Tag Archives: Disney

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 »

Diving into the 30th Anniversary Edition of “The Little Mermaid” at Walt Disney Animation Studios

Posted on by

Diving into the 30th Anniversary Edition of “The Little Mermaid” 

By Melanie Gable

*I was invited as media to visit Walt Disney Animation Studios to learn more about the Walt Disney Signature Collection edition of “The Little Mermaid.” All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly 30 years since Ariel first swam into theaters, but the fandom for Disney’s lovable mermaid princess has continued grow as each new generation experiences the magic of “The Little Mermaid.” This month the classic film will be joining the Walt Disney Signature Collection with both digital (available Feb. 12) and Blu-ray (Feb. 26) editions packed with all-new bonus features.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of “The Little Mermaid” and take a look back at the film’s legacy, Walt Disney Animation Studios hosted a media event featuring Director Ron Clements, Animation Supervisor Mark Henn, and The Little Mermaid herself, Jodi Benson! Erin invited me to cover the event for her, and I jumped at the chance to learn more about one of my favorite movies from the talented people who brought it to life.

We first met with Co-head of Animation Kira Lehtomaki, who gave us background on the revitalizing impact that “The Little Mermaid” had on the studio. “At the time that ‘The Little Mermaid’ was being made, we weren’t sure if the animation studio was going to close or not,” said Lehtomaki. “It wasn’t quite at the pinnacle of what animation had been, and it wasn’t until The Little Mermaid came along that she really revitalized the studio and launched a whole new renaissance for Disney animation.”

Hans Christian Andersen’s fish-out-of-water story had been on the studio’s list of potential fairy tale adaptations since the 1930s, but it wasn’t until 1989 that Disney was finally able to bring “The Little Mermaid” to theaters. The studio had been in a creative and box office slump, at least compared to its early films, but “The Little Mermaid” was a hit with critics and audiences alike, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical, and winning Oscars for both Best Original Song (“Under the Sea”) and Best Original Score.

It's been 30 years since Ariel first swam into theaters, but the fandom for Disney’s lovable mermaid princess has continued grow as each new generation experiences the magic of “The Little Mermaid.” This month the classic film will be joining the Walt Disney Signature Collection with both digital (available Feb. 12) and Blu-ray (Feb. 26) editions packed with all-new bonus features. 

Ariel inspired legions of kids to long for mermaid tails and scarlet hair, and I was one of them. (I pity my poor mom, who had to endure me begging her to dye my hair red like The Little Mermaid on a nearly-daily basis after we saw the movie. Sorry, Mom!) The film also sparked the ambitions of a new generation of artists, many of whom dreamed of becoming Disney animators. “I knew at a very early age that I wanted to be part of this world,” confessed the charming Lehtomaki, who wanted to be a Disney “drawer” starting at age five, and even shared one of her childhood drawings of Ariel.

Lehtomaki led the team that brought all of the Disney princesses together, and designed their iconic loungewear, in “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” and she is particularly drawn to Ariel. “One of the reasons why I deeply connect to Ariel is because she’s a collector. She has ‘gadgets and gizmos a plenty,’ and I, too, am a collector. I’m kind of known around here as the resident Disney hoarder,” she joked. Lehtomaki used her personal collection of Disney princess figurines to remember the placement of each princess when she was animating their scene with Vanellope in “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”

She also formed a friendship with Ariel herself, actress Jodi Benson, who voiced the headstrong mermaid in the original film and subsequent Disney projects, including “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” Lehtomaki gushed about Benson, saying, “Jodi was so valuable in the information she gave us, but the other part was we got to watch her in the recording studio, and if you watch her you will see she IS Ariel. She embodies her.” Benson was kind enough to talk with us over video web chat about what “The Little Mermaid” has meant to her over the years and her memorable experiences during production.

The Little Mermaid Dinglehopper

Continue reading »

“Mary Poppins Returns” is a Dazzling Sequel That Aims to Delight Fans of the Original

Posted on by

“Mary Poppins Returns” a Dazzling Sequel 

By Melanie Gable

*Hi, everyone! I’m so excited that Erin invited me to guest write this review for her blog! I attended a press screening for “Mary Poppins Returns” for the purposes of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

When Walt Disney Studios first announced that they would be making a sequel to their beloved, Oscar-winning 1964 film “Mary Poppins,” Disney fans’ reactions on social media were decidedly mixed. A movie musical that combined live action film with animation, the original “Mary Poppins” has stood the test of time and captivated multiple generations. Some of the film’s enthusiasts were elated by the prospect of revisiting Cherry Tree Lane (the setting of the first movie) and seeing a new Poppins story, while purists thought the property should be left alone.

But fans needn’t have worried, because “Mary Poppins Returns” simultaneously pays homage to the original film and does its own dazzling thing, exploring new territory in the Poppins-verse, with nostalgic nods to “Mary Poppins” peppered throughout the sequel. Deftly directed by Rob Marshall (“Into the Woods,” “Chicago”), who certainly knows his way around a musical, “Mary Poppins Returns” is a lively, enchanting, and loving tribute to P.L. Travers’ Poppins books and a (practically) perfect companion piece to the first film. If you missed what the cast had to share about the film the other day, make sure to check that out too!

The movie takes place in Depression-era London, two decades after the events in “Mary Poppins.” Jane and Michael Banks, the sibling charges of the magical nanny in the original movie, are all grown up, with grown-up problems. Michael (Ben Whishaw), now a struggling artist and father of three children, is dealing with the recent passing of his wife and the subsequent chaos his house is thrown into as he attempts to keep up with the financial and emotional responsibilities of single fatherhood. Jane (Emily Mortimer), a busy, independent woman campaigning for workers’ rights, still has the warmth and sweetness of her childhood self, checking in on and helping her brother whenever she can. Michael’s loyal housekeeper and cook, Ellen (Julie Walters), is getting on in years and, though well-intentioned, is prone to being scatterbrained and clumsy. The Banks children – Annabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh), and Georgie (Joel Dawson) – assume additional responsibilities to help with the household as various tasks, such as grocery shopping, fall through the cracks. We are also introduced to Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), a charming, optimistic lamplighter and acquaintance of Bert, Dick Van Dyke’s chimney sweep character in “Mary Poppins,” who is soon drawn into the Banks’ family drama.

Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, the place of Michael’s employment, soon comes calling with bad news: due to late payments, Michael must now pay back his entire mortgage on 17 Cherry Tree Lane by the end of the week, or he will lose the property. Though the sum is more than Michael makes in a year and all seems lost, there is one ray of hope – the shares his father, a partner at Fidelity Fiduciary, owned in the bank. As Jane and Michael search the home for the shares certificate, they come across various mementos from their childhood, including the lovingly patched kite featured in the song “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” at the end of “Mary Poppins.” In a moment of frustration and grief, Michael takes a box of his childhood relics to the curb, including the kite, to be picked up for disposal. The kite almost immediately catches a gust of wind, skittering along the street and eventually taking to the sky.

 As the Banks children cut through the local park on their way to the market, Georgie spots the old kite flying wildly in the wind and begins to chase it. As the kite ascends higher and higher into the cloudy sky, Georgie finally catches hold of the string and crosses paths with Jack the lamplighter, who helps him reel it in. Into the fray floats Mary Poppins in her signature style, holding the kite in one hand and her parrot umbrella in the other, chin held high, toes pointed outward, and an air of mystery and magic about her. Jane and Michael are shocked when Mary Poppins arrives unceremoniously at 17 Cherry Tree Lane with Michael’s children in tow. She’s clearly the same nanny they remember, and shows no visible signs of aging since they were children. At Jane’s insistence (because Poppins might be down on her luck and need the work), Michael reluctantly hires Mary Poppins to care for his children. As is her way, Mary Poppins begins infusing fun and whimsy back into the Banks’ children’s lives, while steering the family toward the solutions to their problems behind the scenes.

Continue reading »