‘Moana 2’ is in theatres this week, and we go behind the scenes with directors Dana Ledoux Miller, Jason Hand, David G Derrick who share more about new characters, new music and more!
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00:00I sat down with the directors of Moana 2 to talk about new characters in the film.
00:04And I love that we have Simea and she is both an emotional connection for Moana
00:10but a symbol of the future for her people.
00:12How it shifted from a TV series to the big screen.
00:16I can't wait for everybody to see it. Honestly, it's awesome.
00:18And I turned into a voice actor for the day.
00:22It's Motu Fetu. We found it.
00:26Really quickly.
00:30I know what I have to do.
00:33Mowi, I could really use your help.
00:40Can I get a chee-hoo?
00:42Now, I'm going to start off with something hopefully simple but challenges you a little bit.
00:46Describe Moana 2 in one sentence.
00:48Mali, Moana and a crew go on an epic new journey together with some new friends.
00:54Those aren't people.
00:57Kakum.
00:58There's so many new amazing characters.
01:00So the first one I want to talk to you guys about is her little sister.
01:03Because Moana is such an iconic character.
01:05So to bring a little sister in is a big deal.
01:07So how did you approach bringing her character to the screen?
01:10We really wanted to show a way that Moana could have
01:13something for her people to look forward to in the future.
01:17And I'd love that we have Simea and she is both an emotional connection for Moana
01:22but a symbol of the future for her people.
01:25And then let's talk about the music, obviously.
01:26I'm here for Billboard.
01:27So talk to me about the soundtrack.
01:29And of course, Lin-Manuel was at the helm at the beginning.
01:31And now we have these bright new talents that did an amazing job.
01:34So tell me how it was to approach the writing of the music with a different team this time.
01:38We're so fortunate to have Abigail Barlow and Emily Fair as our songwriters.
01:42But they're working hand-in-hand with Mark Mancina and Opetiah Fawai
01:46who really were integral in creating the sound of the first film.
01:50They write incredible songs but it comes from a place of real,
01:54they immediately said to us that they understand Moana
01:57because they are literally living this same aspect of their lives.
02:01They've had this incredible success and now there's pressure that comes along with that.
02:06And they really tapped into that.
02:08And I think through that, they were able to write incredible songs for Moana
02:12and for these incredible new characters like Matangi,
02:15who you didn't hear today but you will hear
02:17and everybody is going to love this new song that they wrote.
02:20When they brought back,
02:21I am Moana.
02:22I am Moana.
02:26Chills, chills, chills. So good.
02:28What's one of your favorite musical moments in the movie?
02:30There are two very powerful moments that Opetiah Fawai has written.
02:36One that you saw, Farewell to Thee, the entire community,
02:41wishing and giving Moana the strength to go on this voyage.
02:44And there's another one towards the end of the film that is so powerful.
02:48And those are like my favorite musical moments.
02:51Finally, we're back to who we're meant to be.
02:55We know that this came from a series and was adapted to a movie.
02:58So tell me what changed or what was one of the bigger parts
03:01that you saw when you transitioned it to the big screen?
03:03A lot of work was done on the series.
03:05And what was so exciting about that is that's where we discovered all these new characters.
03:09And it was really just about the shift to making the feature
03:13was really just about pushing everything to be bigger, to be funnier,
03:18to really live up to the biggest screens in the world.
03:22Were the songs in the original series?
03:24Some of them were.
03:24And then there were some that were obviously written as we evolved the story going forward.
03:28I think that's the other aspect of the songs that are so incredible is
03:32from a visual standpoint, we get to really go crazy with the visuals.
03:35We have an incredible new Maui song that we just have been finishing up in production.
03:40And it's so freaking fun.
03:41And at the same time, just a visual feast.
03:45So I think the songs not only tell the story, but allow us to really push the visuals.
03:49And as we were able to transition this from a series to a feature,
03:53we were able just to put as much just firepower behind all of these moments.
03:57So I can't wait for everybody to see it.
03:59Honestly, it's awesome.
04:01And I want to take you guys out of your job for a second,
04:03because I said earlier, I'm a Disney adult.
04:05You know, we all are very happy to be there.
04:07And I think about my moments with Moana, whether in a parade in the park or the fireworks.
04:11So what's a real-life moment that you've encountered a fan or in the parks,
04:15maybe, that really stuck out to you that you realized, wow, Moana is like a massive deal?
04:19I was going to the theater the other day.
04:21And right in front of me was this little girl and her dad.
04:24And she saw the poster.
04:25I knows nothing about me standing behind them, walking up to the movie theater.
04:29And she just grabbed her dad's arm and yanked on it.
04:31It's so excited.
04:32Said, I can't wait to see Moana 2.
04:34That was incredible.
04:35It was seriously such an amazing moment to just witness.
04:38And I felt so proud, honestly.
04:41I've seen a bunch of my cousins recently and a bunch of family members.
04:44And they are so excited about this film because they love Moana.
04:49But they're also just so excited.
04:51I don't come from a community that knows anyone that makes big movies.
04:54And so the fact that we get to share this together, it changes the way we think about things.
04:59And I think it's incredible when you're in the park
05:02and you see how people interact with Moana there.
05:05It really is something that even my seven-year-old son, he's a little boy.
05:12But he looks up to Moana.
05:13And he'll say, I'm strong like Moana.
05:15And I love that Moana can be that for everybody.
05:18So you can take a piece from home.
05:24After chatting with the directors, I got the chance to jump into the recording booth
05:28to see what the life of a voice actor is really like.
05:31Do I need a new job?
05:32All right, let's do it.
05:33Let's go.
05:34Yes, sir.
05:35It's Motu Fetu.
05:47We found it.
05:49Really quickly.
05:50Do I hear people?
05:55That's no island.
05:58And those aren't people.
06:02Kakamora!
06:06Okay, we've got to go.
06:24I know I can't wait for Moana 2.
06:26Make sure you check out the film when it hits theaters on November 27th.