This past week was a whirlwind as we joined the cast of Pete’s Dragon at the World Premiere of the movie in the El Capitan Theatre on Monday. It was a thrill to leave the third row and walk right past a crowd of people congratulating Bryce on her role as Grace, the forest ranger who first discovers a lone child surviving in the woods of the Pacific Northwest:
For years, old wood carver Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford) has delighted local children with his tales of the fierce dragon that resides deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. To his daughter, Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard), who works as a forest ranger, these stories are little more than tall tales…until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley). Pete is a mysterious 10-year-old with no family and no home who claims to live in the woods with a giant, green dragon named Elliot. And from Pete’s descriptions, Elliot seems remarkably similar to the dragon from Mr. Meacham’s stories. With the help of Natalie (Oona Laurence), an 11-year-old girl whose father Jack (Wes Bentley) owns the local lumber mill, Grace sets out to determine where Pete came from, where he belongs, and the truth about this dragon.
The very next day we met the star for our interview. Bryce walked into the room at the Roosevelt Hotel, saw the parent bloggers, and a huge smile came across her face. Everything else I share with you is completely biased because she was a total sweetheart!
Bryce had heard that this script was circulating and she sought it out. She read the script and knew that even though it was very different than the 1977 version that she grew up with, and loved, it reminded her of what Disney movies are filled with, strong American values.
She shared how interesting it was that as a child she identified so strongly with the child character, whereas now, she quickly identified with the adult character. Also, she was happy about the fact that talking to the kids in the movie was so similar to the way she talks to her own kids.
We also asked questions about the experience of being away for a movie filming when one has children. She has two children that study in an International school, so they have been at several different branches throughout the years, and studied at the one in New Zealand while their mom was shooting this film. The funniest anecdote she shared was something all of us parents could relate to, she would constantly ask her son questions (and those of us with boys know they rarely talk when prompted), and never get a solid answer. In a snuggly moment weeks later, back at home, her son opened up on his own and mentioned his early experience in the New Zealand school: at first he could not understand the language spoken, until two weeks in when he realized they were speaking English, just with a strong accent!
She also spoke about a chat she had with her young daughter. She asked if her daughter wanted to grow up in nature (after spending three months in the gorgeous country of New Zealand), and her daughter stated that she was being brought up in nature! Another typical foot in mouth moment for any parent, our kids usually have a different perspective than us!
Additionally, having her children on set, reminded her of when her own dad, Director Ron Howard, had her and her siblings on set when he was working on the movie Parenthood. She remembers being seven years old and having a blast as there were so many other children around: the children in the movie, and the children of the actors/actresses. It was like a party. She saw some similarities on the Pete’s Dragon set with her young co-stars, and the children of her older co-stars. She was glad for her kids to have this similar great experience that she had!
We also asked the same question in every interview, how was it to work with Robert Redford. The man is an acting legend. Bryce said that Robert Redford seems at peace. She said that while working with him, it was clear that he was in a place of complete comfortability in his career. Later on, the other actors would say similar things.
Lastly, this is my favorite clip with Bryce on the set of Pete’s Dragon, clearly it proves that the dragon (actor), who plays Elliot, is real!
PETE’S DRAGON Opens Today, 8/12/16! It is a perfect family movie!
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Disclosure: Disney invited me on this press trip and paid all of my expenses. No other compensation was received. All opinions are always 100% my own and honest. Photo credit for the two pictures in the collage: Jana Seitzer.
I reviewed Pete’s Dragon yesterday, please read all about that experience as well!
Somehow I managed to be right next to this gorgeous actress:
This is a great read