Exclusive Interview with the Actors and Filmmakers of Warner Bros’ STORKS – Out September 23rd

My three kids and I felt like we were in heaven as we entered the beautiful Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills to meet and interview the actors and filmmakers of the new Warner Bros film STORKS. The entire foyer and interview room were decorated as if we were guests of an elaborate baby shower. There were activities for the kids, some of the films’ characters, and a bountiful buffet of scrumptious treats. We were so excited to meet the panel from the film that it was difficult to sit still!

 

 

 

 

 

ABOUT STORKS

From the studio that delivered The Lego Movie comes one of the most original, hilarious and heartwarming animated films of the year, Warner Bros’ STORKS. On September 23, fly on over to your nearest theater to find your flock! In their world, although they used to deliver babies all over the globe, storks now deliver packages for global internet giant Cornerstore. Junior, the company’s top delivery stork, is about to be promoted when he accidentally activates the Baby Making Machine, producing an adorable pink-haired baby girl. Desperate to deliver her to the waiting family before the boss finds out, Junior and his friend Tulip, the only human on Stork Mountain, rush to make their first-ever baby drop – in a wild and uplifting journey that could not only transform them and their lives, but also restore the storks’ true mission in the world. The film stars the voice talents of Andy Samberg, Jennifer Aniston, Ty Burrell, Kelsey Grammar, Keegan-Michael Key, Jordan Peele, Katie Crown, and Danny Trejo.

 

 

THE STORKS INTERVIEWS

It was finally time to meet the cast and filmmakers! We all sat down on comfy couches and were greeted first by the super friendly Kelsey Grammar and Stephen Kramer Glickman. My son was so excited to ask them a question, and was thrilled when they greeted him with, “Hey buddy!” We loved hearing about how much Kelsey Grammar was touched by the family themes in the film and Stephen Kramer Glickman made us all laugh with how he came up with his character’s voice!

 

 

Blogger:  In the movie, there was a theme about balance between career and work.  How do you balance career and work and family?

Mr. Kelsey Grammer:  Less work, more family.  That’s what my life is now.  When I was 28 and I had my first child, it was a little more work, a little less family, and I actually still kind of regret it.  But there’s almost nothing else you can do at that time in your life. That’s when you’re carving out your identity as what you’re going to do for the rest of your life.  And showing up for things is important, and you want to be there for your kids.  So, honestly, with my first child, I took her to rehearsals with me a lot of the time.  And she would sit in her little–it was called then a Maxi Taxi.  This was 35 years ago.  The Maxi Taxi was, like, the first sort of like semi portable baby seat.  It was pretty cute.

Blogger:  So, what attracted you both to your roles, and what was the process like in bringing that to life?

Mr. Kelsey Grammer:  Well, I am attracted to animated films basically because I have children and because I am grateful to all the actors that voiced the movies that were important to me when I was a child.

I still think that animated films are probably the best movies being made today, and I think that may have been true for a long time.  101 Dalmatians is still one of my favorite movies, and I watch that all the time with my daughter.  So, every time somebody calls me to do one of these, it’s a presumptive joy.

Blogger:  How did you prepare for these roles?  Being that you’ve done animated work before, you had stated, and then you have said you had to do a unique voice, how did you prepare for those roles this time around?

Mr. Stephen Kramer Glickman:  I really, from day one, first drawing that I ever saw of the character, I looked in his eyes and saw his weird half open, half closed, you know, he’s kind of a weird guy.  And kind of right away, I was like, “Oh, this reminds me of my old roommate from Long Beach.”

And then you kind of bring that in.  I brought in a little Walter Cronkite and a couple other little pieces to this voice to kind of fill him out and there was a kid that I knew when I was growing up.  And he would end every sentence with a–he would say like, “These are some nice flowers,” at the end of–it was “wah” at the end of every sentence.

The next 2 cast interviews were with the hilarious Andy Samberg and adorably funny newcomer Katie Crown. They were so relaxed and funny together that it seemed like they had worked together for years!

 

Blogger:  There was a lot of representation of diversity in the film with parents, families, even the characters that you played, even though you’re a stork, even though you are just a regular girl. So, what did you feel is important with showing the diversity in families now in the modern times?  How did that resonate with you?

Mr. Andy Samberg:  I found it emotionally powerful, at the end especially, when it showed all the babies being delivered to all different types of families. I grew up in Berkeley, California.  That’s been how I thought of the world and was raised since I was young.  And only until I left there did I realize that it was a problem and that people didn’t think of everything that way.  I think it’s especially important for a movie that a lot of kids are going to be watching, to see that represented.

I think that’s happening more and more, which is incredible.  And you’re seeing new generations of kids growing up where that’s the norm. And it’s beautiful.  It’s utopia.  It’s what I’ve always thought was the dream.

Blogger:  So, what message are you hoping families walk away with after watching the film?

Mr. Andy Samberg:  I think that there’s no one definition of family.  It’s whatever feels right to you and whatever, you know, your reality is.  Also, maybe don’t just focus on your work.  Make sure that you spend time with your kid.  I love all the jokes about the son where he’s talking, like “You’ll blink and I’ll be at college.”

Ms. Katie Crown:  And also, don’t underestimate folks.  I mean, I don’t think Junior really thought much of Tulip, but she really saved his butt many times. Don’t judge someone.  Just because they wreck stuff all the time doesn’t mean they’re going to wreck stuff ALL the time.

Directors: Nicholas Stoller, Doug Sweetland

Writer: Nicholas Stoller

Producers: Nicholas Stoller, Brad Lewis

Executive Producers: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Glenn Ficarra, John Requa, Jared Stern

Official Release Date: September 23

Rated PG

 

FIND YOUR FLOCK!

STORKS is such an exhilarating and heartwarming family film full of fun and laughter!! I am sure everyone in your family will love it! It has enough action, humor, emotion, and feel good joy to make every member of your family soar with happiness! Don’t miss it!

STORKS Official Trailer

Official Websites #STORKS

https://www.storksmovie.com/

https://www.facebook.com/storksmovie

Tweets by StorksTheMovie

https://www.instagram.com/storksmovie/

Did you ever wish a stork would bring you a baby sister or brother when you were a child?

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