"The Lorax" Promo/Interviews

(Danke auch an Feli)

From the creators of ‘Despicable Me’ and the imagination of Dr. Seuss comes the 3D-CG feature ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax,’ an adaptation of the classic tale of a forest creature who shares the enduring power of hope. The animated adventure follows the journey of a 12-year-old as he searches for the one thing that will enable him to win the affection of the girl of his dreams. To find it he must discover the story of the Lorax, the grumpy yet charming creature who fights to protect his world.

Danny DeVito lends his vocal talents to the iconic title character of the Lorax, while Ed Helms will voice the enigmatic Once-ler. Also bringing their talents to the film are Zac Efron as Ted, the idealistic youth who searches for the Lorax, and Taylor Swift as Audrey, the girl of Ted’s dreams. Rob Riggle will play financial king O’Hare, and beloved actress Betty White will portray Ted’s wise Grammy Norma. ‘Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax ‘ is the third feature created by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment (Despicable Me, Hop). The film is set for release March 2nd in the US and July 27th in the UK.

What is your own personal background with the work of Dr. Seuss?

Zac Efron: I was raised on Dr. Seuss, my parents read his books to me. I’m pretty sure I learnt how to read via his pros. I got interested in art very young as well, I was definitely inspired by his drawings and artwork. He was definitely a figure in my childhood, an important figure. And The Lorax in particular, I clearly remember being read that book by my parents, I vividly remember flipping through the pages.


Having that connection to the story and Dr. Seuss, what was it like being offered this part and undertaking this role?

Zac Efron: It was one that really meant something to me. It wasn’t just a made up character, this is a book I had a personal connection to. It just felt right, sometimes the universe does those things, sends something back your way (laughs). This film really felt like that for me. I felt very lucky to be a part of this film. In the movie, Ted’s young, he’s spontaneous – I know what it’s like to be a kind of young, ambitious, crazy kid. It was definitely fun to go back there and re-live those moments through Ted. It was fun. There is definitely something for everybody in this movie. I actually can’t wait for people to see these characters brought to life. This once in a life time epic journey to save the planet, it’s a fun journey.

The way Ted has Audrey, did you have a sort of infatuation when you were really young?

Zac Efron: Yeah, I sort of did (laughs). It was my first babysitter, her name was Brooke – she might read this, “Hi Brooke!” I had a huge crush on her but she was a lot older than me. I done all kinds of crazy stuff to try to impress her. I’ve totally been there (laughs), I could relate to Ted on that one.

The visuals are stunning and so detailed. What was it like for you seeing the final product for the first time?

Zac Efron: That was amazing. Dr. Seuss’ world is so whimsical, I was amazed how well the movie captured that. Everything from the trees, the forest, the animals, all the different technology you see – it was all so Dr Seuss, there’s no other way to put it. It’s a beautiful film to look at. The message as well, The Lorax was a book that when I read it at a young age, it planted that first seed of the environmentalist in me. The Lorax’s message about the environment, it’s one of the reasons I feel the way I do today. Another thing to take away from this movie is that it can take one person to change the world, even as a kid you can feel powerless, but all it takes is a little bit of hard work and you’d be amazed at what you can accomplish – I really liked that. That’s what Dr. Seuss was trying to teach us all as kids and now we’re spreading the word.

http://www.flicksandbits.com/2012/02/11/zac-efron-interview-for-dr-seuss-the-lorax/21303/

Danke an Feli

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Quelle: http://sandiego.todaysmama.com/2012/02/zac-efron-and-the-lorax/

Zac Efron: Tween Crushes and Voice Actor Adventures

Every magazine and blog you read talks about how “grown up” Zac Efron is now. Sure he looks hunky-manly and has moved on from his High School Musical days branching out and tackling varied roles in film. His latest effort finds the hot young actor voicing an animated character in the new 3-D film The Lorax which opens in March.

We are on the Universal Studios lot to chat again with friendly Zac and are learning that he has more in common with his young character in the film than we thought.

TeenHollywood: When you were a tween about the age of your character Ted, was there a cute neighbor girl you would do anything to be around?

Zac: I had a babysitter named Brook. I guess she was in high school. So, what was I? 12 or younger? Whatever, I had a really big crush on her. She was really spontaneous and fun and loved to make us sing and dance and paint. It was like, 'Gosh. You're the coolest person in the world.' I guess I did have my young love.

TeenHollywood: Did you do silly things to impress her?

Zac: I think we [he and his brothers] did everything to impress her, everything possible, which was ridiculous, yeah.

TeenHollywood: Ted risks a lot to get Audrey a tree. Have you done some bizarre thing to get a girl’s love?

Zac: Yeah, sure. I like humor and spontaneity and something that you'd not expect. So, I think catching someone off guard is always really fun. I'm a big practical joker and you can make those [jokes] romantic. Just give them something funny or fun or heartfelt.

TeenHollywood: The theme of “The Lorax” is saving trees and our environment. Are you “green” at home?

Zac: I try to be green, as much as I can. It's hard. I feel like I'm never doing enough. Here I am sitting and drinking out of a plastic bottle. That's just what you get handed. I've always been searching for a way to get more involved and to help, and I felt like this movie, with the message that it has, was a really organic way to be able to help and get involved for me as an actor because there are only so many things you can do. This is a way, through a film, to teach and hopefully get the message out to young kids, and as they say in the movie it only takes one seed. So, I think we're planting those seeds.

TeenHollywood: What did you think of Ted when you first saw him and was it just a drawing then?

Zac: Early on I saw just a rough picture. It wasn't even computer animated yet. I had just seen a hand drawn version and I really liked him. He looked cool. He seemed like your regular, spontaneous [and] too smart for his own good young guy, which was good.

TeenHollywood: There are a lot of songs in the movie and you have a lot of experience with movie musicals. How did you feel about being a part of that?

Zac: I wasn't involved in the songs that much. My character didn't really sing that much, but I thought that they brought a lot of charm to the movie, a lot of fun. I love musical numbers everywhere.

In the last musical number my favorite shot is when they pan back and it's just on that little girl swishing her hips back and forth. Did anyone else notice that? I thought that was so clever. I don't know who comes up with these things over there, but those guys are so funny and clever. It was really fun. I had a great time.

TeenHollywood: This is your first voice over role for an animated film. A lot of actors say it provides more freedom and others are more intimidated. How did you like the experience?

Zac: I was nervous the first time. I was a bit self-conscious because there's a camera on you and the microphone is so close. As with anything you just have to let go, let go and don't be afraid to be crazy. Danny [DeVito helped]. I actually looked up a clip of Danny working on a previous project and saw how he was doing it, and he's a wild man in there [the recording booth]. So, the next time that I went in I just said, 'Sc**w it.' I went as crazy as possible and took it to the next level. It was fun.

TeenHollywood: Was doing a voice for an animated film always a goal for you as an actor?

Zac: I always wondered if the opportunity would arise. I always hoped it would. I dreamed it would. I wanted to try it. Everyone's voice is different. A lot of my friends do only voice-over work. It's crazy. I don't know if I have a voice for voice-over. I don't really have that many great alter voices that some people do have. I just tried to be enthusiastic.

TeenHollywood: What was your reaction the first time you saw the movie?

Zac: The first time that Ted’s trying to leave the town via that air duct or whatever it is it was like taking me to a whole other world. It looked incredible in the 3D. I thought, 'This should totally be a ride at Disneyland,' or something because it was so neat, so fun. The only bad part about doing that was I think there were entire [recording] sessions where I'd just go, 'Ah, ahhh, whoa, hey, look out!' for hours. They would just leave it on recording and I would just do every single, like, guttural sound imaginable. It looked really, really cool. It was really exciting. It all fit together so well.

TeenHollywood: Did you notice your own gestures in the animated character?

Zac: I don't know. When you're [watching] it you're kind of in it. I know there were a couple of moments that I remembered it was me, and I could see it. The people I watched it with, my friends and family, said, 'Oh, my God, he was you.' So, I guess, yeah, they noticed it.

TeenHollywood: What was your background with Dr. Seuss books?

Zac: I have a lot of vivid memories of me and my parents reading these books. They would read them to me. It's frozen in my mind. I can see them all. I still have them in what used to be my room, which has been turned in to the spare room at my house. I got kicked out. My little brother took over my room. Anyways… [he laughs].

TeenHollywood: What do you have in common with Ted other than a crush on a local girl?

Zac: He's sort of a hopeless romantic. He's adventurous. He's persistent. He's stubborn, kind of annoying, pretty funny. He's got a big imagination. I'd like to think that I'm all those things. He learned that all from me. I taught him everything he knows.

TeenHollywood: Danny did his role of The Lorax in like 4 or 5 different languages. Have you ever seen yourself on screen talking in a different language?

Zac: Yeah. Actually, when we were doing High School Musical, we did a big international press tour. I'll never forget Italy and Spain. I think that Corbin [Bleu] had the first voice and he had a beautiful, like, [deep sounding] 'Hola, como esta?' A beautiful voice. Vanessa [Hudgens] had a voice that sounded just like hers. Ashley [Tisdale] had a very suave, cool voice, and then I got introduced and it was, like [very high pitched] 'Aye, dios mio,' [we laugh] and I looked down the line and I went, 'Are you kidding me?'

I thought that I was being Punk'd somehow. I actually looked down the line and found out that he was my voice. So, my voice is now a very, very high voice in Spain and Italy. I have to get on that.

TeenHollywood: How often do you see some of the High School Musical gang?

Zac: Less. Unfortunately we do work a lot and we're super busy, but when we're in town we always see each other. I see Corbin a lot and then Ashley. I see Ashley all the time. We're practically neighbors. Then the rest of crew, we try and get together as much as we can.

TeenHollywood: Do you think young fans today can better appreciate a musical film like “The Lorax” because they grew up on High School Musical?

Zac: Gosh, that's a great way to think of it. You said it. That's cool. I hope so. High School Musical introduced the musical genre to a lot of people and if it instilled that appreciation in them then that's the best thing in the world. That's what got me started. That's what got me here.

TeenHollywood: You’ve got another film coming out in April, The Paperboy. You are an amateur journalist in that film. Is it a thriller or what?

Zac: I don’t even know how to explain it. I have to be honest. I have not seen the movie yet. It's going to be wild. There are some performances in there by Matthew McConaughey and Nicole Kidman and John Cusack that I think are going to be outstanding, but it's too weird to even try and explain right now. I'm excited for you to see it.

http://www.teenhollywood.com/2012/02/27/zac-efron-had-a-tween-crush-on-his-babysitter