Tag Archives: Disney Movies

Meeting the Cast of Aladdin & a Special Performance by Alan Menken!

Posted on by

Meeting the Cast of Aladdin & a Special Performance by Alan Menken!

By Erin

 A thrilling and vibrant live-action adaptation of Disney’s animated classic, “Aladdin” is the exciting tale of the charming street rat Aladdin, the courageous and self-determined Princess Jasmine and the Genie who may be the key to their future. The 1992 animated film starred Robin Williams and featured such memorable songs as the Oscar®-winning “A Whole New World” and “Friend like Me.” The film grossed more than $502 million at the global box office, which led to successful stage productions on Broadway and abroad as well as a North American touring company. Audiences of all ages are sure to love this new live-action version of the beloved film.

Directed by Guy Ritchie (“Sherlock Holmes,” “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”), written by John August (“Dark Shadows,” “Big Fish”) and Ritchie based on Disney’s “Aladdin.” Staring Will Smith (“Ali,” “Men in Black”) as the larger-than-life Genie; Mena Massoud (“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan”) as the charming scoundrel Aladdin; Naomi Scott (“Power Rangers”) as Jasmine, the beautiful, self- determined princess; Marwan Kenzari (“Murder on the Orient Express”) as Jafar, the powerful sorcerer; Navid Negahban (“Legion”) as the Sultan concerned with his daughter’s future; Nasim Pedrad (“Saturday Night Live”) as Dalia, Princess Jasmine’s free-spirited best friend and confidante; Billy Magnussen (“Into the Woods”) as the handsome and arrogant suitor Prince Anders; and Numan Acar (“The Great Wall”) as Hakim, Jafar’s right-hand man and captain of the palace guards.

“Aladdin” is produced by Dan Lin, p.g.a., (“Sherlock Holmes”) and Jonathan Eirich, p.g.a., (“Death Note“) with Oscar® nominee and Golden Globe® winner Marc Platt (“La La Land”) and Kevin De La Noy (“The Dark Knight Rises”) serving as executive producers. Eight-time Academy Award®-winning composer Alan Menken (“Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid”) provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Oscar-winning lyricists Howard Ashman (“Little Shop of Horrors”) and Tim Rice (“The Lion King”) and includes two new songs written by Menken and Oscar and Tony Award®-winning songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land,” “Dear Evan Hansen”). 

“Aladdin” opens in U.S. theaters nationwide May 24, 2019.

This past weekend we had at the opportunity to meet the cast and ask them some questions at the press conference that took place at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA. Here is who was in attendance.

  • Will Smith (“Genie”)
  • Mena Massoud (“Aladdin”)
  • Naomi Scott (“Jasmine”)
  • Nasim Pedrad (“Dalia”)
  • Navid Negahban (“Sultan”)
  • Director Guy Ritchie
  • Composer Alan Menken
  • Production Designer Gemma Jackson

Eight time Oscar winner Alan Menken performed a beautiful compilation of Disney songs he has composed to start things off. It was truly a magical treat! I recorded it all for you to enjoy too! Take a listen and enjoy. I am sure it will bring back lots of fun memories of all your Disney favorites too, as well as one new one. Be sure to listen for a part of the NEW song from Aladdin, “Speechless” that is a part of this magical number. You’re welcome. 😉

After that amazing performance, the cast was introduced by moderator: Dani Fernandez. She started off with asking the cast what are they excited for people to see as far as this film?

Mena Massoud (Aladdin) answered with, “You know, I’m especially proud of the representation and the ethnically diverse casting that was put together for this. It’s not often you can go to a movie theater and see all people of color represented like this. It’s certainly something that I was missing in my childhood. So I’m proud of the cast and the casting that Guy and Disney put together. I’m excited for little boys and girls to go see people that look like them on screen, man. That’s what I’m proud of.”

 Naomi Scott (Jasmine) was asked about Jasmine. Jasmine was our first Disney princess of color. She also has a new song and speech list. What was it like doing that scene and also how do you feel that song resonates today? 

Naomi chimed in with, “So Speechless, written by this guy over here, Alan Menken, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul. Incredible writer. So the fact that they wrote a song and I get to sing it, first of all, I was like wow. That’s already surreal. But also then when I heard it and just the words and the lyrics and how timely it was, the message behind the song and the idea of not going speechless, that everyone has a voice, doesn’t matter who you are, doesn’t matter what you look like, doesn’t matter what your gender, your voice matters. And speaking out against injustice matters. Not just standing by and being a spectator. That day was very emotional.”

Continue reading »

Exploring the Frozen, Fascinating World of “Penguins” at Walt Disney Studios

Posted on by

Exploring the Frozen, Fascinating World of “Penguins” at Walt Disney Studios

By Melanie Gable

*I was invited as media to attend a press screening of Disneynature’s “Penguins” at Walt Disney Studios. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

There’s something about penguins. Is it their endearing waddle? Their tuxedo-like feathers? Their fortitude against harsh weather conditions? Their playfulness as they slide down icy hills or take turns hopping into the ocean for a refreshing swim?

Whatever the reason, penguins are arguably one of the most beloved animals in pop culture, inspiring documentaries, animated films, children’s books, online games, and more, especially over the past two decades.

Disneynature is now taking on these adorable avian creatures with the new feature film “Penguins.” Just in time for Earth Day, audiences are invited to follow the true life adventures of Steve, an Adélie penguin who sets out on a coming-of-age quest to become a family man…er, bird. He faces the challenges that come with living in the wilds of Antarctica – from predators like seals and orcas, to the simple inability to impress a female mate – and makes us laugh along the way.


 
To celebrate the release of “Penguins,” we were invited to a press screening of the movie at the Walt Disney Studios lot, followed by a Q&A with Producer Roy Conli.

Directed by Alastair Fothergill (“Bears,” “Chimpanzee”) and Jeff Wilson (“Monkey Kingdom”), “Penguins” follows in the footsteps of Disneynature’s past films by featuring stunning cinematography, a window into a rarely-seen pocket of the natural world, and a mix of suspense, heartbreak, and humor. But “Penguins” has an even lighter touch than many of Disneynature’s past offerings, emphasizing the inherently funny characteristics of Adélies with laugh-out-loud music cues and narration by Ed Helms (“The Office,” “The Hangover” trilogy, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”), an actor known for great comedic timing and improv skills.

While recording his dialogue for the film, Helms was charmed by the footage of Steve and his fellow penguins. “Even though they’re birds, they’re really aquatic creatures, and in the water they’re unbelievably graceful and elegant, fast and agile. But on land, they’re so awkward; they walk with this sort of weird wobble. And yet, they have such spirit and moxie because they persevere in these crazy Antarctic conditions.”

Adélie penguins are named after the wife of French explorer Jules Dumont d’Urville, who discovered the species in 1840. Growing to only around two feet tall, Adélies are smaller than their Antarctic neighbors, Emperor penguins, but possess oversized temperaments.
Said Fothergill, “People may be more familiar with Emperor penguins, but they’re actually pretty mellow. I like to say that Emperor penguins are the California surfers and Adélie penguins are New York City taxi drivers. They have attitude. They’re feisty. They have an extraordinary amount of expression in their eyes. They almost look animated. And I knew—with their big personalities—the film would have a lot of comedy.”


Described by Conli as an “everypenguin,” the aptly named Steve is a five-year-old Adélie who struggles with first-time fatherhood, leading to some nail-biting, hilarious, and downright gross moments that human parents are sure to find relatable. We watch as Steve builds a nest, fights off rock-stealing male competitors, attracts a mate named Adeline, and shares parenting duties with his penguin partner. We chuckle at Steve’s missteps (sometimes literally, as he is often slipping on the ice), root for him and his family, and marvel at his ability to survive what seem like insurmountable obstacles in the frigid Antarctic climate. Though Steve’s behavior is entertaining, any film that is true to nature is sure to include scenes that are hard to watch for those who are sensitive to animal peril, and may even prompt some in the audience to cover their eyes in suspense.

“There are still places left on Earth that are remote, untouched by human presence and where real-life dramas play out on a daily basis,” says Wilson. “Adélie penguins deserve our respect and adoration and stewardship for the fact that they are superbly adapted to living in one of the harshest continents on Earth.”

“Penguins” was filmed over the course of three years by a world-renowned group of polar experts. They literally immersed themselves in the environments of their subjects, following the Adélies across icy landscapes and underwater, shooting for nearly 900 camera days. “These locations may be the hardest locations to get to of any Disneynature film we’ve made so far,” said Fothergill. “It’s hard to think of a tougher habitat on the planet.”

Editor Andy Netley was given the challenging task of sorting through the many hours of footage to carve out a compelling narrative arc and keep the focus squarely on the film’s star penguin. “Disneynature movies are unique because they’re so character driven. We definitely wanted to do an emotional and informative story, but above all, it’s Steve’s story.”

Moviegoers of all ages are sure to be captivated by “Penguins,” which is the first Disneynature film to be released in IMAX. Audiences can also help aid conservation efforts by seeing the movie during opening week (April 17-23, 2019). For every ticket sold during this time, Disneynature will make a donation to the Wildlife Conservation Network (WCN), which helps protect penguins across the southern hemisphere. WCN supports an elite network of on-the-ground conservationists, including the Global Penguin Society (GPS), the worldwide leader in science-based penguin conservation and a champion of specific programs that align with Disneynature’s mission. For the past ten years, Disneynature has empowered audiences to help make a difference, with each new movie supporting the conservation of the wildlife featured in the films

Disneynature’s “Penguins” is open nationwide in theaters and in IMAX now!

Like Disneynature on Facebook: Facebook.com/Disneynature

Follow Disneynature on Twitter: Twitter.com/Disneynature

Follow Disneynature on Instagram: http://instagram.com/disneynature

Visit the official website here: https://nature.disney.com/penguins

Going Higher, Further, Faster with the Cast & Crew of “Captain Marvel” 

Posted on by

Going Higher, Further, Faster with the Cast & Crew of “Captain Marvel”

By Melanie Gable

*I was invited as media to attend the press junket for “Captain Marvel.” All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, CA, was even more star-studded than usual on Feb. 22 when the cast and filmmakers behind Marvel Studios’ “Captain Marvel” held a press conference to talk about the new movie. Captain Marvel herself, Brie Larson, shared production stories and insights, along with Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Jude Law (Yon-Rogg), Producer Kevin Feige, Co-directors Anna Boden & Ryan Fleck, and more. Erin Miller invited me to cover the event for her, and I was thrilled to learn more about the film from the stars themselves.

“Captain Marvel,” which opens March 8 (International Women’s Day), is the first Marvel Studios film to feature a solo female lead. The story centers on U.S. Air Force pilot Carol Danvers, who gains awe-inspiring super powers under mysterious circumstances. Set in the 1990s, the movie acts as a prequel of sorts to the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) and is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year.

Marvel Studios' "Captain Marvel" Global Junket Press Conference

Kevin Feige, Lashana Lynch, Jude Law,  Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Gemma Chan, Clark Gregg, Anna Boden, & Ryan Fleck

Rotten Tomatoes Editor Jacqueline Coley moderated the discussion, which featured the aforementioned talent, along with Clark Gregg (Agent Coulson), Lashana Lynch (Maria Rambeau), and Gemma Chan (Minn-Erva). Coley began with Feige, asking him about the process of selecting the directors for “Captain Marvel.” Boden and Fleck, a married couple and creative partners known for character-driven indie films, were an unconventional choice for a big-budget superhero movie. Feige explained the decision to hire Boden and Fleck for “Captain Marvel,” saying, “It’s their body of work, and it’s their focus on character…our belief that they wouldn’t have lost the character amongst the spectacle and the fun and the effects.”

Boden and Fleck, who are also writers, cinematographers, and editors, met on the set of a student film and worked together on “Mississippi Grind,” “It’s Kind of a Funny Story,” “Sugar,” and “Half Nelson,” for which lead actor Ryan Gosling received an Academy Award nomination. The duo were at one point considered to direct “Guardians of the Galaxy,” but “Captain Marvel” turned out to be the right fit. Feige was particularly swayed by Boden’s pitch, adding that she spoke “very eloquently” about Carol Danvers and convinced the studio that she and Fleck were the right team for the job. During the film’s production, Boden even went up in a U.S.A.F. jet, as did Lynch and Larson, which Feige said was “super impressive” and joked, “I wouldn’t do it for a million dollars.”

President of Marvel Studios/Producer Kevin Feige

Kevin Feige & Lashana Lynch

For Larson, who trained every day for months to play Carol Danvers, even pushing a 5,000 pound Jeep for 60 seconds (as seen in a video she shared on her Instagram page), the experience of preparing for the role was both emotional and inspirational. “When we’re talking about Carol’s strength and we’re talking about what I learned from her, it’s that I’m stronger than I realized,” shared Larson, who was able to dead-lift 225 pounds and hip-thrust 400 pounds during her training. “So this concept, when it comes to gender norms or what the human body is capable of, or in particular maybe what a female body is capable of, it’s capable of a lot.”

Continue reading »