One of the highlights of walking the Red Carpet for Pete’s Dragon was seeing one of the young stars of the movie Oakes Fegley posing with Elliot the dragon. Just so adorable!
And seeing this co-stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Oona Lawrence.
Bryce Dallas, Oakes Fegley, and Oona Laurence arrive at the world premiere of Disney’s Pete’s Dragon at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood on August 8, 2016. (Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages)
We had the opportunity to interview Oakes Fegley and his young co-star Oona Lawrence in Disney’s reimagining of Disney’s cherished film, Pete’s Dragon. Oakes stars Pete, a mysterious 10 year old with no family and no home to speak of who is discovered by a forest ranger, Grace played by Bryce Dallas Howard and Oona Lawrence plays Grace, the daughter of the town’s lumber mill owner.
With child actors, you want to see not only that they actually act as kids but have a chemistry with their co-stars.
According to Director David Lowery, ” I am big believer that there’s a time and place and type of film when you want a child who can actually perform Shakespeare or cry on command. But the type of films I like are really more about letting kids be kids, so I was looking for kids who didnt have any pretenses or who liked to show off or try to impress me, but who could just be themselves.”
The casting director, Debra Zane earned her salary because in my opinion both young actors were perfectly cast for their respective roles. Read my full review of PETE’S DRAGON.
Photo Credit: Jana Seitzer (@merlotmommy)
The movie is action packed. According to Oakes, stunt training took place before filming started and he probably did the jump 10 times. He mentioned that he “safe with all the stuntmen” and “felt safe while doing it.”
Photo Credit: Jana Seitzer (@merlotmommy)
Pete’s Dragon is going to be a tear jerker and very emotional for many movie goers. Oakes most emotional scene is when he had to say goodby to his friend “Elliot.” On the flip side, the funniest moment in the movie is when Eliot slides into the cow. Your kids will laugh!!
It doesn’t sound like a big thing but acting in a CGI movie is not that easy because the action and in this case Elliot the dragon is added in post production. How did the young actors deal with it? It took some time but it got easier acting against a tennis ball with a stick. Yes, that’s right they had to pretend a tennis ball with a stick was huge, flying green dragon. And it’s not just the acting they had to get right but where to look and where to stand. “It was definitely hard,” said Oakes.
Photo Credit: Jana Seitzer (@merlotmommy)
Young Oona Lawrence may be a young actress but she is coming off being in this summer’s hit comedy Bad Moms and last year’s very dramatic Southpaw with Jake Gyllenhaal. And who knew she was the original Matilda on Broadway. So what is her preference, comedy or drama?
I like doing them both.They’re both very different and you get different things out of them.”
It’s no surprise that they both had to audition (the casting director saw thousands of kids in casting Oake’s character Pete) but there were also chemistry reads as well.
Both actors wanted to convey the message of the movie is all about family and that they will be there no matter what.
Oakes and Oona were both delightful interviewees , so enthusiastic about their experiences and what lies ahead. Read my full review of PETE’S DRAGON.
About PETE’S DRAGON
A reimagining of Disney’s cherished family film, “Pete’s Dragon” is the adventure of an orphaned boy named Pete and his best friend Elliot, who just so happens to be a dragon.Pete’s Dragon” stars Bryce Dallas Howard (“Jurassic World”), Oakes Fegley (“This is Where I Leave You”), Wes Bentley (“The Hunger Games”), Karl Urban (“Star Trek”), Oona Laurence (“Southpaw”), Isiah Whitlock, Jr. (“Cedar Rapids”) and Oscar® winner Robert Redford (“Captain America: The Winter Soldier”). The film, which is directed by David Lowery (“Ain’t Them Bodies Saints”).
Read my full review of PETE’S DRAGON.
“Behind the Wings” – On Set with Elliot
PETE’S DRAGON website // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram /Tumblr
Pete’s Dragon is in theatres now.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom’s travel and accommodations to attend the the Pete’s Dragon event is being covered by Disney. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
