When it comes to fighting forest fires, Sup and his crew are the best of the best—that is, until they’re put to the test. In Playing with Fire, John Cena’s Superintendent Jake Carson is a tough character who doesn’t like to let his guard down. His crew is equally resilient, astute and comedic to boot. When given their toughest test yet, the crew is tasked with watching over three kids who happen to have their own hurdles to overcome.
Playing with Fire is a hilarious and family-friendly comedy that boasts some of the funniest actors in the business, including Judy Greer as Dr. Amy Hicks, Keegan-Michael Key as Mark and John Leguziamo as Rodrigo. Together with the well rounded kid actors, the vulnerable Dennis Haysbert and star, John Cena, Playing with Fire has all the elements to make the whole family smile and crack up over these shenanigans.
Because of Playing with Fire’s family-centric storyline and target audience, Paramount Studios invited me, along with several fellow bloggers and their families to interview the cast and director Andy Fickman. Instead of us bloggers queuing up the questions, we took seats in the back rows and let the kids take the reigns. And what a treat that was!
We all know that Keegan-Michael Key is a riot and that John Cena is a talented entertainer, but I loved listening to the kids interact with the kid actors.
When asked if any past experiences helped with the role in Playing with Fire, Christian Convery shared how he learned how to act improved because of Keegan and everyone else on this show.
Of course, there were laughs when John Cena rebutted and said that Christian didn’t learn to act from him!
Speaking of acting, as a perpetual entertainer who is laying his stake in family friendly films, I appreciated when one of the kids asked John Cena why he transitioned from fighting to acting. Cena’s answer was so diplomatic and relatable for the kids to understand. The kid reporter shared that he was born in 2008 when John asked his birthday.
“By the time you were born I believe I had already won seven WWE championships and I had been wrestling full time for close to seven years. So, I’ve been wrestling for 17 years. And I’d love to keep doing it forever and ever. But you have like 200 matches a year and man, I’m–I just don’t know if I can have 200 matches a year anymore. So, I really enjoy storytelling and I enjoy entertaining audiences and having fun. Movies is a different way to do that.”
The overflowing soap suds scene in the firehouse was one of our absolute scenes from the film. And, not surprisingly, it attracted questions from the kids, including my own! Jack asked a rather introspective question: when the soap and the suds get everywhere the little boy owned up to his mistake. Have any of you owned up to like a very big mistake?
Keegan-Michael Key had the best answer that could totally double as a parenting reminder: “Owning up to mistakes, I mean, I feel like I do it every day. Feel like I’m owning up to some mistake every day. Cause it’s very good to say–to hold yourself accountable for your actions because then you can learn from them. And also, it helps wipe the slate clean every day if you–if you really do it. And, the only key to it really, I think, is that you just have to really be sincere.”
And to round out this fun press junket for Playing with Fire, my sweet Josh, despite his speech delay, was unfazed and asked the actors what their favorite part of the movie was.
The most memorable answer, of course, came from the littlest kid actor, Finley Rose, without hesitation said: When John Cena made pooping in the woods.”
Brave firefighters, angsty teens, crazy action scenes, silly comedy and poop: what more can a kid ask for in a movie!?
Playing with Fire is in theaters on November 8.
Full disclosure: I was invited by Paramount Studios to participate in this press junket. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.
When it comes to feel-good family movies there are quite a few recent releases that fit the bill. But when it comes to a coming of age story that shares the reality of sibling rivalry, the cost of fame and other not-so-glamorous topics, Fighting With My Family is a film that can’t be missed.
Based on the true story of WWE’s Paige’s rise to fame and her family’s plight to make their passion pay off, Fighting With My Family follows Paige, her brother Zak and their family’s highs and lows. Produced by Dwayne Johnson, the film is from Annapurna Pictures and has created quite the buzz, and for good reason.
After screening the film last week, together with a group of fellow bloggers, I participated in a press junket for Fighting With My Family. At the junket that was held at the Essex Hotel in NYC, we had the chance to interview some of the stars of the film including: Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Stephen Merchant and WWE Divas Champ, Paige.
Obviously, we all had so many questions about the story itself, so it was great to hear Paige’s perspective firsthand. When asked what it was like to go through so many hurdles and challenges and then experience success, Paige shared her thoughts on what it was like to view from this new lens.
It’s bizarre because at the time you don’t realize how many obstacles you’re going through until it is being told on the big screen and Stephen did such an amazing job trying to capture everything as accurate as possible.
But yeah, it’s like very bizarre and very surreal and then sometimes I have to sit back and she’s so good at what she does that I forget that she’s playing me and I forget that it’s my story.
But, yeah, every single one of the cast did an incredible job and it’s just thank you all every single one of you by the way. She gets to meet my mom today. I’m very excited.
Fighting With My Family isn’t just a movie about wrestling. In fact, when asked if the movie would translate for people who are not wrestling fans, the cast answered:
I don’t think people need to know all of wrestling to like the film because everyone has a family so I think it’s a film about families and wrestling could be pottery or you could swap out for anything.
Above all, Fighting with My Family is about relationships and how to triumph above all. This key messaging resonated with all of us in the room, and the cast validated these thoughts during the interview. Lena Headey, who plays Paige’s mom, admitted that she studied Julia.
Lena Headey: I mean we watched the documentary, I watched the documentary years ago and sort of fell in love with them because so completely honest and there’s no nonsense. I mean they all say how they feel, there is nothing whispered behind any doors and I think that their authenticity is why you fall in love with them. And I haven’t met Julia yet, I’m meeting her today. Hopefully, she’s pleased.
One of the key messages of the film for me was that life isn’t always going to be easy. It’s going to be hard and messy and unforgiving. When life throws you adversity and tough times, it’s not how you fall, but how you get back up and react. It’s all about moving forward.
And I think part of the message of the film is that nothing is easy whether it’s wrestling or anything else. Doors will be closed in your face, people will sometimes say no, sometimes you won’t fit in, sometimes you will be rejected and you just have to keep moving forward. You know you have to keep taking the punches and if you are passionate about it you just keep plowing on and eventually the doors will open and that is certainly true of all of us in our careers. I’m sure we could all have individual stories of the times where it didn’t pan out so. It’s hard sometimes to remember that and you could give up, you could get depressed but I think it’s all of us and I think certainly Paige’s story is that just keep moving forward.
I can’t say enough positive things about this film! As someone who grew up watching WWF as a kid, it was an absolute honor to screen and participate in this junket for Fighting With My Family. It’s a realistic coming of age film that’s so well written and surprisingly funny to boot!
Fighting With My Family is a heartwarming comedy based on the true story of WWE Superstar Paige. Born into a tight-knit wrestling family, Paige and her brother Zak are ecstatic when they get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to try out for WWE. But when only Paige earns a spot in the competitive training program, she must leave her family and face this new, cut-throat world alone. Paige’s journey pushes her to dig deep, fight for her family, and ultimately prove to the world that what makes her different is the very thing that can make her a star.
Fighting With My Family is out in select theaters on February 14 and nationwide on February 22.
Full Disclosure: This junket was hosted by Annapurna Pictures. All opinions are my own. As always, thanks for supporting NKT.
In the works for seven years, The Greatest Showman, is the story that captures the essence of P.T. Barnum and his legacy as a showbusiness trailblazer. In what was one of the most engaging press junkets I’ve participated in yet, I was enchanted by the entire cast and creators behind this film. Though my review of the film is embargoed until tomorrow, I will say, however, that I have not stopped thinking about or singing The Greatest Showman.
Hugh Jackman and Following Your Passion
Larger than life, much like the character whom he portrays, Hugh Jackman was the first actor who arrived to our junket. Sharply dressed for the evening’s events, Jackman started off by telling the group how the journey to creating The Greatest Showman began seven years ago.
Jackman was approached by producers, Larry Mark and Bill Condon, to do an original movie musical. “And they had idea of P.T. Barnum, which I thought was perfect for a musical. I do think when you have a character who’s in the world of show biz, who’s larger than life, it lends itself to a musical.”
The face of the film, Jackman takes on what is, quite possibly, one of the roles of his lifetime. He showcased his vocal chops, strength as a dancer, range as an actor and solidified his role as a versatile entertainer while portraying the unstoppable P.T. Barnum.
He shared how his passion for dance and the stage has a parallel to one of the messages of the film:
“Actually owning up to the things that you love, the music that you like, the food you want to eat, who your friends are, the things you want to do whether it’s cool or not, that is where the joy of life is. And really should be your marker for your path. And I can speak, unfortunately from experience, of not always listening to that.
When I was 11, a teacher told me I had talent as an dancer. You should dance. I told my dad and he told me to go and get dance lessons. My brother overheard and said, “Ah, you sissy. You sissy.” And I was 10 or 11 at the time. And so, I didn’t do dancing. And then when I went to see 42nd Street with my dad and my brother, I was 18. And at interval, my brother came up to me and said, “I said something really stupid to you years ago. You belong on the stage and you should go and get dancing lessons.”
The Different Dimensions of Zac
Zac Efron, who most recently starred in comedies such as Neighbors, Neighbors 2 and Baywatch, rose to fame portraying Troy Bolton in Disney’s High School Musical series in 2006-2008. Efron secured his triple threat status in the revival of Hairspray in 2007.
During the junket for The Greatest Showman, Efron’s casual entrance shifted the tone for the interview. His laid back and warm demeanor was a contrast to the privileged, yet unhappy Phillip Carlyle. Efron was attracted to The Greatest Showman because it was a “merging of worlds”…that evokes a “modern sensibility and it’s about issues that mean a lot to us today.”
When asked if he was looking to star in a musical, Efron answered: I’m always looking “where can I find the next way to integrate music and that sort of song and dance side of me into my work and where will it be effective.”
“And in Hugh’s portrayal of P.T. Barnum, I felt like it would be effective. It could work through–Phillip could be a conduit to help show the magic of what P.T. Barnum did as a showman.
And really, what Hugh does as a person in real life, and I’m here at a standing testament to it, he’s, like, one of the best teachers and, like, showmen in the world, literally. He quite literally is the most versatile probably actor alive—.”
Truly a wise talent and a multi-dimensional actor, Efron’s portrayal of Carlyle is engaging and showcases his broad vocal range and dance capabilities. Truth be told, I was caught off guard by how much I enjoyed Efron in The Greatest Showman. I not only adored his character’s trajectory, but felt that this role showcased his vocal talent and strength as a dancer.
Zendaya: Strong, Poised and Vocal
Zendaya is one of the young actors that I’ve been admiring from afar over the years. As a Disney loving family, we’ve probably watched every episode of Shake it Up and K.C. Undercover. The strong, sassy and diverse characters that she’s portrayed on Disney have helped her to catapult onto the big screen.
The Greatest Showman is her second film, but you would’ve never known it by the way she takes on aerialist Anne Wheeler.
Zendaya says she was attracted to playing Anne because she is the natural leader of the so-called Oddities. “To me, Anne is very confident, very poised and very comfortable in her own skin.”
It’s important to note that the 20-year old Zendaya has used her platform to voice her stance on important issues such as equality, diversity and helping the less fortunate.
As a true fan of this rising star who embraces her responsibility as an influential person who also happens to be biracial, I was so disappointed that I didn’t get a chance to personally ask Zendaya a question. However, when a question came up about what the actors hope that young people would take away from the film, I loved what Zendaya had to say:
“As a millennial or someone that young people look to, it’s a lot of responsibility. And I try to take it that way. Some people like to look at it as a pressure and a negative thing, and I think it’s positive thing. It means 40 million people that I can positively affect, you know?
And I think that what I think my message is and what aligns with this movie is it’s not telling you to be a certain way, right? We’re not saying this is how you should be.
It’s saying we want you to be the best version of yourself.”
Undeterred by boundaries, Zendaya, quite literally, reached for the stars as aerialist Anne Wheeler. In their duet “Rewrite the Stars” Zendaya and Efron worked beautifully to harmonize vocally and physically. The duo complemented each other well and did their own stunts. Zendaya emphasized, “I think that was the cool part about it, is we kind of had the freedom to just kind of go for it and just have some fun.”
Pasek and Paul: Songwriting Masterminds
Though the film takes place in the 19th century, the design music and choreography helped to make this period piece into a relevant movie musical.
At the genesis of the film, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul were up and coming songwriters. They had yet to hit it big when they signed on with The Greatest Showman. Pasek and Paul have since added quite a few more songs to their portfolio, not to mention an Academy Award and Golden Globe for “City of Stars” from La La Land and a Tony for the Best Original Score for Dear Evan Hansen.
The songwriting duo do not disappoint with the original music for The Greatest Showman. The musical features 10 original songs with varying tempos, but retain fluidity within the storyline. From the opening scene that introduces the anthem and title song, “The Greatest Show,” the lyrics help to unveil the story, where stacatto vocals articulate the grandeur, and the chorus leads to a transition and a melodic foreshadowing.
Since I’m one of the last people on Earth who has yet to see La La Land or Dear Evan Hansen, The Greatest Showman was my first experience to fully enjoy Pasek and Paul’s songwriting. Immediately downloading the soundtrack the night after screening the film and before our junket, I was hooked!Truly smitten by Pasek and Paul’s work in The Greatest Showman, I didn’t hesitate when it came to asking about their musical influences. The original music in The Greatest Showman is influenced by so many genres and artists. The song, “The Greatest Show” is the only song that they co-wrote with someone else; they wrote it with Ryan Lewis of Macklemore and Lewis fame. Director Michael Gracey insisted upon an anthem type feel, much like a Queen song, where the crowd would stomp and clap their hands to the beat.
Though all of the songs evoke their own style, it’s clear that they were influenced by many contemporary artists. Pasek and Paul said that influence in their original music came from artists like Ingrid Michaelson, Imagine Dragons, Billy Joel, among others.
Keala Settle’s Film Debut in The Greatest Showman
One of the many shining stars of the film, Keala Settle plays Lettie Lutz, also known as the bearded lady. Settle, who makes her film debut in The Greatest Showman is no stranger to the stage. Settle is an accomplished actor on Broadway, playing Becky in the stage musical “Waitress,” among other notable roles. One of the most important themes of The Greatest Showman is acceptance and inclusion despite your differences.
Settle, who revealed her fears about the role: “I was so petrified because this is my first major motion picture in a role that I didn’t know was going to be what it is. I had no idea. It changed over the course of how it was created as we were creating, you know, in rehearsals and stuff like that before we started initial photography. And the bigger that it got for me, the scarier that it got because I wanted to hide even more. And I am still, even sitting here in front of you, fighting that right now.”
The entire cast is phenomenal in their own rite, Settle nailed her first film. Her song, “This is Me,” is a relatable ballad for anyone who’s ever felt different or had to overcome a hardship. Her performance is one of the most memorable moments of the film. She is one of the breakout stars of the film; “Look out because here I come…”
From the music, to talent of the ensemble cast to the choreography to the relevant and relatable themes, The Greatest Showman is undoubtedly a film like no other. The positive undertones and dreamer mentality make The Greatest Showman a fun film for people of all ages.
Though this film has been in the works for seven years, The Greatest Showman embraces so many important themes that are more relevant than ever: inclusion, diversity, dream big, among other topical issues.
When asked what was his biggest takeaway from the film, Jackman said it best:
“I love the message of this movie, of accepting ourselves for who we are and what we love and the things that really make us feel passionate and not worry about what anyone else thinks.”
Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be enchanted by the magic of showbusiness. The Greatest Showman is in theaters December 20th.
This Christmas, dare to dream anything. The #GreatestShowman opens a world of imagination, in theaters December 20. TheGreatestShowmanTickets.com
“The Greatest Showman” is a bold and original musical that celebrates the birth of show business and the sense of wonder we feel when dreams come to life. Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum, “The Greatest Showman” tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. “The Greatest Showman” is directed by exciting new filmmaker, Michael Gracey, with songs by Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land”) and starring Academy Award nominee Hugh Jackman. Jackman is joined by Zac Efron, Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya.
Genre: Musical
Directed By: Michael Gracey
Screenplay By: Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon
Story By: Jenny Bicks
Produced By: Laurence Mark, p.g.a, Peter Chernin, p.g.a, Jenno Topping, p.g.a
I was hosted by Momentum Films for the Fun Mom Dinner press junket.
In Momentum Film’s Fun Mom Dinner, a normal night out with mom friends is challenged when fun is redefined. Navigating motherhood with school-aged children is no easy feat. In fact, the movie industry has created a funny dialogue about modern parenting and the comedy that ensues when moms take on life with kids.
When Emily (Katie Aselton), Kate (Toni Collette), Melanie (Bridget Everett) and Jamie (Molly Shannon) gather for a night out, the night goes from innocent conversation and lamenting about parenthood into overdrive with some questionable, but hilarious behavior.
Written by Julie Rudd, directed by Alethea Jones, Fun Mom Dinner features an all-star cast of funny comedians: Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Bridget Everett and Molly Shannon. Made by women for women, Fun Mom Dinner exudes a unique energy that is reflective of the passionate creators in front of the camera, as well as behind the scenes.
Fun Mom Dinner is a fun, sometimes impossible flick that’s perfect for a girls’ night out. Plus, Adam Levine’s in it! Hello!
As a mom who had an identity before kids, I can definitely relate to a few of the characters portrayed in Fun Mom Dinner. As someone who’s often reluctant to go beyond my usual circle of friends, I definitely related to Kate and Emily’s plight in Fun Mom Dinner. The ensemble cast made the laughs and ridiculousness seem effortless.
Last week, i was invited to take part in a media junket with the cast, director, writer and producer of Fun Mom Dinner.
It was so great hearing from these funny women and to get their thoughts on parenting and how they enjoy having a good time.
What I loved was how each actress has a distinctly different comedic background. In fact, I loved how Toni Collette recounted her first experience with getting acquainted with Bridget Everett.
“I got the script and Bridget was attached, but I was unfamiliar with her work. So, I thought I’ll just take a peek, and then I couldn’t stop reading it. So, I loved it and immediately wanted to do it.
But then I looked at a link to Bridget in her prime on YouTube, and I was so blown away. I was sitting in a hotel room by myself, like, with tears running down my face laughing my ass off. “
The ensemble cast enjoyed the unique timeframe and the fact that they filmed at night.
Colette said, “And working together exceeded any expectation I could have had. It was so much fun. We shot all nights because it’s a movie about dinner, not about brunch. And even though it was a little exhausting, it really was such a highlight.”
Since the actresses portrayed moms of different walks of life, one of the bloggers at the junket asked a great question about what advice they’d give other moms.
One piece of advice that’s on my personal radar is what Molly Shannon shared: “I read this amazing book called Perfect Madness: Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety. It’s fantastic.
But basically it’s about how women can be really hard on other women. And there’s women who work, women who don’t work, and there’s a lot of insecurity about these choices.
I loved what Katie Aselton’s advice for other moms.
“Shaking the pressure to be that women that everyone looks at and says, “How does she do it?” I feel like we do that to ourselves a lot.
But, perhaps, the most hilarious piece of advice came from Bridget Everette who is a mom to a pup, Poppy. When asked about how she unwinds, Bridget said:
‘It’s similar to Pilates, but I get a pineapple and I cut it up into tiny little pieces and then I put them in a bottle of Tito’s, and then I freeze it. And then at 5:00 I shake it up. I put it on some ice and I drink my pini-tini. That’s it, just pineapple, ice, and vodka. It couldn’t be easier.”
Fun Mom Dinner is now in select theaters and On Demand; find it on iTunes.
Full disclosure: I was a guest of Momentum Films as part of the Fun Mom press junket. I did not receive monetary compensation. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.
Last week, I had the unique opportunity to visit the set of Kevin Can Wait, CBS’ new hit comedy starring Kevin James and Erinn Hayes. As a longtime Kevin James fan, I was so thrilled to get a closer look at what it takes to make this funny new show and to hear the stars thoughts on the story, upcoming episodes and much more.
Just an hour outside of Manhattan, Kevin Can Wait is filmed at Goldcoast Studios in Bethpage, NY. The show’s premise revolves around James’ character, a middle aged, newly retired cop who is excited about finally focusing on himself, after years of working long hours protecting others. Much to his dismay, Kevin’s focus on himself quickly shifts to everyone else, including his kids’ various needs.
James plays a lovable, yet flawed and extremely relatable Kevin. His counterpart, Donna, played by Erinn Hayes, is a likable working mom hoping to find her own balance. Together, their chemistry and storylines make for a comical portrayal of a middle class family and enduring the highs and lows of life.
Our Q&A was hosted by accomplished director and equally funny Andy Fickman. Fickman read our questions to Kevin and Erinn, while interjecting his own commentary in between. We learned about how Kevin grew up in Long Island, and how his character is based off of one of his friends. Erinn shared that she, herself, is a working mom whose family is still on the west coast. She relates to the juggle and trying to make it work.
I’ve participated in another junket with Kevin James, and just as one would suspect, he is just as funny as the characters he portrays. He’s obviously not as physical and bumbling as his comedy; he carries himself professionally and is a much more subdued person than the silly characters we know. I had no idea that he is a father of 4, but as always, I enjoyed chatting about how he loves the Mets.
Since we have baseball on the brain with the World Series going on, one of my questions had to do with the Mets. I said, since your love for the Mets is like a secondary character in your films and shows, will there be a Mets cameo on Kevin Can Wait?
Photo credit: CBS Television
As soon as I asked this question, it’s as if the Mets heard me over in Flushing and revealed a teaser of none other than Noah Syndergaard dressed up as a Viking on the Kevin Can Wait set. So, tonight, in time for Halloween, beloved pitcher, Syndergaard, who is also nicknamed ‘Thor’ will have a cameo as a Viking who has an altercation with Chale, Kevin’s daughter’s fiancé. When I told my husband and sons this news, I think they squealed louder than I did!
I’ll have more to share from my Q&A and set tour, but for now don’t forget to tune in tonight to check out the crazy shenanigans on Kevin Can Wait. Kevin Can Wait airs on Mondays at 8pm on CBS.
Full disclosure: I was invited to participate in this set tour and Q&A. I received a stipend for my participation. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.
Bridget Jones is back, and this time, she’s having a baby. Finally, her career is on track, but her love trials are as interesting as ever…and now, there’s a baby on the way!
Bridget Jones came into our lives several years ago when Helen Fielding’s popular books became a pop cultural sensation and inspiration for the movie franchise. In the films, we watched a 30-something Bridget (Renée Zellweger) struggle with her career, love life and, well, life in general. Her self-loathing and bigger than life adventures are realities that so many of us—30 and 40 something moms, especially—have endured ourselves.
I’ll always remember Bridget’s love triangle with Darcy and Daniel, and how she wanted nothing more than to be loved and to love someone else. As a 20-something, working as an editor in NYC when Bridget Jones’s Diary first came out, the film resonated with me and became the Rom Com anthem of my life. And now, as Bridget’s life reaches a parallel to my own now that I’m in my 40s, the latest installment is as endearing as ever.
Bridget finds herself in quite the predicament when she literally falls for an American math/love guru named Jack. Their romance was quick and spontaneous, but progressed into something sweet and dreamy. Around the same time, Bridget kept bumping into Darcy who was on the verge of a divorce, but still very consumed with his work. After a sweet connection, Bridget and Darcy found themselves together again. The rest of the story is cunning and hilarious, and kept us laughing and guessing. I was laughing so hard at some scenes, I’m almost positive I snorted at the premiere! That would’ve been so Bridget!
This week as part of their promotional tour, I had the chance to participate in an intimate blogger roundtable with director Sharon Maguire and Renée Zellweger. These roundtables are always so exciting, but this one was especially lovely. With the London NYC as the backdrop, Maguire and Zellweger sat with us for afternoon tea.
Zellweger arrived in a stunning Reem Acra tea length dress and Maguire had an equally elegant outfit as well. Their demeanor was as gracious as one would imagine, and I remember that I couldn’t stop smiling.
On playing Bridget Jones again
Q: So, what was it like to come back to this character after all these years?
Zellweger: It was exactly like you said. When they sent the script, it felt like this fantastically happy reunion, and it’s reminded me how much I love her.
I love her friends and her parents and her world, and then, I got really terrified because I thought, “Oh God. I really–I don’t want to mess this up” because, I mean, I know that like–like myself, you know, who, when I discovered her in the books, like so many other people, you know, we fell in love with her.
It was so much fun to be back in her shoes or her boots and her walk and her laugh and her voice and her not quite altogether wardrobe and, you know, and back with her friends.
During our roundtable, we talked about a lot of things, but I particularly loved our conversation about being creators. Zellweger and Maguire had so many deep answers to all of our questions, but this was one of my favorites:
On Women in Hollywood and Being Creators
Q: Sharon, since the first one 15 years ago, as a female, as a working woman, as a working mother in Hollywood, how has it changed in terms of getting the type of movie made that you wanted?
Maguire: I kind of took time out after I made the movie really because I needed–I felt I needed to go away and breathe. And so, that’s what I did. And so, then, I kind of got hooked on that. You know, I kind of thought, “Oh, okay. I don’t need to be on the runaway train of work and, you know, define myself just like that. You know, I can live a life.” All I know is that I don’t understand why there aren’t more women directors in Hollywood. I really don’t understand because I can’t believe the whole movie industry is sexist. But, you know–so, the only thing I think that we need to do is I think we need to make–there needs to be a stronger thing about–in the curriculum for schools, there needs to be storytelling.
And I think part of storytelling is by film or by novels or whatever, and if we all learned storytelling from the roots up, I think there would just be more women filmmakers. You know?
I think probably Hollywood goes with what’s worked before. And if a man’s directed it before and that’s worked and it’s made money, we’ll go back with a man, you know, because people put a lot of money into these things.
But, I know loads of women directors in TV everywhere. You know? So, I don’t know why they haven’t translated it enough to Hollywood, you know, yet. I really don’t understand it.
Zellweger: I do think it’s changing because women are creators, and the things that are being put out there are becoming recognizably financially viable.
And when there’s a financial incentive to do something, people come running and sexism takes a backseat to–to, you know, capitalizing on somebody’s work.
And also, on this tour, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting ladies like–no offense–ladies like you in the room.
Ladies like you who are not waiting to be invited by the establishment to express yourselves. You’ve created forums for yourselves to share with likeminded people, women, who will share your interests and gives you an opportunity to express yourselves creatively, to exercise your creativity as writers, producers. You’re editors.
You are basically your own channel. You’re your own, you know, entertainment entities. Young women on AOL have their own channels, and they develop the content.
And they edit it, and they get, you know, access to whomever it is that they’d like to speak with because it’s effective. People are interested in what they have to say.
They’re not waiting, again, for that invitation. And, again, when there is a recognizable response, then people have to change and–and–and adapt and embrace that, “Oh, you know, we’ve been wrong. The conventional way of doing things is kind of passé, and we should start to recognize that all of these women have something to say and it’s valid and it’s important.” I loved it.
On Motherhood and Friendships
Q: What is a scene that you can relate to or one that resonated in your life?
Maguire: I kind of probably relate most to the jump around scene. Probably that. You know, sitting alone at home thinking, “I’m in my forties, none of my fantasies have come true. Great. Great birthday.”
Zellweger: Well, I guess more than a scene maybe a theme in the film that her friends have kind of moved on. And they have families, and they have partners. So, their lives have changed.
And I believe that with–from what I’ve experienced with the people that I’m closest to, you evolve when you become a mom. You become a bigger version of yourself. You become a more powerful version of yourself, a fully realized version of yourself.
And I’m watching all of my friends and my, you know, family members evolve in this way. And I’m a bit of a late bloomer, and so, it’s interesting to kind of be chronologically in that place, but not have–not experience that same transformation at the same time as your friends and the people closest to you.
It’s very strange, and it’s–it is a very unique kind of loneliness. It’s a bit of–yeah. It’s–it’s very unique because then it means defining your growth in a different way and insisting that it happen despite the absence of this thing that makes it happen naturally.
This roundtable with Sharon Maguire and Renee Zellweger will do down in the books. What a lovely conversation; I wish we could’ve chatted even longer. We did, however, get to hop in the photo booth with Renée and Sharon after the roundtable. What a surreal experience!
Bridget Jones’s Baby is, perhaps, my favorite film from the series, and definitely the most hilarious of the bunch. It’s a great film for date night with the husband, but an even better night out with the girls! Bridget Jones from Universal Pictures is in theaters now.
Cast: Renée Zellweger, Colin Firth, Patrick Dempsey, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones and Emma Thompson Writers: Helen Fielding, Emma Thompson, Dan Mazer Directed by: Sharon Maguire Produced by: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward
Full disclosure: I was invited by Universal Pictures to participate in this roundtable interview. I did not receive compensation. As always, opinions on NKT are my own.
Last week, we had the esteemed honor of participating in a fun preview of Ice Age: Collision Course and interviewing one of the voice actors and famed astrophysicist, Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
So, you’ve heard how I loved the latest quirky installment of Ice Age, but we were over the moon (and stars) about meeting Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. My work allows for so many incredible opportunities and interviews, but immersing the boys’ in Dr. Tyson’s brilliance via Ice Age was such a highlight.
In Ice Age, Neil deGrasse Tyson voiced his furry counterpart, Neil deBuck Weasel. DeBuck Weasel offered lots of scientific insight and hard facts throughout the film. And as he does in everything he voices, Dr. Tyson was engaging, authoritative and relevant.
Dr. Tyson helped the filmmakers with weaving scientific information in Ice Age. When asked if that was a fun part of the process, he said:
“I seem fastidious, right? If an artist says, ‘Here’s the science we want to include. What do you think of it?’ I had first asked, ‘Well, what are you trying to do? Where is the fun, you know, where do you want to put the fun in? Where is it kind of zany?” and because I don’t want to just be cold and hard about it, “No, this is wrong. You have to get this right.’ That’s no fun.
Once I know where they’re coming from, then I can make suggestions that can improve the science without losing any of the comedic parts. There are obviously some completely absurd aspects of this. I am not here to say that you could never have the Scrat in a flying saucer, you know, hit planets like on a pool table. Obviously that’s for the fun of it, but even what they are showing are that any adjustments you can make to boost the accuracy of the science or–because sometimes the science you can put in that makes it funnier, okay? If they didn’t know that, I would say that is some expectation they would have of me.
We loved listening to Dr. Tyson speak so candidly about science and how he’d love to pen a book on how parents can get kids interested in science. Though this book he’s imagining is years off, my takeaway from Dr. Tyson was this:
When it comes to kids and science and learning about the world them, “as a parent get out of their way, get out of their way.”
Speaking of curiosity, one of the kids asked Dr. Tyson about his path to becoming an astrophysicist. It was so fitting that he told this story to a crowd of parent bloggers with kids, including my own 8 year old.
It was a family trip to my local planetarium, the Hayden Planetarium. In fact, that’s where you’re all visiting in a couple of hours. You are leaving here, going to the American Museum of Natural History, where I went at age nine. My parents brought me, my brother, and my sister, saw the dinosaurs, saw the animals, and we went to the planetarium. And we sat in a room, it got dark, the stars came out, and I think the universe chose me. It said, “You will be an astrophysicist one day.” And I’ve been hooked ever since.
Before our event took us to the American Museum of Natural History, J made sure to corner Dr. Tyson to ask him whether Mars was once like Earth, in reference to the theory that Ice Age touched upon in Collision Course.
Dr. Tyson confirmed that scientists believe that Mars once looked like Earth because it has river deltas, river beds; we may never know what Mars looks like, he said. Mars is still an unknown frontier.
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At the American Museum of Natural History, we were given a very cool tour of the exhibit, Dinosaurs Among Us. A few of the scientists and curators of the exhibit spoke to us in detail about the exhibit, and of course the kids loved stamping their booklets and exploring the kid-friendly features.
The kids loved their first time at the Hayden Planetarium, where we watched Dark Universe, voiced by none other than Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson.
I loved getting a look at the Titanosaurous, which is so amazing and huge! When I asked J about his favorite parts of our trip to AMNH, he admitted the secret elevators and playing Pokemon Go (so many!) among all the dinosaurs rank pretty high on his list of summer fun.
If you ask me, not much can top meeting Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. Secret elevators at AMNH, though, are a close second.
Ice Age: Collision Course is currently in theaters.
The screening and event was hosted by 20th Century Fox and the American Museum of Natural History.
In the latest installment in the Ice Age franchise, Manny and crew are back for more fun in Ice Age: Collision Course. In the latest film, Manny (Ray Romano) and Ellie’s (Queen Latifah) daughter, Peaches (Keke Palmer) is approaching a new phase in life. Peaches, who is getting married, hopes to explore the world with her new husband, Julian—much to her parents’ chagrin.
Alongside of this new phase in life, the Earth is experiencing its own changes, where Manny and his friends must team up to make things right. Along the way, they meet eccentric characters, such as Shangri Llama, who follow a different path in life, making this adventure even more colorful.
Several weeks ago, I had the chance to screen Ice Age: Collision Course and interview Keke Palmer, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, as well as the director Mike Thurmeier. This was such a fun junket at the Crosby Hotel, and an equally funny family film that I can’t wait for my kiddos to see.
I asked Keke and Jesse about their experience with exploring and roaming, and I loved what they had to say.
Traveling and roaming, exploration was a key component in this story, and it’s obviously a right of passage in many peoples’ lives. Have any of you taken any significant trips in your life that were, you know, life changing?
Keke said, “Significant trips? Probably when I was living in New York for the four months doing Broadway. That was the most significant change I could tell in myself because I’m so thankful that I used that time wisely because it really left me the opportunity to learn so much about myself. I used the opportunity of the discipline I had to have for Broadway to take time from my phone and to really sit with myself and discover more ways to meditate and do yoga. And that was a really cool time for me. Even though my mom was there, she really gave me my space, and she and I were transitioning into, you know, her seeing me also as an adult and respecting my boundaries. And that was a really cool time where I was able to see, “Wow, okay, you’re making a jump, sister.”
Jesse Tyler Ferguson had a wonderful anecdote about traveling too:
“I just got to go to Cuba, which was really, really interesting. And you sort of have to go with a purpose, which I love. It wasn’t a trip for the weak of heart. We went, and we brought Capezio dance shoes to a dance troupe out there, and they performed for us. And I was able to immerse myself in the artists that were in the culture there. And we weren’t just having mojitos and smoking cigars. You know, we really got to like experience and see the parts of the city that I think are, you know, not shown on Instagram and Yelp.”
Be sure to check out the brand new adventure in Ice Age: Collision Course, which is out in theaters on July 22.
Full disclosure: I was invited by 20th Century Fox to participate in this press junket. As always, all opinions are my own.
Every now and then, a movie comes along that brings together a star-studded cast to deliver a funny and feel-good story while truly living up to its hype—and The Secret Life of Pets does just that!
The Secret Life of Pets, from Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures, is an imaginative and hilarious portrayal of city pets that shows what happens when unlikely characters work together and find the value of friendship and loyalty in the process. Max, the terrier, is well-loved by his owner and embraces the life of a solo pet. That is, until his owner, Katie, introduces an oversized upheaval to the home: Duke the Newfoundland.
The newly-minted frenemies, Max and Duke, as well as their fluffy, furry and feathered band of domesticated friends find themselves in quite a storied predicament that leads to them exploring the city streets and navigating the underbelly of the city where the “flushed” animals go to live. On their adventure, Max and Duke meet stray cats, a psychotic bunny, Tattoo the pig, among other colorful characters.
The Secret Life of Pets is a great mix of silly antics and clever comedy, which appeals to both kids and parents. Surprisingly, the music complemented the story well, between the composed poodle headbanging to System of a Down, classic songs weaved throughout and Basement Jaxx’s Do Your Thing from the trailer. Semi-spoiler: my older son squealed when he realized the song during the sausage factory scene. Grease fans will appreciate it!
My kids, who are 4 and 8, both enjoyed the film from start to finish and continually quote it every time there’s a relevant reference. While drinking milk: “Chug, chug, chug…” Their favorite parts of The Secret Life of Pets revolve around pooping and the dogs drinking (chugging) out of the toilet. Naturally.
In line with the silliness, its the collective cast of characters and the voice actors who make this film an instant classic! My kids and I watched the screening before I read up on the voice actors, and I loved the surprise when I realized who voiced whom. With the big push for this film, it was hard to avoid that surprise, but it’s definitely cool for the adults to associate the actors to the characters they voice in the film.
A few favorite voices from The Secret Life of Pets: Louis C.K.(Louie) is mild-mannered Max the Terrier, Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) is the fluffy Newf who uses his size to his advantage, Lake Bell’s Chloe the cat embodies the dissociation of felines in general and the crazy, but lovable Snowball the bunny was brought to life by Kevin Hart.
Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to interview several of the actors who voiced these fun pets. It was, hands-down, one of the funniest interviews I’ve done yet.
Before Hollywood, Eric Stonestreet, grew up at a farm in Kansas, so he has had animals his whole life. With respect to Duke he said: “ I think when you meet him at the beginning of the movie you think one thing about him, that he’s kind of a bully and kind of a tough guy, —mildly a tough guy because he is protecting something. We don’t know what that is. And I think we all do that as people; we put up a front in certain situations. So, I relate to him in that way, that you kind of protect yourself a little bit and hide what’s maybe sometimes going on behind the scenes. And he is fun and lovable. He’s a lap dog. I think I’m kind of a little bit of a lap dog.”
A photo posted by Jen Rabulan-Bertram (@jenrab) onJun 24, 2016 at 10:25am PDT
For a little fluffy bunny, Kevin Hart’s Snowball does an admirable job leading a revolution for his fellow flushed animals. Hart’s small but fierce mentality and self-deprecating humor is a perfect complement to his character. Well known for sharing his daily adventures as a parent, comedian and personality on social media, I used the opportunity as a fellow social media enthusiast to see what Snowball would do. That should be a thing, right? What Would Snowball DO? (WWSD) Ha! Hart had us cracking up, but inspired at the same time:
“Snowball is a leader. And he is starting a revolution, so everything is about recruiting. You know, if he was on there, I don’t think it would be in the realm of my Snapchats. Snowball’s are strictly PSA messages of join the movement, join the revolution. And it’s basically against people.
He is basically fussing at people. That’s why I love Snowball. But, his anger is justified. Snowball doesn’t like people just–it’s not like he just doesn’t like people just because they’re people. He doesn’t like people because he was hurt. He bought into the whole person and pet reality. And when he was hurt by that because someone abandoned him, it really threw him off. That’s what I love about this character, you know.
I don’t just do things just to do them. I have to put depth to it. And that’s with any movie that I’ve done. I think I’m very funny in every movie that I’ve done, and the movies have progressed, but the reason why the characters are always funny is because there is a foundation underneath the character. And that’s what me and the director talked about. I was like, “I don’t just want to play the guy because he’s funny. What’s the foundation?”
And being that Snowball was hurt is one thing, but then I made him insecure. You notice he’s very insecure. You know, he gives out these orders, but then he questions the orders that he gave out, you know. “Everybody listen. Raise your hand unless you’re tired. Unless your arm is tired. Put your arm down. You don’t have to raise your hand.” And it’s funny. You laugh at it, but it shows you that he’s not really the guy that he’s being. This is a manufactured version of himself, which justifies when he gets the hug at the end–he melts.”
It’s always fun chatting with talent to hear what makes them tick as actors, but also to get their perspective on the film and their contribution of their characters in the film. In the end, The Secret Life of Pets is a fiercely funny story, but it’s the underlying story of loyalty, kindness and staying true to yourself that makes this a feel-good film, and one that is absolutely our favorite family film this summer!
The Secret Life of Pets is out in theaters July 8. You can purchase your tickets to The Secret Life of Pets on Fandango.
In theaters March 25, Toula and the whole family are back together for My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Fourteen years after the success of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Nia Vardalos has written a sequel that will have the entire family cracking up and embracing their own crazy relatives.
Set 10 years after Toula and Ian Miller married in the first movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 gathers the star-studded ensemble cast to swig Uzo, devour Baklava, laugh with the Portokalos family, redefine relationships and, of course, to celebrate a big fat Greek wedding.
Academy Award nominee Nia Vardalos took inspiration from her own life when writing My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2. Following her journey to become a mother after adopting her daughter within the American foster system, Vardalos documented her story in her book, “Instant Mom.” While promoting her New York Times bestseller, Vardalos spotted a mother, similar in age to herself, in line. The woman was part of the sandwich generation, in which she was busy parenting her kids while helping her aging parents. From there, Vardalos imagined what the Portokalos and Millers’ family life was like 10 years later. She wrote the script of My Big Fat Greek Wedding and gathered the original cast for another soiree.
In honor of this absolutely hysterical film, I was invited by Universal to take part in an absolutely wonderful press conference with several cast members. We heard from Elena Kampouris who plays Paris Miller. We listened to Joey Fatone who played Angelo and Andrea Martin who plays Aunt Voula. And we also had the pleasure of interviewing Nia Vardalos, John Corbett and director Kirk Jones.
I was enchanted by Elena Kampouris’ interview. She was poised and well-spoken—pretty much the opposite of the dark and dreary teenager she portrayed. I was able to ask Elena about Paris’ storyline and this is what she had to say:
NKT: So the message about strong women is such an important part of Paris’ storyline. Do you have any advice or insight on how other teen girls can harness girl power for good?
Ms. Elena Kampouris: Absolutely, yes. Well, what I love that Nia did with this movie is, a lot of people have asked, oh, are they going to do a third movie? Are you going to get married? And I don’t think that would be the case, and I know that Nia’s not all about that. Because in the film, she makes a point, if you’re a teen girl and you get to a certain age and you’re expected to get married, you don’t have to.
You can do what you feel is right for you, what your path and your heart is telling you is right. So I like that Nia makes that point. And for myself, I aspire to be a weapon of love and mass creation. To inspire positivity and empowerment. Not just with women, but with everybody. I think we should all feel equal and I think that Nia has infused that into the movie a little bit, especially with Paris’ character, and I love that.
I loved listening to Nia Vardalos impart her creativity, as well as understanding Kirk Jones’ creativity and indulging in John Corbett’s charm. (Could they be any more gracious with our questions and photos?)
In My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, Toula and Ian struggle with the status quo that had become their life. So busy parenting, like many couples, Toula and Ian forgot how to be in a relationship with each other. Their angsty teenage daughter, Paris, played by the eloquent Elena Kampouris, has college ambitions that would leave her mom seeking for solace. Never a family without drama, Toula always found herself responsible for her aging parents and dealing with her needy cousins and friends.
The highlight and my major takeaway from the press conference was the question I asked Nia, John and Kirk about balance. I appreciated their insight and it certainly give you a look at one of the main themes of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2.
NKT: Nia, the beauty of your writing is that it resonates with from the young to the old. Everyone has a family member in the cast. But my question is for anyone. How do you think people can balance everything? We see the messaging in the story, but can we have it all? Can we balance our parenting without letting our relationships set to the side?
Ms. Nia Vardalos: Let’s all answer that, if you don’t mind. I believe that that balance is a quest. And I think that we need the yin and the yang and the only way to know that you’re off balance is to lose it a little bit. So I’m actually happy for those dark places in my life, because I find the light–I appreciate the light so much more.
Mr. Kirk Jones: I think it’s increasingly difficult to find a balance in life. And you would think that as a species, if we were so smart and we were so advanced, then where we should be at the moment in our history of evolution is that we should working about three days a week and we should be spending real quality time, four days a week, with our families and hobbies and just kind of improving ourselves. But that isn’t the case.
I don’t know about anyone here, but more and more with email and technology and computers. It’s like 24/7 we’re all going. And I seriously think there’s going to be a backlash. I think we will look at this period in our history and in maybe 10 years or so, I think, especially a lot of young people will say, “Do you know what? We just need to get out and live our lives a little bit, instead of being slaves to trying to organize everything and control everything.” But it’s difficult. It’s really difficult to keep a balance.
Mr. John Corbett: And when I was, I guess I was about 18, I decided to never get married or have children, so I think I have the best life up here.
Ms. Nia Vardalos: But John’s so smart, too. John went off social media just to get off it, and I just thought that was so smart. This is the thing that just, it breaks my heart. I walk into a coffee store and everyone’s got their heads down looking at a screen. And I know I sound old school, but we are the sum total of our relationships, and we’re missing out on so much with our heads down. Not that I don’t love twitter. I do. But I limit my time.
I laughed so hard and I even shed a few tears during the film. As I told my friend, Mitch of NYC Gay Dad, I don’t think I’ve laughed out loud throughout an entire movie in so long. I got married right around the same time as the first movie, and I have a very large and loud Filipino family, so I could relate to the films on so many levels. But in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, I really felt like Nia could see in my soul and wrote this movie for moms and women like me. Not only does she get the whole parenting thing (wanting to be there for everything and never wanting to let go) but she also gets the marriage limbo. What do we talk about if we don’t talk about work or kids? For those of us in the throes of parenthood and marriage, Toula and Ian are our soul animals, and Nia nails it with the dialogue. The humor was well-timed, making it such a fun film for those who are going through the different phases in life.
Full disclosure: I was invited as media to cover the press conference and interview. I was not compensated and all opinions are my own.
