A few weeks ago I was invited to preview the movie All Together Now (out now and based on the book called Sorta Like A Rockstar by Matthew Quick) as well as get the opportunity to interview, with a group of bloggers, Auli’i Cravalho and director of the movie Brett Haley.
Now, in this house, Riley (and her cousins) were pretty jealous that I got to talk to Moana! I mean, Moana is life over here. But it was really fun to watch the talented Auli’i in a new project and listen to her talk about it.
I enjoyed the movie and Auli’i — it was a very cute and feel-good movie mixed with some pretty sad bits that don’t linger too much in the sad because of the sugar-y kind of movie this was. I still cried though. I think the book is a little more gritty from what I’ve seen.
There’s a lot going on in it and I think at times it border-lined melodramatic but it was that feel-good type of movie we could use right now. It’s all about learning to lean on the people who love us in our life and asking for help during tough times. Definitely a family friendly movie as it is rated PG.
I enjoyed how much diversity was in the cast and I loved the discussion surrounding this in the interview. It just felt so much like REAL LIFE. Another high point — Carol Burnett! Her cameo was a delight.
All in all, very cute with a good message even if it seemed at times to veer into the sugar-coated at some times. A little more grit might have made me rave about it a little more but I truly enjoyed this feel-good film.
Now onto the amazing conversation we had….I’m going to share the highlights for me:
ALL TOGETHER NOW – Amber Appleton (Auli’i Cravalho) remains an optimist even when her personal life is far less stable than it appears on the surface. A musically gifted high school student with aspirations to attend Carnegie Mellon, Amber balances work, life, and some tough life secrets with a smile. But when new obstacles present themselves that threaten her dreams, Amber must learn to lean on the strength of her chosen family to move forward.
Interview with Auli’i Cravalho & Brett Haley
On this being her first live-action film…
Auli’i: “The two films are very, very different. I am so blessed that I got to start off with Disney. I was 14 when I was cast and 16 when the film came out and it is all voice acting and then singing as well, and this Brett and I actually talked about it, it feels like a really great next step where I get to still sing my heart out and still connect to fans that way, but I also get to take a step in a more serious direction and continue my career with beautiful, strong leading heroes.“
On if she discovered anything about herself while playing Amber...
” I love Amber. I thought that she had a lot of hope and resilience, and I love that her story had hardships, it had difficulties, but her circumstances didn’t hold her back from her dreams and her aspirations so that is my I love the musical element in this.
I grew up singing as well, and it felt like it not only connected her to her dad but also to her future and wanting to pursue higher education and go to her dream college, so I definitely learned a lot from Amber for sure. She’s so passionate, and she’s such a great friend. She also needs to learn a thing or two about being honest and open and connecting to her friends in a real way, so I definitely related to that. I am 19, I don’t have shit figured out, and I am trying to do it also during a global pandemic, and I am in my own apartment like missing my mom. So there were a lot of things to connect to and what I really, really grateful for especially right now is Amber’s hope and the understanding that when my hope starts to dwindle as Amber’s did that you can reach out to those closest to you, you are not meant to walk through life alone.“
On the diversity in the film..
Auli’i: “It was awesome. Like it was really, really great to work in an environment where like creative expression is just that like it doesn’t matter who it’s coming from everyone’s ideas are heard and working with Brett like if it doesn’t feel true to your character like it’s always a discussion. Like that is truly lacking in some sets that I have been on and my career hasn’t spanned very long, so like let’s just say that.
But yes, I am so proud of our cast. We all really connected as friends. We are differently-abled, and non-neurotypical and people of color. It felt real like that was actually diversity not like diverse like that was diversity, guys. It was so fun, and it felt great. Like it felt like I was listened to.”
Brett: “Yes, and that’s a keyword is that means everything to me when Auli’i says I felt like I was listened to. So often people in my position and I don’t think they do it maliciously they just simply feel like well, I’m the leader, and I’ve got to make these decisions, and they make decisions on things that they really don’t have the authority to do so. What do I mean by that?
I just mean they take their privilege a little bit too far and I think that it is a learning curve for all people with privilege especially a white (INAUDIBLE) male to say hold on a second maybe I don’t know, it’s a radical idea but maybe I just simply don’t know and maybe I should ask Auli’i what her experiences like, maybe I should just listen for a little bit.
That is my goal with every project that I do. It is important to me that I don’t with my privilege say I’m going to go make a film about what it means to be something that I am not or could never relate to because I can’t put myself in the shoes but I can have empathy, I can make a diverse film, I can give voices to other artists within my story and all you have to do is listen to get it right, and all I had to do was say you know there’s a character in this film who uses a wheelchair we can take a carrot, we can take someone who does not use a wheelchair and have them pretend to use a wheelchair as is often done or you can make the effort to say there’s a great actor out there who happens to use a wheelchair and he or she is just waiting for this opportunity let’s do that, and that is what we did.
It’s the same thing with a non-neurotypical actor it’s like they are out there they want to work they are great so go look for them, give them the opportunity rather than just doing things the way you think they should be done. And then again as Auli’i said we didn’t just check boxes on diversity it is organic, it comes from a conversation I had with Auli’i who would you like to be your mother in this movie? What do you want this film to look like?
I’m not going to make that decision without her and then suddenly the world becomes real, becomes more diverse and it’s just from listening, it’s just from you can tell I talk a lot, but I also listen a lot and so I think that is what happened here. It is you know it started with Auli’i, and it went from there, and again it’s like I just think you know it might not be the easiest path you know, but it’s the path worth taking. Let’s get it right, and we are all learning. I am learning every day, I am trying, I’m trying to listen, and I’m trying to get it right and trying to understand what my privilege really means and how I can be an ally, and that’s all that I can do”
Parting words
Brett: “It’s from our hearts to the audiences, and we are hoping that you can sit with your family and watch this film together and talk about what it means to have hope, what it means to lose hope, what it means to accept love and accept help when you need it and also ask for help when you need it.”
GUYS, there was SO much good stuff talked about in the course of this 30 minute interview that I wish I could share it all but these were my favorite bits that really interested me and resonated with me and I loved the conversation.
I’m so delighted to see where Auli’i’s career goes from here — she was such a bright light in this film and in the course of this video interview. A remarkable and talented young woman!
P.S. Love book to movie adaptation? Check out these upcoming book to movie adaptations!
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