Category Archives: Movies

Justin Timberlake & Anna Kendrick Star in Dreamworks Trolls!

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Justin Timberlake & Anna Kendrick in Dreamworks Trolls!

By Erin

*I was invited as a guest to this press event hosted by 20th Century Fox & DreamWorks Animation*

Trolls-Banner2

Do you remember Trolls from back in the day? I remember having quite a few of them myself. I loved their crazy colorful hair and sparkly jeweled bellies. Many people all over the world (including myself) have been waiting for the big news that Trolls is coming this November, just in time to make the holidays a little brighter and to help you find your happy place to get in the spirit. Both kids and adults are going to love this colorful, music-filled comedy.

Find Your Happy Place November 4th!

From the creators of Shrek comes the most smart, funny, irreverent animated comedy of the year, DreamWorks’ Trolls. This holiday season, enter a colorful, wondrous world populated by hilariously unforgettable characters and discover the story of the overly optimistic Trolls, with a constant song on their lips, and the comically pessimistic Bergens, who are only happy when they have trolls in their stomach. Featuring original music from Justin Timberlake, and soon-to-be classic mash-ups of songs from other popular artists, the film stars the voice talents of Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake, Russell Brand, James Corden, Kunal Nayyar, Ron Funches, Icona Pop, Gwen Stefani, and many more.

Director: Mike Mitchell

Co-Director: Walt Dohrn

Producer: Gina Shay

Dreamworks Trolls-Press-Junket

I had the honor to sit in on an interview with the Director of Trolls, Mike Mitchell, Co-Director Walt Dohrn, Producer Gina Shay and the stars of Trolls, Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick. Director Mike Mitchell, who also directed DreamWorks’ SHREK, explained to us that this film has the kind of magic that both parents and kids will find themselves laughing at the same parts and sharing a love for both new and classic songs. What else did we learn?

Here are some of the fun facts we learned about Trolls!

  • The story development for Trolls is very different from Shrek. Trolls is not based on any previous story. They had a completely clean slate to work with for Trolls.

  • There is a theme of happiness that applies to everyone.  There’s a big idea here that we’re all born with happiness.  We just–sometimes we need someone to help us find it, but we’re all born with this ability to be happy.  

  • A new kind of animation is used with the creation of this film. You will be able to see “texture” on the animation when you go to see the movie in 3D.
  • Trolls is the first film that Justin Timberlake is an Executive Music Producer for.

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  • The movie has been created with original songs like, ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ but also includes many music adaptations from classics that we grew up listening to like: ‘True Colors’ and ‘The Sound of Silence.’ 
  • The music really helps to tell the story and is an integral part of the storytelling.

Justin Timberlake Trolls

  • +1,000 songs were picked out for Trolls. To make the final cut, besides being cleared to use the song, the song had to fit the story, fit the tone of the movie, and it had to have kind of this everlasting feel.

  •  Big challenges? Glitter!  The computer couldn’t understand the glitter. It’s a glitter taskforce, typing code. They thought the big challenge would be the hair because the hair does everything in this film. It changes color.  It changes shape.  It stretches like a monkey tail and it holds onto stuff.  But, it was the glitter that gave them the biggest challenge. Watch for Guy Diamond. That’s where the glitter is.

Star-Studded Cast

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This movie has such an amazing and talented cast:

Justin Timberlake as Branch

Anna Kendrick as Poppy
Gwen Stefani as DJ Suki
James Corden as Biggie
Russell Brand as Creek
Junal Nayyar as Guy Diamond


DreamWorks’ TROLLS is a fresh, broad comedy filled with music, heart and hair-raising adventures. On November 4th  of 2016, nothing can prepare you for the new Troll world! 20th Century Fox and DreamWorks Animation are proud to unveil their first trailer for this highly anticipated feature film,  arriving in theaters November 4th. Just in time to put you in a happy mood for the holidays!

Official Website #DreamWorksTrolls
Dreamworks Trolls Facebook
Dreamworks Trolls Twitter
Trolls Instagram

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Group Photo at the Trolls Press Event by: Jason Bush

Finding Dory is Here at Last!

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Finding Dory is Here at Last!

By Erin

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Have you seen her? Finding Dory has finally found her way into theaters after all this time. 13 years of waiting is over! The reunion of everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang, Dory, with her friends Nemo and Marlin is finally here.  Finding Dory is back and ready to swim into your heart. Disney•Pixar’s Finding Dory finds Dory living happily in the reef with Marlin and Nemo about a year after their life-changing adventure. When Dory suddenly remembers that she has a family out there who may be looking for her, she recruits Marlin and Nemo for a life-changing adventure across the ocean to California’s prestigious Marine Life Institute (MLI), a rehabilitation center and aquarium. Be ready for the ride of your life as you follow this lovable bunch on their quest across the ocean to find Dory’s family.

Family is a key theme in Finding Dory.  Dory can’t remember where she’s from, but she has to have a family, right? Dory finds herself asking ‘Where are they?’–there’s a sad truth to that and she is curious and determined to find out where they are.

LOST AND FOUND — In "Finding Dory," everyone's favorite forgetful blue tang Dory finds herself lost in the kelp forest while searching for answers about her past. Directed by Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “WALL•E”) and produced by Lindsey Collins (co-producer “WALL•E”), “Finding Dory” swims into theaters June 17, 2016. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Lost & Found — Everyone’s favorite forgetful blue tang Dory. ©2016 Disney•Pixar.

In the effort to find her mom and dad, Dory gathers the help of three of the MLI’s most fascinating residents: Hank, a cantankerous octopus who frequently gives employees the slip; Bailey, a beluga whale who is convinced his biological sonar skills are on the fritz; and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark. Navigating their way through the complex inner workings of the MLI, Dory and her friends discover the magic within their flaws, friendships and family.

I don’t want to ruin any of the magic for you in Finding Dory, so I will leave you with some fun facts and some fun numbers to know to get you ready to swim on over and go see this adorable film!

FINDING DORY. ©2016 Disney•Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Ready for a field trip at school! ©2016 Disney•Pixar.

Dory Fun Facts

A New Voice for Nemo – Alexander Gould, who was the original voice of Nemo in 2003’s Finding Nemo is all grown up and turned 22 in May, so filmmakers had to recast the character, calling on 12-year-old Hayden Rolence to voice the junior clownfish in Finding Dory. Gould, who won filmmakers’ hearts 13 years ago, can be heard in the new movie as the voice of a truck driver. Rolence, who was cast long before recording began, was told that he couldn’t tell anyone about the role. You can imagine how rough this was for a young kid who wanted more than anything to share the news with his grandma.

Comedian Albert Brooks Returns–as the voice of clownfish Marlin in Finding Dory. Filmmakers say Brooks is all about improv, infusing his iconic comedy into the character. While Marlin carried a big emotional load in Finding Nemo, he’s been freed up in Finding Dory, allowing Brooks a lot more improvisational leeway this time.

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Meet the Cast of Finding Dory! #FindingDory

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Meet the Cast of Finding Dory!

By Erin

Finding-Dory-Cast

Can you believe it? It’s been 13 years since that absentminded Blue Tang, Dory swam on screen and into our lives and hearts. It’s about time, right? I’m pretty sure Ellen thinks it’s about time too. 😉 The familiar characters of Finding Nemo that we have all fallen in love with: Nemo, Marlin & Dory are all back in true Disney*Pixar fashion along with plenty of new friends that you will love just as much. I was lucky enough to get to attend the Finding Dory press junket held in Beverly Hills, California as a guest of Disney. It was truly an unforgettable experience sitting right across from Ellen and just feet away from such an amazing cast!

Making waves in theaters starting this Friday,  June 17, this much awaited movie picks up where Finding Nemo left off, starting about a year later with Dory, the fish with “short term remembery loss.”

So, have you seen her? We actually got to see her as we entered the room for the press junket. You couldn’t miss her! She was right in the center of the room.

Finding-Dory-Dory

The Amazing Talent in Attendance Included: 

· Ellen DeGeneres (voice of “Dory”)
· Ed O’Neill (voice of “Hank”)
· Ty Burrell (voice of “Bailey”)
· Kaitlin Olson (voice of “Destiny”)
· Albert Brooks (voice of “Marlin”)
· Eugene Levy (voice of “Charlie”)
· Hayden Rolence (voice of “Nemo”)
· Director Andrew Stanton
· Producer Lindsey Collins

Finding Dory Junket

Director Andrew Stanton and Producer Lindsey Collins came out to chat with us first. Creating Finding Dory took them a very laborious four years to create but was a labor of love and a true passion project for them. Stanton said it all started one morning when “he woke up one day worried about Dory” and that’s how he got started with creating Finding Dory, but the hold up then was having the right story to tell.  He realized 13 years in between films is a crazy amount of time so he wanted to be sure to create a stand along film that was not reliant on history.

Finding-Dory-Directors

Next we met the rest of the very talented cast where Ellen’s presence was at the center of it all. In true Ellen fashion she had us all laughing and wishing we could sit down and chat with her one on one or maybe even dance with her (as we heard later some other very lucky writers got to dance with her!!). You’ll notice the many faces of Ellen below, one moment she shares something so  profound and serious, it really makes you think, then the next second she says something to have you laughing in tears. All in good-natured fun though. She is definitely a genuinely nice person with an amazing heart.

Finding-Dory-Ellen

Fun facts from the press conference!

*Hank had a very bad experience in the ocean where he lost a tentacle, which is why he does not want to go back.

*If Ellen could have any of Dory’s traits she would want to have as many traits as she has. “As far as optimism and perseverance, non-judgment. Not having any resentment or holding on to anger. She doesn’t feel like a victim, and I think that’s why she is such a lovable character. She just thinks everything is possible. She doesn’t think there is anything wrong with anyone else. She just keeps swimming. I’d like to have all of those traits.”

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