Gnomeo And Juliet
There was gnome-where to hide for the stars of new film Gnomeo & Juliet 3D when FILMCLUB, the education charity and experts in films for young people, sent along an intrepid junior reporter to the UK premiere to interview the cast and creative team behind the new animation.
BAFTA Award-Nominated actress Emily Blunt (Gulliver’s Travels, The Young Victoria, The Devil Wears Prada), Matt Lucas (Little Britain, Alice In Wonderland), Ashley Jensen (Ugly Betty, Extras, Nativity!) and music supremo Elton John, who is executive producer on the film, all spoke to FILMCLUB Young Ambassador Jack Callaghan ahead of the release of the film on 11th February at the UK premiere.
Elton John told the youngster about working on the film; “It was great fun…we have lots of friends who did it and the other people who did it were very enthusiastic about it because they wanted to play Gnomes!”
Emily Blunt, who plays Juliet, revealed how different it was to work on an animated film, saying; “Actually me and James McAvoy (Gnomeo) never did any of the romantic scenes together and we actually had to do them with the director. So James McAvoy was having to do these romantic scenes to the voice of the director rather than me, so that was quite weird!”
The youngster also interviewed the film’s producers Baker Bloodworth (Pocahontas) and director Kelly Asbury (Shrek 2) about how they made the movie, with Baker Bloodworth telling the youngster; “The biggest challenge was really making sure that the film was both entertaining – it needs to be funny and fun, fresh and original, but it also needs to have heart. It needs to have a soul.”
And fellow producer Steve Hamilton Shaw (It’s A Boy Girl Thing) joked; “I think Shakespeare would love this - I think this is a better version of Romeo and Juliet than his own I think!”
Speaking to FILMCLUB co-founder Beeban Kidron on the green carpet, the filmmaker told Jack; “I think its really interesting to see another Romeo and Juliet film and I’m hoping this is for the young kids what Baz’s (Luhrmann) film was for older kids. It’s really great to introduce them to this story.”
Commenting on his experience and the film, Jack gave Gnomeo & Juliet 3D a massive “five thumbs up” and said, “I’ve had a really amazing day here on the green carpet. I’ve seen the film and it’s absolutely brilliant, you should go and see it!”
Gnomeo & Juliet 3D is an animated re-telling of one of Shakespeare’s most famous tales, set in the gardens of fair Verona Drive, where two young gnomes Gnomeo (James McAvoy) and Juliet (Emily Blunt) fall in love amidst a turf war. The film is released in UK cinemas on 11th February 2011.
Tagged in Emily Blunt Sir Elton John