Interviews Archives - Page 3 of 3

Up Close and Personal With Gen Z Influencers Lily Kate and Annie Rose

Interview with Lily Kate

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Lily – I am a 17 year old Texas girl. I’m a junior in high school. I have been homeschooled my whole life, and I absolutely love having the freedom homeschooling gives me. I have many passions that include public speaking, art, video editing, dance, and writing. My favorite foods are Lucky Charms and whipped cream. I started vlogging in 2017 because I was inspired by Annie Rose, my little sister. I watched her have fun, get wonderful feedback and work hard so I decided that I wanted to try!

What inspired you to start your vlog?

Lily – I started vlogging in 2017 because I was inspired by Annie Rose, my little sister. I watched her have fun, get wonderful feedback and work hard so I decided that I wanted to try!

Bullying is a huge issue with teens. What message do you have for young people struggling with bullying?

Lily- I have been lucky, since I am a Christian and have been homeschooled, I have not dealt with severe cases of bullying. I am very thankful for that. But something I would encourage is for you to find yourself and never let go of that. Find your own identity and build it up strong; to the point where nobody can break it down. I like to think of it like playing Capture the Flag, once you have your hands on the flag, you never let the flag go! That flag can be your sense of self – never to be let go or lost, and if it is, you exhaust every resource to get it back. Us being secure in ourselves is the most important factor to success in this life. So we must retrieve that flag and show it off proudly.

Plus, remember that:

You are beautiful

You are unique

You are allowed to be different

You are intelligent

You are so very, very loved

And you are not alone.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Lily – 10 years… that is a long time! In 10 years, I want to have published at least three books (currently writing them), I want to have at least 3 degrees, I want to be married and financially stable. I plan to keep doing YouTube as long as the platform exists, I love Instagram and want to continue building my audience there. I am about to begin selling products on Amazon. My goal is to create a lifestyle that I believe in, market it and help others achieve the golden life through aesthetics, books, videos and products. Sprinkled throughout all of this, I want to be a credible public speaker. I have been told that public speaking is my ‘spiritual gift’ (lol). I feel completely comfortable in front of big crowds and I want nothing more than to speak my truth and inspire people to take control of their lives and make them beautiful!

What’s your goal and overall message that would you like to share with your viewers?

Lily – That they are beautiful. That’s it.

So many times in my life I would look in the mirror at that roll of chub over my gut, at the metal braces in my mouth, how round and puffy my face was, or how huge my thighs were and I hated it. I hated myself. I saw myself as a burden to my parents, the least important friend, and I had no self worth. But eventually, with kicking, screaming and lots of sleepless nights, I found myself, my passions and I pulled myself together into a little heap and decided that I was going to be different from everyone else; I was going to be confident and love myself.

So many teens hate their image, personality, status or all of the above, and the sad truth is… that mindset is utterly normal. It is common to be depressed, tired and self-loathing. Teens say ‘want to die’ or ‘I hate myself’ and actually believe it. It is often covered as a joke but, behind every just kidding – there is some truth. This generation suffers so strongly from self hate that right now, the way to be different or to stand out is to fully love yourself and actually accept yourself. The new different is seeing yourself as beautiful, valuable and enough.

Please provide a link to your favorite YouTube video to share on my site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyk-nKBPt0c&t=1s – this is a super fun video

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYW4P_H3AO-wjoAb9-lQA_Q

Interview with Annie Rose

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

Annie- I’m a 13 year old entrepreneur, youtuber, author, actor, singer, and fashion LOVER!! I started my first youtube channel 4 years ago simply to have fun (considering I was 9). Now I work everyday editing, filming, communicating with my followers, creating new ideas, and let me just say .. I LOVE IT!! Before age 9 I never had a ‘thing’ while my 3 older siblings Matthew, Lily, and Laura were enjoying their own activities and I felt left out. I’ve always been a chatterbox and a storyteller so finding youtube was such a perfect way for me to express myself. I also have discovered my love for writing and fashion along the way and have created my own poetry book and merch line! I’m so grateful for my almost 800k fans and hope I can inspire girls to live their life to the absolute fullest!

What inspired you to start your vlog?

Like I said, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to have a safe place to express myself.

Annie- Keep your head high. If you have a dream, chase it. Have you heard “Mean” by Taylor Swift? She sings, “Someday I’ll be living in a big city and all you’re ever gonna be is mean” Your time really is coming so don’t listen to bullies and haters. Remember that you are strong and beautiful.

What is your favorite subject in school? Why?

Annie- English, literature, or writing .. can’t really pick one hehe. When I was eight I would spend all day writing stories and to this day I have loved grammar / writing / poetry. It’s all so beautiful to me. Writing is like an extension of talking, just quieter.

What makes you unique, and why do you think people should follow you?

Annie- Not many girls have the same outlook on life that I have. I see everything in a positive and happy way. I think I can help other girls realize life isn’t so bad and it’s worth living to the absolute fullest.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Annie- I have many dreams. My biggest goals in life are to create my own fashion, and a own my own physical store, publish more books, travel, build my own house, start a family, inspire others, and I hope that in ten years I still live my life to the absolute fullest because like Meghan Trainor says “No we ain’t promised tomorrow”

What advice would you give to young girls that want to start a vlog?

Annie- Don’t stop. If you love it, do it. Don’t stop if you get picked on or because someone tells you to. If I stopped because someone hated on me I wouldn’t be where i am today! If you enjoy doing youtube, that’s all that matters! Not the money, fame, or haters. Keep your head high. If you have a dream, chase it. Have you heard “Mean” by Taylor Swift? She sings, “Someday I’ll be living in a big city and all you’re ever gonna be is mean” Your time really is coming so don’t listen to bullies and haters. Remember that you are strong and beautiful.

Please provide a link to your favorite YouTube video.

Annie- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K3_2-vOwQk&t=1s

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHVSseA5eTTguk_o5InXu9w

Missing Link Movie: Interview with Chris Butler, Zoe Saldana, and Zack Galifianakis

Written By: Victoria Eliana Camacho

Spring is here and a lot is happening in the movie world, including the release of Missing Link April 12th!

Missing Link is an extraordinary film that has several wonderful messages. It talks about the the power of friendship, accepting others for who they are, and most importantly, putting others before yourself.

Last month, I screened this film and interviewed Director Chris Butler, Zoe Saldana, and Zach Galifianakis at the Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Check out the excerpts from my interview below!

Disclosure: This post is in partnership with United Artists Releasing.

Watch the trailer!

The movie is funny, heart-warming, and full of adventure! It is based in America back in the late 1800’s.

Synopsis:

Link is 8 feet tall, 630 lbs, and covered in fur, but don’t let his appearance fool you… he is funny, sweet, and adorably literal, making him the world’s most lovable legend at the heart ofMissing Link, the globe-trotting family comedy adventure from LAIKA. Tired of living a solitary life in the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Link recruits fearless explorer Sir Lionel Frost to guide him on a journey to find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, our fearless trio of explorers encounter more than their fair share of peril as they travel to the far reaches of the world to help their new friend. Through it all, the three learn that sometimes you can find a family in the places you least expect.

I was most excited when the story led us to my hometown-Santa Ana, California. I mean, how awesome is that?!

I was curious about what inspired Director, Chris Butler, to choose my little city and put it in the film.

Victoria: —I actually had a question about one of the cities that you used, Santa Ana, California. I’m just curious, what made you choose that city? Only because I’m from there, so thank you for using that city. I feel like a lot of people forget about that part of Orange County.

Chris Butler: I think when you’re playing, or when you’re telling a story that takes place in the real world, even if it’s a different time period. You want to– people have certain expectations and they kind of hook what’s familiar– they hook into what’s familiar to them. So for example, if you’re gonna set part of the story in Victorian London, you need horse-drawn carts and chimney stacks, and so you have to check those boxes. And also, we’re traveling around the world pretty rapidly. So I don’t have much time to create a scene before we move on again. So I wanted things that look iconic, and you know, there’s not much that’s more iconic to the Victorian times than the old locomotive, and we all wanted a train station. And I saw some old photographs of Santa Ana train station in the 1880s and it’s just this glorious building, and so that’s what we based the design on.

Victoria: Yes, no, I thought it was awesome that you even added the water tower–

Chris Butler: –Yes–.

Victoria: –-Cause I pass by it every day so it–

Zoe Saldana: —Aw, that’s great.

I was very impressed with how Chris did his research, and how he included many little details that really made this film come to life. He even added the Santa Ana water tower!

This movie definitely one of my favorites. It’s a feel good movie that made me feel all warm and fuzzy after watching it. It is a MUST-SEE film for all ages!

#MissingLink hits theaters everywhere April 12. Get your tickets now!

The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part Interview with the Cast, Directors and Screenwriters

CALLING ALL LEGO FANS!

This The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part hits theaters February 8th…

Last week, I screened the Lego Movie 2: The Second Part and met with the cast, screenwriters, and directors in Los Angeles, California. There were tons of laughs and memorable moments in our roundtable interview. I can’t remember when I laughed this hard.

Check out my recap below!

Sponsored: Thank you Warner Bros Pictures for inviting me to interview the Cast, Producers, and directors of Te LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. All opinions are my own.

Watch the trailer!

About

The much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed, global box office phenomenon that started it all, “The LEGO^® Movie 2: The Second Part,” reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all new action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are now facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO^® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than it can be rebuilt. The battle to defeat the invaders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet (Chris Pratt), Lucy (Elizabeth Banks), Batman (Will Arnett) and their friends to faraway, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is a musical. It will test their courage, creativity and Master Building skills, and reveal just how special they really are.

Tiffany Haddish is a BIG hit in the new film. She stars as Queen Watevra Wa’Nabin in the new LEGO film. Her character transforms and changes throughout the film . And YES! Tiffany is just as funny off-screen as on-screen!

Question: “How did they come about adding Tiffany Haddish?”

Director Mike Mitchell: “That was–well we knew we wanted a character who was going to shape-shift and change into different things and almost be like that genie from Aladdin.”

Director Trisha Gum: “Right. And we wanted somebody like funny and strong and confident, and she just–she embodies all those things that we wanted.”

Director Mike Mitchell: “Man, she exudes that energy. She never loses her energy. Trish and I would be exhausted at the end of recording her voice. She is unstoppable, right?”

Director Trisha Gum: “Yes. She’s fantastic. And Yes, she’s a very strong–like I said strong confident woman. She just embodied that character, so.”

Tiffany Haddish: “ I relate to my character in many ways, because all she really wants to do is bring joy and happiness. And like Maya Angelou always says, when someone tells you who they are in from the beginning, believe them, that’s who they are. And she constantly was tellingthem, I’m not evil, I just want to give you gifts, I just want to shower you with love.” (LOVE her)

Will Arnett returns as the voice of “Batman.”

Will Arnett: “It is a great environment that they create, and you know, and I had some of the most profound big–biggest laughs of my life being in a booth working with those guys.”

Screenwriter Phil Lord: “Well I think, oh the first movie, the first LEGO movie, we always said I want–we want to make a movie that makes you feel more creative on the way out than you felt on the way in. You know, and the premise was like we are all inherently creative beings, and we’ve been doing this for millennia and why wouldn’t we still be doing it? And then–and this movie, you know, was about can you feel more generous and empathetic on the way out than you did on the way in, you know.”

Screenwriter Chris Miller: “Right and because you know when you start growing up as a kid, you–there’s a moment when you realize that not everything is awesome and then you can choose to go two ways with it. You can choose or like I’m going to prove that I’m grown up by being cynical and angry and detached, and gritty. Or what we think is a more sophisticated and actually more mature thing is to choose to be kind, to choose to be positive, to choose to be”—

Question: “Did you have, you know, anything–was it spontaneous or had you thought about it?”

Elizabeth Banks: “We do a lot of different ways. Like everything is scripted, but then, there’s a lot of playing, right. So, there was a lot of, “Try this, try this. “And we were–they were refining jokes until like two weeks ago. [Unintelligible] was in the booth two weeks ago on this movie.”

This new LEGO film is seriously loads of fun. I laughed hysterically on several occasions during the screening. You must take your entire family to see this film, because there is BIG laughs in store for everyone!

Stephanie Beatriz voices Sweet Mayhem.

Stephanie Beatriz: “They created an environment that’s very free. They’re very, very giving and collaborative and they just want to see what you have and then build off of that. They’re open to everything which is why their work is go good. It’s so good. It’s so fresh. And it feels so alive. Because they’re allowing us to do the thing that we do best which is use our imaginations.”

Get tickets to #TheLEGOMovie2 in theaters February 8!

Get Your Tickets Now