- Title: The Rock talks girl power at Moana premiere
- Date: 15th November 2016
- Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (NOVEMBER 14, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** MOANA POSTER INTERIOR OF PREMIERE TRADITIONAL POLYNESIAN DANCERS ACTOR DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON POSING AT PHOTOCALL SINGER AND TELEVISION PRESENTER NICOLE SCHERZINGER AT PHOTOCALL JOHNSON WALKING THROUGH PREMIERE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JOHN LASSETER ON RED CARPET JOHNSON BEING INTERVIEWED ACTRESS AULI'I CRAVALHO BEING INTERVIEWED TONGAN ROYAL FREDERICA TUITA ON CARPET (SOUNDBITE) (English) TONGAN ROYAL, FREDERICA TUITA, SAYING: "Well coming from Tonga, women are traditionally superior to men so it's lovely to see that on the big screen. She's a strong woman and she goes off on her own. It's something that Polynesian women are familiar with. We're the leaders of our family and it's just a thrill to see that represented on the big screen." SONGWRITER LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA TALKING TO REPORTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) SONGWRITER, LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, SAYING: "The film makers couldn't have been more proactive. They had something they called the Oceanic Story Trust, people in the South Pacific they were always checking against and in contact with so they were collaborators on the film and participants. This part of the world doesn't see themselves on screen very often so we really wanted them to point to themselves on screen with pride." JOHNSON BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON, SAYING: "I'm raised by women, I'm surrounded by women, I have two daughters, I have a house full of women, that's it. Me and my dog are the only two guys in the house so yes, I'm all about girl power, I'm all about having a strong point of view with women, I'm all about diversity, I'm all those things, yes." SCHERZINGER TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGER AND TELEVISION PRESENTER, NICOLE SCHERZINGER, SAYING: "It was such a fun experience, I had to do running sounds and hugging sounds and things I'd never had to do before but for me it's just an honor to be a part of this film being of Hawaiian descent. I'm in love with the story, I'm so proud of Disney and the film makers for doing it justice and doing it right and telling a beautiful story of the Polynesian people and where they come from." JOHNSON BEING INTERVIEWED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, DWAYNE 'THE ROCK' JOHNSON, SAYING: "If you get lucky to make good movies and people like them, that's great. If you get lucky to make a good movie and it comes out at a time where a lot of people appreciate it's come out during this time. Post-election, there's a lot of feelings and polarised feelings and emotions in our country, it's a cool thing. So yeah, if we can do our little part and create some entertainment that makes them feel good, then it's great."
- Embargoed: 30th November 2016 06:40
- Keywords: Dwayne Johnson The Rock Nicole Scherzinger Lin-Manuel Miranda Moana Disney animation
- Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES; UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- City: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES; UNIDENTIFIED FILMING LOCATIONS
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA00258K0BWT
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: 'Moana' is the latest animation from Disney but this time the 'princess' of the tale is Polynesian and so is the setting.
The film's world premiere in Los Angeles on Monday (November 14) had a suitably Polynesian feel with leis and traditional dancers.
'Moana' tells the story of a young girl (Auli'i Cravalho) who sets sail for a mystical island along with her pet rooster Hei Hei as well as the legendary demi-god Maui, played by wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson.
Alongside Cravalho, Johnson and other voice actors including ex-Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger, royalty from the Polynesian islands also turned out, including Tongan royal Frederica Tuita.
"Well coming from Tonga, women are traditionally superior to men so it's lovely to see that on the big screen," explained Tuita. "She's a strong woman and she goes off on her own. It's something that Polynesian women are familiar with. We're the leaders of our family and it's just a thrill to see that represented on the big screen."
One of the film's songwriters, 'Hamilton''s Lin-Manuel Miranda explained how they managed to get the film to be as authentic as possible, saying "They (the film makers) had something they called the Oceanic Story Trust, people in the South Pacific they were always checking against and in contact with so they were collaborators on the film and participants. This part of the world doesn't see themselves on screen very often so we really wanted them to point to themselves on screen with pride."
Playing opposite a feisty girl was nothing strange for Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson as he admitted at the world premiere "I'm raised by women, I'm surrounded by women, I have two daughters, I have a house full of women, that's it. Me and my dog are the only two guys in the house so yes, I'm all about girl power, I'm all about having a strong point of view with women."
He also reacted to the film's strong and positive reviews, saying "If you get lucky to make good movies and people like them, that's great. If you get lucky to make a good movie and it comes out at a time where a lot of people appreciate it's come out during this time.... Post-election, there's a lot of feelings and polarised feelings and emotions in our country, it's a cool thing. So yeah, if we can do our little part and create some entertainment that makes them feel good, then it's great."
'Moana' begins its international theatrical rollout when it first hits cinemas in the US and Canada on November 23. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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