Disclosure – I was invited to the #MuppetsMostWantedEvent. Costs and expenses for my trip were covered by Disney but all opinions expressed are my own.
To have a successful film, you got to have a good director. The film director is the one that controls the artistic and dramatic aspects of the film. The director works with the producers and the songwriters to determine the best ways to visually present the ideas that are being put together for the film. The director also has the final say in who will be chosen for each cast member. Without a good director, you probably won’t have a very good film.
This month during the Muppets Most Wanted Press Junket at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, our group was able to interview James Bobin, the director of “Muppets Most Wanted” as well as “The Muppets” that came out in 2011. James Bobin also happened to be at the after party that I attended for the Muppets Most Wanted Red Carpet Premiere. Always smiling, just like Ricky.
Ricky Gervais & James Bobin at Muppets Most Wanted After Party
Our interview with James Bobin went pretty well and our group got to ask him some great questions. It was a great experience just being in the room with such a talented man with such a cool accent.
So here are are few of the questions from our interview that I want to share:
Who is the most difficult Muppet to work with?
Bobin: I’ll let you guess who the most difficult Muppet is who I work with. None of them, they’re all a total joy to work with. I’m a huge fan, I grew up watching the Muppets as a kid, so working with them for me is like working with my heroes.
Muppets Most Wanted has a very international flavor. Was there any thought to stopping in Sweden for the Swedish Chef?
Bobin: No, because then you’d tell he’s not Swedish. What he speaks is some weird amalgam of Jim Henson’s kind of rubbishy Swedish, like made-up Swedish. So obviously they had him talking and then someone actually speaking real Swedish, they’d go, “Hang on a minute that’s not the same thing.” So no we’ were very particular to avoid Sweden.
What would you say is the toughest scene you had to film?
Bobin: Every scene’s pretty difficult. The Muppets is not an easy thing to shoot.
Have you started on the next Muppet movie?
Bobin: No, too tired, sorry. I’m exhausted. Ask me again in another year’s time. I love working with these guys, and as you know they’re my heroes, so I really loved it. I would love to do more because this is really fun. I mean, I’m incredibly lucky to have this job. It’s like my dream.
The locations were largely chosen because I’m a fan of those kind of old-style caper movies and they’re always in places like Monte Carlo and Berlin and Madrid. It’s a very international feel. I like the idea of Muppets going global. That to me is interesting, that it’s not just about U.S. and the U.K. But they have a global interest. And that’s really, a fun thing to me.
If you missed it, be sure to check out our Mommy Blogger Interview With Kermit, Miss Piggy and Constantine that I posted last week!
For musicals, I think that Muppets Most Wanted would have to be my new favorite. I have been listening to the sountrack daily since I seen the film, the songs are so catchy. For those that enjoy the music aspect to these films, check out this video with songwriter Brett McKenzie and James Bobin.
Muppets Most Wanted is playing in theaters NOW! For those of you on social media, be sure to:
- Like The Muppets on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Muppets
- Follow The Muppets on Twitter:@MuppetsStudio
- Follow Miss Piggy on Twitter: @RealMissPiggy
Great interview, thank you for sharing. I would love to participate in a Disney event in the future. 😉
We love the Muppets! We haven’t seen the latest movie yet, but I know we will. It looks so funny and has some of my favorite people in there. That’s interesting they avoided Sweden so the Swedish Chef could keep his cred. LOL
Wow what an awesome opportunity!! This movie looks cute, and it is what everyone is talking about right now!!
sounds like a great experience and opportunity1 My kids want to see this movie!
Good job my son isn’t watching as I type this! He’s been dying to see that movie since he saw posters!
We saw the movie on Friday and loved it. More than the first one! All the cameos were fantastic!
This is so fun!! I absolutely love Brett McKenzie! NO wonder the songs are cool. Seems like it would be a hard job yes, but what fun!
What a great interview. I cannot wait to see this movie.
I definitely liked the songs overall better in Muppets Most Wanted. Though it is really tough to beat “Man or Muppet?” 🙂
Awesome interview!! How interesting. This movie will for sure be a hit!
How cool is that?! Thanks for sharing your interview!
I can’t wait to see this film! This was a great interview.
We love the Muppets! What a fun interview. I can’t wait to see the movie with my boys.
We loved this movie! I bet it was so interesting to chat with the director.
My kids are counting down days like Christmas to see this film. I can’t wait either!!
This makes me even more exicted to go see Muppets Most wanted. I seriously love the actors and the muppets. And now I want to see it even more.
The Muppets have been everywhere lately! I love seeing them on talk shows and such and can’t imagine how hard filming them must have been!
How cool! Love checking out the behind the scenes fun. Thanks for sharing 😉
Sounds like it was a great interview! I love reading these because it makes the movie that much more special!
What a fun interview! I’m excited to see the movie.
What an awesome interview, boy oh boy, I can’t wait to see this movie. 😀
Cant wiat to see this movie. I love all the actors.
I’m so excited to take my son to this movie ! So glad James Bobin directed again!