Directed by Veronica Rodriguez

0:14Speaker 1:Welcome everybody to this Park Hopper episode of Magical Rewind, and boy, do we have a fun one for you today. We love, obviously, every time we get a chance to talk to the actors that do the film, whatever film it is, because it's really cool to see their process, how they got into it, if they liked the, you know, if it was an already existing kind of IP for Disney, if they were fans of it, like we get into all that stuff. But only rarely have we been able to get in kind of the more behind-the-scenes aspects Of what it's like to make a DCOM.

0:41Speaker 2:And I love every chance we have to do that.

0:43Speaker 1:And today is not only no exception, but I think a massive score for us.

0:48Speaker 2:Huge.

0:48Speaker 3:I couldn't believe it when the producers told.

0:51Speaker 2:Us we got it.

0:52Speaker 4:I know.

0:53Speaker 1:Arguably one of the biggest current DCOM directors working at all is going to join us today.

1:03Speaker 2:I'm so excited.

1:03Speaker 1:So we're going to get into everything that she has done, obviously, because there has been a ton of it. But if you could do us a favor and please help us welcome director Veronica Rodriguez.

1:16Speaker 4:Hello.

1:17Speaker 2:How are you?

1:19Speaker 4:Hi, guys.

1:20Speaker 3:I love the picture that you have before we get to see you of you in your little ballerina outfit.

1:26Speaker 2:I didn't see that. What? I got no picture.

1:28Speaker 3:It was right before she popped on.

1:30Speaker 2:Oh, I got no picture.

1:32Speaker 3:I think you, right?

1:33Speaker 4:Constantly just reminding everyone of inner children. You know what I mean?

1:38Speaker 2:Yes. Totally.

1:41Speaker 1:That's how it should be. I always say big difference between childish and childlike. Childlike is wonderful.

1:46Speaker 4:Okay. One million. I was just about to turn this into a therapy session immediately.

1:53Speaker 2:But please do.

1:56Speaker 3:We're looking for a new couples.

1:58Speaker 1:We always joke that we have a couple of Sabrina and I have a couples counselor that helps us helps all the I heart podcast couples.

2:03Speaker 2:No, it's so true.

2:05Speaker 4:No. And it was about my partner and he literally one time. Okay. Now I'm just going to do it. But like, he literally was one time, you know, during struggles. We're good now. So everyone can show. He was like, you want to be loved like a child. Like, it's like, you want to be loved like a child or something like that. And I literally, I was like, yes, I do.

2:28Speaker 2:I was like, that's not.

2:32Speaker 4:A bad thing. But he saw that as a bad, like at the time saw it as a bad thing. Now he's realized, I'm.

2:38Speaker 2:Like, no, all that.

2:39Speaker 4:Like it was crazy.

2:40Speaker 2:That's so funny. But it's true.

2:42Speaker 4:It's true.

2:42Speaker 1:And again, with what we do for a living, especially with companies we work for a lot, it's a wonderful thing to be able to tap into that childlike wonder.

2:50Speaker 2:That's the point.

2:51Speaker 4:Totally.

2:52Speaker 2:So, okay.

2:52Speaker 1:Well, thank you so much for joining us. We are huge fans of you over here. We've been talking about you all the time. And as, like, more of throwing it out to the world, the universe just said, like, God, we would love to have her on the show, thinking there was never a chance in hell we would ever get to actually sit down and talk with you.

3:08Speaker 2:So we are so excited that you were able to join us. You have no idea.

3:12Speaker 1:So we always like to start with where you got started.

3:17Speaker 2:How, I mean, did.

3:19Speaker 1:Your love of film come from growing up, enjoying watching it.

3:23Speaker 2:Did you find it later? Just please tell us everything. How'd you get into it?

3:26Speaker 3:Fan of the channel.

3:28Speaker 4:Yeah.

3:29Speaker 3:Did you watch this thing?

3:31Speaker 4:You guys, I've like, I was like, how do I start this without crying? Um, like, and this is not even the banner. Like I do what I do because of you guys, like literally because of, I'm like what a minute and I'm crying. Like because of what I grew up with and who I grew up with, like you guys were my friends. You like the content that I watched growing up in Disney channel, like when Disney plus came out, like that was my weekend plans. Like I watched everything, everything. I mean, it's no secret that I love nostalgia and I love that period. I think part of me will forever be like, a 13 year old, like coming of age in that way. But like, it was how like watching was how I navigated the world and figured out the world and, and understood my own emotions.

4:29Speaker 4:And I come from humble beginnings and complicated beginning and like just a lot of complicated dynamics, which are still very present for generations, young generations today, which is why I'm like, we still need to, make content that addresses them. It doesn't mean it can't be fun and light and easily digestible, but like it's real stuff. You know, I had divorced parents. I had sepsis. I had mixed family. I felt like all the things, money, financial issues, like all the things. And I was able to not feel alone.

5:02Speaker 4:I was able to laugh about it. I was able to, because of what I watched, which was Boy Meets World, the Cheetah Girls, like in, And seeing, like, I felt seen and I felt like there were people like me. And, yeah, I just, and I'm a re-watcher. Me too. I re-watch everything.

5:27Speaker 1:I deal with anxiety and have for most of my life. And re-watching things is, like, my comfort.

5:33Speaker 4:Literal same. Like, I've dealt with depression or whatever that means. I think my whole life. But depression. you know, every stage of life, understanding it in different ways, whether it was postpartum depression or whether it was in my early twenties where I didn't even know what it really was. And then after the fact, I learned what it was. And then now in my thirties, when an amazing woman that I work with, she was like, what if depression isn't a bad thing? And that's completely changed.

6:01Speaker 1:Wow.

6:02Speaker 4:Like I'm in that journey right now. Um, but like, but so, which was like wild. Um, but like, So, yes, the rewatching is– it helps my nervous system. Me too.

6:16Speaker 2:100%.

6:16Speaker 4:100%. One of my– and, like, but I want to say, gosh, I can tell, like, the past two years have been, like, two movies, pregnant and then baby. So that's– but it was before pregnancy that I did this. So that's, like, two years ago. But I rewatched Boy Meets World literally from pilot to end. Oh, really? Because I also have, like– uh, an addictive personality in ways. And so, but like, I'm very fortunate to where in my generation, it, it's like very lighthearted to where it's like, I'll be very addicted to like Cheez-Its. And I'm like, I need Cheez-Its every day.

6:55Speaker 4:Or there's one time where it was, um, that store, uh, food place lemonade. At one point they had these macro macaroons or whatever that were like this big. And there was a lemon one. Uh, I literally would, DoorDash to my apartment, like seven. And they were like expensive because they're huge. They're a size of like six cookies. And I'd be like, this will last me the week. One a day. Two days later, I'm like, I'm going to watch some more. But then I eat them. to the point where I'm done. I'm like, I literally have never had one since.

7:29Speaker 3:And that's, yeah, you like purge and like, you like just go and then it gets it out of your system. And then you're like, but for me, that takes me to the next like tree.

7:39Speaker 2:Yeah. But again, that's good.

7:40Speaker 1:Cause you're talking about addictive personality. I have friends that would have said the same thing, but they're like, it was meth.

7:45Speaker 4:Mine is sold. I'm like my friends and cheese. It's my TV shows. But granted the TV shows, like, I do go back to the same ones. Like my ones are like Frazier to the point where like, I even, I'm actually right now in a process of trying to not listen to it every night, um, to see what that does for me. Um, but I, we watched it every night that in our like wedding vows, my husband like quoted Frazier and like made a whole Frazier thing about it. Um, and it was actually so beautiful. Uh, but go Frazier. Um, but so that's one, but it's because that brings me back to my family. I watched it with my parents. It takes me somewhere.

8:30Speaker 2:Yes.

8:31Speaker 4:And then, but then like I did with Boy Meets World, like, and that I, I binged the entire thing in a very fast period of time because I'm like, I will wake up. It's, they're like my friends. I like hearing the voices. That's great.

8:47Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm the same way.

8:48Speaker 4:Like with Cheetah Girls, I mean, the best part of having not the best part of having kids, but one of the best parts of having kids is reintroducing them to things. Like when I got to show my daughter Cheetah Girls, like amazing. She loved it. And, but like, I was like, we're watching this for a week straight. Like, cause I'm just like, I'm in the music. I'm in the vibe. Like we're listening to the music. I just, I love those good feels.

9:14Speaker 2:Yeah.

9:14Speaker 1:Do you ever worry that your daughter's going to learn the only way to get dogs out of holes is by singing to them?

9:21Speaker 2:Does that ever throw you? Because that would throw me. I'd be like, man, maybe reach in and grab the dog.

9:25Speaker 1:Honestly?

9:28Speaker 4:Knowing her like yeah the adult if the adults around us couldn't do it how the hell were we supposed to do that well damn it.

9:35Speaker 3:We were we had shorter arms okay what the adults didn't have was voices all right we did we came with magic powers.

9:43Speaker 4:Power of music actually my does believe she does I think she has magic, and she does. Oh, I hope so.

9:50Speaker 2:Yeah. You have magic as long as you believe you do. That's one thing.

9:54Speaker 4:100%. 100%. I love that. Okay, so you're like me then, where....

10:00Speaker 1:Watching the show is super important. So then how did you, when did you first decide this is what I'm doing for my career?

10:06Speaker 4:It was a senior year of college on Santa Clara university. It was so weird. I went to private Catholic schools, majority of my life. And then when I was in high school, all girls, Catholic school, I was like, So I can only apply to Jesuit schools, right? Like I didn't even think not to.

10:25Speaker 2:So LMU.

10:26Speaker 4:Yeah, LMU, Santa Clara, like all these ones. I didn't even know. Now I'm– I wouldn't say I'm religious, but I'm spiritual. I'm a woman of the earth, you know. I'm a low-key witch. Not high-key. Respect for the high-keys. But, yeah, so I went to Santa Clara, which was– that's where my journey took me, and it was great. Yeah. It was fascinating, but they have a really strong growing, it wasn't even film specific at the time. You could do like a film emphasis. And I just, I have a, I say I come from, I don't know if I can curse, but like the Mexican Brady bunch. Like that's what I say I come from. That's my cute way of saying it. And I say it was so much love, but you know, both my parents have been married a couple of times. I have a lot of siblings, step half, uh, biological, uh, And they've been with me since I was four. Like, so it's what I grew up with. But having, I have a lot of siblings. And so, and we grew up, my adolescence was in Arizona. And so, I'm coming back around.

11:34Speaker 4:Don't just.

11:34Speaker 2:Yeah. No, no, no, please. I love this.

11:36Speaker 4:But I grew up in Arizona and it's so hot in the summer there. It's so hot.

11:40Speaker 1:Yes.

11:41Speaker 4:And like taking seven kids to a water park is real expensive. Yeah. And so we would.

11:47Speaker 3:Gosh, you would think it'd be so cheap because it was like, what else can you do? You would think.

11:52Speaker 4:But they know that. Exactly. You would think.

11:55Speaker 1:Yeah.

11:56Speaker 4:And, but so what we would do and says we go to the movies and also I'm a, I'm a proud movie hopper. We were proud movie hoppers. We would like double feature, triple feature. And like, we would map out the times and like sometimes the little kids, we were the scouts to be like, go to the other side and like check what theater it was, you know, to go to the next one and stuff. Cause no one's going to stop the little kid. And like, but so that's what we, so I just, I loved movies.

12:23Speaker 4:I love the power of, I loved, going, I know a lot of people say this, a lot of like, it's the community of watching with other people. That's not what it was for me. Like, I don't want, like, love, love, cool, cool for those people. I love, I'm very like, this is my experience and I love, I love watching by myself. I love going to eat dinner by myself. I love doing those things. But I love going into a theater, going into a theater and sitting by myself. To have a whole movie theater to myself would be the dream.

12:53Speaker 4:But just like, escaping and like experiencing emotions. I love experiencing emotions. And, um, and so I just, I loved it. And we always, even when we were younger, my, my dad would always let us go to the midnight screenings of things, uh, even on school nights. I don't know, like, because we just loved movies in our house. And I'm one of my favorite movies of all time, uh, is, uh, willy wonka and the chocolate factory.

13:21Speaker 1:Me too you and i are the same person everything you're saying i'm like everything you're saying i'm like like liking to eat alone liking to watch movies alone like we're the same and so willy won i have like golden tickets framed around my home so this is.

13:36Speaker 2:So good yeah this is exactly good weird.

13:39Speaker 4:I mean i'm sure you've been seeing the thing where uh the Gene Wilder's like talking about how he only did the movie if he could do that one thing.

13:49Speaker 2:If he could do the tumble, if he could do the tumble at the beginning.

13:51Speaker 4:Yes. That is, I, I, it's incredible.

13:56Speaker 2:It's incredible. Have you seen the trailer for the new game show on Netflix?

13:59Speaker 4:No.

14:00Speaker 1:So they're actually, they beat, they built the chocolate factory and a bunch of contestants have to go in and you have to survive the chocolate factory to win a lifetime supply of money instead of chocolate. But it's like you walk into the imagination room and lickable wallpaper and all that stuff.

14:16Speaker 2:It's dropping in like a month.

14:18Speaker 4:What?

14:18Speaker 2:Yeah.

14:20Speaker 3:If you just go on to Netflix, the ad goes on pretty often.

14:24Speaker 2:Yeah.

14:24Speaker 4:And it looks. Okay, Netflix, check your algorithm. Why have I not gotten this yet?

14:29Speaker 1:I know.

14:29Speaker 2:I don't know. I'm worried though. I'm worried because I don't want it to ruin.

14:32Speaker 4:Oh, I'm really worried.

14:34Speaker 2:The joy. But I don't know.

14:35Speaker 3:I was thinking the same thing, but I saw one where you're walking and then they're like, Like, they're talking about, like, it smells the way I think it would smell.

14:42Speaker 1:Yes.

14:42Speaker 3:Like, they're, like, saying, like, their senses are picking up on, like, all of this.

14:46Speaker 4:I mean, it would be a very much, like, I'm very scared to meet my heroes kind of thing, you know?

14:51Speaker 2:A hundred percent.

14:52Speaker 1:But we are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams. It's still the greatest line in any film ever. It gives me chills every time I hear it. So, yeah, it's... Oh, yeah, so we're best friends. Cool.

15:01Speaker 4:Okay.

15:02Speaker 2:Yes, we are.

15:10Speaker 4:I distinctly remember when the remake, the Johnny Depp, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came out.

15:18Speaker 2:Yeah, I know. They went pure book.

15:20Speaker 4:They went pure book, but I was so excited just because I was a fan. I was a teenager or something. But going to the midnight showing of that, I think I also went to the midnight showing of Nacho Libre. We just went to all the things.

15:33Speaker 2:That's great.

15:34Speaker 4:But so love movies. But so in college, senior year, see how I got back there.

15:39Speaker 2:It's almost like, you know how to craft a story.

15:45Speaker 4:So I discovered what screenwriting was. I took like an intro to screenwriting class and I was like, this is sick. I love this. Cause I write as well. And then I was like, I want to make my own senior thesis and I'm going to write a feature and do like an independent study. And I was going to do that. But then I, These two gals were, gals, these two gals were, and then I doubled down. Okay. They were like, we want to make a short film, but one of them wanted to edit and the other one wanted to produce.

16:17Speaker 4:And so they're like, do you want to write something? And I was like, okay. So I wrote something, my first masterpiece. And then they were like, we can't find anyone that wants to direct a short. Do you just want to direct it? I'm like, okay. And I did it. And it was like, done.

16:32Speaker 2:You knew right away.

16:33Speaker 4:I knew right away I did. I, and I kid you not, I direct the same way I do today that I did back then. I don't know how I like, I mean, I've always been very much like type a over to like, you know, needing to like, if I, I was raised on like my dad being like a hundred percent isn't enough is 110% every time. And so, uh, it was a blessing and a curse, but I was just like, there's no reason why this student short film shouldn't, like, be professional and be efficient and be this. And it was a fantastic experience. And I've told people, like, I feel so grateful that that first experience was that good and where I had this cohort of students a lot younger than me, some of my peers who just, like, We're like, oh, captain, my captain. And like, let me just lead with, without questioning and like, just let me like, cause I very much create and direct from in here.

17:42Speaker 4:Like I can't really explain it. It's like, there's a frequency and like. I couldn't give you like a dissertation on why something isn't right or whatever. I can just, I can, but I can tell you something's right here. I will. It's not right. It's like, it's not. And so, but if it's here, it's like, yes, I can't even tell you why, but it's like, it's just this thing. And, um, but they just, yeah, they let me do it. And I'm, I learned a lot in that. Like there's this one scene where it was a dramedy, um, called tight eyed.

18:12Speaker 4:and very heartfelt, but like funny and quirky and, and a love story. But so there's this one scene at the end though, where this guy's beating up this other guy. And I didn't put any like sounds to the punches. I just didn't know. I just didn't, but it was in its own weird way. Like weird, like interesting seeing something silent, but it was, I'll never forget that. I'm like, Oh, you, you have to put sounds to, um, But it seemed like it was a creative choice at the time is what I'll say in retrospect. But after that, I just I was like, that's it. OK, that's it. I'm applying to film schools. I had no the film wasn't even completely finished and edited. So I had no real. So I'm like, I'm not applying to directing programs or anything.

19:05Speaker 4:But I was like, I also know that it's an industry thing. And so I applied to producing programs.

19:10Speaker 2:Okay.

19:11Speaker 4:And, um, because I'm, I'm very good at getting done. And so, yeah, I got, uh, and then I got into UCLA and the Peter Stark producing program and asked around and kind of what I should do. And it seemed like the USC Peter Stark producing program was more in line with me. It was run by and started by the incredible late Larry Turman who produced the graduate and like a slew of other iconic films. But he, producing he was a romantic and he like his whole vision was like a capital P producer is just as much of an artist and a creative with a vision as everyone else in the, in the process. And that program was, uh, it's two years, but it was basically, uh, you learn every aspect of how film's made from like you take a writing course, you take a legal course, you take a studio notes course. So that when you go out and it's taught by just people already in the industry doing stuff. Oh my gosh, my writing professor person was Stu Krieger.

20:21Speaker 3:Oh my God, I was going to say that. I was like, I bet you it's.

20:23Speaker 2:Stu, yes.

20:24Speaker 3:Yes, it was Stu.

20:25Speaker 2:And like, I mean, Fred of the pod.

20:28Speaker 1:And I was like, does everyone know who is teaching us?

20:32Speaker 3:Zenon.

20:33Speaker 2:He told us that. He's like, he's like my tea.

20:36Speaker 1:He goes, I would know because he's like half of my class would have no idea who I was.

20:40Speaker 2:And the other half would be like, is there going to be a Xenon 4? Like what's going on?

20:43Speaker 1:That's why I was.

20:45Speaker 4:Like, you guys, he wrote Venus the Penis. Like no one got it. And also like a Troll in Central Park, like amazing. But so that program, I always say like the Stark program didn't teach me how to make movies. It taught me how to make my second, third and fourth movie because it taught me how to like navigate the industry. And it's like, It's, like, it introduced a clock, and it turned the clock around, and I was able to just kind of see the mechanics of it.

21:15Speaker 2:Great.

21:15Speaker 4:Because, like, it's hard being creative out here. And, like, it's not enough to just, like, have cool ideas.

21:23Speaker 3:Yeah.

21:25Speaker 4:I was telling this to someone last night. Like, I'm a firm believer. Like, anything is possible. But to a lot of people, not everything is doable.

21:34Speaker 3:Right.

21:34Speaker 4:And so, like, and I feel like I've... Pat my back. I've become a person who has... I've now become someone who I'm like, no, everything is doable.

21:47Speaker 2:Well, yeah.

21:48Speaker 1:I mean, especially when you've had one kind of banger after the other. I mean, it seems like, especially for something like Disney Channel, anything big that they're going to.

21:57Speaker 2:Do, it seems like they're going to come to you first, which is pretty awesome. I mean, we just did.

22:03Speaker 1:I think the first film of yours we did, I think, was Slumber Party.

22:09Speaker 4:Yes.

22:10Speaker 2:Which we loved.

22:11Speaker 3:We loved.

22:13Speaker 4:Loved.

22:14Speaker 2:And we got to talk to Darby. Yes.

22:16Speaker 3:Which is super cool. She's incredible.

22:21Speaker 1:But that was one of those movies where we finished and we were kind of quiet and we talked and we both looked at each other like, this was great.

22:27Speaker 4:Great.

22:28Speaker 2:Just because it was... So.

22:31Speaker 1:Doing this process, we have now seen every type, quote unquote, and every era of the DCOM.

22:39Speaker 2:Going back to before it was even DCOM.

22:41Speaker 3:Which makes a difference. The eras make a huge difference.

22:44Speaker 1:Huge.

22:44Speaker 3:Where the channel was, what they were doing, what they were excelling at. And for a while, after the musicals happened, there was a time period where the channel, if they weren't doing a musical.

22:57Speaker 2:Didn't know what it was.

22:58Speaker 3:Like what, you know what I mean? Like, was it, it's not the, even Steven's like over the top comedy. It's not that, but it could be, I don't know. It was just this weird. And like slumber party was like this, like, like us being able to like exhale and go, okay, we're back. The channel is back. They know what the hell they're doing, where they're going now.

23:18Speaker 2:That was the thing that was exactly right.

23:20Speaker 1:Is, you know, what you're going to get nowadays for the most part, when you see a descendant's Or when you see a zombies, you know what you're going to get. It's going to be a big, lavish Kenny Ortega esque kind of musical. There's going to be levels of dancing. The singing is going to be incredible. The cast is going to be great. You know what you're going to get. It was the movies that weren't those that you were like, okay, this could be a long 98 minutes that we're about to get through. And then we had a couple in a row where it was like, is it called prom night or prom date?

23:49Speaker 2:Whatever that one.

23:50Speaker 1:Yeah.

23:50Speaker 2:I forget what it was, but it was one with my, with Milo.

23:53Speaker 4:Just prom, just prom.

23:54Speaker 2:I think it was just prom, prom and slumber party.

23:57Speaker 1:And there were a few in a row where we were like, Oh, this spin lock somewhere. We were just like, this is now they're, they're starting to get that. It's like, it doesn't have to be a musical and it can still be, for kids, quote unquote, or younger people, I guess would be the best way to say it.

24:14Speaker 2:Cause it's not like for little kids. And so when we saw that, we were like, oh, it's the hangover.

24:20Speaker 1:It's the hangover for like younger people. This is the coolest thing in the world. And it's so easily could have gone off the rails.

24:27Speaker 2:And it never did.

24:28Speaker 3:That was the thing that was so cool.

24:29Speaker 4:It never did.

24:37Speaker 1:Were you, I mean, obviously, my question then becomes, you are a fan of all the DCOMs and Disney in general. Did you have an idea of, like, we've got to kind of start a new era of the DCOM?

24:52Speaker 2:Yes.

24:54Speaker 4:Yes. More so just because I missed what I had. Like, I wanted that back so bad. Right. Because I do think it, you know, the... the fantasy kind of took over, which I get it. It's cool. The costumes, all the things. And, I mean, I love a good world building. Like, I'm feeling kind of drawn to, like, wanting to see what my world building thing is at some point.

25:23Speaker 2:All fantasy, by the way.

25:25Speaker 4:All fantasy.

25:26Speaker 2:It's all I reach.

25:26Speaker 4:It's all fantasy. I mean, I'm a romanticist.

25:31Speaker 2:Oh, okay. So you're a fourth wing kind of person.

25:33Speaker 4:Oh, fourth wing, ACOTAR.

25:35Speaker 3:Gotcha.

25:36Speaker 2:Copy that. Copy that.

25:37Speaker 4:Okay, fair enough. My dream is just to make the kids ACOTAR. You know what I mean?

25:42Speaker 2:Okay. I have to imagine they're going to let you do that. I hope so.

25:50Speaker 4:I hope so. Dreams manifest. Okay. But yeah, I was like, I wanted so badly. I love... grounded. Like I, I, I love ground. I love grounded characters that again, that does not mean they can't be aliens or they can't be anything, but like just that like real story with real plot and real emotions that, um, that you, that people can apply to their real life. Cause that was my favorite thing to do is to apply something to myself. Um, but so, um, that's like what I wanted to bring back.

26:27Speaker 4:Even like, we just rewatched, um, what last week in my house, smart house. And like, my daughter's five and a half, but like, she got it. And like, because it's real money and she's asking questions, which I'm so happy she's watching at this point. Cause she's starting to ask more questions about life and she's about to be six. And, and I want her to, she was like, where, where's their mom? And it's like, Oh, why is he so upset? And like, she's literally navigating her own emotions right now.

26:55Speaker 4:She literally, we just had a, uh, had a moment where she's like starting to experience like shame and like, she's doing something that she doesn't, she wishes she didn't do or whatever. And I'm, you know, being that like millennial parent and, and, but also where I'm like in the best way possible where I'm like, it's okay. You can let that go. It's okay to make a mistake. Uh, you know, which is something I have to tell myself all the time. 35 year old.

27:23Speaker 2:Good lesson. Yeah, exactly.

27:25Speaker 4:And I'm like, it's okay. And she, and I'm telling her this and she's literally looks at me, she's five and a half, but she might as well be 13. She looks at me and she's like, I know you're saying that, but I still feel this way. Right. And I was like, I was just like, Oh wow. That's so true. Like, I know she's getting what I'm saying, but she has to be the one to like figure out how to navigate that feeling of feeling bad that she did that thing. And like, and so that's what, that's what I want. That's what I want to give to people is like the time and space and to see other young people like going through those things and like even even in some fun romp, like the slumber party, like it was really important to me to like ground those girls. Like we, from the original it's, you know, based on a book and then even from the original script, like I was like, can I age them up just a little bit? Because like I wanted to give them more to like deal with emotionally. Because I think adding that stuff also makes the comedy hit harder.

28:37Speaker 1:Yeah. Right.

28:38Speaker 2:And what a cast.

28:38Speaker 3:There's like such a great, yeah. And they're, When I feel like you really did and you hit it on the mark was such an amazing point where she's coming out of the bathroom and they're all... She thinks she's so right with her perspective and they're like, are you forgetting about my situation? I get that you're having a hard time here. And they all kind of go... It makes her click. She's just thinking about herself. She's not thinking about how that would affect them in different ways.

29:08Speaker 3:They all have different... family backgrounds.

29:11Speaker 2:Right.

29:12Speaker 3:And so I think that that kind of stuff is where the movie was so funny and so over the top of things, but that grounding moments were where you were like getting chills and you're going, Oh my gosh, like what a great lesson for a young girl to see. And she's seen it through her friends and she's having to kind of backpedal and all of that. And love the music, love the big musicals. I'm a huge girl on that. That's what I loved as well. But what I looked to was things like Boy Meets World and how you handle things with your friends, how you handle issues with your brothers and sisters and your parents and all of that. That's so important too. It's not just like the The big musical stuff.

29:55Speaker 2:Well, that's how I look at it as well.

29:57Speaker 1:And something like Slumber Party, anytime you get the real moments that are surrounded by the absurd, it's just.

30:08Speaker 2:That great jelly nougat, you know? It's like, oh my God.

30:12Speaker 1:Because then when you go from hedgehog car, you know, sliding down the street to the quiet moments of, oh, they're actually falling for each other.

30:20Speaker 2:It was our favorite T-Com kiss.

30:22Speaker 4:Dude, the best kiss.

30:23Speaker 3:Decom kiss we have seen yet.

30:26Speaker 2:Favorite Decom kiss.

30:28Speaker 1:And two older people ranking Decom kisses is crazy enough and weird enough.

30:31Speaker 3:But it was so ridiculous.

30:32Speaker 2:We were like, that was so real and so good.

30:36Speaker 4:And it was.

30:37Speaker 3:Oh, it was the best. It was so cute. It wasn't over the top. It wasn't like.

30:41Speaker 2:Out of the park.

30:42Speaker 3:It wasn't weird.

30:43Speaker 2:Oh, it wasn't.

30:43Speaker 4:Perfect.

30:44Speaker 3:It was a perfect first kiss.

30:47Speaker 2:We talked to Darby about it too. I mean, it was such, it was so much fun. Okay.

30:52Speaker 1:So the next question that I have to ask to get into our next series of questions is, were you a Joe bros fan?

30:58Speaker 4:Yes. Yeah, no, I mean, they're, I don't even remember a time where they weren't the Jonas Brothers.

31:12Speaker 3:You were a perfect, perfect demo as far as an age, as far as when they first came out and like blew up the channel. They blew up Hollywood Records. I mean, they blew up every, they were on tour. I feel like doing stadiums, right? Did you ever get to go to one of their shows?

31:30Speaker 4:No, no. I like, that's a wild, like I love music and music is a big part of my like process. Like even with slumber party, when I pitched to direct that one, like I had the whole soundtrack and the amazing thing that was like the coolest thing with slumber party. And there are many cool things, but at the end when we were in the edit, I put a lot of the songs that I, I mean, I got a Fleetwood Mac deep track.

31:53Speaker 3:Which is insane.

31:54Speaker 4:Insane that they let me do that.

31:56Speaker 3:I could not believe it.

31:58Speaker 4:It was crazy. And then even like, even the score, like for that kiss, I used, I loved Childish Gambino's album, the first one that he came out with.

32:09Speaker 2:And there's a track on there. This is America? Yes, that album.

32:12Speaker 4:And like, but there's a track on there. I think it's called like the night me and your mama met or something. Me and your daddy met. It's like, it's all instrumental, but it's, but that was the inspiration for the score behind the kiss. And like, but so like, which that's yeah. But the, and then I was like, I need Britney Spears. I'm not a girl, not yet a woman like that song. I need it.

32:36Speaker 2:Yes.

32:36Speaker 4:Like I, I like the girls. I love, I have all these feelings about femininity, masculinity and all this stuff and how young girls are usually portrayed and all this stuff. And I just wanted these girls to like show a spectrum and also just have it not be about that at all. And that doesn't mean they can't be feminine, but like, and so I think in general, the girls like, you know, like Paige dressed like me and Alex was just, or Veronica, the character was like in her own thing.

33:06Speaker 4:And like Darby did wear a skirt, but like, I don't know. But at the end, I just wanted people to remember that these are 14-year-old girls. Like, this is also 14-year-old girls. There's the 14-year-old girls that you can see on Instagram posing and doing all that stuff. But these are also 14-year-old girls that exist. And it doesn't make them any less feminine, you know? But so I was like, I want that song so bad.

33:29Speaker 1:Yeah.

33:30Speaker 4:And then we got, I mean, no way could we afford the real Britney song. But we got to do a cover, which is so cool. Yes. I'd say like 80% of the music in that movie was what I originally pitched with.

33:44Speaker 2:Oh man.

33:45Speaker 4:It was insane. I just feel like that doesn't normally happen. Um, so thank you, Disney and the mouse. Yeah. But, uh, what was the question?

33:54Speaker 2:Joe bros.

33:57Speaker 3:Go into the concert. So you.

34:00Speaker 2:Oh yes.

34:00Speaker 4:I've always loved music. Music is very important to me, but I didn't grow up, uh, getting to go.

34:07Speaker 2:I didn't do concerts either.

34:08Speaker 4:And so, um, so yeah, I like, I was a radio girl. I like, I, you know, uh, what was on the radio? That was, I loved the radio. Um, And even now, I'm so analog.

34:23Speaker 2:Yeah, me too. I'm telling you, besties.

34:26Speaker 1:Oh, truly.

34:27Speaker 4:Super simple. I'm so exhausted from even the streaming stuff. I'm like, can I just get cable back? I was a remote queen. I had to navigate that so long. And I love that feeling of like, oh, snap, that movie's on. Oh, I got to watch that.

34:44Speaker 2:Yes. I'm still AOL.

34:47Speaker 4:Okay.

34:48Speaker 2:That's not even a joke.

34:49Speaker 1:That's an extreme you were expecting.

34:53Speaker 2:That is a statement. Thank you.

34:55Speaker 4:That is a statement.

34:56Speaker 2:Ride or die. Thank you very much. He loves it. Loves it. We'll never give it up.

35:01Speaker 3:Unless they like shut it down.

35:04Speaker 2:They won't. I will fly wherever I have to. Okay. So being such a fan, then what, Did they.

35:18Speaker 1:Come to you with Camp Rock 3? Were you like, oh, my God, we're doing another one?

35:22Speaker 2:Yeah.

35:23Speaker 4:God, how did that happen? I mean, after Swimper Party and working on other things, I had a short stint with the Cheetah Girls.

35:33Speaker 3:I know. I remember when I heard that with the script and everything. And then it took like a whole turn.

35:39Speaker 4:Honest, I blame the Olympics.

35:42Speaker 2:Oh, I play in the Olympics for most things.

35:44Speaker 3:That's my take.

35:45Speaker 4:That is my take. But but it's OK. I'm so happy for it and everything. But basically, I mean, I guess the Olympics was just after that.

35:53Speaker 3:And how the video of the women's soccer team. You and I were doing the podcast still already. Remember the the women's soccer team brought strut back to life. Yeah, that was their pump up song before they were going out. to all the Olympic games and it kind of like made news and all of that. And that just made Disney go, Oh yeah. I think it made Disney remember. No, they were already doing it.

36:19Speaker 4:Girls. Yeah. When that happened, they were like, we need to pause on what we're doing and rethink what we're doing.

36:25Speaker 2:Yeah.

36:26Speaker 3:And basically beef it up. They were like, I think they were going to just put out more of a smaller situation. And then they beefed it up once they realized like, Oh yeah.

36:36Speaker 2:That's right. This whole generation has.

36:39Speaker 3:You know, loved this franchise for a while.

36:43Speaker 4:And so your girl got.

36:45Speaker 3:I never got to read the script. I still want to see the script that you had because.

36:51Speaker 4:I imagine it was magical. My biggest thing is, and this isn't, you know, about Disney or anything, but just in general, people need to not think that character-driven means small. Right. You know what I mean? Yes.

37:04Speaker 2:Great way to put it.

37:04Speaker 4:Like, that is what bugs me all the time or like grounded means small. Like all that means is that you're going to fall in love with my characters.

37:13Speaker 2:Right.

37:13Speaker 4:Like there are still set pieces. There's still big moments or whatever, but like, um, but so, yeah. Uh, but that's just across the board. Uh, I want people to, yeah.

37:24Speaker 2:Yeah. Um, that's awesome.

37:26Speaker 4:Yeah. But I, I'm so excited for it and I'm, you know, forever fan and.

37:32Speaker 3:Well, it looks like it, it opened the door for you to then, um, jump into the Jonas Brothers to do the Camp Rock 3. Did they approach you? Were you just in that mix within Disney, which we know they love to have their go-to people?

37:48Speaker 4:Yes. God, I hope I'm a go-to person.

37:51Speaker 3:Of course you are.

37:52Speaker 4:That's my imposter syndrome.

37:53Speaker 2:Of course you are.

37:54Speaker 4:But yeah, they were like, we're working on this. Would you be interested? But I had never done a musical before. So that was my big thing and that's why it wasn't all like hey veronica do you want to do this because i'd never done a musical before and as you know you gotta prove to them you could do it right.

38:12Speaker 1:But you also love music so in your head you're probably like oh i know i can.

38:15Speaker 4:Do this and they were definitely happy with me after slumber party um and so but i was like yeah i want to push on that to be iconic to reboot something but it was really important to me uh after i read the script um that it felt like a continuation of the story. There's nothing I hate more than when they're like, there's this beloved iconic thing, and let's just pretend it didn't exist.

38:41Speaker 2:It never happened.

38:42Speaker 4:And use the same premise.

38:43Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah.

38:44Speaker 3:Like, I can't.

38:45Speaker 4:Like, to be honest, I read, no offense to anyone involved, I don't remember who was in it, but at some point I got sent, like, a script for, like, a true Beverly Hills, like, reboot, but it was not a, it was like a, a completely, they were just using, I, I was like, I can't, just the title and the same kind of setup, but not great. Like it was, it was like about social, there was like an influencer. It was like, I was like, no, no, no, I can't do it.

39:16Speaker 1:No.

39:16Speaker 4:And I was also like, how do you touch that movie? No, you just leave it be. Um, and, uh, but so, but at least, but camp rock three, it was like a true passing of the torch. And like, you can still, uh, the, world was the world that was. It's just introducing new characters that you fall in love with. And so that I was like, hell yeah, I could do that. And so, yeah. And I just really, my whole thing was like, the original movies, iconic, amazing. I was like, but I, it's been however many years, like we got plus it up a bit. Yeah. So my pitch was basically like, I'm going to give you camp rock plus like everything we know and love about this franchise, but like bigger, potentially better at times. And I not, and I think, you know, back in the day, like it was one of the things was like wardrobe. I was like, for me, I, I just couldn't have like even a, A t-shirt and jeans isn't bad, but, like, when everyone's wearing a t-shirt and jeans, that's just not my vibe. Right, right, right.

40:26Speaker 4:It doesn't compute, like, what you wear, to me, can say who you are. Yeah. Especially in a visual medium. Like, I'm, like, and I'm a believer, like, anyone on that screen, whether you're background or not, like, you, I could, like, look, I would want people to be, like, hey, that person right there, what's their movie? You know, like, who could, they could be the star.

40:48Speaker 1:Right.

40:49Speaker 4:Everyone is important. So I'm like, even what they're wearing, like their kids were going to a camp for artists. Those kids should be dressing somewhat interesting or different and it should be cookie cutter. And so stuff like that, I was like, that's what I want to do. you know, plus or change.

41:09Speaker 3:Well, I think too, you're in like a perfect like era for Disney to do that because back then, like, I will tell you back with the cheetah girls, Dorinda, my character being, you know, funky or, edgy meant like all of a sudden I've got like striped arms and I've got, you know what I mean? And I've got seven belts on.

41:29Speaker 2:And you can do aerials in the middle of the street.

41:31Speaker 3:Yeah, seven belts on and a big thick jacket. You know, it's like all, it's like they didn't have, they didn't necessarily know the fashion in that choice. It was more so just like what's bright. Like you go on a Disney audition, it's like, I'm going to wear hot pink and then I'm going to have like purple shoes. Like, you know, it's like what kind of jumped out and, And now Disney has definitely, and I think a lot of it does come from that descendants vibes to where they've gotten like cool fashion and they brought in real designers who like take their jobs to make it again, a younger version of like Marvel. Like they want it to be. And Disney is finally giving the reins away to allow that to happen versus it was like, oh no, that's too mature.

42:15Speaker 1:Yeah.

42:15Speaker 3:Now they're letting kids look and dress the age that kids their age dress.

42:20Speaker 4:Right.

42:20Speaker 3:So I thought was a big thing. I was going to say this.

42:23Speaker 2:If you want to see Sabrina mad.

42:26Speaker 1:As we're watching these movies, and she'll be like, okay, first of all, that girl's skirt was way too short.

42:33Speaker 2:What's going on with her shirt? And the guy's walking around with their shirts off, and she's like, they used to come up and be like, you've got to wear a turtleneck, and the turtleneck has to be another turtleneck.

42:42Speaker 3:Turtleneck under your vest, on top of.

42:45Speaker 4:I remember that exact outfit, yes.

42:48Speaker 3:If you want to wear a spaghetti strap, you must have this shirt. thick, and then a t-shirt on top of the spaghetti strap. You can wear it, but you have to have three layers on under it. And it used to piss me off so much.

43:00Speaker 2:Oh, you see her just get.

43:01Speaker 1:You want to see Sabrina get riled up, have a guy at a Disney movie walk by with her shirt off, and she's like, what the actual.

43:07Speaker 4:What in the.

43:08Speaker 2:Just happened.

43:08Speaker 3:Is going on right now? This is not HBO.

43:13Speaker 2:She freaks out.

43:15Speaker 4:Oh, man.

43:16Speaker 2:Oh, that is so funny. Okay, so... did you have any jitters shooting camp rock three?

43:23Speaker 1:I mean, people are like, so as, as far as we were able to tell, it was leaked quote unquote on the hot one show that one, one of the, one of the Joe bros, I think it was Ricky.

43:35Speaker 2:Um, I don't know the Joe bros. Uh, so it was, it was Ricky. It was Ricky or Norman. I can't remember.

43:43Speaker 1:Um, It said like, oh, the thing read Camp Rock three script and that like blew up everywhere. So, A, were you involved at this point? And B, was this anything where you were like, I'm I'm rebooting is not the right way. But I'm doing the third in the line of these beloved movies.

44:04Speaker 2:Were you nervous at all going into this?

44:07Speaker 4:Yeah. No, but yes. Um, I was involved when that happened and we were all like, whoop.

44:15Speaker 2:So was it a mistake?

44:17Speaker 4:Yes.

44:18Speaker 2:It was, it was a genuine, this was not set up. It was a true mistake.

44:21Speaker 4:There was a new draft that after me being involved that had been sent to them. And so they did, they were, and we, they owed us thoughts. And so that's what that was.

44:34Speaker 2:Um, yeah.

44:35Speaker 4:Camp Rock three was like the worst.

44:36Speaker 2:Kept, Secret, yeah.

44:38Speaker 4:Secret, secret.

44:39Speaker 2:We've known about it since Camp Rock 1. Exactly. Like, it was so bad.

44:44Speaker 4:So funny.

44:45Speaker 3:But, yeah.

44:47Speaker 4:But I was... I wasn't nervous to reboot it because. This is going to sound... I'm good at what I do.

44:56Speaker 2:Yeah, we can tell. We can tell.

44:58Speaker 4:I'm very prepared. I'm very, like... I knew what I needed to do. I needed to execute it. I knew what the plan is. Yeah. i'm honest and then the brothers were so nice and chill.

45:12Speaker 2:And like and good they're just very funny too at this.

45:16Speaker 3:Point they're like acting chops are so beefed up they're so.

45:20Speaker 4:Good and like i could like i could give them i was like okay can you go this route whatever and they just they're dial i mean something about i mean i've never never worked with the two of you but like There's something about the dial that you develop when working on these types of projects. It is, one, a level of professionalism that is insane and unparalleled. But then, two, it's just like, the ability to adjust your performance slightly, it blows my mind every time.

45:52Speaker 1:And it's, they also, they've got a great thing where they, and they did it in their Christmas movie as well, where they love to make fun of themselves.

45:59Speaker 3:They love to lean into the things that people instantly.

46:03Speaker 2:Yes.

46:04Speaker 3:Like the things that they know, people think about each one of them as individuals. They love it. How they think about them as a whole, like the, so much.

46:12Speaker 4:It makes it so much easier. It just makes it that they have that vibe. That was great. Also, Sherry Cola, who plays Lark, is my best friend.

46:23Speaker 3:She stole that movie.

46:25Speaker 2:She stole it from them. She stole that movie.

46:29Speaker 3:Her being the one that just really... pulled everything in and made it all just click. She was incredible.

46:38Speaker 4:I'm literally my best friend and godmother to my newest baby.

46:43Speaker 3:So like, how was that conversation of you going? Do you want to do a Disney channel movie with me? Come on, girl.

46:49Speaker 2:I know you do.

46:49Speaker 3:We can work together. Was it like that?

46:51Speaker 4:She was so down and like, and like, like I love everyone, but like it was never anyone else.

46:59Speaker 2:That was the coolest thing.

47:00Speaker 4:It was never anyone else. And even with Disney, like they were like, yes. And I'm like, amazing. And so that was so cool to do that experience together. And, and she, she's the greatest energy to have on set as well, which is so important for me, the vibe of set, especially on a movie with young actors, every set, especially I'm like, life is too short for this to be an experience. Yes. We're going to work hard and yes, it's not going to be perfect all the time, but like, my goal as is the beginning of every movie my goal is for everyone here to down the line you look back at this experience fondly that doesn't love that that doesn't mean every moment is perfect or whatever or that you have to love be best friends with everyone but like yeah I want you to be happy that you were a part of this.

47:50Speaker 3:I love that because as you're talking about wanting to create content for the audience, that is content that you got to see this, like you were saying earlier in the interview, we get to do these interviews with other people that have done movies, you know, um, jump in or we, we, you know, got to kick it up all these different movies that they've been a part of brink, all of that. they all have such fond memories of making it. It's a standout job for them that they have even years down the line. And I love that because that was such an important thing for the directors and people that we all worked with, you know, that they made it that really positive experience that knowing that you are now, you have the reins now, and that is such a big upfront, like task for you is so awesome because I love it. I have the best memories of, traveling spain india everywhere doing them the things that we did with the channel and it's like i feel like i had the best job in the whole world and i'm glad you're setting a platform for new the new generation to have just that that's amazing yeah so this.

48:56Speaker 1:Is super cool all right so we're gonna let you go but before we do no I know.

49:02Speaker 2:I know.

49:03Speaker 3:We got to connect.

49:03Speaker 4:We all got to connect. When can I switch and start asking you guys questions, honestly?

49:09Speaker 2:Do you have any for us?

49:10Speaker 4:Can I ask you one?

49:11Speaker 2:Of course.

49:11Speaker 4:I just want to ask one.

49:12Speaker 2:Of course. Ask whatever you want.

49:14Speaker 4:How, like, me coming on and saying that, like, you guys... are, like, part of the reason why I do what I do. Like, what does that feel like?

49:26Speaker 2:It's amazing.

49:27Speaker 4:Like, have you been able to internalize the impact that you've had on so many people? The positive impact.

49:36Speaker 2:Do you want to go first, Sabrina?

49:38Speaker 3:Yeah, I'll go first. I mean, I've recently, you know, this was a big reason why they started doing Cheetah 4 was, you know, you've got people like Meghan Trainor coming up to me and telling me, you're the reason why I'm.

49:50Speaker 4:A pop star.

49:51Speaker 3:The rest of the day, I could barely talk because she's so epic to me and to know. But for me, it's going in a room and The women that are now boss ladies running businesses, running this and them, having a part of the Cheetah Girls was what gave them the confidence to reach for the stars, to go for their dreams. Not even necessarily in the industry, right? Like everywhere. For me, that's just like, it makes everything that all the hard work I did for all of those years so worth it. And know that I have like it wasn't just a job. It was like I had an ability to have an impact on a generation. It's something that I'll always be grateful for. And no one can take that away.

50:39Speaker 1:Right.

50:39Speaker 3:Like no matter what happens with this new Cheetah like world that's happening. The moments that I had that I was involved in are in my eyes like epic because I really had that ability to help people grow. believe in themselves. So that's incredible. Like, Oh, I talk about getting teary eyed. Like, it's like, that's what it is for me.

50:59Speaker 4:It's, it's unreal.

51:01Speaker 1:Um, yeah, kind of the same for me. I, I didn't know until I got quote unquote dragged because again, we talked about, I dealt with anxiety for years. So I had a very sheltered life for a while. And when I met my partner, she was like.

51:14Speaker 2:Maybe it's time to get you out in the world a little more.

51:16Speaker 1:And one of the things that popped up was my first fan convention, which I'd never done before. And so I went and that's when I was like, okay, wait a second. There's a line of people waiting to tell me that this show was super important to them. And then when Danielle and Ryder and I started Pod Meets World and then started to do the live show, it just, that's when we were like, oh my God.

51:36Speaker 2:And it's, it is, it's wonderful people. You get actors and all that. And it's great.

51:39Speaker 1:But a lot of people, like you were saying, especially for somebody like Ryder, who were like, I grew up in a world like Sean grew up and watching you on television made my life okay.

51:52Speaker 2:Is something that affects all of us all the time. Or Eric not going to college. I didn't go to college. I was the first one in my family who didn't go.

51:59Speaker 1:And so we keep seeing these things or hearing these things, and it's life-changing. I mean, it really is, because especially something like Boy Meets World, we were not popular when we were on the air.

52:09Speaker 2:We were just, no, I know. I know.

52:12Speaker 3:I don't believe him either.

52:13Speaker 2:No, but it's true.

52:14Speaker 1:It's crazy.

52:14Speaker 2:I don't believe him either. We never got any of the press.

52:17Speaker 1:It was always Sabrina and Family Matters. We were never on the bunch, bus bench ads. We were just kind of, I always equate us to, and you'll get this because you love television as much as me. I always say we were the wings of TGI.

52:34Speaker 4:Oh.

52:34Speaker 1:Where Wings is a great show that I love. People forget it was on for eight years.

52:38Speaker 4:Yeah.

52:39Speaker 2:That was Boy Meets World. We just kept going.

52:41Speaker 1:We felt like we were entertaining the audience that was at the show and our family and friends.

52:46Speaker 2:And so it wasn't until years later where we were like, oh, wait a minute. This was huge. People people really loved.

52:53Speaker 1:This show and it really mattered to them. So it was many years later. And then again, now that we're doing the podcast, now we really see kind of the the love that people had for the show, how important it was. And being that's that's people say the biggest compliment I can get is people come up to me and they say, because I've talked about this constantly on the podcast. Boy Meets World is my mash. because mash to me is your Frazier where I watch it every night.

53:18Speaker 1:My wife and I fall asleep to it every night. I know it backwards, forwards and sideways when I'm anxious, I can literally shut my eyes and watch an episode.

53:24Speaker 4:Yeah.

53:25Speaker 2:I can rewind it. I can stop it. I can see it. I can see it as if I'm watching it on TV.

53:29Speaker 3:Yeah.

53:30Speaker 1:And so if people come up to me and say, boy meets world is my mash.

53:35Speaker 2:I instantly turned to jelly because I.

53:36Speaker 1:Know exactly what they mean. And to have that feeling is really incredible.

53:41Speaker 2:I mean, yeah.

53:43Speaker 3:And again, with, With what I love about your show, Will, is like, again, it's like everyday conflicts that like kids can use and take and, and think about what your characters went through, you know, and, and learn from that so that when they're hit with those, that that's what it is. And I mean, I've got a six year old, she just turned six and it's the same thing. Like I want, when I watch the shows that she's watching or if she ends up getting onto same things, I want, like, I love Disney Plus because I'm like, I can trust where they're going with these storylines that I don't need to worry about, like, when she gets hit with something that's similar, she's going to hopefully learn and know how to handle it or not be shocked, you know?

54:27Speaker 2:Yeah.

54:28Speaker 3:But still, there's some questions she just, It shocks the.

54:31Speaker 2:Shit out of me. I imagine that's what it was like to have kids. I don't know, but I imagine that's what it is.

54:36Speaker 4:Okay, the last thing before you guys kick me off. I'm not kicking you off.

54:41Speaker 2:We assume we're wasting your time. That's the difference.

54:45Speaker 4:Great. The parents in both Boy Meets World and Cheetah Girls. I loved how the parents were utilized, represented the multi-generationalism. It's so important to me. And like everything, like even in slumber party, like it was so important to me how those parents were cast and included. And like, I mean, if I had my daughters, I'd put more parents into what I'm, what I'm doing. But, um, because I think that is something that I would love to see go back the other way a little bit that like parents got pushed more out because kids don't want to see parents. Yes, they do. They see their parents every single day. They want like it. And to me, like, I see what I do is a response. Like there's a responsibility around it.

55:33Speaker 4:Like in, in so many ways, I love my job so much, but like, I, I want to like kid, we should be showcasing healthy ways that kids can interact with their parents and the whole thing, but all that stuff. But so like with cheetah girls, like, like even when I got my little stint on it, I was like, it needs to be multi-generational. It is so like that, the, The women, the match, I had this whole match, girl, I won't send you that script. I was like that, like even the idea of the, of a grandma being in it, like, because like her mom, I was like, multi-generationalism is so important. Like, and like, I just remember that.

56:16Speaker 4:the parents on Boy Meets World too, like they even had their own storylines at times that were interwoven. And that's so important. It helped me see that my parents were real people.

56:27Speaker 3:I was just going to say we're real people.

56:29Speaker 2:Yes.

56:30Speaker 4:It's not all about me. And so like, I just, parents, I think are really frigging important.

56:35Speaker 2:I agree.

56:36Speaker 4:Within the stories as well. And you were both a part of things.

56:39Speaker 1:Well, that's one of the problems that when we rewatched the entire series, one of the problems we had, while we thought the show got worse as it went on is they were using the parents less and less.

56:49Speaker 2:And so less Mr. Feeney, less Alan and Amy towards season seven.

56:53Speaker 1:And we were like, okay, this is fine, but it's not season three where they're all the stories are interwoven and you get the lesson from Feeney, you get the lesson from Alan. You wanted that kind of, they could have used Amy a lot better, but you get that.

57:06Speaker 2:Kind of intergenerationality, which is I think super important. You're right. So, Oh God. Yeah. We could talk forever.

57:14Speaker 4:I literally could.

57:15Speaker 2:So two last questions. One, one, I'm going to ask about Disney and one, I'm just going to shoot my shot.

57:21Speaker 1:The first, the first one is Disney comes to you and says, pick a decom and do it any way you want to do it.

57:29Speaker 2:What do you do?

57:30Speaker 4:I think about this so much.

57:32Speaker 2:Okay.

57:33Speaker 4:Actually. Okay. And my, my like, excitement the same part of me that like when I see something rainbow I'm like I gotta get it and then I don't ever wear it because I don't wear rainbow but like the excitement of like going to that rainbow thing okay which has actually started something where like a lot of people in my life think that I just like see something rainbow and they'll buy it for me. I'm like, I really don't actually love rainbow. I do.

58:00Speaker 3:It is.

58:01Speaker 2:It's like saying white, it's like saying white chocolate once. And then you're like, I actually don't like white chocolate. That's all people give me.

58:06Speaker 3:I did that with Hello Kitty. You guys know I'm in my thirties.

58:11Speaker 4:But I also do love rainbow.

58:13Speaker 2:So it's really hard. Like it's a weird balance.

58:15Speaker 4:It's weird. They're like, Veronica, you're so hard. Um, I'm just complicated, but, so my feeling is like Xenon.

58:25Speaker 3:Like I just, we thought like I, we should talk because we've got a whole idea.

58:31Speaker 4:Okay. That's where I get lost. So because I'm like doing Xenon in today's day and age is, it's like, is a challenge. It's very, very hard. Also. I'm being the analog girly that I am like it. I will never just have it like riddled with tech and like all this ever.

58:51Speaker 2:So, But that's your Xenon. It's a girl who doesn't embrace technology.

58:56Speaker 4:I know. But, like, because my bachelorette party, I literally had a Xenon-themed pool party.

59:02Speaker 2:Cetus Lapetus, you did not.

59:04Speaker 4:I literally did. Cetus Lapidus. Boom, boom, boom. A poor memory. Like, I think three weeks ago, I showed my daughter Xenon for the first time. This is where I know I have, like, now that it took five years, where I'm like, oh my god, you're my daughter. Watching this movie, because we were sitting, I love watching movies in bed. I love watching TV in bed. And like, And so we're in bed. It's on. And we're watching. And she's getting it. She loves it. I also rewatch it. Like, I love the character of Xenon. She says it. They're like, Xenon, why do you have to go out in the spacesuit and break the rules to see the sunrise? And she goes, why would you sit in the audience when you can be center stage or something like that? And I was just like, how bad? Like, she's... that's such a bad thing for a girl to say.

59:57Speaker 1:Yeah.

59:57Speaker 4:Like unapologetically and not be a bitch or anything while saying it. She was just like, why would I do that? And she, Oh, she's so cool. But, um, Okay, but there's this one part in the movie, I don't know if you remember, but Protozoa is about to get on the plane. It's so small, but I remember when I was little watching this movie and zeroing in on this one part back in the day, it would have easily been made into like a gif or gif jif or whatever, something like that. But Protozoa, I'm going to do the move because it's very important. He's about to get on the plane and Wyndham and them, they're talking about like, where's Zenon with her aunt? But so before he gets on the plane, Protozoa goes like this. He goes, before he gets on the plane, like such a weird move.

1:00:45Speaker 4:I don't know if he does a tongue, but he's like, and he's like thrusting and stuff. It made me laugh all the time. I would rewind it and watch that all the time because it just, like, hit that funny bone in me.

1:00:58Speaker 2:Oh, God, I love it.

1:00:59Speaker 1:Every time.

1:01:00Speaker 4:I watch it. First time I've ever seen it. My daughter is almost six. Sabrina, I would do a play date with you. I hate play dates, but I would do one with you and your daughter. Perfect.

1:01:09Speaker 2:Yes.

1:01:10Speaker 4:But, like... she starts busting up laughing at that move. And she stands up on the bed in her chonies. She's naked. We're naked household. And she just goes... and repeats the move and i'm literally i'm like in shock because she i didn't say anything about the moment or anything but she it hit her bone the same way it hit mine and then she asked she's like mom rewind it again she goes she goes like reverse it or something she's like reverse it reverse it and then we watched it like 10 times in a row and just both of us stood up on the bed and just did that move And I was like, I literally was like core memory. Like we'll never forget that. It was so good, but that movie still hits so hard.

1:02:01Speaker 4:And even the love in that. So yes, I would say Xeon, it'd be so hard, but okay. Putting this in your brain to maybe it'll go into your, your guys' idea for it. And then you can bring them back to me. But I was talking when I'm editing another movie right now, I did my first like, comedy horror thriller you guys will like it but I was with my editor and post producer and they were talking they both have teenagers during COVID or whatever but they were talking about how so many like their kids and so many of their friends like none of them want to drive none of them want their license like and they were just saying I can't stand it they were saying things about these kids though that I was like they sound like they grew up in space.

1:02:52Speaker 2:Oh, there you go. Like, and I don't know where that, I don't know, but.

1:02:57Speaker 4:That was the one thing where I was like, I feel like there's something there into like, again, the character starts with the freaking characters, the plot will come, but like the characters of this, whatever the Xenon thing could be and how it could relate to this younger generation, how they could see themselves differently. but I don't know where it goes from there, but I do think there is, there's something, there's something. Um, but yeah, but then I also, so, and to design that, I mean, that's like, as much as the wardrobe was funky funk for you.

1:03:36Speaker 3:It just was young.

1:03:37Speaker 4:It just, but yeah, the rules, but like those styles of cheetah girls and Xenon were.

1:03:42Speaker 3:Like, so yeah, for sure.

1:03:45Speaker 4:And like amazing. Amazing. And, um, I mean, wow.

1:03:51Speaker 3:So, so looking into Xenon then.

1:03:54Speaker 4:Yeah. But I also, then I'm like, Mike, do you remember, uh, stepsister from planet weird?

1:04:00Speaker 2:Of course. We just did that one too.

1:04:01Speaker 3:Yeah.

1:04:02Speaker 4:You did. Okay.

1:04:03Speaker 3:A while ago.

1:04:04Speaker 4:I got to listen.

1:04:05Speaker 2:I don't think we loved it.

1:04:07Speaker 3:No, we didn't love it. No, the special effects were really weird. But it was at a time during the, it was in an era again, like you got to take all of that into perspective. It was in an era that they did not have the budget.

1:04:21Speaker 2:Step sister from planet weird.

1:04:23Speaker 4:But like the hot take is like, I loved how minimal those were. I love, I like it. I, But that's also maybe, like, I love absurdity grounded in reality. And so that story, it was like, but maybe it was too grounded. Because it did have a hook that could have gone bigger. But, like, the story of the sepsis, like, I love that movie. I love that movie. And I love Rip Girls.

1:04:51Speaker 2:Come back. Come back.

1:04:53Speaker 1:And do a breakdown of Step Sister or Rip Girls with us.

1:04:56Speaker 3:Yes, let's do it. Let's do it.

1:04:59Speaker 4:Guys, you're so fun. And also, guys, let's figure out this new zine on it and all produce a movie together. Come on.

1:05:05Speaker 3:Let's do it. That would be amazing. Coming out of Magical Rewind, we've got to do something.

1:05:10Speaker 4:We've learned too much. When is your guys' production company starting?

1:05:14Speaker 1:Exactly. It's called Will Works for Sabrina Productions is what it would be called.

1:05:21Speaker 3:The funds go to our couple therapy.

1:05:24Speaker 2:Cheetah Meets World. Cheetah Meets World would be our production company. That's good.

1:05:30Speaker 3:I love it. That's good. Yes, let's definitely stay in touch.

1:05:34Speaker 4:You are awesome.

1:05:34Speaker 3:We have to have you back on. We need to cover. Half of our stuff that we needed.

1:05:39Speaker 2:To talk about. So we will have you back. You're the best. Congratulations on everything. We love everything you've done.

1:05:46Speaker 3:On everything. And keep going. You are the perfect hands for the channel to be. steering us back to where we all loved about the channel back.

1:05:56Speaker 2:In the day. They got a fan in charge now, which is pretty great.

1:05:58Speaker 3:Yes, it's perfect.

1:06:00Speaker 2:It's perfect.

1:06:00Speaker 4:I'm just making stuff that I want to watch.

1:06:02Speaker 2:That's how it should be.

1:06:03Speaker 3:You want your kids to watch, right?

1:06:04Speaker 4:Exactly.

1:06:05Speaker 3:That's the same thing I want to do.

1:06:06Speaker 4:I'm like, my, like, every decision is made by 13-year-old Veronica and me now. And that's when, if I can make them both happy, to me, that's winning. And that's what I would like. So we'll see.

1:06:20Speaker 3:Love it.

1:06:21Speaker 4:You guys rock.

1:06:22Speaker 2:Thank you. You're awesome. Thank you. We'll be in touch.

1:06:25Speaker 3:Till next time.

1:06:26Speaker 4:Bye. Bye.

1:06:27Speaker 2:Bye. Damn. I could have talked to her for three hours. You got to go. She's amazing. You're amazing. Go have fun. Enjoy yourself. And we'll see you next time. Bye, everybody.

1:06:38Speaker 1:Bye.