The newest Disney film, Queen of Katwe opens today in theaters everywhere. I am telling everyone I know to GO SEE IT. Not only because it's such an amazing story, but because it's an amazing TRUE story. I had the privilege of sitting down with the real life 20-year-old, Phiona Mutesi (played by newcomer Madina Nalwanga) - she is the Ugandan chess ...
entertainment
Director Mira Nair’s Passion for Queen of Katwe
It's always fun interviewing a director. It gives you a new and different perspective of the filmmaking process. As you know, I was in LA last week spending time interviewing the cast and director of Queen of Katwe. I also got to walk the Red Carpet at the premiere, which I'm going to keep talking about every single time I can, but that's not ...
Exclusive Interview with Lupita Nyong’o and the Kids from Queen of Katwe
As part of my adventures in LA last week, not only did I get to walk the Red Carpet for the Premiere of Disney's Queen of Katwe, I also had the amazing opportunity to sit around a table along with 24 other amazing bloggers and chat with the lovely and talented Lupita Nyong'o and the fabulous actors who play her kids in the ...
Life Lessons With Disney’s Queen of Katwe
I am always careful when recommending films. After all, audiences have varied tastes and different interests. I saw the newest Disney film, Queen of Katwe last week and was mesmerized by the richness of the story, the characters, the details. And I can't wait to tell you about it. Based on the true story of 10 year old ...
The Queen of Katwe Red Carpet Premiere and After Party
I know I get to do some of the most fun and interesting things ever. And I've walked Red Carpets before. (I know. Shut up.) I got the invitation from Disney to join them and 24 other bloggers to experience the Red Carpet for the Queen of Katwe Premiere. I will be writing about the film in more detail next week, but right now, let me just tell ...
I’m Going to LA for the Queen of Katwe and ABC Television Events. Pinch Me.
I have so much to share, I barely know where to start... I recently received an invitation from Disney to participate in a Whirlwind of Awesomeness for a few days next week. From September 19th through the 21st, I will be having ALL the fun along with 24 other amazing bloggers. First, we will be screening the much anticipated Queen of Katwe (in ...
Behind the Scenes of Disney’s Moana
I recently received an invitation to spend a day at the Walt Disney Animation Studios as an introduction to their newest animated feature, "Moana." (I know. Shut up.) “Moana” is a sweeping, CG-animated feature film about an adventurous teenager who sails out on a daring mission to save her people. “Moana is the 16-year-old daughter of the chief ...
Churros Recipe
Marta's Homemade Cuban Churros Recipe Making a Memory aka How To Make Churros My kids were all born here in Southern California. My husband is also a native Californian. So the only kind of churros they've ever known have come from a cart at Disneyland. But those are Mexican-style. They are hard and crunchy with lots of brown sugar. They are ...
Let me introduce you to ‘Piper’
It is as inevitable as summer following spring that Disney/Pixar will be releasing a wonderful new summer film. This summer is no different, of course. 'Finding Dory' is on its way into theaters on Friday, June 17th, 2016. As excited as I am about this sequel to 2003's 'Finding Nemo,' I am equally excited about the beautiful ...
Finding Dory – Let’s Talk About Hank
Remember that time I went to Monterey, California and spent some time with the brilliant Disney/Pixar filmmakers for "Finding Dory?" (Wait. Let's just stop and appreciate that sentence. Okay. Carry on.) I know. It was a few months back, but I still haven't told you everything. You can read about other portions of my trip here, here, and ...
Seizing the Day – Disney’s NEWSIES Comes to Orange County
Warning: This post is going to be super newsy (see what I did there?) with lots of photos of our thoughts and experiences about Disney's NEWSIES on Tour. You NEWSIES fans will totally appreciate this. Back in 1992 when the Disney film, 'Newsies' was released in theaters, we saw the movie with the kids. All of us were kind of blown ...
Finding Dory – Interview with filmmakers Andrew Stanton and Lindsey Collins
Imagine for a moment that you wrote and directed an Oscar®-winning animated film in 2003. Can you further imagine, what if, in 2013 you start thinking, "I wonder what happened to that character?" And is it even a good idea to revisit this when you can just sit back on your laurels? That's exactly what happened to Pixar Animation ...
Captain America: Civil War Review
When I first saw the original trailers for Captain America: Civil War I was bummed. I mean, we all love the Avengers. But we love them united. Am I right? I have to admit that I wasn't sure they could pull off an Avenger Civil War without turning one of the original heroes into a Really Bad Guy. So I kept my expectations low and let myself be ...
Captain America Civil War Press Conference – Team Cap vs. Team Ironman
Every year around this time, we movie fans start getting a little excited. It's time for the Summer Blockbusters! This year, we have been waiting, rather impatiently, for the release of the newest addition to the Marvel Universe - Captain America: Civil War. Part excitement, part curiosity. How are they going to craft a story where the ...
‘Finding Dory’ – from Script to Screen
Picture yourself in a room with two of the definitive Brain Trust Minds of Disney/Pixar as they do a Show & Tell type presentation of how they take a story to a storyboard to the screen.After you pinch yourself and thank God for your charmed life, you sit up and pay attention with great interest, because, let's face it, these guys are ...