing beats seeing and handling the original, physical items.

At the ARL, employees work daily to digitize and catalog all of the artwork from the very first animated features to today. You can scan a lot of images, but if you don’t have the cataloging information attached to it, then no one will be able to find it or access it. Interestingly, they do vert minimal restoration work at the ARL. Most pieces that need restoration are sent out to other facilities that specialize in restoration.

The Animation Research Library’s 11 vaults not only store paintings and animation cells, but they also house puppets and other “dimensional objects,” such as the models that animators use to get an idea of their characters angles and shapes from all perspectives.

The library used to be referred to as the “Morgue” and was located in the basement of the Ink and Paint facility at the Walt Disney Studios lot. The check out procedure at the Morgue was quite a bit looser than it is today at the ARL (now all of the pieces stay at the ARL, so employees must come to the library to study). This is an important step to preserve the original artwork. The ARL is a fully climate-controlled facility (62 degrees and 50% humidity), and access to the public is extremely limited.

Fun Fact: The original artists didn’t keep all of the animation cells. Several of the original cells from animated features were either destroyed or sold for $1.50 at Disneyland!

After seeing some of the artwork, we were able to see the process of capturing the digital images. As one who has had years of experience working in photography, I can appreciate the time and care it takes to take consistent and clear images.

Fun Fact: The majority of the pieces in the collection at the ARL are 17.5 inches wide 11.5 inches tall, so they can keep the lights and cameras in the same spot when taking photos to digitize the artwork. That not only saves time, but helps keep the digital images consistent.

On average, photographers at the ARL shoot about 1000 pieces of animation drawings a day (depending on the condition of the artwork). Story boards are photographed at a rate of about 400 pieces a day.

Quality control can go through a few thousand pieces of art per day, looking for consistency in color, etc. It is very important to capture all four edges of the artwork.

Fun Fact: The transformation of Cinderella into her ball gown was one of Walt Disney’s favorite animated scenes of all time.

As Fox Carney gathered us around the big black table, he introduced us to the variety of types of artwork that go into making an animated feature.

Fox said, “These are actually original pieces of artwork from the production of “Peter Pan” which was released in 1953. We have selected a lot of different types of art for you to see because there are a lot of different processes in making an animated feature. You have the story process, you have the animation process, you have the back-ground painting, you have layouts and concept art…”

Model Sheets: “These are the pieces of artwork that would often be photographed and then printed on photo paper and given out to the crews of each individual character. When you have multiple people drawing the same character, how do you keep them consistent, how do you keep them on model? Thus, they would use the model sheet. You can look at the various poses and we need to keep this shape of the face this way or the body proportions this way.”

Concept and Story Art: “What is our film? What will it look like? What are the kind of moments that might happen in this film, so as you look at the concept art pieces, you get an idea that you have this whole series of artists who are trying to understand what it is that the film would look like and what may happen in the film.”

“But then you also have story artists and they create thousands and thousands of story sketches. Which they will pin up on boards and then they will pitch to Walt and the various directors and say this is what happens and this is what happens and this is what happens. What happens that causes the next action to happen, and causes the next action; so, what is our beginning, middle and end of this story? You have your concept artists and your story artist working roughly at the same time.”

Animation Drawings: “These are what the artists, the animators actually drawn out as what are their characters doing, once they have figured out their actions, they would have to draw all that. And then it would be these drawings that at this time, the inkers and painters would actually trace. The Inker would actually trace on a piece of acetate that would be on top of the drawing. And then they would take those once the inkers were done and they would go to the painters.”

Rough Drawings: “And then over here this is actually a rough drawing. Are any of you familiar with Mark Davis or any of the nine old men? Okay. Well, Mark Davis, was one of the amazing animators of that time. He was the supervisor animator for Tinkerbell and so what he would do he would do what we call a rough animation drawing. And so, he would roughly try to figure out the emotion and the action of the character. This wouldn’t quite translate well to how would an inker figure out which line to do, so the assistant animator would go off at the time and then do a fine line draw over so the inker would have nice, clean drawings.”

I wish I could show you more of what we saw during our time at the ARL. It was a wonderful window into years of inspired work from Disney animators.

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

Walking In Walt’s Footsteps: Suite 3H and Walt Disney Studios Lot Scavenger Hunt

Lolli — Tue, 29 May 2018 14:32:45 +0000

Disney recently invited me to Los Angeles as part of the #HanSoloEvent, #ABCTVEvent and #PeterPanBluray press event. Travel, accommodations, and prizes were covered, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used in this post.

It’s pretty incredible that I’ve been privileged to have once-in-a-lifetime experiences more than once. Not many people have the chance to tour Suite 3H, the private offices of Walt Disney, yet earlier this month I was able to tour them for a second time.

It was just as magical during the second tour as it was the first time.

You can read my first post about Suite 3H here, but today I thought it would be fun to share a few fun facts that I learned during my latest visit.

Fun Facts About Suite 3H: Walt Disney’s Private Offices

Suite 3H was Walt Disney’s private office space from 1940 until his death in 1966.
Walt Disney’s office space was broken up three main parts: the Secretary’s Office (everyone entering the other offices had to pass by the secretary), Walt’s Formal Office (where he met with important guests or spent time listening to the Sherman Brothers compose at his piano), and Walt’s Working Office (and office that was “constantly in motion” and where he spent the majority of his time). Suite 3H also housed a private room for Walt which he often used to relax at the end of the day or play with his kids.

Walt Disneys Formal Office

The Disney Studios lot (where Suite 3H is located) was built in 1940 with the proceeds from the animated feature Sleeping Beauty.
Dave Smith documented Walt’s office space with photos and a meticulous inventory of every item between 1968 and 1969. When recreating the office space, they placed books back on the shelf in the same place and positioning as Walt left them. Even the number of paper clips on his desk was duplicated.
Walt’s secretary documented every activity and appointment every day – from when he arrived each morning, to who he ate lunch with and where, to when he went home each night. What an incredible log!

Walt Disney’s secretary’s office

Walt’s favorite song was “Feed the Birds” from Mary Poppins.
Walt loved both collecting and making miniatures. You’ll find lots of fascinating collectibles throughout his office. He started collecting miniatures to replace his previous hobby of playing polo (his wife made him stop).
Actor Ed Wynn was considered by Walt to be his lucky charm, so he kept a picture of him in his working office.

Walt Disney’s working office

When Walt travelled, he would carry cans of food in his bags. His personal kitchen in his working office (which was created for him by General Electric) has some of his favorite canned foods (liked canned chili con carne and Spam!)

Another favorite tidbit that I had forgotten about after my first tour was that artist Norman Rockwell drew sketches of Walt Disney’s two daughters as a gift to Walt. Those sketches are hanging to each side of Walt’s desk in his formal office.

Our Peter Pan Scavenger Hunt on Walt Disney Studios Lot

Our skills, knowledge, endurance…and hand-standing ability were tested on the Walt Disney Studios lot as we embarked on a Peter Pan-themed scavenger hunt to celebrate the 65th anniversary of PETER PAN (available on Digital 5/29 and Blu-ray 6/5).

We were split into random teams of five (I was on Team Hook) and sent on a mission to find hidden clues, solve puzzles, recreate photos, find Peter Pan’s shadow, and more.

We started out with a map of the studio lot and a single clue. We had to decipher the clue and figure out our next destination, all while avoiding the other four groups as much as possible – we got points for catching the other teams off guard and jumping on their shadows (let’s just say that the shadow-jumping got pretty intense!).

We worked our way through 11 clues and destinations, collecting photos, Peter Pan-themed props (we chose the hooks, of course!) and pixie dust along the way. We answered trivia, put together a puzzle, played games, and more.

Our group had a blast together. We worked amazingly well with one another and had a wonderfully positive attitude. Our hour together was one of the highlights of my trip!

Yes, thats ME doing the hand stand! Anything in the name of more points for our team!

Of course, no Peter Pan scavenger hunt would be complete without a treasure at the end! And this treasure was pretty incredible. Each member of the winning team won an Apple TV!

It took a while for Disney staff to count up the points earned by each group, and Team Hook was shocked when they announced US AS THE WINNERS!

Deric McCabe from A Wrinkle In Time just happened to be in the room when we were announced as the winners, so he jumped in the photo with us. So. Much. Fun!

Want more? Click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event/Peter Pan Bluray coverage.

Woody Harrelson is Beckett in SOLO: A Star Wars Story #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Fri, 25 May 2018 16:11:12 +0000

Many thanks to Disney for inviting me on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Solo: A Star Wars Story is finally out in theaters, and I can’t wait for you to see it!

Meet TOBIAS BECKETT

There is no question that Beckett is a survivor. Seasoned, taciturn, and all-business, Beckett quietly works out all the angles to come out ahead. He’s put together a team of specialized thieves to carry out risky but profitable heists, which he carefully plans and executes.

That’s the official character bio for Woody Harrelson’s new character. But how would he describe his character, Tobias Beckett?

Woody Harrelson is Beckett in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Woody said, “Well, I think in some ways, he’s complicated in the sense that he’s not always as chummy as he could be, but I’d say he’s a survivor who really also does have this image of life, wanting to be done with this life of Criminality, and ultimately, just be playing the valachord, living on a remote planet somewhere.”

In what ways is Woody Harrelson like his character, Beckett? Apparently, not much.

Woody Harrelson is Beckett and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Woody explained, “I don’t think I’m that (much) like Beckett. He’s a bit of a hardass, and he’s kind of tough on Han. I think it’s probably good if you’re gonna want to try to make someone into a very street smart Survivor in that Universe, maybe that’s how he had to be. But I wouldn’t be like that. I’m like the most….I can’t even discipline my own child. I don’t know how to do it because I always say to myself, ‘Well, I would do that. So how can I be telling her…?'”

I loved that he was such a tough love mentor to Han in the movie. We asked, “In real life, who has been that kind of tough love mentor to you?” Woody responded, “I feel like to some degree, Jack Nicholson. He lives not far from where I have a place here in LA, even though I live in Maui but the kids didn’t want to ever give it up. I still have it and it’s not far from Jack’s and I would go over quite a bit to his place and sit and reason, and talk story, and he did….he’s given a lot of cool advice.”

Woody Harrelson – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Do you remember the first time YOU saw Star Wars? Woody Harrelson remembers the first time he saw the original Star Wars movie in the theater. He said, “Yeah, I remember it ’cause, you probably won’t believe this, but I was alive in 1977 and you know, it was a huge thing at the time like everybody was all about Star Wars. It became a sensation. And so I just remember going to see it and it was so original, so different from anything else and all of it (was) great.”

I’m sure the opportunity to enter the Star Wars universe was an incredible experience!

When asked which character from the original Star Wars Trilogy he would have loved to be, Woody replied, “Who wouldn’t want to be Solo, man? Such a good–but I mean also, it was written really well, obviously. Lucas created these great characters but I guess what Harrison brought to it and now what Alden is bringing to it is making that character just so special, so fun, and funny.”

Thandie Newton is Val, Woody Harrelson is Beckett and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

I could tell that Woody had a ton of respect for Alden Ehrenreich, who played Han Solo in the movie. Despite Woody’s experience in Hollywood, I love that he was able to find things to learn from the younger actor.

Woody said, “Love Alden, love him, awesome, awesome guy. Really hard worker. I mean, very hard worker, ’cause there would be these humungous sets and then there would be these little spots, it’s like a little cloth room. You might have something to lay down on or chair, makeup thing, whatever. So we’d all have our little cubicles and he was next to me and he’d be in there like taking piano lessons. He’d be in there reading novels. I’m over there playing Speed Chess online. Screaming. The whole set’s like ‘What the he(ck)? He just lost his queen.’ I really admire his work ethic and I think just the way he cultivates himself as a human, he’s an extraordinary guy. He’s not just like a silly dopey party animal like some actors coming up or like I was coming up.”

Woody Harrelson – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Woody Harrelson has certainly created a legacy of amazing and diverse roles during his time in Hollywood. But we were curious what HE wanted his personal legacy to be.

His response, “Well, I hope just generally, it’s a smiling type of legacy instead of a frowning type. I mean, I do prefer comedy (even though) I’ve gotten into a little bit of a Drama bubble. I would like to make people laugh, and hopefully, they’ll think of me and laugh.”

Woody Harrelson – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Speaking of leaving a legacy of happiness, one of our group members complimented Woody by saying, “You always seem so happy” and asked, “What is your life-hack for happiness?”

Woody, with his perpetual smile, said, “Well, thank you for saying that. I do feel like a pretty genuinely happy person. And I think a big part of it is just gratitude. I’m very grateful for the life I have. I feel like all of us who do movies and probably all of you who write about movies, we’re breathing a bit of a rarified air. And I feel really lucky because there was a point in which I kind of gave up and it was early on. I hadn’t even got a job yet and I just was like, I think I can’t do it. And I don’t know how to crack it. And so yeah gratitude. Life-hack.”

Group photo with Woody Harrelson – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Be sure to catch Woody Harrelson as Beckett in SOLO: A Star Wars Story, in theaters everywhere!

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent on social media or click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event coverage.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is L3-37, The New Droid on the Block #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Thu, 24 May 2018 19:40:09 +0000

I am so thankful to Disney for inviting me on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Meet L3-37

L3-37 is Lando’s co-pilot and a self-made droid assembled from astromech and protocol parts. Despite her make-up, L3-37 is an enlightened navigator who cares deeply about droid rights.

L3-37 (and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s superior acting and stellar personality) stole the show for me. She was my favorite new character, and full of laughable moments. You are going to LOVE L3-37!

Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

A New Star Wars Fan is Born

Did you know that Phoebe Waller-Bridge was not only NOT a Star Wars fan before working on this movie, but she had never seen a Star Wars movie before. She said, “Yeah, I hadn’t seen any of the films. I think there’s like five of us in the world. Which I think in some ways might’ve worked in my favor, especially from the droid perspective, because I was very loose in the audition with the idea of what a droid was.”

After being physically “loose” in her audition and said that the people conducting the audition said, “Wow, you’re taking the story thing very lightly.” Phoebe responded, “Oh, is she not a person?”

Of course, she loved the film and is totally obsessed with Star Wars now.

Donald Glover is Lando Calrissian and Phoebe Waller-Bridge is L3-37 in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Interestingly, Phoebe was actually in costume and acting along with the other characters. When we asked her to explain that process, she said, “Well, I had loads of fittings. I mean, the weirdest thing is, you get a kind of scan at the very beginning. I got a scan of my whole body, and then they build a complete replica of your body. And then they’d build this suit around it, so it fits perfectly. And so I had this green suit, skin-tight, really attractive green leggings and leotard. And then, on top of that, I had the kind of legs drilled onto me, and the arms, and the chest plate, and then the head.

“But it was the first time that they’d created a droid that could kind of move properly and be more flexible. And I could move all of my joints. Because she’s a self-made droid, so she created herself to be as flexible, bigger, faster, stronger, than any other droids that she would’ve met.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is L3-37 in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

L3-37 is such a warm and humorous character that it’s easy to forget that she’s a droid. We asked Phoebe how she was able to bring such heart and humor to a character that’s not even flesh and blood, she responded with a smile.

“Aw, well, I can’t take full credit for that. The script does that. But I think you have to sort of start at the heart, with any character, no matter what they’re made out of. And I felt like she had a huge amount of heart and passion, and even though she sort of wakes up halfway through the film to what her passion is, and it’s nice, knowing you’re building to something like that as well. And humor as well. Where there’s humor there’s heart and I think she’s got a lot of it.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

On preparing to play a droid, Phoebe said, “I was ready to do all sorts of preparation for that. I was like, “Do you want me to work out? So I can carry the suit stronger?” And they were just like, “no, no, that little weird awkward walk you’re doing is actually perfect”. And the same with the voice. I think the vision that John Larry had from the writing point of view, and then you know, carrying on through the whole production. Because she’s created herself, she’s built herself to be more — not like, more human, but more relaxed, in her voice, and her body, and everything. I would offer something droid-y, they would be like ‘Stop that, pull it back. Be more natural.’”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

We were curious how much ad-libbing Phoebe was able to do with her character. Phoebe explained,

“We were allowed to go off-beat — once we got the script, then there’d be a kind of little pass around with John and he’d be like, ‘Does anyone else have any ideas’ or ‘Let’s just kind to be a bit looser with the scene.’ And so we did get to do that a few times. And then if anything good came out of it, then they would do a take of that. It was really fun. I mean, the whole atmosphere on set was just so fun. And encouraging. And everyone was just so excitable, and it was just like, ‘Ooh, that’s a good idea, let’s do that.’ It was really nice.”

What about L3’s sass? Is Phoebe sassy in real life? Phoebe knocked that one down pretty quickly, “No, I’m afraid not, no. I can dream of being sassy though.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge is L3-37 in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

When asked about L3-37’s stance on droid awareness, Phoebe said, “It’s so cool that she’s got a cause, you know. She’s like a social justice warrior, and she’s a droid with an agenda that goes beyond her own existence, and that’s very unique. It’s good to have a message.”

Advise from the Set

Working with such legendary filmmakers and actors must be an incredible experience, and we wanted to know what Phoebe took away from the experience.

On working alongside Donald Glover and Ron Howard, said said, “It was more sort of hanging out — I mean, they are both so relaxed and such consummate professionals. But there’s a real sense of just being able to be really present with both of them, and I really learned that from them. Just letting go of everything and letting your instincts speak first.”

She went on to say more about working with Ron Howard, “I mean, he’s a master. But also, I was sort of ready to meet Ron Howard, you know, the king. And then he comes in, and he’s just like, ‘Hey. How’s it going?’ So friendly, and makes everyone feel so relaxed, and you can just feel instantly why people just want to work with him over and over again. Because he’s so clear. His eye is so brilliant, and he’s incredibly kind and very, very clever. So you feel very safe.”

Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Despite the fact that she didn’t start out a Star Wars fan, Phoebe certainly ended as one. And she recognized the importance of her involvement in a Star Wars movie. Two main moments stuck out to her:

She said, “…there was the scene in the Falcon, that was a big one when you involuntarily scream, and I did that when I saw the Falcon, and I did that when I met Chewie. But the big one really came, like, two weeks after we’d wrapped, and then I was just on a bus going to go and get a sandwich for my love somewhere in London. And I suddenly just went, ‘What just happened?’ I called my sister. And I was just like, ‘Was I just in a Star Wars movie?’ She’s like, ‘Yeah, Love, yeah. We came to set. We saw the whole thing.’ My God. How did that happen?”

Phoebe left us with a wonderful message that she hopes everyone watching Solo: A Star Wars Story leaves with.

“It’s a film celebrating individuality and individual causes and having courage of your own convictions. But also there are so many amazing relationships in it, and I think it’s inspiring, and the trust it takes to partner up with somebody, and I hope that inspires them as well.”

Group Photo with Phoebe Waller-Bridge – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Be sure to catch Phoebe as L3-37 in SOLO: A Star Wars Story, opening in theaters everywhere on May 25 (yes, that’s tomorrow!)!

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent on social media or click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event coverage.

How Joonas Suotamo Became Chewbacca – SOLO: A Star Wars Story #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Wed, 23 May 2018 13:12:44 +0000

I am ever grateful to Disney for inviting me on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Even though SOLO is mainly a story about how Han Solo became “the” Han Solo, it is also a movie about the relationship between Han and Chewbacca – how it developed – and how Chewbacca’s character developed. Joonas has played Chewbacca before, but I was wondering how is it different in this film playing a younger Chewbacca, who was in the process of becoming the Chewy that we know.

Joonas agreed, “Right, he becomes the character. Because this movie happens in a time where the empire is expanding. And Chewbacca is in a very bad situation at the start of this film. So, I approached it as Chewbacca is very much looking for a way out and going on his own somewhere. ‘Cause he has a family. He has a commitment to his tribe. And I was very much looking forward to this, because he’s very different.

Joonas Suotamo – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

“Kind of he walks around with worry on his shoulders, because he doesn’t know where this road will take him. And this movie also shows what that new life for Chewbacca is going to be and if he will take that. And it was very interesting to do, because he doesn’t have any kind of structure in his life at that point. And we talked with Alden. We talked a lot about the arc of their friendship and how to start that journey together so that the audience will see the development and also the downs and the ups of that relationship. And it was very important to get right, because we all wanna see how that relationship started.”

Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

I know that the budding relationship between Chewbacca and Han Solo was one of my favorite parts of the movie. I certainly didn’t expect the situation in which they met for the first time! I can’t wait for my family to see the movie this weekend (opening May 25!) so we can discuss.

How Joonas Suotamo Became Chewbacca

Joonas Suotamo – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

What a fun (and unconventional) story! Joonas explained, “I got the role out of the blue sky came a call one day from the Finnish Basketball Association, who had received a request for a person who has blue eyes, is seven feet tall. Yeah, anyone could find that guy. And so the casting (department) was pretty desperate at that point to find one. And they called me and I said immediately ‘I’m interested.’ Didn’t take a second to think about it. We didn’t know what the role was. So, I just said, yes, whatever it is, I’m in.

“And I filmed a video of me playing a caveman, half naked in my old high school gym. Just the kind of video where I go like [GRUNTS], just playing this cave man who gets shot in the knee with an arrow and stuff like that. They wanted to see if I could do the acting required for the film. And then, four or five months it took to really go through the process. And at the end of it, I received a call, ‘Congrats, you are gonna play Chewbacca.”

After he got the role, we wondered how long it took him to master speaking Wookiee? Luckily Joonas is a fast learner. He responded, “When they told me I’m gonna meet Harrison Ford the next day, it took me that 24 hours.”

Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Speaking of meeting Harrison Ford, Joonas described their first encounter (before filming The Force Awakens), chuckling, “It’s great. I think I was so nervous that the first thing (I said) when I saw Harrison was, “Harrison, oh boy, I wasn’t even born when you guys made these films. And he did not like that very much.”

Just a few hours after initially meeting Harrison Ford, he walked on the set of the Millennium Flacon for the first time. He said that many people on the set that day were crying, but he held back the tears. He was very conscious of how his first encounter with Harrison had gone, so he was extra careful to be professional and on his best behavior.

Other than the fact that the set smelled oddly of a hardware store, Joonas said that exploring the Millennium Falcon for the first time was “…just the marvelous thing, because your mind goes back to the times you saw the movie and the first time Luke put on that helmet and battled against the floating ball, which I still don’t know how they did that. And it’s, you know all the angles that they used. And it’s wonderful to be there, because it’s part of everyone’s childhood and memories, those places.”

Me and Chewie in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon

“And now when the Millennium Falcon is new (in Solo) and well-kept and there’s a mini bar in the corner, there is a cloak cape closet — which is more like a luxury room than a closet, it’s just wonderful to see that difference. And it goes to deepening my appreciation for the ship, because it has a history now. And, boy, I just hope nobody ever tarnishes that very sweet décor on that ship. But I guess that’s a wish that’s not gonna (come) true.”

Joonas Suotamo – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

From Basketball Player to Chewbacca

So how did a basketball player become Chewbacca, one of the most well-known and beloved characters ever? I never would have guessed how a sport could prepare a person for an acting role, but Joonas explained how his years as a basketball player shaped him into the right person to take on this character.

He said, “I think basketball certainly gifted me extra body awareness. And also the trips I made with various team and the national team of Finland and everything. I met so many wonderful players and people. And I grew up to become a very social guy. And I have always observed movements — because we had guys on our team who run with a very specific kinda way, and I’ve always loved the fact that we are different as humans. And I’ve always tried to imitate in a very loving way my teammates and how they run.

“And that has more than anything alongside with growing up with dogs and observing them when I was a kid but secretly prepared me for the role of playing Chewbacca.”

Me and Joonas Suotamo at the SOLO after party

Joonas’ next “secret” of how he was ripe for the role of Chewbacca cracked me up. He said, “We Fins have a very rich sauna tradition. So, I can withstand heat exceptionally well. Basically you could say I was born to play this role.”

Meeting the challenges of playing Chewbacca

Joonas said that one of the hardest things to get used to playing Chewbacca was being constantly poked in the eyes, since the costume is so elaborate.

But on a more serious note, he said that his biggest personal challenge with his role was “just respecting the legacy of Chewbacca, because he was played by Peter Mayhew, the legendary, original Chewbacca. And I want it to be so that the fans going to these films see the same Chewbacca who was in the original films, because Chewbacca is so loved and I would not want there to be a feeling that Chewbacca somehow feels different this time around.”

Joonas Suotamo and Peter Mayhew at the SOLO after-party

I could tell that Joonas felt very privileged to have had the chance to train and consult directly with Peter Mayhew. He explained. “I had a week long — we called it the Wookiee Bootcamp. (Trademarked, not to be used by — no, I’m just kidding.) And he showed me the original films and clips. And we looked at his walk, and he told me why he did it such a way and what he did and what was he thinking at the time. And it was so helpful, because I had done some studying up myself previously. And to hear from the master himself how and why did he do those things helped me tremendously in preparing for this role.”

It was wonderful to hear that Peter and his wife Angie met Joonas before he filmed his first Star Wars film, embraced him, and gave him their blessing. Joonas said that it was a “huge deal for me, because Star Wars is so beloved that I would hate there to be any kind of bad water when we do this. Because it’s a very significant thing and (it would) be hard to let go of something that you dedicated your life to and when the fans love you so much. But I’ve assured them that he’ll always be the original Chewbacca and there’s no one who can take away from him.”

Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo and Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Getting the “moves” right, especially with all of the action scenes in this and previous Star Wars movies, was very important to Joonas. He said, “The main obstacle (with the Wookiee suit) is the heat and the endurance throughout the day. But also it’s the fact that I gotta be careful with the suit. They don’t want me doing everything I can. If I would make a roll suddenly on the floor, Maria would be very, very angry with me. So, I have to be careful.

“But I also have to do what’s required of me by the director. And that’s something, because you gotta constantly be aware of the suit, how it moves and how it looks on camera. So, that’s why I have to go and look at the screens and after the takes and make people think that I’m sort of a diva or something. It’s just really I wanna make it look right. And I trust the directors, but I still want to see if I could do something myself to improve the next day. And that’s maybe the hardest thing. Because the moves of Chewbacca are very much something I can do as a basketball player.”

Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca, Woody Harrelson is Beckett, Emilia Clarke is Qi’ra and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Have you noticed that Chewie is always wearing a bag? Have you ever wondered what was in his bag? Wonder no more, because I’ve got the answer!

Joonas revealed, “Mainly it’s empty, but on certain days when kids come visiting the set, I usually put some chocolates or some sweets so that I can then when — after they’ve come back — after they run away frightened when I appear — when they come back I usually bribe them with sweets.”

How fitting is it that Chewie’s bag would be filled with candies for kids visiting the set?!

Be sure to catch him in SOLO: A Star Wars Story, opening in theaters everywhere on May 25!

Joonas Suotamo Group Photo – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent on social media or click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event coverage.

Paul Bettany on His Role As Dryden Vos in SOLO: A Star Wars Story #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Tue, 22 May 2018 17:47:06 +0000

If you’ve been following my #HanSoloEvent coverage this week, then you’ll know that we clapped each time that the talent walked in to our room. It caught more than a few of them off guard, and Paul Bettany was no different. His reaction? With a huge smile on his face, he said, “Look at all you lovely people! Wow.” It’s kind of a treat to be greeted by THE Paul Bettany that way.

Paul Bettany – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

He then proceeded to show us the lock screen on his phone (a picture of his wife when she was four years old), which he said he looks at whenever she’s “really annoying.” When asked how often he looks at it, he said, “Well…Poor thing, we’re in the process of moving right now and I’ve been doing back-to-back press tours so she’s not super happy at me. Yeah, she’s so glad that I’m in Los Angeles and not actually packing up tea chests, as you can imagine.”

His humor and honesty put us all at ease. And, really, he is such a GOOD GUY, despite the fact that he plays a really BAD GUY in SOLO that it’s hard not to love him.

Paul Bettany is Dryden Vos in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Crossing Universes

Paul Bettany has been fairly busy lately, with the latest Avengers movie still in theaters at the time of the theatrical release of Solo: A Star Wars Story. I’m sure it’s a difficult decision to sign on to two demanding movies at the same time, so we asked Paul about how he got the role of Dryden Vos, and why he was interested in being involved in this Star Wars movie.

“This is a hugely embarrassing story which I shouldn’t tell you but I’ve got to tell you anyway. In 1977 I saw Star Wars. I was six years old and it took me out of the gray, miserable 1970’s London. London was really depressed in the ‘70s, by the way. So, it was just (amazing) to be taken away to that universe.

“But now I’m in the Avengers so I think there’s no way I’m ever going to be asked to be in Star Wars. Unless Ron Howard becomes the director. And that happened. And so, I texted him this, I said, ‘Hey, Ron, have you ever spent long winter evenings, like I have wondering why you’re not in the Star Wars franchise?’

“And that’s a true story. And he said, ‘Give me a moment.’ And two weeks later I was flying to London to shoot it.”

Paul Bettany – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

I loved seeing the love and respect that Paul has for Ron Howard (they really are old friends). Later in the interview, Paul said, “Ron is as close to family as you get in this business. He’s put his hand out and helped me out so many times I can’t tell you. And seeing him be so accomplished . He’s just a fine, fine director.” Paul admired what Ron was able to do coming on the project after it had already started. He said that it could have been a tricky situation, but Ron’s ability with staging and his natural talent made the movie a success.

He continued, “He’s also amazingly inclusive and genuinely interested in everybody’s opinions about how things should be. That’s not to say that he doesn’t have his own vision. He’s just so confident that he is able to be really open and collaborative. And, you know, I think the sign of a really strong leader is when (people) are listening. That was beautiful.”

Paul Bettany – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Going back to the fact that Paul just happens to be in two of the biggest movies hitting the theaters this summer, he said that it felt “pretty great. It’s very nice going around the world selling something that people want to buy. I’ve done both. And this is a much nicer feeling than the other.”

But what was it like jumping between superhero and villain? Paul said that it wasn’t difficult to go back and forth between the two characters because he knows Vision so well. It also helped that, despite the fact that he was going back and forth between two cinematic universes and two different filming locations, he had support from the directors and producers of both films.

However, he did run into one little problem…”there were times when literally, the makeup crew on Star Wars were finding bits of purple still on me from playing Vision. Can I tell you, the amount of work it takes to get that stuff off?”

Speaking of makeup, we were shocked to find out that Dryden Vos’ facial scars are all CG – no makeup – and all done in post-production!

On playing a Star Wars villain, Paul said, “I really wanted to do something very different. And I felt like I could because the offshoot films, you know, they’re not encumbered with the same set of responsibilities that the main franchise (films) are encumbered with.

Paul Bettany described his character, Dryden Vos, as an “entrepreneur.”

“There is the possibility to have a more playful tone. I really wanted to sort of be quite loose with it. He is an entrepreneur. He knows who he is and is super happy about it. Like, (he has) no problems with being bad. I mean, he’s really, really gifted at hurting people. And some people are gifted at playing the piano or whatever and he’s really gifted at torture and murder. And he’s really okay with it. And that’s really fun to play because you’re just able to sort of close down all the conscious stuff and just be great at torture and murder.”

Paul Bettany is the GOOD GUY, insisting that our injured Leanette take his seat. Or better yet, SHARE it with him! – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

A Life-Changing Role

Paul Bettany has said before that Star Wars changed his world as a child. We asked him if there was a moment on the set when it hit him that he was in a Star Wars movie.

Without a hesitation, Paul said, “Oh, yeah, there were many moments where I went, ‘Oh, my gosh, I’m in a Star Wars movie!’ I think because Ron and I were newcomers on the block, as it were. You know, everyone else had been in there for eight months or whatever. And we were still totally un-jaded by it. And I kept elbowing him and saying, ‘We’re making a Star Wars movie. We’re making a Star Wars movie!’ And my first day, in fact, I was on my starship.

I have a starship and I was coming down the spiral staircase and a super chic asymmetric cloak I think you probably all noticed. And an R2 unit went by me with champagne flutes on and I went, (wow), I’m in Star Wars. And that was amazing.”

Paul Bettany’s Most Important Role of All

My favorite part of our interview had to be be when Paul Bettany started talking about his children. We asked him what legacy he hopes to leave for his children. Instead of talking about what he has given to them, he talked about how proud he is of them.

Paul said, “I think the thing I’m most proud of with my kids is that they always say please and thank you. I have taught them (that) there is no separation between children and adults in our lives in terms of like going to a restaurant, you know, they’re with us. Their time spent on devices is really limited.

“They are not allowed devices in a restaurant. They have to ask questions and they have to be engaged with other people. I have a 20-year-old and I have a 14-year-old and what I noticed about them is that they have a confidence within themselves that I feel that I really lacked. I might be strict with them, which I have been about certain things, parties and all of that stuff as they grow up.

“And now my son, who’s 20, is off to college and doing his own thing but, deep down inside they appear to know that they’re just excellent company, you know, that they’re good people. So, I might be pissed when we might be having a problem but you know, they know how loved they are and how lovable they are. And I mean, and we have tried to inoculate them from all of the slightly weird and odd things that can happen having parents that do what we do.

Paul Bettany – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

“I mean, when we all fly together, we fly in coach because my son one time in First Class said to me, “Dad, these seats are not…’ (and I said,) ‘You’re coming with me.’ And we fly in coach. You might see me in there because I’ll be the one with the scarf around me.

“They’re really aware of their privilege because I’m not willing to raise one of those children. I want them to know how rare this situation is and to prepare them for a life in which they can, hopefully, give back in a way that we’ve all received.”

Our group photo with Paul Bettany – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Can you see what an amazing dad he is?!

Be sure to catch him in SOLO: A Star Wars Story, opening in theaters everywhere on May 25!

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent on social media or click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event coverage.

Ron Howard on Directing SOLO: A Star Wars Story #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Mon, 21 May 2018 13:29:23 +0000

Disney invited me on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

RON HOWARD – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

When I received the invitation to attend the red carpet premiere of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, I didn’t know who we were going to be interviewing, but I had my own little wish list of talent that I was hoping we’d have the chance to sit down with. Ron Howard was at the top of my wish list. Dare I admit it had something to do with growing up watching Happy Days?

I was beyond excited when our interview schedule came through my email, and Ron Howard’s name was there. It was truly a dream come true for me. After meeting him, I have even more respect for him as a director and as a person.

RON HOWARD group photo – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

When Ron walked in the room, we broke out into applause…which apparently doesn’t happen often when he walks into an interview, because it totally caught him off guard. He said that we woke him up!

I loved hearing Ron Howard’s version of how he got the job directing Solo: A Star Wars Story. He explained, “It came out of a conversation that I was having with Kathleen Kennedy. It was just a scheduled breakfast appointment that I had with her. I was in London meeting with other writers for Imagine Entertainment projects and working on things. She’s a friend.

Alden Enrenreich, Kathleen Kennedy and Ron Howard attend the world premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Hollywood on May 10, 2018..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages).

“I didn’t know that there was any conflict, any creative differences going on with the project at all. I hadn’t heard any of those rumors. I guess that they were out there, but I just wasn’t paying attention. And at the breakfast she asked if Larry Kasden could come. He was in town. She didn’t tell me why. And I thought, ‘I wonder what they wanna talk about? Was it some other future Star Wars movie, maybe, or something else? It’s not what the conversation was supposed to be about. It was just a hello. And about halfway through, it just sort of came out that they were in this crisis with the young Han Solo movie.

“And he said, ‘Look, would you ever consider coming in and taking over?’ And I said, ‘Well, it’s very flattering but I can’t imagine that I would. I don’t think so.’ And, I urged them to reconsider and think about it. And they said they had already made their decision. They knew they were gonna make a change.

Ron Howard on the set of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

“And it went from there. I read the script and I was so compelled by that script. It answered the questions of what a young Han Solo’s life experiences might be that would shape him, form him, push him toward that iconic figure that we would know later. And did it in ways that surprised me. And so it was really satisfying and logical. But it also had these twists and turns that were unexpected.

“I knew what a fantastic cast it was. And sort of over a period of about three days, I began to weigh it and at a certain point, my wife, Cheryl, said, ‘I know you pretty well and I think you’re gonna be disappointed if you don’t do this.’

“I thought she was right, as she most always is.”

Cheryl Howard and Ron Howard attend the world premiere of ÒSolo: A Star Wars StoryÓ in Hollywood on May 10, 2018..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages).

Speaking of family, Ron Howard’s daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard, is currently staring in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, coming to theaters in June, just a month after Solo: A Star Wars Story opens in theaters. We wondered if there was any friendly competition at home when family members had “competing” movies (whose movie made more on opening week…whose movie got better ratings and reviews?). I loved Ron’s response.

He said, “It’s hard not to root for your daughter. And, you know, we’re in a very fortunate position. Once we realized that our movies were coming out a month apart or something like that, it was kinda like a gift, I suppose. You work at something that you love. I give 110% to everything that I do. Some things click, some things not as much. And I just love it as a lifestyle, our way of life. And, and I’ve felt very rewarded by this opportunity and I hope fans feel really good about the movie because these movies are made for the fans.”

RON HOWARD – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

While Ron Howard knew they were making this movie (and all movies) for the fans, he realized that there was a deep (and almost daunting) sense of responsibility to make sure that they got it “right.” We were curious to hear his thoughts on the challenges of making his first Star Wars movie.

Ron said, “What I did discover is that the reason that these Star Wars movies resonate with us and we see them more than once is because they entertain you in so many different ways. And I didn’t realize that as a fan. But when I was directing the scenes, I realized that’s a real challenge. You’ve got action elements. You’ve got sci-fi elements that are very particular to this galaxy.

Ron Howard, Jon Kasdan and Lawrence Kasdan on the set of SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

“You’ve got this blend of humanity and humor and drama and then these deeper bigger themes that are really classic themes. And it’s like playing three dimensional chess to direct these scenes. And I think that when the harmonics are right, it creates this range of ways that the movies entertain you.

“But it’s a real challenge. So I recognized and respected the movies that came before me all the more when I realized how complicated they were. So it was a challenge but it was fun. And George Lucas had said to me, ‘Just trust your instincts. I think you’re gonna find you’re comfortable in this filmmaking style.’ And he was right.

RON HOWARD – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

“I fell into it easily. I loved the cast. Really creative, cool, young, smart cast. And loved working with the Kasdens. I believed in their story. Oh, there’s one thing I just like to remind people of.

“Because I didn’t know it until very late in the process, but it made sense to me when I heard it. And that was that this story was hatched before Disney acquired Lucas Film and came up with this business plan to do more Star Wars movies.

“It was a conversation that Kathleen Kennedy and George Lucas had with Larry Kasden, basically picking his brain and saying what beyond the saga movies, what do you think would be interesting for fans and creatively exciting? And Larry and George just instantly felt and agreed that it was young Han Solo.

“So this has been a story that Larry’s been wanting to tell for a while and the studio wanted to initially commit to the saga movies which they did. But Larry, Larry kept saying, you know, well I really do believe in young Han Solo. So that’s really how it happened, before there were any directors involved or anything.

RON HOWARD – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

“So this story is the thing that I think everybody involved from the very beginning has wanted to give 110% to because it’s so ripe for the telling and an opportunity we felt for fans.”

He said that the scariest part of taking on a Star Wars movie was the responsibility placed on his own shoulders and the cast. He said, “I knew that there would be a lot of judgement surrounding (Alden) and his performance. But he’s such a cool customer. And he wore the responsibility very well. But I know it was something that really meant a lot to him.

“I had talked to Harrison (Ford) about a week ago. He had seen the movie and I had told Alden that Harrison really loved what he did. He respected it. And, of course, I couldn’t announce that to anybody because no one speaks for Harrison Ford but Harrison Ford.”

Speaking of Harrison Ford, we asked Ron Howard about the process of creating a new, younger version of Han Solo with Alden.

Ron said, “It was all about taking inspiration from from Harrison. I think Alden thought a little bit about the body language and that’s a sort of subtle almost subliminal link you can create for the characters.”

He explained that he has seen this done in various movies, where two actors are playing a young version of a character and an older version of that same character. It’s important for each of the actors to work out some traits or body language choices that show character continuity. Ron was impressed when he met Alden that he had already thought about and started studying that very thing in the older Star Wars movies.

Ron Howard believed that Alden Ehrenreich got Han Solo’s character right, “The phrasing, those rhythms, it was there for Alden to develop. And so that it was not only right for the character but sort of familiar for audiences.”

Alden Ehrenreich, George Lucas and Ron Howard attend the world premiere of Solo: A Star Wars Story in Hollywood on May 10, 2018..(Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages).

When asked how Han Solo’s death in THE FORCE AWAKENS affected how he directed this film, Ron said, “Well, I thought it was very powerful in that movie. And it also reflected the kind of complexity, the thematic ideas that I think give the Star Wars movies their lasting value. It’s fun. It’s playful. It’s exciting. But it also has these themes that are complicated and run deep, you know? And in its own playful way, I think Solo asks some of those questions of what’s it like in those moral gray areas?

“And when your survival is at stake and you’re presented with choices that you might not necessarily be proud of. This is a story about young people who are really on a quest for their freedom. And they’re struggling for that. And in very difficult oppressive times. And a really challenging corner of the galaxy.

“So I think knowing the outcome gives the story of young Han Solo even more power and more weight. And I think in many ways makes you even more curious about what might have made him tick.”

I can’t wait for you to see SOLO: A Star Wars Story in theaters on May 25! Come back here and let me know what you think of Ron Howard’s touch in the film.

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage (with review and interviews coming) by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent on social media or click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event coverage.

Emilia Clarke: An Exclusive Interview with Qi’ra from SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY #HanSoloEvent

Lolli — Fri, 18 May 2018 19:20:56 +0000

Last week was INCREDIBLE. I’m still reeling from all of the excitement, and I’m LOVING being able to report back on all of the fun I had! Disney invited me on an expense-paid trip to Los Angeles to attend the #HanSoloEvent and #ABCTVEvent in exchange for coverage on my blog. No other compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Amazon affiliate links are used within this post and I may earn a commission for purchases made through my links.

I’ve never watched Game of Thrones, so I was unprepared for the level of devotion GOT fans have for Emilia Clarke. But after seeing her in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY and then spending time with her on Saturday, I’m not surprised at all that she has such passionate and devoted fans. She is as sweet as can be, and flawlessly portrayed Qi’ra, Han Solo’s long-time friend and love-interest.

Emilia Clarke is Qi’ra in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Meet Qi’ra:

Qi’ra is deeply enmeshed in a life of crime as a member of a street gang on Corellia. Streetsmart, calculating and ambitious, she puts her early life as a powerless street urchin behind her and uses all her wits to move up in status within a prominent criminal organization.

About SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY

Board the Millennium Falcon and journey to a galaxy far, far away in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY, an all-new adventure with the most beloved scoundrel in the galaxy. Through a series of daring escapades deep within a dark and dangerous criminal underworld, Han Solo befriends his mighty future copilot Chewbacca and meets the notorious gambler Lando Calrissian, in a journey that will set the course of one of the Star Wars saga’s most unlikely heroes. The film stars Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Thandie Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Paul Bettany.

Emilia Clarke is Qi’ra and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Becoming a Star Wars Fan

Emilia wasn’t born when the first Star Wars movie appeared in theaters, but she grew up with an older brother who was a Star Wars fan and would make her dress up in Star Wars costumes for Halloween (even though she had no idea what they were really about).

EMILIA CLARKE – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Emilia said, “When Episode 7 (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) came out and I watched that with him, I became a fan because I suddenly realized what everyone must have felt in 1977 when (A New Hope) first came out. The enormity– like this is how a movie should be made.

This is what (movies) should look like. This is a blockbuster. The next level. So as soon as that happened I was like, ‘I need to be a part of this. This is how it’s done. This is how everybody should make a movie.’ So it was kind of from then on I just watched everything….and now I’m here.”

Fun side note: Emilia said that her Star Wars-fan brother screamed louder than she did when she was offered this role. I bet that was a fun day at their house!

EMILIA CLARKE – Photo courtesy of Louise Manning Bishop / MomStart.com

Walking in Leia’s shoes

We wondered if Emilia was intimidated at all playing ‘the woman who came before Princess Leia.’ Her response was perfect: “Well, I just tried not to think about it. I’m not gonna’ lie. It’s scary enough standing under the Star Wars banner, but having that as well.

“(But) it’s before Leia so I don’t need to spend too much time worrying about it. Like, I don’t know what my next 10 years are gonna look like. So I can kind of step away from that. I’ll let Alden take all that heat. ‘You carry that one, honey.'”

Joonas Suotamo is Chewbacca, Woody Harrelson is Beckett, Emilia Clarke is Qi’ra and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

Emilia recognized that this role carried a certain “weight” that her previous roles have not carried. She said, “Star Wars is challenging because you’re dealing with so much that it seems it’s almost history. It’s like hallowed ground, do you know what I mean? Making sure that you’re not gonna disappoint Star Wars fans is a big thing to carry and to make sure that you’re doing that right.”

Once you see her in this role, I’m sure you’ll agree – she handled the pressure well, and totally nailed it with her character. She mentioned that she felt like Han’s relationship with Qi’ra had a huge impact on the person he became later in life. First loves usually do shape us in ways that no one else can.

Emilia Clarke is Qi’ra and Alden Ehrenreich is Han Solo in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

On Playing Strong Women Characters

Perhaps my favorite part of our interview was what Emilia had to say about playing “Strong women characters” and being a role model for girls and other women.

Emilia said that she regularly gets asked about playing “strong women” and what she would love to see if for the vocabulary and the perception to change. She said, “We’re just women. You can take strong out of the equation, do you know what I mean? It just IS what we are; strength is within us as women. And it’d be wonderful if for the young girls who are watching me play these characters now just see that as a part of being a woman as opposed to it being a choice of like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna be a strong woman or I’m not gonna be a strong woman.’ You are, we all are. You have it in you anyway, so just go get it.”

Emilia Clarke is Qi’ra in SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY.

On Being Directed by Ron Howard

Ron Howard is such a legend, and has such an amazing reputation (and by the way, I’m 1000-times more impressed by him now that I’ve met him!). I loved hearing Emilia’s experience working with him.

HOLLYWOOD, CA – MAY 10: (L-R) Actors Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Emilia Clarke, and Director Ron Howard attend the world premiere of “Solo: A Star Wars Story” in Hollywood on May 10, 2018. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney)

Emilia said, “Jon Kasdan, one of the Writers, (told the cast that Ron Howard was going to be directing the movie), and I kept being like, ‘You’re joking. I don’t believe you. This is just ridiculous. You can’t actually really expect me to believe that Ron Howard has chosen come and direct this movie.’ And that’s when (I realized), ‘Oh no, yeah of course. It’s a Star Wars movie.'”

She continued, “It was just a dream come true. He literally couldn’t have been better and just held us all in the most beautiful way and he made us all feel heard, which in a movie of this scale is so impressive.”

Emilia left us with her person mantra: KOKO (keep on keeping on). Good words to live by.

Let me know when you’ve seen SOLO: A STAR WARS STORY and what you think of Qi’ra in the movie!

Website: https://www.starwars.com/films/solo

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/starwarsmovies

Follow our exclusive coverage (with review and interviews coming) by checking out hashtag #HanSoloEvent on social media or click HERE to see all of my Han Solo Event coverage.