Interview with Bryce Dallas Howard and her role in Pete’s Dragon

As part of my Pete’s Dragon Event experience, I was a part of a group of 25 bloggers who interview Bryce Dallas Howard about  her role as Grace in the new Pete’s Dragon movie. To our surprise, she was so excited to meet with us – mommy bloggers! She said that she has read many parenting blogs to help her make decisions.  How cool is that!

On Filming in New Zealand

While filming Pete’s Dragon in New Zealand, Bryce was able to bring her family with her and they attended school.  Thirty years before, her father, director Ron Howard, had taken her to New Zealand while he shot the movie “Willow”.  There were lots of kids and families in New Zealand.  While listening to Bryce speak of New Zealand, I realized that I must add it to my bucket list of places to travel. Being in the woods and able to enjoy the peace and serenity around you is a beautiful thing.

She told us that they two best things about New Zealand are that there are no predators and it is very difficult to get an internet connection.  While that could be challenging as a blogger, I know how wonderful it can be for family when you disconnect and enjoy the nature that surrounds you.

 

 

On Robert Redford

“When you are around him, you feel such peace.”  I know that is why I must get immersed in the movies that he stars in too.

She reflected on long, awesome conversations with him and how wonderful it was to get to learn from him.

Bryce’s Favorite Pete’s Dragon Moment

Her favorite moment in Pete’s Dragon was getting to ride on the back of Elliot.  I have to say that moment would have been my favorite too.  Oh, wait -did you see me on my ride with Elliot at the World Premiere earlier in the week?

I’m sure just like any of us, Bryce said, “Ahhhh, we’re on a dragon!”  Seeing it on the screen was much different than what it was like behind the scenes.

“Yes, we were just losing it the whole time because you know, we’re adults and we have kids and just like we’re on a dragon.  And the way they set it up it was kind of like this rig where, you know, it was, it was like we had harnesses on and you had to climb up, you know, you were pretty high up like climbed up on a ladder and it would move around like a ride.  So it was, it was nice that they kind of replicated the Disneyland experience in New Zealand while we were shooting.  It was really fun.”

On the Pete’s Dragon Message

As we know, there are many Disney movies that deal with some kind of loss.  Pete’s Dragon tells the story that happens after a terrible loss.  Not only do these types of movies entertain, but they can be therapeutic as well. In Pete’s Dragon, they take the sadness of the story and add in the mystical world which helps bring together a family.

Bryce referenced a quote by Walt Disney,

“From Pete’s Dragon, I mean I think what, what has always occurred to me was that it’s like so many Disney movies deal with loss.  I mean actually, like it’s like a mother can’t survive right?  Like every movie it’s so crazy.  And I think it is, I mean what’s really powerful about that. There’s this great Walt Disney quote that I’m just going to completely paraphrase here where he essentially was saying that you know, there can’t be light without shadows and that the Walt Disney films don’t shy away from that.”

 

Bryce was saddened when it was time for our interview to come to an end. All of us enjoyed our time together and posed for a group photo.

 

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Pete’s Dragon is in theaters now!  

I was invited to attend an all expense paid trip to LA to attend the premiere of Pete’s Dragon and be a part of the #PetesDragonEvent.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.