It seems likes books and movies about alien invasions are kind of a trend this month.
First there is Doom Machine, a new book by Mark Teague about a boy who sees a flying saucer hovering over his small town of Vern Hollow. Of course, no one believes him, but things are about to get very strange in this small town! Take a peek at the first chapter and play the Alien Attack video game on the Doom Machine website.
And now for an alien invasion from a completely different perspective — in the new movie Planet 51 (rated PG), an Earthling is the alien! American astronaut Chuck Baker lands on a distant planet for a routine mission, but finds a whole civilization of creatures already living there! They think he has come to take over their planet, and they act the way anyone would act if they saw an alien — terrified!
This trailer for the movie had me cracking up.
Want more alien invasions? Here are some of my childhood favorites:
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (rated PG) THE classic alien movie about an adorable little space creature who gets separated from his ship and needs to get home or he will die. I cry every time I watch it. I don't know anyone who doesn't love this movie.
Can of Worms by Kathy Mackel
In this book, Mike feels like he doesn't fit in, and concludes he must be a higher life form from another planet. He sends out an S.O.S into the galaxy, but is not prepared when actual aliens show up at his door in response to his distress signal.
Fat Men from Space by Daniel Pinkwater
After a trip to the dentist, William discovers he can hear radio stations through his tooth. Not only that, he can hear intergalactic communications, and he discovers that aliens are on their way to earth to take over our supply of junk food. Can he stop them before it's too late?
Do you have a favorite alien invasion story — either true or in book/movie form? If you have actually seen a UFO, I definitely want to hear about it in the Comments!
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?
Posted by Sonja C. on October 17, 2009 8:19 AM in Media
Do you love Anime and Manga? Well, the character who started it all in Japan, the very first anime character ever, Astro Boy, is coming to theaters in the United States. Astro Boy first appeared as a comic (manga) in a Japanese magazine in 1951. Later, starting
in 1963, he became an anime sensation in an animated TV series in Japan.
So what is the new movie about? Astro Boy's Japanese name is Tetsuwan Atomu, meaning Mighty Atom. Set in futuristic Metro City, Astro Boy is about a
young robot with incredible powers created by a brilliant scientist named Dr.
Tenma. He is endowed with super strength, x-ray vision, unbelievable speed and
the ability to fly, but he also has a heart. When he learns that his friends and family are
in danger, Astro Boy marshals his awesome super powers
in a valiant effort to save them.
Freddie Highmore is the voice of Astro Boy in the new movie, and he answered some of our questions about it.
Q: What was it like playing an animated character versus a human character? Freddie: Well, it was something different. People often think it's a bit easier to do a voice, but I think it can be a bit harder. I mean my experience is you've still got to be committed to the role. In Astro Boy there's so many moments where he's upset or in the middle of a big battle and I think you've really got to be there, whether it means crying in the middle of the scene when people say, "Oh just use your voice." Or running up and down on the spot to get out of breath and sound authentic. I think you've got to do that and not be self conscious at all. So in that way it can be harder. And also that you're not with the person that you're supposed to be doing the scene with. David's been fantastic in that way explaining to us what the other person's done and what we can do to make it fit in, but it's never the same thing.
Q: Are there similar characteristics or different characteristics between you and Astro Boy other than that he's a robot? Freddie: I think that everyone has something in common with Astro Boy in that we've all got something different about us that makes us stand out for certain reasons. And Astro Boy is a human in a robot's body. So I guess I can identify with him in that way and everyone else in the world can. We've all got a different characteristic, be it a good thing or a bad thing, that makes us different from everyone else. And like Astro Boy we all want to be accepted into society, into a group of friends, into a family. Just another normal person. He wants to be accepted right from the moment his dad says, "I don't want you any more. You're a robot and you can't replace my son."
Q: What was the coolest part about working on this film? Freddie: I think it was fantastic being able to get to see it right from the beginning to the end. I also think it's very cool to play a superhero and to have such a fantastic role in the film, but what made it really exciting was having been to Japan to do promotional shoots and seeing Astro Boy stores that they have there and the murals dedicated to him. I mean he is Japan's Mickey Mouse. The exciting thing was to be able to try and bring the excitement generated there to the rest of the world.
Q: If you had a personal robot, what would you get it to do for you? Freddie: I think being able to transport me at an incredible quick pace anywhere in the world would be fantastic. I could be in London through the help of my London, travel over to Los Angeles in a couple of seconds. That would be fantastic. And it would be incredibly easy to keep up with friends that way all around the world.
In the spirit of Halloween, we're bringing you the scary scoop on Darren Shan's sinister series Cirque Du Freak, and the upcoming movie The Vampire's Assistant (PG-13) opening October 23rd. It's based on the first three books of the series, and stars John C. Reiley, Ken Watanabe, Salma Hayek, and Chris Massoglia as Darren.
In the book series Darren is an ordinary kid who stumbles on a freak show with his best friend. When Darren steals a spider from a vampire, things quickly go wrong and Darren has to bargain for his friend's life. The price? His becoming a half-vampire himself (i.e.vampire's assistant!), and traveling with the nightmarish Cirque Du Freak.
This series is SO good. I'm talking stay-up-late-reading-under-the-covers good. It's super freaky and scary, in ways you wouldn't think a children’s book series could be.
And believe it or not, we were able to get the author himself, Darren Shan, to give us an exclusive interview!! It must have been destiny. Read below. . . if you dare.
Q: Is Darren an "autobiographical" character?
Darren: No. He shares certain characteristics with me, as do most of my lead characters, but we're not one and the same person, despite us sharing a name.
Q: Is there anything that creeps you out in real life?
Darren: Embarrassingly enough — spiders!!! Although the things that creep me out more than anything else are snakes — I can't stand them!!
RATHA: Wow that must have
given him nightmares writing these books! You Cirque Du Freak fans know what I
mean — there are spiders and snakes aplenty. Madame Octa or Evra the Snake Boy,
anyone?
Q: What was your involvement, if any, in making the movie (The Vampire's Assistant)?
Darren: None. I opted to keep out of the process, so that I could stay focused on the books. I think the film-making process is best left to those who know what they're doing.
Q: What are your favorite parts of the movie?
Darren: The opening credits. That might sound strange, but it's not meant to be a criticism of the rest of the film. I honestly do like the movie overall — I just thought that the opening credits were truly amazing!
RATHA: Ok I will DEFINITELY have to make sure I’m not late for this movie, so I don’t miss those credits!
Q: Will diehard fans of the books like the movie?
Darren: Hard to tell. I think if they go in accepting that it's going to be only a loose adaptation of the books, then they might enjoy it for what it is — as I did.
RATHA: Aah yes. It's always tricky for us literary folks who love our books.
Q: What are you doing for Halloween this year?
Darren: I'm going to be celebrating it in Universal Studios Orlando!!! I'm not there for work, just a holiday, which turned out to be a happy twist of fate. . . or DESTINY!!!!!
RATHA: NICE! Be sure not to freak out Mickey or Minnie — hee hee! Seriously, thanks so much for the exclusive interview, Darren. I personally can’t wait to read the rest of the series! Right now I’m on Book #2: The Vampire's Assistant.
If you are new to the series, take a look at Jake T. Austin talking about the book that starts it all, A Living Nightmare.
And let us know what creeps YOU out. I once almost drank a spider in the middle of the night. (I was drinking from a glass of water I kept by my bedside, when all of a sudden I felt something in my mouth. I spit it out and it was a dead spider, floating in the water. I guess it had somehow crawled in and drowned. Thank goodness I didn’t swallow it!) Anyways — leave a message in the Comments!
— Ratha, STACKS Writer
UPDATE: New Video with The Vampire's Assistant actor Josh Hutcherson!
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!
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak is one of those picture books that never gets old. Just about everyone I know
read it at least once when they were young and still loves it now. I have to admit I
found it too scary when I was little, but that's just me — I never did like scary books or scary movies. Still don't.
Anyway, on October 16th, Where the Wild Things Are is being released
as a movie (rated PG) that does not look too scary. Check out the trailer. . .
And there is a video game for ages
10 and up (Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii) that actually
looks pretty cool (judging by this video preview of the game).
Max Records plays the part of Max in the movie. His favorite scene was the dirt clod battle with the Wild Things. He says, "It's practically a minefield because all these dirt clods are being thrown and just exploding on the ground. The special effects team had hidden little explosives in the leaves and all around me was 'boom, boom, boom.'" His least-favorite scene was when Max has to slide through the giant mouth of one of the Wild Things and into its slimy stomach where he was slathered in "slime that smelled like rotten lemons." Ewww!
And what about those nine-feet tall monsters? They took eight months to build, and there is a person inside each one controlling the monster's movements! The only part of the Wild Things that is digitally enhanced is their
faces. Computer animation was used to create their facial expressions
to make them look more lifelike. Their voices were recorded separately like for an animated movie. When they recorded that dirt clod battle, the actors actually threw stale bread rolls at each other and hit each other with styrofoam logs to get into it! Actor James Gandolfini recorded the voice of the monster, Carol, and makes it sound like a blast. He says, "It was very physical. We were running around and beating each other up and making ridiculous noises." I love that image of grown-ups running around on a stage acting like Wild Things! Can you imagine your teachers doing that? Hilarious.
So are you excited to see this movie? I can't wait. As Max would say, "Let the
wild rumpus start!"
—Sonja, STACKS Staffer
UPDATE: Read a movie review from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
Trailer courtesy of Warner Bros. Photos by Matt Nettheim, courtesy of Warner Bros.
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!)
A while back we scheduled an interview with B.O.B. from Monsters vs. Aliens, and we asked YOU what questions you would ask. Well, to celebrate today's DVD release of Monsters vs. Aliens, B.O.B. is here to tell us about his experiences as a movie star monster.
Hi B.O.B. We are so honored that you could come to Ink Splot 26 for this interview. Thanks for agreeing to answer our questions. What was it about the movie Monsters vs. Aliens that made you want to be a part of it?
B.O.B.: Hi there! Thanks for the questions! Usually people scream and run away from me, so this is my first time answering questions. Actually I’m pretty nervous about this. Shoot! Did I say that? Hang in there B.O.B. it’s going to be okay! OK! I’m ready for questions now. Hi there! Okay my first question for you is, what color are your shoes! Wait, I forgot, these questions are for me! AMAZING! So, um, I wanted to be in this movie because I always wondered what Aliens tasted like. And now, I know! Lima beans and toothpaste!
Ink Splot 26 Editor: What did you do to prepare for this role? Did you have to work out or go on a diet?
B.O.B.: I went on my own special diet program I call
“Snackin' to the Oldies” It's where you eat everything and anything
that has past its expiration date.
Dewdrop 208 asks: What was it like working with Dr. Cockroach and the rest of the gang?
B.O.B.: EWW! I hate cockroaches!
Dewdrop208 also asks: Was the Dance Pad scene really fun?
B.O.B.: I'm glad you mentioned the Dance Pad. It was more fun than eating a barrel of monkeys. Now THAT is fun!
Ink Splot 26 Editor: Which scene was the most difficult for you? Which was the most fun?
B.O.B.: WOW!
GREAT QUESTIONS! The hardest scene was when I forgot how to breathe,
because… I couldn't breathe of course. The most fun scene was when I
remembered how to breathe, because I had honestly forgotten and it was
not fun.
Elephantlover5 asks: Would you crack jokes all the time or did you have to stay completely on script? Thank you for your time.
B.O.B.: There was a script? I was wondering why they kept feeding me paper. Oops…
Bookwink asks: Did you have a stunt double or did you do all your own stunts?
B.O.B.: Not only did I do my own stunts, but I did stunts for the stunt double as well. I really pay for it later though, let me tell you. I'm just covered in blue bruises.
T-T asks: You rock B.O.B! And I love the color of your gelatin. What shade of blue is it?
B.O.B.: I'm told it's a Marine Blue, but I don't seem to remember ever joining the Marines…Oh wait! General Monger's a Marine and he turns blue every time we try to escape!
Ink Splot 26 Editor: How long did it take for you get into costume and make-up before your scenes?
B.O.B.: HOURS! It's really hard to prepare the
make-up and costumes for a 49 ½ foot woman. Wait a second – that was
Susan! I didn't have any make-up – I'm B.O.B! I don't even have a
costume; I was naked during the whole movie! OH NO! I WAS NAKED DURING
THE WHOLE MOVIE! OH NO! I'M NAKED RIGHT NOW! SOMEONE GET ME SOME
PANTS!
Ink Splot 26 Editor: In the movie, we saw B.O.B. the brainless blob, but tell us about B.O.B. the man. Could you describe a typical day off-camera?
B.O.B.: I'm the man? THANK YOU! My typical day starts with breakfast, lunch and dinner, followed by a nap and then lunch, dinner and breakfast, followed by dinner, breakfast and maybe lunch if there's time before my nap.
Ink Splot 26 Editor: What would your fans be surprised to learn about you? What are some little known facts?
B.O.B.: My favorite flavor of ice cream is rocky road (literally rocks and roads) and I'm afraid of unicorn babies. (I don't trust those sharp horns, no matter how cute they are!)
Ink Splot 26 Editor: Are you dating? Is there anyone special in your life?
B.O.B.: I met a cute little blue SLUSHIE at the convenience mart but she gave me the cold shoulder.
Ink Splot 26 Editor: Do you think monsters get a bad rap? What would you want to tell the world about so-called "monsters"?
B.O.B.: I would tell the world that they should give monsters a second chance. A second chance to scare them! Ha ha, just kidding! But seriously, we are really good. Good at scaring you! Ha ha, just kidding again! But seriously…
Ink Splot 26 Editor: Who is your role model and why?
B.O.B.: Susan is my role model and I haven't the foggiest idea why.
Ink Splot 26 Editor: What is the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to you?
B.O.B.: WOW! This just happened to me yesterday. Link farted, I laughed at him, then I realized that I farted and Link laughed at me! And Susan was there! AMAZING!
Ink Splot 26 Editor: What has been the happiest moment of your life so far?
B.O.B.: Wait for it…. wait for it…RIGHT NOW!
Ink Splot 26 Editor: One last question B.O.B. What are your plans for the future?
B.O.B.: One day, I hope to star in a movie called Monsters vs. Aliens. WAIT, A SECOND…. That already happened didn't it? AMAZING! Thank you for all of the questions. I enjoyed asking them and look forward to interviewing you again!
Monsters vs. Aliens TM & (c) 2009 DreamWorks Animation
L.L.C. Activision is a registered trademark of Activision
Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.
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!
