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Laughing Along with Paul Bettany AKA Vision

Tessa Smith
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4
Laughing Along with Paul Bettany AKA Vision

Paul Bettany Interview Vision

One of the funniest interviews I have ever done is hands down Paul Bettany who plays Vision in Captain America: Civil War. While in LA for the #CaptainAmericaEvent recently, I was lucky enough to meet with him and chat for about 20 minutes. The interview started with him walking in while singing and then immediately turning around because we didn’t cheer and clap loud enough. We tried it again and apparently passed the test because he sat down this time and was ready to talk with us. He asked us what he could do for us in a perfect J.A.R.V.I.S. voice and the fangirling started.

Paul Bettany interview
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

From J.A.R.V.I.S. to Vision

As an avid Marvel Comics reader and fan of the films, of course I love J.A.R.V.I.S. For those of you that don’t know, he is the AI voice in Tony Stark’s head – and he can make just about anything happen. If you saw Avengers: Age of Ultron than you know J.A.R.V.I.S. has combined with Ultron’s body and become the Vision – this means he will no longer be the voice in Tony’s head. Figuring it must be bitter sweet, someone asked Paul how he felt about Tony having a new voice in his head – and the fact that it’s a woman.

“That’s a loaded question. I don’t feel betrayed that it’s a woman at all. I definitely feel melancholic at times.” Paul answered. He went on to mention that he secretly hopes Tony gets sad about it too and asks himself where his Jarvis is. Paul did tell us that going from J.A.R.V.I.S. to Vision is a double-edge sword: “I used to show up for 45 minutes, talk a bit and they’d give me a big bag of cash. Now I gotta got to Atlanta and wear spanks. But [seriously], it’s been so much fun. I loved doing it and I look forward to it when the date is set for the next one. You meet a bunch of people that you know and it’s like coming back to a family. It’s lovely.“

Paul Bettany
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

The Costume Was Intense!

Speaking of spanks – the Vision costume is pretty intense! I loved all the close ups on his face during the film – he looks perfect! I was curious how much of it was makeup and how much of it was CGI and was surprised (and impressed!) with the answer.

“It’s mostly costume and makeup. Then there’s some sort of circuitry, I don’t know how to describe it. They’re lines basically, the makeup starts from under my eyes and goes all the way [up to]  a bald cap that glues [on]. There’s this much of my body out in the open (a small circle around his eyes nose and mouth). What the CGI does is continue the lines and circuitry into my eyes. There were no contacts. They stopped short of that. They think, we’re punishing him enough. Poor bastard’s in spanks and a muscle suit. How about let’s give him some contact lenses!“

The Vision Captain America: Civil War
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War..Vision (Paul Bettany)..Photo Credit: Film Frame..© Marvel 2016

CGI is Part of the Costume

Knowing that it was a lot of makeup shocked me. I just assumed it was mostly CGI because it looks amazing! Paul Bettany said that the makeup does take a long time to do. At first, it took about two and a half hours, but they cut down the time to about an hour the more they did it. Then the costume took about 45 minutes to put on completely. Paul joked about the Atlanta heat saying

“You all come out of your air-conditioned trailers in your costume and makeup and everybody’s looking rather like super heroes and movie stars. And then about .5 minutes later in 105 Atlanta weather, you look a lot less like a movie star.“

He also told us that you have to plan on how you are hydrating because it is a 45 minute reset when you have to remove the costume to….well, you know.

The Vision Captain America: Civil War
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War..Vision (Paul Bettany)..Photo Credit: Film Frame..© Marvel 2016

Intense Fight Scenes

Hearing how how it is in Atlanta during filming made me feel really bad for these actors. Once you see the movie, you will know what I mean. There are some pretty intense fight scenes – and one of the Russo brothers (the directors) even let us know that Paul was in full Vision costume and suspended on wires during filming. At one point he moved his arm and sweat literally squirted out of his sleeve! Poor guy! Paul did let us in on a little secret though, himself and Chadwick Boseman (who plays Black Panther) were lucky enough to have a special suit underneath their costumes that pumped ice cold water.

“Close your eyes and imagine being inside a gin and tonic. It feels exactly like that.“

Paul Bettany
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

A Personal Quest

I love Vision in this movie. He is a great comic book character – and one of my favorites! He is super powerful and we asked Paul about his journey in Captain America: Civil War.

“I think you find Vision on a personal quest. In the previous movie you see him born. Which I don’t expect ever to do on camera again in my career. He is naïve and yet omnipotent and struggling with learning about the world. I think in this movie you find him trying to be more human. [We see him wearing] human clothes, albeit from the 1950s, but human clothes. He’s interested in working out how loyalty works. I think that loyalty probably works through love – logic doesn’t really afford for loyalty because if new information comes to light, he might well flip and be on Captain America’s side, right?  Love is the water that makes soil hold roots, right? So I in order to protect humanity, he needs to understand what love is.“

Paul Bettany
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Do His Kids Like Vision?

One of the cutest and saddest stories that Paul told us was about his daughter. He was asked how his kids feel about having a superhero in the house, and he answered

“My daughter met me as the Vision for the first time and I think she was just three – or maybe just even about to turn three. She just ran up to me and gave me a hug. She knew entirely who it was. I had been very worried about what her response would be. Then at the end of the day when I took it all off she had her first ever meltdown. She went, I WANT PURPLE DADDY! Which was a little depressing.“

Being a mom, that really tugged at my heartstrings – and I could totally picture one of my girls doing that to my husband!

Paul Bettany
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Acting versus Directing

Paul directed Shelter, and so we asked him if directing is different than being on the other side of the camera, and how. 

“Yes. I think more actors should do it. It really gives you much more of a respect for the directors that you work with. I really enjoyed my own period of being an actor and just enjoying my responsibility because you’re obviously taking care of a much larger picture as the director. You’re day is filled with a thousand questions – 99% of which are what color do you want the red shoes to be? It’s been amazing. I loved doing it and will do it again. I’ll do a comedy next time.“

Paul Bettany Group Photo

Paul Bettany is an absolute pleasure to talk with. At one point during the interview, he joked about us being mummy bloggers instead of mommy bloggers and started to act like he was an ancient Egyptian corpse who had come to life – full bit with his arms straight out and everything. He is hilarious! Be sure to check out Captain America: Civil War THIS WEEKEND!

Captain America: Civil War hits theaters on May 6th, 2016
Be sure to see it (at least once) opening weekend – I will be!

About Captain America: Civil War

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Follow PAUL BETTANY on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Paul_Bettany
Like CAPTAIN AMERICA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow CAPTAIN AMERICA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow Marvel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvel/
Visit the official CAPTAIN AMERICA website here: http://marvel.com/captainamerica
#CaptainAmericaEvent | #TeamIronMan | #TeamCap

Go See BLING in Select Theaters 5/6

Tessa Smith
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0
Go See BLING in Select Theaters 5/6

bling

Now is your chance to head to the to your local theater and rock out with the whole family to a new superhero adventure, BLING! Featuring the voice talents of Taylor Kitsch, Carla Gugino, James Woods, and more, BLING follows the tale of theme park mechanic Sam whose plan to marry the girl of his dreams is thwarted by a super villain. Suddenly, its up to him and his team of superhero robots to save the city. Can this accident-prone amusement park mechanic get back his ring, stop the villain, and win the girl before it’s too late? This family-friendly, feature-length animated adventure will be available in Select Theaters starting May 6th.

I really enjoyed watching this film with my daughters and if there is a showing near us, we plan to go see it on the big screen!

Read my review of BLING here: http://wp.me/p5LAai-4b9
Read my interview with Jason Mewes (Kit) here: http://wp.me/p5LAai-4eY

bling

https://www.instagram.com/p/BCgKSawvvoV/

BLING Synopsis
Lowly theme park mechanic Sam dreams about his childhood sweetheart Sue. With the misguided belief that only a bling ring can win the girl of his dreams, Sam plans the most perfect night to propose to his one true love. But when supervillain Oscar shows up with an evil scheme involving a ring of his own, Sam’s plans are thrown into utter disarray. After mistaking each other’s rings for their own, Sam teams up with his robot superheroes to track down his engagement ring and save the city… learning that it’s not about the size of the bling, but the size of your heart.

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

Bringing up Baby: Costs & Habit Insights of the American Mom

Tessa Smith
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0
Bringing up Baby: Costs & Habit Insights of the American Mom

logo-zulily

In celebration of moms this Mother’s Day, online retailer zulily.com is honoring new moms nationwide by taking a closer look at something they all can relate to –budgeting for all things baby!

Savings on Baby

Read on here for some of the survey insights they found regarding spending and saving habits when preparing for baby:

  • With annual childcare costs hovering around $6,000, it’s crucial to choose (and pay!) the right person to watch your kids. In our survey Julia Roberts was voted the top celeb moms would let babysit, but Kim Kardashian didn’t make the cut and was only selected by 3% of respondents.
  • Raising kids can get pretty pricey, so it’s no surprise a third of mothers surveyed said they’d compete in a monthly random dance battle (32%) in exchange for free baby gear, attire, etc.
  • Almost half of mothers surveyed (45%) said the most missed pre-mom indulgence is actually having a day off.
  • 33% of moms agreed that the most common squabble couples have regarding new parenting is about money.

impression

Moms Love Zulily!

With all the above stats, it’s no wonder moms everywhere are always on the lookout for smarter ways to spend on baby, and online retailer zulily is dedicated to helping their plight by serving up fresh, unexpected items for baby and the whole family, in fact, just in the last year customers have saved millions of dollars on baby gear items. Here’s the breakdown:

  • Savings on baby blankets: over $2.4M
  • Total savings on key items needed to set up a nursery: over $2.6M
  • Savings on all baby feeding supplies: over $4.5M

Be sure to check back on zulily.com or on their app every morning to discover new finds, especially on Mother’s Day (May 8th) for their Moms First event, to shop everything a new mama wouldn’t want to be without.

mothers_day_infographic - FINAL (2)

*The study was conducted online using a Google Consumer Survey, which uses inferred demographic and location information to employ stratified sampling method by distributing the surveys based on the targeted audience to its publisher network and/or android smartphone users. The study consisted of 1000 respondents between April 4th and April 7th among women aged 25-54. The margin of error is +/-5 percentage points.

**Sales Data Methodology: The methodology used to report on the 2015-16 maternity and infant purchasing trends was created by reviewing more than 262,000 products, from April 2015 – April 2016. zulily has approximately 5 million active customers, as of Q4 2015.

Zootopia Available on DVD & Blu-Ray 6/7

Tessa Smith
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0
Zootopia Available on DVD & Blu-Ray 6/7

Zootopia Logo

Walt Disney Animation Studios’ (WDAS) comedy-adventure, “Zootopia” has broken records worldwide earning more than $900 million at the global box office to date. The best reviewed movie of 2016, critics and audiences around the world have fallen in love with the wonderfully innovative animal metropolis of “Zootopia” and the comedic chemistry of rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and scam-artist fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman).  It’s been called one of the best buddy cop comedies in years! Viewers will not only be able to enjoy the vibrant world of Zootopia and reunite with their favorite characters, but also discover more about the evolution of this extraordinary tale through in-depth bonus offerings. My whole family loved it and I am so excited to pick it up on DVD/Blu-Ray this June! It comes out just in time for my daughter’s birthday – guess I know what I will be getting here!

zootopia dvd

The runaway hit arrives home on June 7 via Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and Disney Movies Anywhere

https://youtu.be/Kg7-405UGMA

Features include candid conversations with filmmakers and artists behind Zootopia, an alternate opening, never-before-seen characters and deleted scenes and a sneak peek at some of the hidden Easter Eggs that make reference to Disney Animation’s most beloved films and characters.
Bonus features include*:
BLU-RAY 3D, BLU-RAY & DIGITAL HD:
  • Zoology: The Roundtables – Ginnifer Goodwin hosts an in-depth look at the movie’s characters, animation, environments and more. The artists at Disney Animation give a rare and in-depth look at the complexities of bringing an all-animal world to life from the ground-breaking technology behind the characters’ fur and clothing to the varied and vast environments of Tundratown, Sahara Square and the Rainforest District as well as the deep thought and research given to bringing 64 unique animal species to life through animation.
  • The Origin of an Animal Tale – Follow the story’s development from its origins to a big story shift that turned the film upside down. In this feature-length documentary, filmmakers give a candid look into the difficulties of creating the story of Zootopia and the bold decision to switch the main character late in the production process, putting one resolute rabbit center stage.
  • Research: A True-Life Adventure – The filmmakers traveled the globe to find inspiration for the diverse characters and amazing city of Zootopia. They reflect on the importance of research and how a deep dive into animal behavior at Disney Animal Kingdom theme park and a deep immersion into animal society on the African savanna shaped and inspired the characters of Zootopia and changed the filmmakers’ lives forever.
  • Z.P.D. Forensic Files – Find the movie’s hidden Easter Eggs. Every city has its hidden gems, especially when it has been created by the filmmakers of Disney Animation who love nothing more than sprinkling hidden references to some of Disney’s greatest animated features throughout the story.
  • Scoretopia – Academy Award®-winning composer, Michael Giacchino spotlights five of cinema’s greatest percussionists and how they brought an organic, animalistic sound to his powerful and emotional music score.
  • Deleted Characters – Directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore introduce citizens of Zootopia who did not make the final cut.
  • Deleted Scenes:
    • Alternate Opening – Young Judy Hopps rescues a fellow classmate and realizes she can reach beyond a life in carrot farming to a future in law enforcement.
    • Wild Times! Pitch – Nick desperately pitches the bankers of Zootopia on funding Wild Times!, an amusement park made exclusively for the predators of Zootopia and a sure-fire, money-making scheme for Nick and his friends.
    • Alternate Homesick Hopps – After a frustrating first day on the force, Judy has a conversation with her parents.  See how this scene changed from a heartfelt conversation with her parents to tough love when her parents discover their daughter is only a meter maid and not a “real cop.”
    • Detective Work – Judy borrows a fellow police officer’s computer to conduct research, which turns out to be no small task.
    • Alternate Jumbo Pop – In this early version of the story where Nick was the main character, the filmmakers and Jason Bateman were able to take hustling to a new level.
    • Hopps’ Apartment – When Judy’s entire family pays her a surprise visit they are shocked to discover the company she’s keeping.
    • The Taming Party – In this emotional clip from an early version of “Zootopia,” Judy attends her first “taming party” and gains a deeper understanding of the plight of the predator.
  • ·       “Try Everything” Music Video by Shakira
DVD:
  • Scoretopia
  • “Try Everything” Music Video by Shakira
DIGITAL HD EXCLUSIVE:
  • International Character Reel – See the variances in news reporters in Zootopia around the world!

Interviewing Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) & Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch)

Tessa Smith
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4
Interviewing Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye) & Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch)

Jeremy Renner Elizabeth Olsen Interview MCU

Many of you know that I grew up reading Marvel Comics – and I still read them to this day. One of my favorite characters has always been Clint Barton AKA Hawkeye. I don’t know what it is that drew me to him, but I have always loved him. Something about his character and how he grows despite tragedy I guess. So when Thor came out and we first saw Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, he immediately became one of my favorites from the movies. He really embodies Hawkeye perfectly and I cannot picture anyone else playing him.

Elizabeth Olsen Jeremy Renner
Photo Credit: Marshall Weinbaum

Two of my Favorite Marvel Characters

Another one of my favorite Marvel characters is Scarlet Witch. She is a powerful and strong woman, who can literally change the world just by muttering 3 words (comic book readers know what I am talking about – “No more mutants.”). We first saw Elizabeth Olsen bring her to life in Avengers: Age of Ultron and I couldn’t wait to see more of her after that. I loved her interaction with Hawkeye and that continues in Captain America: Civil War.

I promise no spoilers of any kind – but both of these characters grow individually and together – not to mention they are both in some great scenes that are fun to watch. When I found out that I would be interviewing Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen together, I just couldn’t wait.

Jeremy Renner Hawkeye Scarlet Witch Elizabeth Olsen
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War..L to R: Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) and Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen)..Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal..© Marvel 2016

They Had Yet to See the Movie

I found it very interesting that neither of them had seen the film yet at the time of the interview. We all joked about ruining it for them and they both laughed. On a serious note, the movie is thrilling and action packed with lots of stunts from all the characters. 

Elizabeth Olsen Jeremy Renner
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Do They Do Their Own Stunts?

Someone asked Elizabeth and Jeremy if they do their own stunts. Elizabeth answered first

“I think we do as many stunts as we can. A lot of times they take a second crew out, or they’ll film things when we’ve already been wrapped from the movie. But when we’re there, we do everything.”

Jeremy explained that he doesn’t have a lot of stunts. He just shoots arrows (although he joked that they have to go somewhere – like into a cameraman). He said that the stunts are the fun part of filming and if he couldn’t do that, it would be a pretty boring job.

“There’s one flip I couldn’t do it, so my stunt double [did it]. He’s badass.“

Elizabeth finished by saying that she doesn’t like having a stunt person do what she does anyways – and that her goal is to get better at wire work before the next film.

Scarlet Witch Elizabeth Olsen
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War..Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen)..Photo Credit: Film Frame..© Marvel 2016

Why Did Elizabeth Take The Role?

Elizabeth’s Scarlet Witch definitely has her differences from the Marvel Comics version – like the outfit for example. She told us that while talking with Joss (Whedon, who directed Avengers: Age of Ultron), he

“started explaining to me who the Scarlet Witch was and he said, when you look at the comics, just know you will not look like that. I will not put you in a leotard, and cape, and a head cast.“

I personally love her wardrobe in the films and I think it works for the character. When asked what inspired her to take on the role, she answered

“A few things. I was already a fan of Iron Man and Avengers; I saw it with my dad when I working in Serbia – which was the second time seeing it and I loved it. I told my older brother who loves comics (he’s the person who can guess where everything [that is] going to happen. [So] I started reading more about her journey, and I found the fact that her mind is the only thing that limits her – and that she can manipulate her own reality – those kinds of things [are] really cool. She’s a really cool character and it’s a lot of opportunity for storytelling.“

Elizabeth Olsen
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

A Great Big Family

When Chris Evans and Paul Bettany were interacting we could see how well they got along. So someone asked Elizabeth and Jeremy if there is any real life tension on set. They both immediately responded no, that they are all like a big family.

“I’m excited for us to keep going, just because it’s so fun to hang out with everyone. And to go to different locations – it’s just fun!“

Elizabeth said as Jeremy cut her off added “until they kill us.”

We of course all chuckled before asking if they could share something fun that happened on set.

“One of my favorites is [Jeremy], me, and Paul filming just because it was so funny. It’s really odd to film when you have two not so practical powers, and [then] you [have] Jeremy who’s a practical fighter. And I’m as sincerely and genuinely as possible trying to make [Paul] a thousand tons and send him to the center of the Earth. It was four in the morning. We were giggly and loopy, and that was a hilarious day on set.“

Elizabeth answered. I promise that is not a spoiler guys! As she was explaining this to us, she is curling her fingers and doing her “Scarlet Witch” hands fantastically. She let us know that she thinks she looks like an idiot on set, but in her mind, she feels cool so it’s OK.

Scarlet Witch Elizabeth Olsen
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War..Scarlet Witch/Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen)..Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal..© Marvel 2016

Hawkeye and Black Widow

If you read the comics than you know there is a lot of history with Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye. They were also very close in Avengers: Age of Ultron and are on opposite sides in Captain America: Civil War. So naturally we asked Jeremy how it was changing dynamic with that character while filming.

“There’s a lot of history with those characters. I like working with Scarlett and I love that character of Widow. She’s a badass – her character and her. I just wish there was more – I love working with that character. I think they have a really good history together and a lot of secrets.“

Jeremy Renner Hawkeye
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War..Hawkeye/Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner)..Photo Credit: Film Frame..© Marvel 2016

A Hawkeye Solo Film?

I know there are rumors about a Hawkeye film and I for one, would love that! We asked Jeremy about it and he had a lot to say.

“That’s above my paygrade, I’m not gonna make those decisions. I think there’s a lot to explore – to go back a bit and [show his time in] the circus. There’s gotta be a reason [though], not just to throw it out there. But yeah, I do love the character. I’m always willing to do it- explore it more, until they kill me. [Or] until I’m fifty. Don’t wait too long. No one wants to see that – and old man in tights.“

Jeremy Renner
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Jeremy was asked if he ever had a role that he was offered and turned down, only to regret it later. What he said were words to live by, in my opinion.

“Never. Never. I’m always happy with the decisions I’m making. No regrets, ever, with anything in life – even when I make a mistake – as long as you learn and grow from it, that’s all that matters.“

A Moment with Jeremy Renner

After the group photo, I was lucky enough to be walking next to Jeremy Renner. I had wanted to talk with him about the song he sang about being Hawkeye on Jimmy Fallon but the time was never right in the group interview. I figured this was my shot, so I mentioned to him that I loved the song. He laughed and said thanks. I then asked him if he wrote the song. He told me no, but that he did tell the writers that he would only perform it if they did a photo shoot to create photos to go along with the song to play in a slide show behind him. What a great idea! That really makes the song if you ask me. I let him know that I think he has a great voice and he thanked me and said it was nice to meet me. That little one on one conversation made my whole trip.

Jeremy Renner Elizabeth Olsen Group

Captain America: Civil War hits theaters on May 6th, 2016
Be sure to see it (at least once) opening weekend – I will be!

About Captain America: Civil War

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Follow JEREMY RENNER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Renner4Real
Like CAPTAIN AMERICA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow CAPTAIN AMERICA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow Marvel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvel/
Visit the official CAPTAIN AMERICA website here: http://marvel.com/captainamerica
#CaptainAmericaEvent | #TeamIronMan | #TeamCap

Behind the Scenes of ABC’s The Catch

Tessa Smith
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0
Behind the Scenes of ABC’s The Catch
The Catch Rose Rollins
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

One of the coolest experiences of my life was checking out the wardrobe department and set of ABC’s The Catch. If you have not been watching this show, you are really missing out. It is still early in the first season, so do yourself a favor and catch up on it. The cast is incredible and I just love the story line. It is very unique and I enjoy tuning in every Thursday night to see what the writers have in store for us.

While in LA for the #CaptainAmericaEvent we went to the Sunset Bronson Studios where they film many shows including The Catch. This was my first time on a TV Show set (unless you count Family Feud) so I was really excited and intrigued. I have been watching The Catch since the night it first aired and I love it. Not only for the story line, but the fashion is amazing. It is so sleek and classy – I couldn’t wait to check it out up close and personal.

The Catch Wardrobe

When we first walked in to the wardrobe department, costume designer Peggy Schnitzer greeted us. She is responsible for dressing our favorite characters in The Catch, and boy does she do a great job. I just love how amazing Alice always looks – flawless even. Probably my favorite thing about being there was getting to see the famous wedding dress from the pilot episode in person. Trust me, it is just as gorgeous, if not more than it comes across on TV. We found out that the dress was actually designed and custom made for Mireille Enos (Alice) and boy was it perfect for her. I just love that scene.

The Catch Wedding Dress    The Catch Wardrobe

When asked about prints, Peggy explained that what she thinks works best for The Catch is solids. “I pretty much stick to solid colors because I think it works best for this – there’s a lot going on and they can be distracting sometimes. I don’t use a lot of prints except maybe on Elvy a little bit, who plays Sophie, and once in a while Alice.” If you have seen the show, then you know it has a 1960’s feel, Peggy was asked if she ties that in to the wardrobe and she said she does. “If I were to do modern, it’s a lot boxier. My aesthetic by choice is very sixties, early seventies – very sleek because for their bodies I think it looks really [good]. The first pilot that we did was even older, it was a more nineteen forties thing and then they changed – they rewrote the pilot. We shot one pilot and then we shot another pilot [that] was a lot poppier, a lot more fun, a lot more sixties.”

The Catch Wardrobe
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

I always love the way Peter Krause (Ben) looks in the show. He is sophisticated and handsome. And I just wish I could pull off everything in Alice’s wardrobe. So I was excited to learn about what brands they wear and how she dresses them “Most of his suits are Prada.” Peggy told us “All his shirts are made by the same person – the shirt maker that’s been making shirts since Frank Sinatra. He has a long neck so we did a tall strong collar. With Mireille (Alice) her stuff is a little more eclectic. I’ve gotten some things from this company in New York called Nili Lotan, she has some vintage pieces, and she’s got Dolce & Gabbana pencil skirts.”

The Catch Wardrobe
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Peggy let us know there is a “dream team” that helps her with The Catch: her tailor cutter-fitter extraordinaire is Carlos Zapeda (he created the wedding dress!), Leo Castro is the costume supervisor who runs the department, and Anita Cabada is her assistant costume designer who is really is the only person that shops besides Peggy (and she is always out there finding stuff). They must make a great team because the fashion on The Catch is perfection!

The Catch Wardrobe
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

I learned that the wardrobe department keeps binders upon binders of the fashion and costumes for each episode as reference. Creases, folds, buttons, basically everything is noted so that there are no discrepancies should they need to reshoot anything. We were all curious if the department holds on to the clothing and if so, why. Peggy explained that they do hold on to them just in case they need them again – plus no normal person has “thirty thousand jackets”. “I feel like if you reuse things [someone might say] she wore that again, which is a good thing. I think it’s realistic. She is a working woman with a business and she can look great and fantastic, but once in a while she’s going to have to go back to her closet and [wear] the same thing.” Part way through our chat with Peggy, Rose Rollins (Valerie) showed up to give us a tour of the set! She didn’t even know about the binders and had some fun looking through them with Peggy.

The Catch Rose Rollins
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

It was really surreal getting to walk through Alice’s home as well as the office of Anderson Vaughan Investigations. The set is so detailed, right down to letters and a letter opener in Alice’s foyer. As soon as we walked in Alice’s bedroom, everyone noticed the Maria Kreyn stolen painting. That was something really cool to see in person, and we found out that the painting was indeed painted by Maria Kreyn. I felt like I was in a real house – a gorgeous house – even though there were no ceilings.

Maria Kreyn Painting The Catch

The office set has walls made of glass, and Rose let us know this means that everyone has to be “on” while filming even if they are not in a particular scene. You can always see the background actors in the shot so they have to look like they are really working. Something that makes that easier – the computers are really connected to the internet! So actors can check their email, social media, or browse the internet if they want while filming.

The Catch Set Visit The Catch Set Visit The Catch Set Visit

Being on a set like this was an amazing experience. There is nothing like it. Especially since The Catch is a show that I tune in to every week and really enjoy watching. Since being there, I love pointing out scenes to my friends and family that were shot somewhere that I was standing!

The Catch Rose Rollins Group Photo
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

About The Catch
In “The Catch” (from the producers of “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder”), Alice Vaughan (Mireille Enos) is LA’s top private investigator, but when her fiancé Benjamin Jones (Peter Krause) cons her out of millions and disappears, she goes on a private mission for payback stopping at nothing to catch her man.

The Catch airs Thursdays at 10/9c on ABC.

Like THE CATCH on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheCatchABC
Follow THE CATCH on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ABC_TheCatch
Follow ROSE ROLLINS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rollins_rose
Follow PEGGY SCHNITZER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/anitaoctober

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

Interviewing Captain America Himself: Chris Evans Had Me LAUGHING Until My Cheeks Hurt!

Tessa Smith
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4
Interviewing Captain America Himself: Chris Evans Had Me LAUGHING Until My Cheeks Hurt!

Captain America Chris Evans Interview

I was recently invited by Marvel Studios to attend the #CaptainAmericaEvent. While in LA I was lucky enough to screen the upcoming movie Captain America: Civil War (so good – full review coming soon!) and interview some of the cast. One of those cast members was Captain America himself, Chris Evans. I am a giant Marvel fan, so this was heaven for me. Just knowing I would be in the same room as the actors that play some of my favorite heroes – well, it was pretty darn cool if you ask me.

While I do stand with #TeamIronMan, that doesn’t mean that I do not still love Cap – they both have valid points, especially in the movie versus the comic book (that is a post for another day, though).

Chris Evans & Paul Bettany
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

I was excited, to put it mildly, to chat with the man who portrays one of the most iconic super heroes out there. The interview started off as a total shock – Chris “barged” in during Paul Bettany (Vision)’s interview waving his phone and questioning how Paul could look so good in a photo that was taken for Buzzfeed earlier that day when they had only minutes to take it. He was joking of course but it really set the tone for the interview. He had us all laughing within seconds and we didn’t stop until after he left the room – my stomach literally hurt from how hard I was laughing.

Chris Evans & Paul Bettany
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Pranks on Set

It was instantly apparent that the cast has a lot of fun on set. You could tell immediately how well Chris and Paul get along – on the set and off. Because of this, we asked Chris if there are any pranks played while filming. His answer surprised me.

“Everyone wants there to be pranks and it’s not so much pranks as it’s just a camaraderie. I think we’re all a little tired, to be honest. The truth is you really are there to work.” Chris went on to explain, “I’ve done comedies where everyone is a little more loose. On these movies, there are people who are really there to work and so you don’t want to diminish their experience or disrespect their process. So for the most part on set, you’re not, not tame, but we still have fun, you know, days when it’s just me and Paul, we’re giggling a lot more. There are certain actors who really are austere in their approach and you really want to respect that. Off set is where the real disaster happens.”

Chris Evans & Paul Bettany
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

I can only imagine how intimidating playing Captain America can be for an actor – I mean, he is a favorite among comic book readers and fans. When asked how he feels about putting on the uniform, Chris answered

“I feel good now, I didn’t in the beginning. In the beginning it was terrifying. Now, it’s a point of pride. You see the suit, you’re excited to get the suit on and you’re very honored and humbled that you get to have some sort of a connection to it, because it is bigger than you. Captain America will live on, there will be other Captain Americas, there will. It will live on a lot longer than I will, so it’s just nice to kind of have a little place in its lineage.“

The Darker Side of Cap

Chris Evans
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

In Captain America: Civil War, Cap’s character gets a bit darker. It is done well, and is quite justified if you ask me. When Chris was asked how he felt about it, he mentioned that it is a “nice” change.

“The trickiest thing about the character is that he’s just a selfless guy; he’s not one of these brooding characters where you can kind of as an audience member connect to his conflict and struggle. He’s very selfless and I think to some degree it can feel vanilla – I think it can feel boring. His goal has always been doing what other people need, and in this movie, it’s the first time he did what he wants and that’s a little bit of a departure for him.“

I have to agree with him. I like seeing Captain America stand up for himself and what he believes in for once instead of just trying to make everyone around him happy. He has some great lines in this film, just wait until you see it!

Chris Evans
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Getting Hurt on Set

Speaking of the film, there is this one scene – the helicopter scene which you can see in the trailer – that was a favorite among the group of us. Chris’ arm muscles are bulging and it looked like it was truly difficult for him to hold onto that helicopter. So of course someone asked him if it was the hardest scene for him to shoot. He laughed and said that honestly he really hurt his arm filming that scene, and it is still not the same to this day.

Chris Evans
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

“It’s a fake helicopter, obviously. We did the first couple takes and the helicopter was [close] so you’re just faking it.” Chris said. He explained that the helicopter was on a rig so they could move it and when they did so he would have to actually hold on, he “banged something up”. He then joked about not trying to get sympathy out of us ladies, and of course, we all laughed.

Chris Evans Helicopter
Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War..Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans)..Photo Credit: Zade Rosenthal..? Marvel 2016

“It was a trick scene, those are good scenes. I think its harder to do scenes with [Robert] Downey [Jr.] because he’s such a force. He’s so good and he owns the oxygen. He comes in the room and he’s powerful. There’s a limited amount of scenes where it’s just us, when we’re not fighting, just us talking. That’s the framework for the conflict – if you don’t invest in those moments, the conflict is going to be sour and fall flat. So those few scenes that we have where it’s just him and I were really intimidating. He’s scary because he’s so good.“

He went on to say that those scenes were the most terrifying – which he repeated three more times. I can totally see how RDJ would be intimidating as an actor. He is definitely good at what he does.

Passing on the Shield

Captain America Iron Man
Captain America: Civil War..L to R: Captain America/Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) and Iron Man/Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) ..Ph: Zade Rosenthal ..©Marvel 2016

If you are a comic book reader you know that the shield gets passed on. And Chris himself brought that up when asked about Captain America’s relationships with Bucky and Falcon.

“That’s been one of the big questions- are you team Bucky or team Falcon – it’s tricky because in the comic books, one of these guys gets the shield. I don’t know what Marvel is going to do – I don’t want to give them the shield anyway but I guess I gotta, which is fine. It’s not my job to pick. Bucky is the friend from old and Falcon is the friend from today and they’re both great people, both great characters, both great actors. I’m thankful it’s not my decision.”

I personally would love to see Falcon take over (if they have someone take over), but we will just have to see what Marvel Studios decides to do.

Chris Evans
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

The fight scenes in this movie are incredible – especially the airport battle – just wait until you see it. Both #TeamIronMan and #TeamCap have some pretty powerful players on their side. Chris admitted that Scarlet Witch would pose the biggest threat to Team Captain America if she was on the other side.

“She messes stuff up. She would be a problem. We’re lucky we have her because without her – when you look at Team Iron Man – just even having The Vision, even though we all know Paul Bettany, he’s still dangerous on the battlefield. Vision is so wonderful and Vision is so powerful and we’d be in trouble without Scarlet Witch, we really would.“

The Georgia Boycott

Chris Evans
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

Recently, we saw Marvel in the news threatening to boycott Georgia if they passed the Anti-Gay bill. I was thrilled to hear that Chris was fully in support of that. His younger brother is gay and he was sending Chris text messages saying things like good for Disney. Disney spends huge money in Georgia and Chris was really proud of them for standing up like that and making a statement.

“I was proud of Disney, I really was, and I was glad it worked out. There are still some states that are messing up but I was proud to be a part of the Disney family during that.”

My Little Ponies & Care Bears

Chris Evans
Photo Credit: Coralie Seright / LoveBugsAndPostcards.com

My favorite tid-bit about Chris Evans from the interview? He grew up playing with My Little Ponies and Care Bears. He was asked who his favorite superhero was when he was younger and he immediately responded that he didn’t have one. See, he has an older sister (and says he hopes his first child is a girl because that softens up the younger boys) and he really looked up to her.

“Just being in Carly’s room, you’re like ‘don’t mess it up, just sit here and whatever she gives us to play with, that’s what we’re playing with.'” Chris explained, “So comic books were not on my radar. I liked Star Wars, which was maybe the coolest thing about me, but that was my dad being like please, please like Han Solo and I was like, but Tender Heart Bear…it’s not untrue, it’s really sad.“

IMG_1611Chris Evans Group Photo

My interview with Chris Evans was probably one of my favorite interviews to date. The vibe in the room was incredible – he is just so modest, down to Earth, and genuinely fun to be around. For approximately 20 minutes, I felt like I was hanging out and chatting with a good friend about a movie we both enjoyed, and a couple of topics to help us get to know each other better. I feel like he really opened up to us and was himself.

About Captain America: Civil War

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team.

The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps – one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Connect with Captain America

Follow CHRIS EVANS on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisEvans
Like CAPTAIN AMERICA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow CAPTAIN AMERICA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow Marvel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvel/
Visit the official CAPTAIN AMERICA website here: http://marvel.com/captainamerica
#CaptainAmericaEvent | #TeamIronMan | #TeamCap

Grand Prize Winner of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR Girls Reforming the Future Challenge

Tessa Smith
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0
Grand Prize Winner of CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR Girls Reforming the Future Challenge

Girls Reforming the Future

In conjunction with the May 6, 2016 release of Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War,” Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, Marvel Studios, Dolby Laboratories, Synchrony Bank, Broadcom MASTERS and Science & Entertainment Exchange, a program of National Academy of Sciences are proud to announce the MARVEL’S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR – GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE Grand Prize Winner and recipient of an internship at Marvel Studios. Talk about a dream come true – I would die to work at Marvel for an hour, let alone a whole week. What a great opportunity for any young woman.

Maia Dua, from West Sacramento, California was selected from five finalist as MARVEL’S CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR – GIRLS REFORMING THE FUTURE CHALLENGE Grand Prize Winner and will participate in a week-long internship at Marvel Studios. Over 1,000 young women from across the nation accepted the challenge to use science and technology to create a project that would create positive world change for their generation and beyond. Maia developed a “seeing eye” robot as a cost-effective and durable alternative to a seeing eye dog. The self-propelled, echo-locating “Seeing Eye-Bot” is made of readily accessible materials, making it more available to individuals of limited financial resources. Maia designed the seeing eye-bot to require minimal maintenance and to have a functional life span in excess of 7 years. Maia hopes her invention can address the needs of the visually impaired, who may be unable or unwilling to own a seeing eye dog.

Maia will spend a week at Marvel Studios, learning firsthand how STEM skills are being used in innovative and creative ways to produce some of the world’s all-time favorite characters and films. At the conclusion of her internship, Maia will join together with the four other finalists form Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War – Girls Reforming the Future Challenge; Holly Riepling from Colorado Springs, Colo.; Janie Kim from San Diego, Calif.; Margaret Fleck from Emmaus, Pa.; and Vivian Qiang from Marlboro, N.J., to inspire other young girls around the world by participating in a special LIVE global webinar hosted by Broadcom MASTERS. During the webinar, all five girls will discuss how their STEM skills enabled them to create their projects and become a finalist of the Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War – Girls Reforming the Future Challenge. Maia will share her Marvel Studios internship experience, giving girls everywhere a peek into STEM skills in action outside the lab and classroom.

Girls Reforming the Future

About Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War”

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps—one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark’s surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability.

Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” stars Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Emily VanCamp, Frank Grillo and Martin Freeman, with William Hurt and Daniel Brühl.

Anthony & Joe Russo are directing with Kevin Feige, p.g.a  producing. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Patricia Whitcher, Nate Moore and Stan Lee are the executive producers. The screenplay is by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Get ready to pick a side and join the nonstop action playing out on two fronts when Marvel’s “Captain America: Civil War” opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2016.

Like CAPTAIN AMERICA on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow CAPTAIN AMERICA on Twitter: https://twitter.com/CaptainAmerica
Follow Marvel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marvel/
Visit the official CAPTAIN AMERICA website here: http://marvel.com/captainamerica
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR opens in theaters everywhere on May 6th!

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

The 100th Disney Channel Original Movie: Adventures In Babysitting

Tessa Smith
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5
The 100th Disney Channel Original Movie: Adventures In Babysitting

Adventures In Babysitting

While in LA for the Captain America Event, one of the things we got to do was be the first group to screen The Disney Channel’s upcoming original movie The Adventures in Babysitting. This film is actually Disney’s 100th Original Movie (has it been that many already?). It was inspired by the popular 1980s movie of the same name but it is “twice the babysitters, twice the fun.” It stars Sabrina Carpenter (of Disney Channel’s hit comedy series “Girl Meets World”) and Sofia Carson (of the hit Disney Channel Original Movie “Descendants“). In Adventures in Babysitting, a dull evening for two competing babysitters, Jenny (Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola (Sofia Carson), turns into an adventure in the big city as they hunt for one of the kids who somehow snuck away. Adventures in Babysitting premieres on The Disney Channel on June 24, 2016 – easy for me to remember because it is my daughter’s 5th birthday!

Adventures in babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – (Disney Channel/Ed Araquel)
NIKKI HAHN, SABRINA CARPENTER, SOFIA CARSON

Fan-favorites Sabrina Carpenter (“Girl Meets World”) and Sofia Carson (“Descendants 2”) join forces in the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie “Adventures in Babysitting,” a contemporary re-imagined tale of the hugely popular 1980s blockbuster with the same name. Set to premiere this summer, this live-action adventure comedy pays homage to the 1980s classic with familiar references and nostalgic scenes in a comedic, heartfelt story that celebrates individuality, friendship and self-empowerment.

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – (Disney Channel/Ed Araquel)
MADISON HORCHER, MAX GECOWETS, MALLORY JAMES MAHONEY, JET JURGENSMEYER, SABRINA CARPENTER, NIKKI HAHN, SOFIA CARSON

“Adventures in Babysitting” brings together two unlikely friends when a tedious evening for contentious babysitters, Jenny Parker (Sabrina Carpenter) and Lola Perez (Sofia Carson), turns into an exciting journey in the big city as they hunt for one of the kids who somehow snuck away. The story unfolds when Jenny and Lola, two girls with distinctly different personalities, both interview for a coveted internship opportunity and accidentally swap phones. In need of extra cash, audacious Lola nominates herself when the Andersons call Jenny looking for a last-minute babysitter. Meanwhile, dependable Jenny is already set to babysit the Cooper family for the evening. Lola’s first attempt at babysitting takes an unforeseen turn after Jenny discovers what Lola has done, and Jenny takes the kids to the Andersons to help rectify the situation. However, this leads all of them on an unexpected and exciting adventure of a lifetime.

 

The Adventures in Babysitting premiere telecast is sponsored by Post Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles. It will be followed by the premiere of Disney Channel’s new comedy series Bizaardvark.

In a heartfelt story that celebrates individuality, friendship and self-empowerment, the live-action adventure comedy made for kids, tweens and families, pays homage to the 1980s classic with familiar references and iconic scenes.

Hollywood Records recording artists Carpenter and Carson perform the movie’s end credit song “Wild Side,” produced by Jens Koerkemeier, Emanuel Kiriakou and Andrew Goldstein.

Meet the Characters:

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – Disney Channel’s original movie “Adventures in Babysitting” stars Sabrina Carpenter as Jenny. (Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico)

Sabrina Carpenter plays the responsible and dependable Jenny Parker. She is an overachiever and focused on getting good grades and rounding out her resume with a coveted photography internship to get into college. The neighborhood’s go-to babysitter is looking after the Cooper family on a dull evening that turns into an adventure in the city.

ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING - Disney Channel's original movie "Adventures in Babysitting" stars Sofia Carson as Lola. (Disney Channel/Bob D'Amico)
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – Disney Channel’s original movie “Adventures in Babysitting” stars Sofia Carson as Lola. (Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico)

Sofia Carson plays Lola Perez, the spunky free-spirited teen with a passion for art and photography. The first-time babysitter is responsible for the Anderson family, but when the eldest one sneaks out to go to a concert, she must venture into the city to find him.

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – Disney Channel’s original movie “Adventures in Babysitting” stars Nikki Hahn as Emily. (Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico)

Nikki Hahn plays Emily Cooper, an introverted teenager in need of an outlet to express herself. She has a love for indie music and secretly has a crush on Trey Anderson.

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – Disney Channel’s original movie “Adventures in Babysitting” stars Mallory James Mahoney as Katy. (Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico)

Mallory James Mahoney plays Katy Cooper, an adorable six-year-old who is a confident fashionista with style.

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – Disney Channel’s original movie “Adventures in Babysitting” stars Max Gecowets as Trey. (Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico)

Max Gecowets plays Trey Anderson, the eldest of the Anderson family who sneaks away to go to a concert in the city.

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – Disney Channel’s original movie “Adventures in Babysitting” stars Jet Jurgensmeyer as Bobby. (Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico)

Jet Jurgensmeyer is Bobby Anderson, the Anderson’s middle child who is a chef wunderkind on a mission to find the perfect ingredient to add to his cupcakes for his junior chef competition.

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – Disney Channel’s original movie “Adventures in Babysitting” stars Madison Horcher as AJ. (Disney Channel/Bob D’Amico)

Madison Horcher plays Alison (AJ) Anderson, the youngest child in the Anderson family. The energetic and tough eight-year-old is a devoted roller derby fan.

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – (Disney Channel/Ed Araquel)
SOFIA CARSON, JET JURGENSMEYER, MALLORY JAMES MAHONEY, SABRINA CARPENTER

I really enjoyed watching this movie, and I cannot wait for it to air so I can watch it with my 4 year old. She loves Descendants but I wonder if she will recognize Evie without her blue hair and fun outfits. The movie itself was really funny and I am looking forward to laughing at parts with my girls. It is a wild ride with stunts, action, and drama – and even a ferret! It takes inspiration from the original, but it is definitely not a remake. In my opinion, it is worth watching (again and again) – I already cannot wait to see it a second time. After the movie, we got to chat with Sofia and Sabrina and I must say, they are the sweetest girls. They are so polite, but they are funny too. We learned some inside tidbits about the movie which I will be sharing with you closer to the movie release (so stay tuned for that!).

Adventures in Babysitting
ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING – (Disney Channel/Ed Araquel)
NIKKI HAHN, SABRINA CARPENTER, MALLORY JAMES MAHONEY, MAX GECOWETS, SOFIA CARSON, MADISON HORCHER

“Adventures in Babysitting” is directed by John Schultz (“Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer,” “Like Mike”) and written by Tiffany Paulsen (“Nancy Drew”). The movie is executive-produced by Michelle Manning (“Teen Beach 2,” “The Breakfast Club”) and Chuck Minsky serves as director of photography (“The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement,” “Mother’s Day,” “Valentine’s Day,” “New Year’s Eve”).

Be sure to watch Adventures in Babysitting – coming to The Disney Channel Friday June 24, 2016!

Adventures in Babysitting DVD

That’s not all – be sure to pick up Adventures in Babysitting on DVD June 28th, 2016 – includes Exclusive Bloopers Available Only on the DVD and a Magnetic Photo Frame! I will be getting this for my daughter’s birthday for sure!

FRIDAY, MAY 20: The digital single for “Wild Side,” the movie’s end credit song performed by Carpenter and Carson, will be available for purchase. A lyric video for the song will also premiere on Disney Channel.

FRIDAY, JUNE 3: An exclusive preview of the first 10 minutes of the movie will be available on the Disney Channel and Freeform Apps and via Disney Channel YouTube and Facebook.

FRIDAY, JUNE 17: Advance viewing of “Adventures in Babysitting” available on VOD and to verified users on the Disney Channel app for smartphones, tablets and connected TVs.

FRIDAY, JUNE 24: Television premiere of “Adventures in Babysitting” (8:00 p.m. EDT) on Disney Channel.

SATURDAY, JUNE 25: “Adventures in Babysitting” is available for purchase on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and Google Play.

TUESDAY, JUNE 28: “Adventures in Babysitting” is available on DVD at retailers nationwide. The DVD includes exclusive bloopers and a complimentary magnetic photo frame.

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

Potty Training Tips

Tessa Smith
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26
Potty Training Tips

This post and giveaway were made possible by iConnect and Pampers. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Superman

My youngest daughter is 3 years old and so we have started hitting the potty training hard with her. This is a huge milestone for her and I am so excited to take this journey with her. She has wanted to be diaper free like her big sister for some time now and I am glad we are working towards it. Potty training can feel like an overwhelming process, and when minor leaks or accidents occur, it can be a disappointment. Pampers Easy Ups helps makes this journey a little easier by providing better leak protection than the leading competitor. Trust me, I have used other brands and leaks are frustrating for myself and my daughter. I feel like when they happen she takes a step back because she asks for a diaper and not a training pants anymore. She doesn’t want to get her clothes and/or bed wet in the process of learning to use the potty all the time. In the beginning – accidents will happen, but we shouldn’t have to deal with leaks on top of that. I want the potty training process to be positive for all of us. So that is why I trust Pampers Easy Ups.

00037000265863_D1N1_NA_GFTSRWRD_BOYS_PROTECTION    Dr Laura Jana

In my opinion, training pants are very important because they support the diaper-to-underwear transition for toddlers and their families. They have a more underwear-like look and feel while still helping to keep messes off clothing, bedding and other surfaces no matter where accidents happen: at home, on-the-go or overnight. My daughter loves the Dora the Explorer designs and she even asks for the Thomas & Friends designs every now and then. I love that they have fun designs for both boys and girls to enjoy and get excited about wearing them. And guess what else? The graphics fade as they get wet – so it helps little ones learn. I know my daughter gets disappointed when Dora is not as bright as she used to be after an accident. Pampers Easy Ups keep myself and my daughter confident in the process – and they are really helping her. They are stretchy enough for her to pull up and down herself – which makes this mama proud! Available for Boys and Girls sizes 2T/3T through 4T/5T.

DrLauraJana-037

Potty Training Tips from D. Laura Jana

  1. Promote potty learning. Learning how to use the potty takes plenty of time and patience. It’s more than just training; it is a learning opportunity for toddlers and parents alike that should be enjoyable. After all, mastering this concept of “potty learning” with your little one is a big accomplishment and milestone.
  2. Team Spirit. It is important to keep in mind that “teamwork makes the dream work,” especially in the case of potty training. You are not only your child’s biggest fan, you are also their potty training coach. Remember to stay calm in the face of potty accidents and encourage your little one to not worry and try again!
  3. Be Prepared. Potty training is an unpredictable adventure that you can best prepare for by ensuring you have all practical supplies on hand. These supplies will help you through any obstacle and can help foster your child’s interest and independence – from a step stool (to improve access to the toilet) or potty seat to training pants. That’s why I’m happy to partner with Pampers, whose Easy Ups training pants are designed to help the diaper-to-underwear transition by allowing potty-training toddlers to set aside their diapers and wear something with a more underwear-like look and feel that still helps contain accidental messes no matter wherever they happen: at home, on-the-go or overnight.
  4. Celebrate every win. As with any learning experience, young children can learn a lot from both their potty successes and their setbacks. While potty accidents are an inevitable (and admittedly inconvenient) aspect of potty learning, they shouldn’t dominate your day-to-day discussions. Instead, simply help your child learn to cope with and clean up any messes, and focus your attention on celebrating your child’s efforts and successes with plenty of hugs and words of encouragement.
  5. Watch for signs of readiness. Just about all children give subtle (and some not-so- subtle) signs that they are ready for potty training. These signs of readiness typically include using their words to express themselves, toddling their own way to the bathroom, pulling down their own pants, saying they want to use the “big potty,” and being aware of the sensation of peeing or pooping, characteristically noticeable when young children suddenly stop what they’re doing as they feel themselves start to go. It is also helpful and increases the likelihood of potty training interest when children start to be bothered by their messy diapers, as that can serve as a good motivation for using the potty instead!
  6. Start making connections. There’s a lot that you can do to help your child be well- prepared to successfully use the potty long before he or she actually starts doing it. Making up a fun song or reading engaging children’s books about potty training, such as You and Me Against the Pee! (which I co-authored) can go a long way towards making the idea of potty training a more welcome and eagerly anticipated activity. You can take this familiarity a step further by letting your toddler accompany you in to the bathroom when you need to go so that he both becomes familiar with the routine and comfortable with the idea of using the toilet, rather than being afraid of or intimidated by it!

Twitter Party Alert:

Please join @Pampers on April 28 from 9-10pmEST as they host a Twitter Party with Dr. Laura Jana, pediatrician, award-winning parenting book author and potty training expert who co-authored to Its You and Me Against the Pee…and the Poop, Too! Dr. Jana will be sharing her tips to help simplify and improve the potty training experience for little ones and their parents. Prizes include several AMEX Gift Cards so be sure to attend!

RSVP HERE!

Pampers Easy Ups Logo(1)

Connect with Pampers on Social Media: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pampers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pampers

Giveaway Alert

Enter to win a Pampers Easy Ups prize package using the Gleam form below. This package will include the following:

~ $25 AMEX Gift Card
~ Pampers wipes
~ Pampers Easy Ups

While you are here, be sure to check out my other giveaways. GOOD LUCK!

Pampers Easy Ups Package

The opinions expressed here are that of Mama Smith’s only. While the products in this post were given complimentary (unless otherwise stated) for me to review, that does not alter my opinion of the product(s) mentioned. This post may contain sponsored links and affiliate links (which will be stated at the beginning of the post).

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