Page 14 - aruba-today-20230414

A14 PEOPLE & ARTS
Friday 14 april 2023

Makers of ‘Elemental’ explore family, tolerance and movement

By BERENICE BAUTISTA what people expect her
Associated Press to be,” said Assadourian.
MEXICO CITY (AP) — “El- “Wade changes Ember, or
emental’’ director Peter he kind of awakens her to
Sohn says his parents ig- say, ‘there’s so much more
nited the spark for the up- you can do with your life.’”
coming Disney and Pixar Sohn, who in addition to
animated film. being a director is an ani-
Sohn invited his parents mator, voice actor and
who both had emigrated artist, previously directed
from Korea to the U.S. to an “The Good Dinosaur” and
event. Seeing them from has collaborated on mul-
the stage filled him with tiple Pixar films such as “In-
a deep appreciation for credibles 2,” “Ratatouille,”
all they had done for their “Finding Nemo,” “Up,” “Toy
family. Story 3” and “WALL E.” But
“I saw them, and I was very “Elemental” is the most per-
emotional thanking them sonal story in which he has
for all the sacrifices,” Sohn This image released by Disney/Pixar Studios shows Ember, voiced by Leah Lewis, in a scene from been involved.
said in a recent video call the animated film “Elemental.” The film shows that toler-
interview for “Elemental,’’ Associated Press ance and empathy can
a film about a family of fire combat evils such as xe-
elements who migrate to El- to know each other, and But the fact that they are and watch videos of slow- nophobia. Sohn says the
ement City, a place where she enjoys being outside elements also gave anima- motion fire or water behav- “idea of xenophobia’’ was
there are also inhabitants Firetown. They realize their tors the ability to give the ior.” a part of “Elemental’’ from
of water, air and earth. The differences and elements characters particular pow- Development of the proj- the start.
themes of family, tolerance are not an impediment for ers. For example, Ember’s a ect began seven years “The idea of xenophobia
and building connections friendship. girl of fire. She can use that ago. Mexican artist Paula was always in the story from
run throughout the film de- The production team faced fire to remake broken glass Assadourian was one of the beginning (before the
buting this summer. a challenge in bringing the and weld metal. the first to help Sohn find pandemic),” he said. “Be-
The film centers on Ember, characters to life. “This is one of the most the essence of the charac- cause my father and moth-
a fire element who loves “We have been doing all complex projects I think ters and story. Assadourian, er experienced the same
working at her father’s store sorts of different characters, we’ve worked on at Pixar, who began working on the xenophobia, it wasn’t a
but has trouble controlling from toys to cars... And that just because of that; we film in 2019, was in charge new thing…(But) the idea
her explosive temper, es- was another challenge,” are used to animating hu- of making the story board of Asian hate that started
pecially around uncomfort- said Spanish animator Jordi mans or animals, and you before production. happening in such bold-
able customers. Ember’s life Onate. “We had to break have references for that, “I think “Elemental” is a face manners was really
in Firetown, a suburb with all the rules that we knew but in this case, we were very special film because terrifying. I remember my
many inhabitants of fire, is from body mechanics... trying to figure out how a it’s about Ember kind of mom calling me and say-
turned upside down when, We did a lot of research character made of fire or coming to face (with) who ing don´t go out into San
due to a plumbing acci- on how the water behaves water would move,” said she is and what she wants Francisco. She was terrified,
dent, she meets Wade, a and how the fire behaves Colombian animator Luis to do; if she wants to pur- and she had never been
water element and inspec- in certain situations and, on Uribe Córdoba. sue her path or if she wants terrified to that level when
tor who lives in Element top of that, trying to make “We had like three or four to kind of stay close to her we were growing up; it was
City. Ember and Wade get them talk.” weeks just to test out stuff roots and her family and a real fear.”q

Posthumous Kenny Rogers album will feature unreleased songs

The Associated Press covers like Eric Clapton’s Rogers duet.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) “Wonderful Tonight” and “He would often say that
— Previously unreleased “At Last,” made famous by he wanted his songs to be
songs recorded by the late Etta James, which will be ‘what every man wants
country superstar Kenny on a deluxe version of the to say, and every woman
Rogers will be on a new re- record. wants to hear,’” Wanda
cord coming out in June. The album will also include Rogers said in a press re-
After a career spanning two previously released lease.
jazz, rock, country and songs, his duet with Dolly “I think there are a lot of
pop, the Grammy-winning Parton, “Tell Me That You those moments on this al-
balladeer nicknamed “The Love Me,” and “Good- bum. This is a very special
Gambler” died at the age bye,” written by Lionel Rich- record to me and our fam-
of 81 in 2020. His widow, ie, both released in 2009, ily because it really tells the
Wanda Rogers, curated but never digitally. story of our life together,
the posthumous record The Country Music Hall and I feel his fans will also
called “Life is Like a Song,” of Famer had a thriving relate to it in a big way be-
coming out June 2 on UMe. career for some 60 years cause it walks the listener
The recordings were made with such hits as “Lucille,” through the seasons of life
between 2008 and 2011 “Lady” and “Islands in the that we all experience in Kenny Rogers poses for a portrait in Los Angeles, May 17, 1989.
Associated Press
and includes originals and Stream,” a beloved Parton- one way or another.”q