Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few months, you've probably heard about the Twilight book (for ages 12 and up) and movie series (not that there's anything wrong with you rock-turnal dwellers!). But for those of you who are as caught up in the Twilight series as I am, you probably know that New Moon (PG-13), the second movie of the Twilight series is hitting theaters on November 20th.
Where to start?! If you haven't checked out the Twilight books or movies, I highly recommend it. The series follows Bella, a normal teenage girl living in the dreary Pacific Northwest town of Forks, and Edward a vampire who is trying his best to be normal by abstaining from drinking human blood. Throw in Jacob, Bella's friend who also happens to be a werewolf, and see what happens. In the second book and movie, we find Edward and the Cullens have left Forks for Bella's own good. But Bella is (understandably) heartbroken and falls into a pit of reckless despair. Enter Jacob. Her friend takes her under his wing, but she still can't get Edward out of her mind. She starts doing reckless things to hear Edward's voice in her head. But when an old vampire comes back to town to avenge a death, things take a turn for the worse.
Want to see what I mean?
Take a look at the official trailer:
This second movie and book feature a bigger role for werewolf character Jacob Black, played by Taylor Lautner. And . . . we just happened to score a HUGE interview with him exclusively for all you Ink Splotters! (It's a tradition to bring you exclusive Twilight interviews, you know, like the interview with Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson before the first Twilight movie!)
Without further ado, check out Taylor's interview!
Q: I love the trailer clips that show you transforming. Tell us about that.
Taylor: Yeah, it was really cool to observe the process of that. Because one second I'm a human and the next I'm a complete CGI [computer generated imagery] wolf. So in that shot in the trailer what I'll do is I'll be harnessed up, I'll start running, I'll take a few steps and then I'll jump ten feet in the air and the wires will stop me mid-air, so I'll come to a jolting stop so then they can take my body and transform it into a wolf. It was really cool to observe that process.
[Ratha: You mean you're not a real werewolf?]
Q: Did you study Native American history to play Jacob?
Taylor: When I found out I was going to be playing Jacob Black who's Quileute Indian, I had the opportunity to meet with several Quileute Indians, and ask them questions and just learn about them so that I could portray Jacob Black correctly.
Q: What questions did you ask them?
Taylor: I wanted to know what the teenage boys like to do in their free time, to have fun. And I was thinking I was going to hear some answer that was really different, but I found a teenage boy who was very close to my age and I asked, “What do you like to do in your free time to relax and have fun?” And he was like, “Oh I like to play basketball, I like to go to the beach.” So what I actually learned the most was that the kids are just like me. So it was a surprise, but very interesting.
[Ratha: That's so cool! Hmm…I wonder if Robert Pattison (Edward) had to do some research by interviewing real vampires. . . ]
Q: Are you similar or different in any ways to Jacob?
Taylor: I hope if you were to ask my close friends, they would say that I am more similar to Jacob's pre-transformation side! But I would not hope to be similar to his werewolf side, because he all of a sudden becomes more angry and fierce.
[Ratha: That's true. I wouldn't want to meet Jacob in a dark alley, especially if he missed his last meal.]
Q: Did you do any research on werewolves?
Taylor: I would honestly say the best research was through the [Twilight] books. Because that's what Stephenie Meyer created, and what we're trying to bring alive. The books are so specific, and she's an amazing author. And it provides so much detail about each and every character. The way to go to study your role to the fullest is through the books.
On October 25, dozens of celebrities came out for a Carnival to benefit Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a free sleep-away camp for children with cancer. It's staffed with doctors and nurses but it's really a place for the kids to have fun and forget that they are sick. We got some very special videos from teen stars like Chelsea Staub, Jake T. Austin, Debby Ryan, and Nathan Kress talking about why it's so important to give back to charities like this one. (Don't miss Debby's video. It had me practically in tears!)
And, of course, since we are THE STACKS, we asked them about their favorite books too! Check out these book recs from the cast of The Secret Life of the American Teenager:
It's a little hard to hear, but the books they shout-out are: Lord of the Flies (for ages 12 and up) by William Golding, The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles by Julie Andrews, Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder, and To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
So, now that these famous celebrities have inspired you, you have 2 assignments for today:
Do something to help someone less fortunate than you.
Find a great book to read.
Just kidding; it's not really an assignment, but I hope you do it anyway! In fact, I suspect you probably already do. Let me know in the comments the ways YOU give back to charity.
While downing the last of my fun-size Kit Kat bars from Halloween, I lamented the change of seasons from cold to. . . even colder here in New York. What do I have to look forward to? Aah yes. Pretty soon stores will be stocking up on Hershey's Candy Cane Kisses, Butterfinger Bells, and Snickers Santas. (Can you tell I track the holidays by my sweet tooth?) It's one of the best sure-fire signs that the holidays are coming. Another sign? The release of Disney's new 3D digital movie A Christmas Carol (rated PG) based on the classic Charles Dickens novel. Opening today, a mere 48 days before Christmas, this movie stars Jim Carrey, Colin Firth, Gary Oldman, Sammi Hanratty and more.
Now, I've seen a lot of versions of A Christmas Carol, but I've never seen one like this! Although I haven't seen the movie yet, the previews look very cool. First of all, it's in 3D. So get your 3D glasses ready! Second, it's all done by digital motion capture. Little dots of light all over the actors' faces and bodies highlight their motions, which the cameras capture (yep, that's why it's called MOTION CAPTURE), and then the animators connect the dots to create the animated characters in the movie. So the characters kind of look like themselves, but they can also look like and actually PLAY other characters. Hence Jim Carrey plays:
Ebenezer Scrooge
the Ghost of Christmas Past
the Ghost of Christmas Present
the Ghost of Christmas Future
Likewise, 13-year-old actress, Sammi Hanratty plays a young Cratchit girl, a beggar boy, and Belle's daughter. Sammi came to the Scholastic headquarters herself to tell us about the movie and give us an EXCLUSIVE scoop on what it was like to film it. Check out this video where she talks about being painted with dots, having her teeth molded, working with 350 cameras (!!) and wearing a bald cap on set with Jim Carrey!
For those of you who haven't read the book, here's a quick recap: Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserly old businessman who hates Christmas, as well as just about everything else (except money). He treats his employee Bob Cratchit badly, and refuses his nephew's invitation for a Christmas party one night, coining the infamous phrase, "Bah Humbug!" when expressing his disgust for all things Christmas related. That night he is visited by three ghosts — the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come. Unless he reforms and changes his ways, he will be condemned to wander the earth shackled in chains like his old business partner Jacob Marley, and then . . . death.
A Christmas Carol was directed by Robert Zemeckis, the filmmaker behind Polar Express and Back to the Future, so let's just say the guy is a pro, and knows what he's doing! Check out the official movie trailer for yourself.
The film is total visual eye candy. Every Jim Carrey movie I see, I'm amazed at his facial gestures, but in this movie they take it to the extreme because of the digital animation. And I'll bet it would be really cool to see in IMAX.
Have you guys read the book, or will you see the movie? Let me know in the Comments! Also, feel free to drop a line with any new seasonal candy suggestions.
Summer on the Splot may have ended. . . well, a while ago, but that doesn't mean it's the end of our great celebrity coverage! POP-Corn writer extraordinaire Gerri Miller has been out on the town getting shout-outs (and book recommendations) from all your favorite stars. You can always catch the latest celebrity videos in the STACKS Video Hub. But in case you missed them. . .
Gerri caught up with Selena Gomez and the Disney D23 Expo where she let us in on how she creates her character, Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place:
Also hanging out at the D23 Expo was Nicole Anderson. Nicole might not be a household name yet, but it's okay because she has the best job in the world. She gets to spend all day with the Jonas Brothers, playing Macy Misa onJ.O.N.A.S. But when she's not acting, Nicole loves to read:
The boys were more forthcoming about what they're reading. So if you ever need something to talk about with Sterling Knight, from Sonny with a Chance, – first off, lucky you! – but secondly, it's good to know you can always strike up a conversation about The Boy Who Lived. Sterling re-read the Harry Potter books this summer to get ready to see the movie. Check it out:
Lucas Cruikshank from "The Fred Show" is also a Harry Potter fan:
If you're more into sci-fi mysteries than fantasy, Trevor Gagnon, who is in The New Adventures of Old Christine and the movie, Shorts has a book recommendation for you. He loves Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix:
And last, but not least, is Jason Dolley, from Corey in the House:
He loves the adult classic Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle. If you're not quite up to reading them, you can also check out the series Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars by Tracy Mack & Michael Citrin (suggested for 3-5th grades). Both series are filled with mysteries and intrigue.
For more book recs from celebrities to you, make sure to keep your eyes peeled to the STACKS Video Hub!
And just 'cause I'm curious, what books would you recommend to your favorite stars?
This movie was not what I expected. It. Was. AWESOME.
I'm talking about Free Style (rated PG) the new movie that came out on October 9th starring Corbin Bleu from High School Musical. Not only was Corbin Bleu amazing, but the storyline was way more gritty and dramatic than I expected.
Corbin Bleu plays Cale Bryant, a young man who works two jobs to help his single mom and younger sister. His dad left when he was young and never came back. Cale is a motocross racer (basically motorcycle racing and stunts on a dirt course) who dreams of making it big one day. He and his friends compete in races, and he gets a shot at an empty spot in the US National Motocross Pro-Tour. Along the way he has to deal with his girlfriend's betrayal, trying to figure out his future, the test of friendships, jealousy, and going after his dreams vs. being realistic. (His mom in the movie has a line, "You don't always get to be what you want to be when you grow up, Cale." – agh – it was heart-wrenching!)
I liked this movie for so many reasons. As previously mentioned, Corbin Bleu was awesome. But also, the story was emotional, and the lines felt real (not sugar-coated). I could also relate because I was raised by a single mom, and there are a lot of kids out there going through the same thing. I was totally engaged in the story the whole time, and I didn't know where it was going to end up. I experienced a few LOL moments, and I also teared up at a few points. (Ok – DON'T tell my friends that!)
Corbin had this to say about his character:
"I think my fans will be surprised when they see me in this film because it is different from everything else I've done. It definitely has its emotional low points and it was important for me to take on a serious role like this. I didn't want to go out and make something edgy for the sake of being edgy – I'm not trying to freak people out but I am growing up."
I also like the look of the movie a lot. It was shot in Vancouver, Canada on a very low budget. It got dark each day at 4:30pm, so they had to shoot all the scenes before then! Plus, it was all very "in your face" with the motocross racing – you felt like you were up close and about to get hit by flying dirt and mud.
Co-starring in the movie were Madison Pettis as Cale's super-cute little sister, and beautiful Mexican soap opera star, Sandra Echeverria, as his love interest.
BONUS: The STACKS got some exclusive video of the cast talking about their favorite books. Who knew Corbin Bleu was a Percy Jackson fan?
Anyways, if you couldn't tell by now, I loved this movie! So if you're looking for action/drama, but also comedy, romance and tons of action-packed motocross scenes Free Style is for you.
Let me know if you check it out, and tell me what you think in the Comments!
—Ratha, STACKS Writer
UPDATE: Scholastic Kid Reporter Caitlin got an exclusive interview with Madison Pettis where she tells what it was REALLY like to work with Corbin Bleu! He actually baked her cookies!
Way back in April, Nancy was the luckiest STACKS Staffer here, because she got to see IN PERSON the Naked Brothers Band film some videos for Scholastic. But she's not so lucky any more. Because I got my grubby little hands on the interview and bloopers from the shoot first! Take that Nancy! :P
If you haven't seen them yet, you should totally check out the videos they filmed for us 1) because the bloopers aren't nearly as funny if you don't know what they're supposed to be saying, and 2) because they are AWESOME. So check out:
And, last but not least, Alex & Nat giving an (EXCLUSIVE) Stacks shout-out:
All in all, a wonderful four minutes. But to get those perfect 4 minutes, The Naked Brothers filmed lots and lots of takes, including almost three minutes of the funniest outtakes you've ever seen. Check it:
I think my favorite thing about them is the way they remind me of my brother. We don't have a band. And we're not on a hit Nickelodeon show, but all you older siblings know that the best thing about being older is picking on your younger sibling. Not in a mean way, just in a funny way. And based on these videos, I would bet Nat agrees.
(NOTE: As an adult, I am required to tell you not to pick on your younger siblings.)
And that hilarious one-upmanship is my favorite thing about the interview they did after filming wrapped (plus they have great taste in books)! Take a read:
Q: So Nat, how old are you now?
Nat: I'm fourteen.
Q: Alex, how old are you?
Alex: I'm eleven.
Q: Tell me why you think reading is important.
Nat: I think because it enhances you so much intellectually and also because it's always been fun. Also I can't sleep that well. I can't fall asleep till late always, I don't know why.
Alex: He's an insomniac.
Nat: That's not true. Insomniac- that's too intense a word, but now I have a head lamp so I can always read which is good. What do you think Alex, what's good about reading?
Alex: Alex thinks that it opens your vocabulary big time.
Nat: Yeah. Especially when we have to do so much song writing and lyric writing, poetry. It's helpful.
Alex: Alex agrees.
Q: Alex, if you could take only one book with you when you go on vacation what would it be? Why?
Alex: I'd bring Coraline because I think that book is awesome. I read that in a day.
Q: Nat, what three books would you recommend to a friend?
Nat:Catcher in the Rye, my favorite book of all time and I love To Kill a Mockingbird which I read in school and when I was Alex's age, I think fifth grade or fourth grade, I read all the Hardy Boys books and Holes which is a great book.
Q: If you could be in a movie and play a literary character who would it be?
Nat: That would be so great! Holden Caulfield [from Catcher in the Rye]. That would be fantastic. I think it would be perfect for me. The author is fifty years dead I think.
Q: No he's still alive.
Nat: No, Salinger's dead.
Q: I thought he lived up in Vermont?
Nat: Really? This could be embarrassing. We have this on tape! One of us is definitely wrong.
[Carly: I looked it up. He's still alive. He's 90. But he lives in New Hampshire, not Vermont.]
Q: Believe me I've been wrong about stuff like this before.
Nat: So have we. We both had a ten dollar argument last night about the stupidest thing: if Bjork was at a concert. I won.
Q: Was she there or not?
Nat: He was saying that she was on the David Letterman show and I was saying that she wasn't. She ended up not being there.
Alex: And then there was this one time when our friend told this joke and I said he didn't make up that joke that's an old joke and he was like, "No it was real. That really happened." And I was like, "I promise it's not." And then I won $20.
Nat: Okay, the one I told was last night and that was like a year ago.
Alex: No it was like two months ago. It was during the tour.
Q: Alex, what literary character would you want to play in a movie?
Alex: I don't know. I would love to be one of the Hardy Boys though. That would be cool. To be one of the Hardy Boys, but they're older. There's not many books about- oh Bud Not Buddy. But I'm not- I'm Caucasian so I don't know if I can play that part, but mentally I think like that kid. He has rules and things. That's why I think it's genius.
Nat: That's a great question. Because I would love to play a literary character, especially- from a book, because it's so much more detail and it gives you so much more to work with and so much to do.
Alex: I would also play Harry Potter, even though there already is someone, I would definitely want to play Harry Potter.
Q: Alex, do you remember the very first book you read yourself?
Alex: Yeah, it was yesterday. The very first book was The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. I read it first before I read The Cat in the Hat. Which was kind of stupid. We read it and I thought that that was the first one. My mom saw me with The Cat in the Hat Comes Back. She's like, "Oh you already read The Cat in the Hat?" I was like, "No, this is the first one." And those to this day are in my top ten.
Q: Thank you guys I really appreciate it. It was good seeing you again. Nat: Goodbye!
Alex: Alex says goodbye too.
Do you agree? Aren't they hilarious and awesome? And what do you think of their favorites? If you have thoughts on Coraline, Holes, or even The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, leave us a comment and let us know!
—Carly H., STACKS Staffer (and HUGE Naked Brothers Band fan!)
Brejé, the 13-year-old rapper/singer/dancer/actor from Boston, has been touring the country getting the world to "Twist Wit It," (that's his hit song and dance) playing everywhere from California to Maine with artists from Ne-Yo to the Jonas Brothers. But he had time this summer to stop by Scholastic to chat with Matthew from the Scholastic Kids Press Corp.
Brejé got Matt up and dancing to his hit song, "Twist Wit It." And you can learn it too! Get up and dance with (or just watch) this exclusive Scholastic video:
Now that you're totally hooked on "Twist Wit It," here are five more must-know things to know about Brejé:
If you're wondering about the name, Brejé, it's pronounced bre-zay and is French, meaning "protector" and guardian".
Brejé gets his inspiration from his family. And Michael Jackson.
Brejé gives great advice. One piece of advice? "Usually, we wait for someone else to make the change. Instead of waiting, why don't you make the change yourself?"
Brejé's favorite subjects in school are math and social studies.
The books Brejé would recommend to other kids are the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson.
Many of you know this phrase, and I'm gonna bet your parents do too (I dare you--ask them where it's from!). So get ready for Fame, the reinvention of the 1980 original Oscar-winning movie. The old one was more gritty and rated R, but this one is rated PG and it's totally hot! The cast and creators themselves seem to be living their own “Fame” stories. It comes out in theaters today and we've got the inside scoop.
First a bit about the movie. It follows a group of talented singers, actors, and musicians over four years at the New York City High School of the Performing Arts
(based on the real life NYC school: Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts!) It's a diverse powerhouse where students from all walks of life get a chance to live out their dreams. But even with hard work, discipline and talent, not everyone will make it. Plus they've got to deal with all the normal high school stuff like homework, insecurity and romance.
Check out this behind-the-scenes video Fame: Backstage, then READ ON for more inside scoop.
We sat down with three of the stars of Fame: Naturi Naughton who plays Denise, a classical pianist who can rock the microphone. Collins Pennie who plays Malik, an actor/rapper whose family has had too much drama and not enough money. And Cody Longo who plays Andy, an actor whose fame goes to his head.
Q for Naturi: What did you like most about your character, Denise? Naturi: I really liked her innocence. I remember when I was that age — you don't really know who you are. I felt like I could use this character to help other young people figure out what they want to do and how to stand up for what they love, even if it's your parents that you have to stand up to.
And I think that it's really hard to do that when you're sixteen or seventeen years old and you don't really know what direction you want to take your career.
Q: Any obstacles that you met when you were in your teens that might help other kids?
Naturi: Yeah, I went through a few obstacles. I was a recording artist at fifteen.
[RATHA: Naturi was in the girl group 3LW in the early 2000's. They sang a song I totally loved “No More (Baby I'm a Do Right”) and toured with Destiny's Child and Jessica Simpson!]
So one of the things I think could help other teens was being told that I wasn't good enough or marketable, or I didn't have the right look. And in my business it's all about packaging and a product and how you look and how you dress. It's very materialistic and as young people we all get caught up in that. But at the end of the day I learned that I can't rely on people to tell me who I am.
People might say, “You're not smart enough to get into the AP classes. . . or to be a doctor.” Whatever it is that someone is telling you you can't do, don't let that stop you and don't let them dictate your ability. You have to be strong enough to say, “I'm going to work hard, and if I put my mind to it and believe in myself, then I can achieve anything and no one can stop that.”
[RATHA: You go girl! Totally true!]
So all the young people that are going through that now, it's only temporary, trust me. You will get through it and you will prove all those haters, for lack of a better word, you'll prove them wrong.
Q: Does your name have a special meaning?
Naturi: Yes it does. Naturi — it means “Nature's Girl, Natural Woman.” My parents gave that to me.
[RATHA: I love that! Do any of you guys out there have unusual or exotic names? Let us know in the Comments!]
Next, we spoke with Collins Pennie, who plays Malik. He has an equally inspiring story. He spent much of his childhood in foster care, where he discovered his passion for performing.
Q: Could you tell us a bit about the challenges that you faced living in foster care?
Collins: I would just say that coming out of being in foster care, there's a lot of things that you go through. You want to be at home with your family, so it's a struggle, because you're in another person's home. It's not your own, but I worked hard and I had a dream and that kept me alive. It allowed me to focus on something else.
Q: And then at fifteen you went out on your own. How did you make money? How did you live?
Collins: By that point I had some friends that I was staying with from my dance school, or just some friends in general. It was rough, but I had a dream and I followed it and I'm here.
[RATHA: He is truly living a real life Fame story! I vote they should make a movie about Collins' life. How inspiring!]
Q: When did you know that performing was something that wasn't just fun, but would be a career for you?
Collins: I always knew. I mean growing up, watching Michael Jackson, who I love, I knew I always wanted to perform. I didn't know if I could act [but] I knew I wanted to sing and dance. My stepdad Ronald Lawson, he put me in an acting class when I was about seven years old. And it was like every Saturday. Some Saturdays I didn't want to go, but basically it was so the kids could get out of the house and have something to do instead of sitting in the house.
Q: What challenge that you faced are you most proud of?
Collins: Probably performing arts. I didn't have much support being on my own at that early age - going after what I believed was right for myself. It was very rough, but I never gave up on my dream and I'm very proud of that because look where I am today.
Q: Do you have a personal motto that encapsulates who you are?
Collins: I never give up and I always work hard. I believe in my work. I believe that it pays off. You stay focused and you work hard.
[RATHA: Absolutely! A colleague who was like a mentor once told me this:
Work hard. Learn a lot. Earn your keep. When the time is right – blossom and move on.]
Q: Talking about working hard, describe Malik. What is he like?
Collins: Malik is a guy who comes from a background of struggle and he uses that as motivation to push himself forward. To succeed. He basically wants a chance to get his mom out of the projects, to get himself a better life. So he's a very determined guy, and he decides that he's going to audition for this performing arts school. Malik has a lot of walls up, because of all the things that he's been through. He doesn't want to be judged or hurt so [his teacher] Dowd challenges him. Throughout the process of working with Dowd he really opens up and finds his voice as an artist.
Q: Do you keep in touch with the members of the cast?
Collins: We're all very close friends. We basically did our own little performing arts camp before the movie even started going into production. We spent so much time together in rehearsals and filming that we really formed this very close bond. . . and that really reflects in the movie.
Q: Do you like to read?
Collins: I have to read everyday, I get so many scripts! But yes I do love to read. I love to lose myself in a book. I wish I had more time to do so.
Q: What would you like your fans to know about you?
Collins: That most of all, everything in life wasn't always perfect but I believed in myself and I followed my dreams and I never gave up.
[RATHA: Much like his character in the movie! Will Malik's character be one of the few to achieve fame? We'll have to see the movie to find out!]
We also spoke with Cody Longo, who plays the controversial character, Andy.
Q: Tell us how playing your character in Fame was challenging.
Cody: In Fame I played a character named Andy Matthews. He goes down a road from being this actor in school who's a great, great actor and appreciates the work and is really focused. Then he books a [role] on a big hot teen show and he starts down the road of stardom. He gets caught up in his head, and getting involved in drugs and alcohol.
Q: Would Andy be a friend of yours?
Cody: I live in LA and I have friends that — we'd audition and we'd get on certain shows that really blow up and some of us get really caught up in that stuff. I try to stay away from this LA lifestyle and all the partying and stuff, because it's so easy to get caught up in. It's so much fun, there's cool people around and it's easy to kind of lose yourself in it. Sadly, I've seen too many of my friends go down that road. I think in the beginning, sure, Andy would be my friend. But if people go down that road and they're not coming back, I can't be involved with that.
Q: Do you have any advice to kids who want to perform?
Cody: One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is just be passionate in everything that you do. I think that if you're going to be involved in the arts and it's a way to express yourself, really use it to express yourself and don't question yourself and don't be embarrassed like nobody's watching but you. So I really think that just being passionate about everything you do, and once you step up on that stage let all your guards down.
Are you fired up to see Fame? I know I am! These kids are so chock full of talent, I wouldn't be surprised if they are the next superstars of tomorrow. As for me, I still aspire to learn to play piano some day. What are some of YOUR own personal dreams? Let us know in the comments!
The forecast is in. Sunny? No. Cloudy? No. It's calling for cloudy. . . with a chance of meatballs! At least according to the new movie Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs opening September 18th, which happens to be based on the beloved children's book by Judith and Ron Barrett!
We got the inside scoop for you from the folks at Sony, AND Judi Barrett herself.
First, a bit about the story. Welcome to the town of Chewandswallow (get it? “chew and swallow”). Meet Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of curing world hunger. But like all his past inventions, something goes extremely wacky and his latest invention causes bizarre weather patterns. We're talking raining spaghetti. Snowing mashed potatoes. Giant hot dogs dropping out of the sky. A culinary delight to some, but a messy nightmare for others!
Now it's up to Flint to stop his machine from destroying the world in a huge food storm, with Chewandswallow in the epicenter. Can he do it? Grab your popcorn and watch the official trailer:
Hungry for more? Well, Scholastic Kid-Reporter Shoshana recently spoke with book author Judi Barrett (who also has a new food-inspired book out called The Marshmallow Incident.)
Q: What inspired you to be a writer?
BARRETT: I've always liked to write. I've been both an artist and a writer from the time that I was a tiny kid. I used to write little stories and I would make characters out of boxes and all kinds of things that were part of the stories that I wrote. So, I've been doing it ever since I was able to write, and in school, and obviously after school.
Q: What's it like to see your book turned into a movie?
BARRETT: It's breathtakingly exciting!
Q: Is there a particular scene from Cloudy that you liked seeing in the movie?
BARRETT: I loved the roofless restaurant where the stuff came crashing down. And, of course the Jell-O mold is wonderful. [The characters go “swimming” in a pool made of Jell-O.] It's just great. And the hamburgers falling down and rolling on the dock, which is of course a little different than the book, but that is so wonderful.
You may remember Alexa Vega from the Spy Kids movies. Now she is in a TV show called Ruby & the Rockits (on ABC Family, Tuesdays at 8:30 pm E.T.) In the show, Alexa plays Ruby who has just moved in with her uncle, the brother of her long-lost father played by former teen-idol, David Cassidy. Austin Robert Butler plays her cousin, who also has a crush on her. . . uh, ewww? Anyway, here is Alexa herself talking about her life so far.
Describe Ruby—is she a fun character to play? What do you like best about her?
Alexa: Ruby is such a bright and happy character. She really tries to make the best out of every situation and always find the good in people. She isn't afraid of being different and having her own sort of quirky awesome personality. She is so much fun to play. My favorite thing about her is her confidence.
Would she be a friend of yours in real life?
Alexa: I wish I had a friend like Ruby!!!
Describe Ruby’s relationship with Austin Robert Butler’s character.
Alexa: Ruby's character and Jordan’s character. . . lol. I think the two of them have great potential of being wonderful friends to each other. Ruby is oblivious to the fact that Jordan likes her, but she loves having a real family for the first time, something that feels whole and good. So I think their relationship is just now getting started. They may be somewhat of trouble-makers. . .hehe.
What’s it like working with the Cassidy Brothers?
Alexa: The Cassidy brothers are such a wonderful group of men. Such class and so warm and welcoming. They bring such a spirit to the set. What we all have on Ruby is very rare. It is our own little family and we couldn't have asked for anything better than that.
Why will kids and their families like Ruby & the Rockits?
Alexa: I think that families will like this show because it has humor that spreads to all ages. The younger ones bring the youth to the show
and the adults bring the charm and wit. We have amazing writers and such a great team, a lot of whom all have family themselves,
so we are able to use real life family experiences and recreate that on set.
What makes Ruby laugh and cry? What makes you laugh and cry?
Alexa: I think life makes Ruby laugh. There isn't much that can get her down, but I think she misses her mother a lot, so I think missing her mom can make her cry. I love personally laugh-crying, when you are so happy that you are laughing and crying at the same time. It’s the most beautiful emotion to have had happen to you.
What was your favorite scene so far?
Alexa: My favorite scene to shoot was when Jordan and Ruby are in the kitchen and Jordan pulls out a strand of Ruby's hair for a DNA sample. I tried so hard not to laugh. It was such a hoot to film. I loved it!!!
Who are your role models? Why?
Alexa: My role model is MY MOTHER! She taught me everything I know and constantly challenged me to be a better person. I could never be as accomplished as I am if it weren't for her.
What 3 books would you recommend to a Middle School student? Why? What is your all time favorite book? Why?
Alexa: The three books that really got me into reading in this order are. . . Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret [by Judy Blume], The BFG (Big Friendly Giant) [by Roald Dahl], and my favorite book of all time—The Count of Monte Cristo [by Alexandre Dumas]. They were books that my mind just connected to so well. I was able to leap into a different world, and the way they were all written, I just felt like I was allowed to be such a part of them all.
Who is your favorite author? Why?
Alexa: My favorite author is Alexandre Dumas. His books are all quite exciting and thrilling!!!
What were your favorite subjects in school?
Alexa:My favorite subject in high school and all through school has been and always will be math.
If you weren't an actress, what would you do? What are your interests?
Alexa: I would prob be a psychologist for young teens.
Most memorable first day of school?
Alexa: Freshman year of high school, Spy Kids 1 and 2 had already come out, and I was about to go off to shoot the third. Kids were just so mean. It’s hard to make everyone happy.
Wow, even Hollywood stars have trouble with kids in school! Well, I'm glad Alexa was able to put all that behind her and still stay sweet! Hope you enjoyed this interview with her, and let us know what you think of the show, Ruby & the Rockits!
Tasty
tidbits on your celebrity faves! From Gerri Miller, for the Ink Splot 26 Celeb Beat
Hello and welcome to POP-Corn,
your source for cool news from the world of entertainment. You may remember
the POP-Corn column from Scholastic News Online. Well, this
summer it's on The Splot! We'll be bringing you a new jam-packed edition every
other week, so be sure to tune in every other Friday all through the summer!
(And on the other Fridays, STACKS Staffers will be posting their own Book Flap
columns clueing you in to all the latest happenings with your favorite books,
series, authors, and page-to-screen adaptations. It's all part of our first Summer on
The Splot!)
TEEN CHOICE AWARDS
REPORT: BEHIND THE SCENES SCOOP!
Hannah Montana,
The Jonas Brothers and Twilight were the big winners at the
Teen Choice Awards, where stars walked the eco-friendly green carpet and
nominees hoped to take home surfboard trophies.Zac Efron snagged two of them
for High School Musical 3 and 17 Again, adding to his collection. "I
hang them in my garage above my car," he said. Right now he's working on The Death and Life of Charlie St. Cloud.It's a mix of drama, romance, suspense and
the supernatural that'll hit theaters next year.
On the green carpet, Wizards
of Waverly Place's Jake T. Austin
was an excited nominee for Choice TV Sidekick, as was iCarly's Jennette McCurdy.
They lost to Emily Osment of Hannah Montana, but Jennette has other
news to celebrate: she just signed a record deal with Nashville's Capitol Records for her debut
album, due next year. Emily, meanwhile, has her own album in the works for
spring 2010 but you can hear the single "All the Way Up" on Radio Disney, see
the video for it starting August 24th, and get her EP in October.
Emily describes her sound as "a very wide spectrum of pop."
Em's castmate Jason
Earles told us about the fun he had during his summer hiatus on trips to
Hawaii and to the Caribbean on a Disney Summer at Sea cruise, and Josh Hutcherson said he was about to
begin filming a remake of the action movie Red
Dawn. He's been reading a lot of scripts, so he's behind on the Twilight book series, "But all my
friends have read it so I have to get up to speed," he said. Nathan Kress of iCarly was looking forward to studying American literature this
fall in school, and he told us why he loves to read here in this exclusive
video.
Castmate Jennette
McCurdy's favorite book list includes Cyrano
De Bergerac, the Lord of the Rings series,
and of course, Harry Potter. "Too bad
the movies have already been made because I would have loved to play Luna
Lovegood," she confided. "I was her for Halloween one year."
While at Teen Choice, lots of celebs visited the Backstage
Creations Bop It Celebrity Retreat, where they picked up gift bags, played
games like the Band Hero video game and the hand-held Bop It. High scorer Shailene Woodley of Secret Life of the American Teenager won
$10,000 for her favorite charity. They also designed and signed Office Depot
backpacks to donate to sick kids at the City of Hope hospital. Abigail Breslin of My
Sister's Keeper and Jordin Sparks,
whose friend Wendy battled cancer, were two stars that showed off their
decorating skills. For the chance to design your own and win a prize, visit Project Backpack.
Jordin, Abigail, Brenda
Song, Emily Osment and Jennette
McCurdy loved the colorful neoprene bags by California Leash Co., and Debby Ryan and Jennifer Stone snapped up the clever Snap Caps necklaces and hair
accessories made from bottle caps. First created by 13-year-old Maddie Bradshaw three years ago, the
hand-painted caps are magnetic and interchangeable and include a special
edition rainbow design she made to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Enterprising Maddie wants to go to Princeton,
Harvard or Stanford when she graduates and she'll probably have her pick!
ROCKIT GUY: AUSTIN
BUTLER
"I'm having such a
blast," Austin Butler raves about
playing Jordan on ABC Family's Ruby and the Rockits,
but he almost didn't audition for the role. "I wasn't going to go to the
audition because I didn't sing," he reveals, but his manager insisted, "and
somehow I got the role." The singing is coming easier now, and the guitar and
piano playing were no problem. "I've been playing guitar for about six years
and piano for a long time too," says Austin,
previously known as Zippy on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, James
Garrett on Zoey 101, and who can be seen in theaters as Jake in Aliens in the
Attic. So, does the 18-year-old native Californian want to record an album
now?"I don't know. I'm taking it one
step at a time," he says. "I am loving music though. And it's a great stress
reliever!"
WHAT TO WATCH
Alex's wish that her parents never met unleashes trouble in paradise in The Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie, which the cast shot in Puerto Rico. "It's everything you love about the show times ten," says Jennifer Stone (Harper). "There's comedy as well as drama and a ton of action—it's amazing how much action they fit into the movie. Anything that can make me feel like Angelina Jolie is cool by me!" It premieres Aug. 28th at 8 p.m. on Disney Channel.
Erica Hubbard has some scoop for us about the fourth season of Lincoln Heights. "Cassie is starting to design clothes this year," says Erica, who hints about a possible proposal from her boyfriend Charles later in the season. "There's a lot of drama before that. The relationship has its ups and downs," she says. Check out the premiere on ABC Family Sept. 14th at 8 p.m.
If you're up for a fun summer movie about the crazy stuff that happens when things you wish for come true, check out the new movie Shorts. Trevor Gagnon of TV's The New Adventures of Old Christine plays one of the kids who finds a magic rock at the end of a rainbow. "It grants wishes to anybody who holds it," says Trevor. "Neighborhood kids get the rock, then the adults get it, and the kids have to team up to stop the adults before the world crumbles." It's in theaters August 21st (Rated PG).
Find out which family wins $100,000 in the finale of The Great American Road Trip August 24th at 8 p.m. on NBC, which airs the season finale of Merlin at 8 p.m. on August 23rd. Hannah Montana: The Movie is now out on DVD, and Greek returns to ABC Family for its third season on August 31st at 9 p.m.
Bandslam follows music-obsessed Will (Gaelan Connell) when he and his mom move across the country. The biggest thing in his new high school is Bandslam, a battle of the bands contest where the winning band gets a real record contract. But going to a school where everyone is just as obsessed with music as he is doesn't make Will's life any less complicated. If you want to get a peak at what I mean, check out the trailer in our video hub.
And while the movie is all about music, there's something else the cast loves too: BOOKS! We snagged these EXCLUSIVE video interviews with the cast talking all about reading.
First up, here's Aly Michalka:
To start with—how cool is it that Aly gets to star in her very own (okay, okay, shared with her sister) book series? When Aly & AJ's Rock 'n' Roll Mysteries first came out, Gerri (POP-Corn writer extraordinaire) got to ask Aly and AJ all about the series and what they love to read. So if you want to know more, check out their Star Spotlight right here!
If you just want to get right to reading Aly's favorite, you'll need to start with The Bad Beginning, the first book in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. This book sets up the unfortunate story for the series. You meet Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire. When their parents die suddenly, the three orphans are left in the care of a villainous guardian who just wants the Baudelaires' fortune. Luckily, Violet has a knack for inventions, Klaus knows all the trivia there is to know, and if they're in a real jam, they can always count on Sunny to bite things with her extra-sharp teeth. How can these talents possibly defy the unfortunate plots and schemes of their guardian? Well, you'll have to read the series to find out!
Next is Gaelan Connell:
If you haven't read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle, the book Gaelan mentions, you definitely should. It's a great sci-fi book.
The book starts when Mrs. Whatsit visits the Murrays' home one rainy night (a dark and stormy night to be exact), claiming she knows Meg's missing scientist father, what he was studying, and where he disappeared to. He was studying tesseracts, a way of traveling through space by bending it. He was right; tesseracts exist. And now he's disappeared. So Meg, her genius younger brother, Charles Wallace, and her classmate, Calvin, take off with Mrs. Whatsit and her friends, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which across the universe to rescue him.
Last is Vanessa Hudgens:
In Bandslam, Vanessa's character, Sa5m (the "5" is silent), always had her nose in a book. She was a big fan of adult classics, like Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.
If you've read any of the Bandslam stars' favorite books, let me know what you think of them! If not, have these stars convinced you to pick up a new book? And of course, if you go see Bandslam tomorrow, you have to let me know what you think!
— Carly H., STACKS Staffer
Bandslam photos courtesy of Summit Entertainment and Walden Media
Tasty
tidbits on your celebrity faves!
