June 13, 2025 • 29 mins
The Bentonville Film Festival celebrates its 11th year with an ambitious lineup of films, celebrities, and free family-friendly events spanning multiple downtown venues. Twilla Brooks with Bentonville Film Festival shares insider details about this year's theme "Find Yourself in Film," celebrity appearances including Al Roker and Lucy Liu, and the expanded "Homegrown" section highlighting Arkansas filmmakers.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hey everybody, welcome back to part two of The
3W Podcast with my friend TwillaBrooks.
I hope you caught the firstepisode where we dove into how
giant of a badass that she is.
And she has her own company,Lynette Create and Innovate.
I was going to say Incorporated.
I knew there was an I and Inormally know, I typed it, I
(00:27):
know, but when I speak I don'tknow.
So that's awesome because Idon't think before I speak.
We all know that anyways.
So Twilla is here.
For bff, which it's june,finally it's.
Hopefully the sun has come outindefinitely and we're gonna
have an amazing bentonville filmfestival.
So happy 11, happy 11, yeah,yeah, so excited.
Let's start with b, let's startwith all things bff, we're
(00:50):
turning 11.
The theme is find yourself infilm.
Yep, find yourself in film,which I love that we love it.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
and you'll see as it ties to homegrown big time
homegrown.
But you'll see us kind of use,find yourself at a spotlight,
find yourself in amazement atthe outdoor theater Just a few
to kind of like highlight.
But what's so great about it isit's the opportunity for you to
see yourself.
It is yes, especially in a worldwhere you know right now
(01:21):
there's just so much adversityout in the world.
You know right now there's justso much adversity out in the
world and it it gives you agreat opportunity to just kind
of take a beat where you mightbe super excited, you might
laugh, you might cry, you mightbe deep in thought.
And there's a lot, trust me,I've seen a lot of these films
and, um, they're gonna tear atyour heart for so, okay, so
kleenex, yes, I would say forsure, depending upon the one
that you're gonna go see, makesure you bring your kleenex yes
(01:42):
I would say for sure, dependingupon the one that you're going
to go see, make sure you bringyour kleenex and some of them
are sold out some of them aresold out.
Yeah, we're looking at.
I know we're so excited aboutthat, like um uh rich river is
sold out showings are sold out,the librarians are sold out, and
so, uh, which is amazing for us, that's yes, we typically
(02:04):
wouldn't have.
Yes, you know screeningsalready sold out until next week
, right?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
so 11 years ago, when y'all started the festival, we
didn't even have a movie theater.
Yeah, 11 have sold outscreenings today, right now.
It's amazing, it's amazing.
Yeah, I love it.
So june 16th through the 22nd,june 16th through the 22nd we
pray for good weather.
We pray for good weather.
We we're activating momentarycrystal bridges fading.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, so we're going to go across.
So our headquarters will be atthe momentary right.
So all things BFF will be atthe momentary.
We're so grateful that withpartnering with the community,
we're going to be at so manydifferent venues.
Obviously we'll be back atSkylight.
We cannot have the Bentonvillefilm festival without skylight.
(02:48):
You can't right, mom and sofrom the movie theater
standpoint and scott and jaredand the entire team at skylight,
they're so giving to thebentonville film festival I mean
you've wrapped the outside ofit.
Yeah, they wrapped the outsideof it.
Um, crystal bridges, we're backagain.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
We'll talk a little bit about a couple of those
conversations that we're havingat crystal bridges, uh, one was
just made public today, yes,which I know this airs in june,
but one was just made publictoday, made public today, like
right before I got here I was uh.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Obviously we'll be back at theated uh for june and
friends.
So thank you so much to uh theteam at theated.
Our opening reception will beat blake.
Oh my gosh, I'm shocked.
Yes, we're also watching that.
We will be at doing a panel atthe Walmart Museum.
Oh, with the newly unveiled.
Yeah, so you'll see us try to.
(03:39):
You know, this is a communityfestival, right, and we wouldn't
be here without the communityof Bentonville and the fact that
they've been so open toallowing us to use their venues
and our festival hotel is themotto oh, even perfect, because
we just talked about in part onehow your favorite restaurant is
Junto, yeah, and the bottom, socan you imagine all the
filmmakers are downtown, theycan walk around, they can really
(04:03):
be like engrossed in thebentonville culture, uh, and and
we're having one of our afterparties, uh, at the record
person.
So that is seven locations, Ilove that?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
yeah, because the bentonville femme festival is
downtown bentonville exactly.
I mean, uh, a million years agothere these were before teslas
were like exactly being drivenaround everywhere.
They were testing them downhere and I would get in a tesla,
you know where.
The doors would flip up like adelorean right.
(04:34):
It would drive me at one hoteland it would drive me to the
record where everything wasactivating, like in year one or
two.
Yeah was so cool and I'm liketo see it.
Not to see it evolve, yep, butto still stay right around the
square still stay around thesquare.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
we're not as much on the square.
Obviously, the square is, uh,under construction, a little
torn up, but that's okay, youknow, we're still, uh, we're
still utilizing blake street,still utilizing 21c.
Uh, I think that the greatthing about the festival also
being over saturday, saturday isthat a lot of people get to
experience the farmer's marketRight when, if you remember, a
(05:10):
couple years ago, we had somecelebrity chefs in town and they
were like obsessed with thefarmer's market.
It's the quaintest thing ever,exactly.
So, so there's a lot of coolstuff and I think we're also
going to announce another partyat Barclita.
Okay, so, yeah, so it's like,yeah, think we're also going to
announce another party, uh, atbarclayda.
Okay, it's so, yeah, so it's.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
it's like, yeah, we're super excited good, after
you leave barclayda you can hopacross to celeste exactly to try
it exactly.
See, logistically perfect foryou.
Let's talk about opening night,okay, uh, what's your film?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
so the opening night, the film is east of wall.
It's a powerful story, whereyou know.
It talks about, um, women andgirls who kind of are, you know,
inspired by their love ofhorses.
Okay, and it takes place insouth dakota.
Um, I don't want to give toomuch away because the story um
(06:02):
is really powerful, okay, and ittalks a lot about rescue horses
and different things like that,and so we're super excited
about it.
That's very unique for anopening film.
Yeah, it's unique for anopening film, but it's a story
that we believe must be told.
Okay, we're looking forward toit.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I like that.
Okay, let's jump on tocelebrities, because one jump on
to celebrities?
Okay, because one was justannounced today.
Yes, al Roker is coming.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Al Roker is coming, he has a film, he has a series,
a series that will air inSeptember, but it's called
Weather Hunters, which isapropos, you know, for so it
follows the journey of a younggirl, um, and there's amazing,
uh, talent in it, uh, like wandasykes, holly robertson, p,
(06:53):
shirley ralph, and so he's gotthe perfect and I've got to see
a little bit of it.
It is so funny, good, but soit's almost like she's a storm
chaser, but she's a weatherhunter, okay, so it's super cool
.
And then, how lucky are we thathe's going to be doing a
conversation at Crystal Bridgeson Tuesday, june 17th, Opening
day.
Opening day.
(07:13):
He's going to, you know, fly in, and you never know, he might
pop up on the news here to dothe weather, we don't know.
So he has that conversation.
So we're super, super, superexcited to have him.
And he's gonna speak at crystalbridges.
Right, he's gonna speak atcrystal bridges on tuesday, yeah
, in the afternoon.
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And then we, um, I announced also we are honoring
lucy lu and it's saturday, okay,so side note, yeah, it's not
important at all, okay, but mydream job still to this day is
to be a Charlie's Angel.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Oh, my God, I think so it's so funny because this is
now, we're both showing our age.
But, like I was so obsessedwith Charlie's Angels, with Lucy
Liu and Cameron Diaz and DrewBarrymore oh, obsessed and I
just wanted to be Lucy Liu'scharacter because I felt like
she was like, so put together,she was and like everything and
she could kick some serious buttand her hair was always perfect
(08:08):
, her makeup was always perfectand she had the cutest boyfriend
.
Yes, he was adorable.
What's his name, wasn't it Lee?
Yes, yes, of Wilson.
So we're super excited aboutthat.
But she also has Wait, no, no,that was Cameron Diaz's
boyfriend.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Oh yeah, that waseron diaz's boyfriend.
Oh yeah, that was uh joey fromfriends.
Oh yeah, what's joey?
Yes, you're right, right, rightsame same but thank you, yeah,
yeah.
But I'm like, oh, when youmentioned that she was coming, I
was like, oh, I'm aging myself.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I'm sure she's done many amazing things since
charlie's angels, right, butthat's well, she has a great
well, she has an amazing filmcalled rose bead and this is the
one you need to bring yourtissues super, super powerful
about being a mom and dealingwith, uh, what your child's
(08:58):
going through, okay, and she'scoming into town and she'll be
here, okay, yeah, so she'll beawarded, um, uh, be given an
award or closing gala, um, soshe will be here saturday night.
Saturday night, yes, and then,uh, we just announced today
variety that bre that BrendaSong will be here, and so most
people know Brenda Song, as somepeople know her as Bacalli, as
(09:21):
wife, yes, and she's also onthis super witty show on Netflix
called Running Point with KateHudson, and it was just weird,
for she was phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
She is that or not.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
not movie, but that series I love that series, but
she kept kate in check, she canlet her go, but brought her back
and I also feel like sheempowered kate to kind of be the
badass woman.
She did, I loved her characterwhen kate didn't know she was.
Yes, you know what I mean.
And so she's coming.
We just announced, inpartnership with variety
(09:55):
magazine, which is huge, whichis huge for this year, for this
year, so variety is our partnerright, and so they're giving her
the variety virtual award.
And so, just about heraccomplishments, about, you know
, uh, her, her life as being anasian american woman in the
public eye, as an actor, and so,uh, and we will be announcing
(10:17):
something else that she'll be apart of, uh, but right now, we
just announced, uh, that she'sgoing to be given this award.
Oh, I love that.
So I love really good dynamic,uh, celebrities, um, and
obviously, you know we talkedabout sovereign um and you know,
uh, and you never know, dennisquaid and nancy travis could be
(10:39):
here.
They could be, we shall see.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And so, yes, I hope you all are reading between the
lines on twilight space.
Yeah, just just saying yeahexactly.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
So those are just some, um, some fun stuff, yeah
let's so.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
you brought up Sovereign, and if somebody
decided to skip ahead to Part 2and didn't see Part 1, sovereign
is part of the Homegrown whichBentonville where it's really
(11:14):
highlighting voices andfilmmakers and films that were
shot in the state of Arkansas.
I love this, I feel like forthe past 11 years.
There's always been a tie.
There's always been a tie, butnot as much.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Not as much because two years ago, obviously, we had
Hard Miles with Matthew Lodineand with RJ Hanna, who was a
director, and he went toBentonville High School and his
parents still live here.
But this year is you'll see ushighlighting films that are
particularly, either,highlighting some that are made
(11:51):
in Bentonville, literally Right,some that are Springdale and
Fayetteville, a little bit outof Little Rock, um, and then
we're also highlighting, um,some voices you know.
So, if you think aboutJuneteenth, you know we're going
to be celebrating, uh, adocumentary short um called uh,
traveling Mercies, um, and it'sa short, not documentary, but it
(12:14):
was built, it was filmed atBentonville High School.
You'll see there's a few scenesof it's downtown, on the square
, which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It's always fun.
So I have kids right, and soFreddie debuted at BFF and so
that's why that was fun to watch, because you're like, oh my
gosh, that's that tire Exactly.
It's weird, it's good.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
It's weird to see it.
But then you're like oh okay,oh, we're real.
And then we also arehighlighting Colbert All
students can learn the firstAfrican-American superintendent
in Fayetteville and he reallyhelped with a lot of
desegregation, and so you'll seeus highlight that.
I guess you don't need that,don't need that pen, so that's
going to be good.
So the homegrown section reallyis us paying homage I love this
(13:01):
To the state of Arkansas andthe goal is that you'll see more
of it.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
It makes me happy because I'm a transplant, so I
can only and you're a transplanttoo like, I can only imagine
what people who are like, bornand bred here, feel to see
Arkansas so highlighted, exactlyBecause until you touch ground
here, you don't know what thehype is.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It's still backwards, right Outside of this little
gold bubble.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
You know there's also because I saw ironically, it
came about because I met amountain biker who was a former
world champion, who had had abrain injury because she got hit
by a drunk driver talks aboutthe adaptive trails and how
(13:58):
people who were at the height oftheir careers as professional
riders are faced with thisadversity and the only thing
that they really know that helpsthem thrive, that helps them
get back on the horse is isriding, and so it highlights how
, you know, this team havebasically created these trails
for adaptive riders and that's Imean, that's a feat in itself,
(14:21):
even just the trail construction, just the trail, and it's
become you know, obviously youknow bit goals, become like the
mountain biking capital of theworld, but like the adaptive
trails, people are coming fromall over the world to highlight
the trails and so stuff likethat, that it takes a flashlight
for that, because I didn't evenknow they existed so now we
have our film.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I had no idea that it even existed until I met, uh,
annika right, who is a part ofthis film, and then, ironically,
the past worked out that theywere creating this documentary,
and so, but yeah, I love it,yeah, and then we have allison
de la jose who spoke and I wetalked about her for just one
(15:00):
second in part one, but I likethe lineage that she was a
another transplant to northwestarkansas and showed up to, I
think, year one, so 11 years ago, to one of the panels like In
Charge of your Own Destiny I'msure I'm butchering the title,
but Anne realized this was herdestiny, was to immerse herself
(15:24):
in Bentonville and to ride abike and find the story.
And now she's done Ridge toRiver, yep, yep, yep.
River to Ridge, river to RidgeI butchered it a hundred times
and the arkansas traverse.
So I'm like if it's almost goesback to if you can see it, you
can be it exactly, you knowwhich exactly days of bff, yeah,
(15:46):
which we're bringing it back.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
It'll be a panel too, so yeah, I've left.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Okay, so talk about.
Do we have any?
Do we have any announcements?
We finally announced the dateand time for Gina and Friends.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yep, gina and Friends On Friday night, I feel like we
have not announced although Iknow, but we have not announced
the cast yet.
Everyone's dying to know it'sgoing to be exciting.
I know who they are, so thecast's going to be exciting.
I know who they are, so thecast is going to be great.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
You're not going to give one tease.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Gina.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah, okay, gina has to be there, because Gina is the
name said at the festival.
Someone who's getting an awardmay be a part of Gina and
Friends we may have mentionedher, we may have mentioned her,
we may have talked about her,and that's going to be at Thaden
again.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
That's several years in a row, we love that
partnership for Thayden andthat's going to be there.
Yep, that's our spot, yeah, sowe're super excited about it
okay, let's talk about howfamily driven this festival is
yeah, so you know, this is thepart that there's so many parts
of the festival that I love, butone of the parts it's hard to
zero in on your favorite.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
It's so hard to zero in on your face.
It's so hard to zero in Becauseit's like this and there's
something for everyone, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Well, you know, this is the part that you know we,
you and I, are so fortunate thatwe have so many opportunities,
right.
But if you are a family of fourand you don't have a lot of
money but you're looking forsomething to do, right, a lot of
money, but you're looking forsomething to do, right, you
could come out when the janadavis outdoor theater opens up
(17:17):
on, uh, thursday.
On thursday, which is june 19th, uh, and it kicks off with wild
robot, right, you can bringyour family out.
You could kind of sit down,which is at the moment, which is
at the momentary, okay, yes,right, uh, there's free hot dogs
.
We're doing sausages this yearin partnership with cm's club,
because they're providing allthe condiments and the, the
(17:40):
hamburger buns and the hot dogbuns and chips, right.
Also to coca-cola is this isour, obviously our presenting,
yes, sir, so all the drinks youcan have, not to mention, there
will be candy and you can enjoyit and guess what?
It's all free, it's all freeand a movie and a movie.
And not only are we doing it onthursday, we're doing it friday
(18:02):
and we're doing it saturday oh,there's two films and there's
two films so just a quick shoutout to our sponsors.
And so, on thursday night, wehave the wild robot, and then we
have Beetlejuice, which is thenewer one, which is the newer
one.
If you remember, last year weclosed it out with Beetlejuice,
the original, with the original.
So then, on Thursday, we haveDogman, which you know, I don't
(18:24):
even know what that is.
But it was a book, kids love it.
And then we also have MinecraftMinecraft movie, which has
taken over the world ChickenJockey.
And then Saturday we have andwe'll talk a little bit about
the special performance later,but the Outdoor Theater opens at
12 o'clock with a partnershipwith Walmart, the Walmart Toy
(18:48):
Corner, where there will be 35plus activation.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
What's it called in November?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Toyland.
Toyland, but different andbigger and better, yeah, so this
one's more about creatingexperiences and you being able
to do things.
I mean, obviously there'llstill be a bunch of giveaways,
yeah, but you'll be able to ridesome of the newest bikes Like
we have like bubble blasters andsegways and just it's going to
(19:16):
be crazy.
And Peppa the Pig I was justgoing to say Peppa's coming Is
bringing their entire likeactivation where they travel
across the country will be there.
Not to mention, we'll also havedora bluey's coming oh bluey is
huge gabby.
We have a professionalskateboarder that's also coming.
Oh, that's so.
(19:38):
It's going to be insane.
And that's just for the outdoortheater, right?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
in addition to free food, which is also free with
its food, but like this toycorner.
Yes, free, so like yoursaturday is planned for you for
free right, it is for.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
And then for the adults that need a little bit of
a break, we also have a hugeactivation with men of aid hard
cocktails, right.
So you know, your kids get togo crazy.
You know, hopped up onsomething, yes, you need to if
that's what you want to do.
Yes, you get to go crazy.
You know, hopped up onsomething and you need to.
If that's what you want to do,you get to have a nice little
drink.
(20:13):
So, and then Saturday nightwe're showing the original
Superman yes, wait you saidoriginal.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
That was going to be one of my questions, but then
you just said original as in,like when you and I were growing
up.
Original, yeah, that 18th.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah, that I teach.
Yep, oh, yep.
So we're showing that inpartnership with Warner Brothers
, because you know, there's anew.
There's a new one coming out,yes.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
So, oh, and that new Superman is so cute.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, we have some fun stuff that we'll do with
Crypto Dog, and then ournightcap will be a dress up
sing-al on version of WickedWicked and so, and then which
let's touch on Wicked for asecond.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I just purchased something.
We're not going to talk aboutwhat that something is, but I
purchased something from anauction last week.
Yep, american Heart AssociationWe'll shout them out because
you are super involved with themFrom Wicked Yep, talk about
your connection to Wicked.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Oh gosh, you know, um from wicked, you know, talk
about your connection to wicked.
Oh gosh, you know, right, whenI left walmart, uh, you know a
part of the things that there'sso many great things that I got
to do when I was at walmart, butone of the things that,
ironically, is a thread for thebitmo film festival as well that
I was a part of was theentertainment council, so I got
to work with connections beforeyou went and contracted bfa,
(21:25):
exactly, which is weird.
Which is the whole thing is morefate, which is which I think
it's fate.
Yeah, I do think it's fate.
But you know, right after uh Iwas done uh with walmart, you
know I got a call from a friendof mine who works for universal
uh, and they were like we wouldlove your help on uh, just idea
(21:48):
brain brainstorming, because youknow we have wicked and we have
this amazing cast.
At the time, you know, theywere like ariana grande.
And then they said cynthia revoto me and I immediately knew
who she was and they were likewell, what do you mean?
And I was like well, you know,harriet?
And I was like she's.
And then I said the first time Igot to experience her was color
purple on broadway.
(22:09):
And they were so excited that Iknew her so immediately I was
like there's so much you can dowith her.
It's just she's super talented.
And so they were like we wantyou to go to la to meet with the
team.
And I was like what, okay?
And I didn't even charge them.
I was like, okay, I'm goingright, so I go this is more of
that.
Like I work for free, I work forfree yeah, because I was just
(22:32):
super excited and I was talkingto them about all these ideas
about what you could do and Iwas like it's kind of like and
ironically the evp of universalwas at disney, uh, when black
panther was started and I kindof helped walmart, green light,
black panther.
(22:52):
So I I don't want to say that Iwas the reason why they moved
black panther to february, uh,but I had a lot to do with it of
having black panther come outon black history exactly.
It's all about how things andand I believed in Black Panther
so much and I believed in Wickedso much and at the time exactly
(23:12):
, and at the time they thoughtthat they were going to do maybe
a couple hundred milliondollars in product for Wicked
and I was like no, no, no, no.
I said this is the BlackPanther of our generation.
I said they have a multi andthen I was already obsessed with
the fact that Michelle Yeoh,she had just won the Oscar.
So they were freaked out abouthow much I knew about it, right,
(23:36):
super fan.
You were the super fan.
Yeah, I was, I wasn't, and so Igot the opportunity to.
So they presented me with theopportunity to go to London, to
go to set, and they didn't evenknow why I was going there.
Most people were like who isthis person?
And I just love Rafa.
He was like we just want you tobe you, we want you to come to
(23:57):
set, take it all in like andcome up with a merchandise
strategy and just give us yourideas.
And I was like this is what I'mdoing, this is what I want to
do like.
I want to be able to use mycreative mind to come up with
ideas, to think outside the box,to figure out how to scale it,
(24:18):
but also to to introduce peopleto certain things that they
would never, ever, ever get tosee and do or think of, and and
there is when I really on my wayback, because I was only in
london for 48 hours, that's ituh-huh I in my head, you were on
that step fora week.
No, uh-uh, no.
(24:38):
I literally was in la.
I flew to la on monday, metwith the universal team on
Tuesday, they flew me home onWednesday, flew to London on
Thursday, landed on Friday, hadto go straight to Universal to
get like, because I had like 15COVID tests, because this was
COVID time, yeah, covid tests,industry party that night.
(24:59):
And then you had to then wakeup early to take another COVID
test, okay, and in order for youto be able to get on the bus to
go to the set was two and ahalf hours outside of London.
And one of the most magicalthings that I've ever
experienced got to see MichelleYeoh come in as Madame Morrible,
(25:22):
because she was late to set,because she had been doing all
the award shows for her oscarand she was stressed this had to
be february.
Oh yeah, right, oh yeah, shewas dressed in all things,
everything.
And no, it was in march, right,because it's right after it was
in march, right, and she pullsout her oscar and literally I
have a good spot.
She's right there because ralphis like come sit with me and
(25:45):
I'm in the front row.
So then I was like how I mean,you can't get any better than
this.
So then she whips away and goesback to set and who's like,
literally 10 feet from me isAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivo,
and you can't take any picturesbecause they have locked up
your phone somewhere.
So I was like is this reallywhat's happening?
(26:07):
And right then, and there Isaid I know what I'm doing I
love it.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
That was your aha moment.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
That was my aha moment.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It was the most epic experience it wasn't just me,
and still it.
Yeah, that was your aha moment.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
yeah, I've had a lot of really good moments, but it
was that one where I was like Icould do this, yeah, and I and I
have, you know, uh, ceciliaraymond to thank for it.
You know, she was the one whowe became really close when she
was at warner brothers, uh, weworked a lot to work through
bringing licensing together, andthen she was from la right and
(26:45):
we had that in common and shefell in love with bentonville
and moved her family here andthen went to universal and so
fast forward.
And then, of course, rafa wasat disney and I had a great
relationship with him for blackpanther, uh, which they were all
shocked that I knew whochadwick boseman was, and then
he went to universal.
So it's like all the stars justkind of aligned and I feel to
(27:09):
me it's like always a connectedthread, always, yeah, and I know
we got off of BFF, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
But no, we didn't, because Wicked is showing.
You're closing out the outdoortheater with.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Wicked and I was like we're closing it out with
Wicked and then, hopefully,fingers crossed, we don't know
yet.
So the the wicked for goodtrailer is uh attached to the
how to train your dragon, okay,which comes out june 13th, I'm
kidding.
So we're, we're, we're hopingthat we'll also get to get you
show it, uh, and show it, andthen, right after wicked, it's
(27:45):
fireworks it is fireworks firsttime or second oh, last year was
the first time.
Okay, my bad, yeah, shoot, yeah,well, no, last year we were
stressed because we were like wecan't set the parking lot deck
on fire.
No, but they'll never let usback again, for and it was so
successful, we're doing it again.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
I love that.
I thought that was so exciting,so I thought the fireworks were
new.
That's my bad, that's okay,okay.
So I think that's a good placeto wrap up, because what's the
tagline?
Come for the movie, stay forthe magic.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Oh, I might steal that from you.
It's on your website, no, but Imean, you know, we're just so
grateful.
Uh, the marketing, the social,everyone, it's on point this
year.
Oh, thank you, it's on pointthis year.
We're trying, we're learningevery day and I'm sure is with
you with 3w.
It's like you do one thing andimmediately you're like, okay,
(28:41):
wait, no, I know I can be better.
Like, oh, I saw this, I'm gonnado this, um, and so gosh, we're
just, I'm just so grateful, um,and every day is different and
exciting, stressful sometimes.
Okay, and make sure youappreciate the highs, appreciate
the highs and living in themoment, yes, having a blast
that's what you have to do,right?
Speaker 1 (29:01):
that's authentic and life is life.
Life is change.
Got it?
It's how you navigate, exactly.
Yeah, I love it.
Oh my gosh, thank you, friend.
Thanks for having me.
I love that you came and didthis.
You were so great to kick offlike I were just resurrecting
the podcast, so I love thatyou've brought this.
You've kept come with me alongthis journey in the past few
years.
I'm glad you accepted my friendrequest.
(29:22):
Yep, I did.
Yes, thank yes, thank you somuch.
We've gone over time so Iapologize if you've stuck with
this this long.
Thank you so much.
I say that all the time.
Thank you for supporting thepodcast.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Don't forget to go get your Hershey's salty snacks
and don't forget, the BentvilleFilm Festival is June 16th
through June 22nd.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Yes, it's going to be there.
It's going to be so great.
Get your tickets now on ourwebsite.
Yeah, absolutely.
Keep inspiring the culture ofgiving till next time.
Thank you, thank you.
Hey everybody, welcome back to part two of The
3W Podcast with my friend TwillaBrooks.
I hope you caught the firstepisode where we dove into how
giant of a badass that she is.
And she has her own company,Lynette Create and Innovate.
I was going to say Incorporated.
I knew there was an I and Inormally know, I typed it, I
(00:27):
know, but when I speak I don'tknow.
So that's awesome because Idon't think before I speak.
We all know that anyways.
So Twilla is here.
For bff, which it's june,finally it's.
Hopefully the sun has come outindefinitely and we're gonna
have an amazing bentonville filmfestival.
So happy 11, happy 11, yeah,yeah, so excited.
Let's start with b, let's startwith all things bff, we're
(00:50):
turning 11.
The theme is find yourself infilm.
Yep, find yourself in film,which I love that we love it.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
and you'll see as it ties to homegrown big time
homegrown.
But you'll see us kind of use,find yourself at a spotlight,
find yourself in amazement atthe outdoor theater Just a few
to kind of like highlight.
But what's so great about it isit's the opportunity for you to
see yourself.
It is yes, especially in a worldwhere you know right now
(01:21):
there's just so much adversityout in the world.
You know right now there's justso much adversity out in the
world and it it gives you agreat opportunity to just kind
of take a beat where you mightbe super excited, you might
laugh, you might cry, you mightbe deep in thought.
And there's a lot, trust me,I've seen a lot of these films
and, um, they're gonna tear atyour heart for so, okay, so
kleenex, yes, I would say forsure, depending upon the one
that you're gonna go see, makesure you bring your kleenex yes
(01:42):
I would say for sure, dependingupon the one that you're going
to go see, make sure you bringyour kleenex and some of them
are sold out some of them aresold out.
Yeah, we're looking at.
I know we're so excited aboutthat, like um uh rich river is
sold out showings are sold out,the librarians are sold out, and
so, uh, which is amazing for us, that's yes, we typically
(02:04):
wouldn't have.
Yes, you know screeningsalready sold out until next week
, right?
Speaker 1 (02:09):
so 11 years ago, when y'all started the festival, we
didn't even have a movie theater.
Yeah, 11 have sold outscreenings today, right now.
It's amazing, it's amazing.
Yeah, I love it.
So june 16th through the 22nd,june 16th through the 22nd we
pray for good weather.
We pray for good weather.
We we're activating momentarycrystal bridges fading.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Yes, so we're going to go across.
So our headquarters will be atthe momentary right.
So all things BFF will be atthe momentary.
We're so grateful that withpartnering with the community,
we're going to be at so manydifferent venues.
Obviously we'll be back atSkylight.
We cannot have the Bentonvillefilm festival without skylight.
(02:48):
You can't right, mom and sofrom the movie theater
standpoint and scott and jaredand the entire team at skylight,
they're so giving to thebentonville film festival I mean
you've wrapped the outside ofit.
Yeah, they wrapped the outsideof it.
Um, crystal bridges, we're backagain.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
We'll talk a little bit about a couple of those
conversations that we're havingat crystal bridges, uh, one was
just made public today, yes,which I know this airs in june,
but one was just made publictoday, made public today, like
right before I got here I was uh.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Obviously we'll be back at theated uh for june and
friends.
So thank you so much to uh theteam at theated.
Our opening reception will beat blake.
Oh my gosh, I'm shocked.
Yes, we're also watching that.
We will be at doing a panel atthe Walmart Museum.
Oh, with the newly unveiled.
Yeah, so you'll see us try to.
(03:39):
You know, this is a communityfestival, right, and we wouldn't
be here without the communityof Bentonville and the fact that
they've been so open toallowing us to use their venues
and our festival hotel is themotto oh, even perfect, because
we just talked about in part onehow your favorite restaurant is
Junto, yeah, and the bottom, socan you imagine all the
filmmakers are downtown, theycan walk around, they can really
(04:03):
be like engrossed in thebentonville culture, uh, and and
we're having one of our afterparties, uh, at the record
person.
So that is seven locations, Ilove that?
Speaker 1 (04:14):
yeah, because the bentonville femme festival is
downtown bentonville exactly.
I mean, uh, a million years agothere these were before teslas
were like exactly being drivenaround everywhere.
They were testing them downhere and I would get in a tesla,
you know where.
The doors would flip up like adelorean right.
(04:34):
It would drive me at one hoteland it would drive me to the
record where everything wasactivating, like in year one or
two.
Yeah was so cool and I'm liketo see it.
Not to see it evolve, yep, butto still stay right around the
square still stay around thesquare.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
we're not as much on the square.
Obviously, the square is, uh,under construction, a little
torn up, but that's okay, youknow, we're still, uh, we're
still utilizing blake street,still utilizing 21c.
Uh, I think that the greatthing about the festival also
being over saturday, saturday isthat a lot of people get to
experience the farmer's marketRight when, if you remember, a
(05:10):
couple years ago, we had somecelebrity chefs in town and they
were like obsessed with thefarmer's market.
It's the quaintest thing ever,exactly.
So, so there's a lot of coolstuff and I think we're also
going to announce another partyat Barclita.
Okay, so, yeah, so it's like,yeah, think we're also going to
announce another party, uh, atbarclayda.
Okay, it's so, yeah, so it's.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
it's like, yeah, we're super excited good, after
you leave barclayda you can hopacross to celeste exactly to try
it exactly.
See, logistically perfect foryou.
Let's talk about opening night,okay, uh, what's your film?
Speaker 2 (05:38):
so the opening night, the film is east of wall.
It's a powerful story, whereyou know.
It talks about, um, women andgirls who kind of are, you know,
inspired by their love ofhorses.
Okay, and it takes place insouth dakota.
Um, I don't want to give toomuch away because the story um
(06:02):
is really powerful, okay, and ittalks a lot about rescue horses
and different things like that,and so we're super excited
about it.
That's very unique for anopening film.
Yeah, it's unique for anopening film, but it's a story
that we believe must be told.
Okay, we're looking forward toit.
Speaker 1 (06:22):
I like that.
Okay, let's jump on tocelebrities, because one jump on
to celebrities?
Okay, because one was justannounced today.
Yes, al Roker is coming.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Al Roker is coming, he has a film, he has a series,
a series that will air inSeptember, but it's called
Weather Hunters, which isapropos, you know, for so it
follows the journey of a younggirl, um, and there's amazing,
uh, talent in it, uh, like wandasykes, holly robertson, p,
(06:53):
shirley ralph, and so he's gotthe perfect and I've got to see
a little bit of it.
It is so funny, good, but soit's almost like she's a storm
chaser, but she's a weatherhunter, okay, so it's super cool
.
And then, how lucky are we thathe's going to be doing a
conversation at Crystal Bridgeson Tuesday, june 17th, Opening
day.
Opening day.
(07:13):
He's going to, you know, fly in, and you never know, he might
pop up on the news here to dothe weather, we don't know.
So he has that conversation.
So we're super, super, superexcited to have him.
And he's gonna speak at crystalbridges.
Right, he's gonna speak atcrystal bridges on tuesday, yeah
, in the afternoon.
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 1 (07:33):
And then we, um, I announced also we are honoring
lucy lu and it's saturday, okay,so side note, yeah, it's not
important at all, okay, but mydream job still to this day is
to be a Charlie's Angel.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Oh, my God, I think so it's so funny because this is
now, we're both showing our age.
But, like I was so obsessedwith Charlie's Angels, with Lucy
Liu and Cameron Diaz and DrewBarrymore oh, obsessed and I
just wanted to be Lucy Liu'scharacter because I felt like
she was like, so put together,she was and like everything and
she could kick some serious buttand her hair was always perfect
(08:08):
, her makeup was always perfectand she had the cutest boyfriend
.
Yes, he was adorable.
What's his name, wasn't it Lee?
Yes, yes, of Wilson.
So we're super excited aboutthat.
But she also has Wait, no, no,that was Cameron Diaz's
boyfriend.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Oh yeah, that waseron diaz's boyfriend.
Oh yeah, that was uh joey fromfriends.
Oh yeah, what's joey?
Yes, you're right, right, rightsame same but thank you, yeah,
yeah.
But I'm like, oh, when youmentioned that she was coming, I
was like, oh, I'm aging myself.
Speaker 2 (08:36):
I'm sure she's done many amazing things since
charlie's angels, right, butthat's well, she has a great
well, she has an amazing filmcalled rose bead and this is the
one you need to bring yourtissues super, super powerful
about being a mom and dealingwith, uh, what your child's
(08:58):
going through, okay, and she'scoming into town and she'll be
here, okay, yeah, so she'll beawarded, um, uh, be given an
award or closing gala, um, soshe will be here saturday night.
Saturday night, yes, and then,uh, we just announced today
variety that bre that BrendaSong will be here, and so most
people know Brenda Song, as somepeople know her as Bacalli, as
(09:21):
wife, yes, and she's also onthis super witty show on Netflix
called Running Point with KateHudson, and it was just weird,
for she was phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
She is that or not.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
not movie, but that series I love that series, but
she kept kate in check, she canlet her go, but brought her back
and I also feel like sheempowered kate to kind of be the
badass woman.
She did, I loved her characterwhen kate didn't know she was.
Yes, you know what I mean.
And so she's coming.
We just announced, inpartnership with variety
(09:55):
magazine, which is huge, whichis huge for this year, for this
year, so variety is our partnerright, and so they're giving her
the variety virtual award.
And so, just about heraccomplishments, about, you know
, uh, her, her life as being anasian american woman in the
public eye, as an actor, and so,uh, and we will be announcing
(10:17):
something else that she'll be apart of, uh, but right now, we
just announced, uh, that she'sgoing to be given this award.
Oh, I love that.
So I love really good dynamic,uh, celebrities, um, and
obviously, you know we talkedabout sovereign um and you know,
uh, and you never know, dennisquaid and nancy travis could be
(10:39):
here.
They could be, we shall see.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
And so, yes, I hope you all are reading between the
lines on twilight space.
Yeah, just just saying yeahexactly.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
So those are just some, um, some fun stuff, yeah
let's so.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
you brought up Sovereign, and if somebody
decided to skip ahead to Part 2and didn't see Part 1, sovereign
is part of the Homegrown whichBentonville where it's really
(11:14):
highlighting voices andfilmmakers and films that were
shot in the state of Arkansas.
I love this, I feel like forthe past 11 years.
There's always been a tie.
There's always been a tie, butnot as much.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Not as much because two years ago, obviously, we had
Hard Miles with Matthew Lodineand with RJ Hanna, who was a
director, and he went toBentonville High School and his
parents still live here.
But this year is you'll see ushighlighting films that are
particularly, either,highlighting some that are made
(11:51):
in Bentonville, literally Right,some that are Springdale and
Fayetteville, a little bit outof Little Rock, um, and then
we're also highlighting, um,some voices you know.
So, if you think aboutJuneteenth, you know we're going
to be celebrating, uh, adocumentary short um called uh,
traveling Mercies, um, and it'sa short, not documentary, but it
(12:14):
was built, it was filmed atBentonville High School.
You'll see there's a few scenesof it's downtown, on the square
, which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It's always fun.
So I have kids right, and soFreddie debuted at BFF and so
that's why that was fun to watch, because you're like, oh my
gosh, that's that tire Exactly.
It's weird, it's good.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
It's weird to see it.
But then you're like oh okay,oh, we're real.
And then we also arehighlighting Colbert All
students can learn the firstAfrican-American superintendent
in Fayetteville and he reallyhelped with a lot of
desegregation, and so you'll seeus highlight that.
I guess you don't need that,don't need that pen, so that's
going to be good.
So the homegrown section reallyis us paying homage I love this
(13:01):
To the state of Arkansas andthe goal is that you'll see more
of it.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
It makes me happy because I'm a transplant, so I
can only and you're a transplanttoo like, I can only imagine
what people who are like, bornand bred here, feel to see
Arkansas so highlighted, exactlyBecause until you touch ground
here, you don't know what thehype is.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
It's still backwards, right Outside of this little
gold bubble.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
You know there's also because I saw ironically, it
came about because I met amountain biker who was a former
world champion, who had had abrain injury because she got hit
by a drunk driver talks aboutthe adaptive trails and how
(13:58):
people who were at the height oftheir careers as professional
riders are faced with thisadversity and the only thing
that they really know that helpsthem thrive, that helps them
get back on the horse is isriding, and so it highlights how
, you know, this team havebasically created these trails
for adaptive riders and that's Imean, that's a feat in itself,
(14:21):
even just the trail construction, just the trail, and it's
become you know, obviously youknow bit goals, become like the
mountain biking capital of theworld, but like the adaptive
trails, people are coming fromall over the world to highlight
the trails and so stuff likethat, that it takes a flashlight
for that, because I didn't evenknow they existed so now we
have our film.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
I had no idea that it even existed until I met, uh,
annika right, who is a part ofthis film, and then, ironically,
the past worked out that theywere creating this documentary,
and so, but yeah, I love it,yeah, and then we have allison
de la jose who spoke and I wetalked about her for just one
(15:00):
second in part one, but I likethe lineage that she was a
another transplant to northwestarkansas and showed up to, I
think, year one, so 11 years ago, to one of the panels like In
Charge of your Own Destiny I'msure I'm butchering the title,
but Anne realized this was herdestiny, was to immerse herself
(15:24):
in Bentonville and to ride abike and find the story.
And now she's done Ridge toRiver, yep, yep, yep.
River to Ridge, river to RidgeI butchered it a hundred times
and the arkansas traverse.
So I'm like if it's almost goesback to if you can see it, you
can be it exactly, you knowwhich exactly days of bff, yeah,
(15:46):
which we're bringing it back.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
It'll be a panel too, so yeah, I've left.
Speaker 1 (15:51):
Okay, so talk about.
Do we have any?
Do we have any announcements?
We finally announced the dateand time for Gina and Friends.
Speaker 2 (16:00):
Yep, gina and Friends On Friday night, I feel like we
have not announced although Iknow, but we have not announced
the cast yet.
Everyone's dying to know it'sgoing to be exciting.
I know who they are, so thecast's going to be exciting.
I know who they are, so thecast is going to be great.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
You're not going to give one tease.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Gina.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
Yeah, okay, gina has to be there, because Gina is the
name said at the festival.
Someone who's getting an awardmay be a part of Gina and
Friends we may have mentionedher, we may have mentioned her,
we may have talked about her,and that's going to be at Thaden
again.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
That's several years in a row, we love that
partnership for Thayden andthat's going to be there.
Yep, that's our spot, yeah, sowe're super excited about it
okay, let's talk about howfamily driven this festival is
yeah, so you know, this is thepart that there's so many parts
of the festival that I love, butone of the parts it's hard to
zero in on your favorite.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
It's so hard to zero in on your face.
It's so hard to zero in Becauseit's like this and there's
something for everyone, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Well, you know, this is the part that you know we,
you and I, are so fortunate thatwe have so many opportunities,
right.
But if you are a family of fourand you don't have a lot of
money but you're looking forsomething to do, right, a lot of
money, but you're looking forsomething to do, right, you
could come out when the janadavis outdoor theater opens up
(17:17):
on, uh, thursday.
On thursday, which is june 19th, uh, and it kicks off with wild
robot, right, you can bringyour family out.
You could kind of sit down,which is at the moment, which is
at the momentary, okay, yes,right, uh, there's free hot dogs
.
We're doing sausages this yearin partnership with cm's club,
because they're providing allthe condiments and the, the
(17:40):
hamburger buns and the hot dogbuns and chips, right.
Also to coca-cola is this isour, obviously our presenting,
yes, sir, so all the drinks youcan have, not to mention, there
will be candy and you can enjoyit and guess what?
It's all free, it's all freeand a movie and a movie.
And not only are we doing it onthursday, we're doing it friday
(18:02):
and we're doing it saturday oh,there's two films and there's
two films so just a quick shoutout to our sponsors.
And so, on thursday night, wehave the wild robot, and then we
have Beetlejuice, which is thenewer one, which is the newer
one.
If you remember, last year weclosed it out with Beetlejuice,
the original, with the original.
So then, on Thursday, we haveDogman, which you know, I don't
(18:24):
even know what that is.
But it was a book, kids love it.
And then we also have MinecraftMinecraft movie, which has
taken over the world ChickenJockey.
And then Saturday we have andwe'll talk a little bit about
the special performance later,but the Outdoor Theater opens at
12 o'clock with a partnershipwith Walmart, the Walmart Toy
(18:48):
Corner, where there will be 35plus activation.
Speaker 1 (18:53):
What's it called in November?
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Toyland.
Toyland, but different andbigger and better, yeah, so this
one's more about creatingexperiences and you being able
to do things.
I mean, obviously there'llstill be a bunch of giveaways,
yeah, but you'll be able to ridesome of the newest bikes Like
we have like bubble blasters andsegways and just it's going to
(19:16):
be crazy.
And Peppa the Pig I was justgoing to say Peppa's coming Is
bringing their entire likeactivation where they travel
across the country will be there.
Not to mention, we'll also havedora bluey's coming oh bluey is
huge gabby.
We have a professionalskateboarder that's also coming.
Oh, that's so.
(19:38):
It's going to be insane.
And that's just for the outdoortheater, right?
Speaker 1 (19:42):
in addition to free food, which is also free with
its food, but like this toycorner.
Yes, free, so like yoursaturday is planned for you for
free right, it is for.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
And then for the adults that need a little bit of
a break, we also have a hugeactivation with men of aid hard
cocktails, right.
So you know, your kids get togo crazy.
You know, hopped up onsomething, yes, you need to if
that's what you want to do.
Yes, you get to go crazy.
You know, hopped up onsomething and you need to.
If that's what you want to do,you get to have a nice little
drink.
(20:13):
So, and then Saturday nightwe're showing the original
Superman yes, wait you saidoriginal.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
That was going to be one of my questions, but then
you just said original as in,like when you and I were growing
up.
Original, yeah, that 18th.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yeah, that I teach.
Yep, oh, yep.
So we're showing that inpartnership with Warner Brothers
, because you know, there's anew.
There's a new one coming out,yes.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
So, oh, and that new Superman is so cute.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
Yeah, we have some fun stuff that we'll do with
Crypto Dog, and then ournightcap will be a dress up
sing-al on version of WickedWicked and so, and then which
let's touch on Wicked for asecond.
Speaker 1 (20:49):
I just purchased something.
We're not going to talk aboutwhat that something is, but I
purchased something from anauction last week.
Yep, american Heart AssociationWe'll shout them out because
you are super involved with themFrom Wicked Yep, talk about
your connection to Wicked.
Speaker 2 (21:04):
Oh gosh, you know, um from wicked, you know, talk
about your connection to wicked.
Oh gosh, you know, right, whenI left walmart, uh, you know a
part of the things that there'sso many great things that I got
to do when I was at walmart, butone of the things that,
ironically, is a thread for thebitmo film festival as well that
I was a part of was theentertainment council, so I got
to work with connections beforeyou went and contracted bfa,
(21:25):
exactly, which is weird.
Which is the whole thing is morefate, which is which I think
it's fate.
Yeah, I do think it's fate.
But you know, right after uh Iwas done uh with walmart, you
know I got a call from a friendof mine who works for universal
uh, and they were like we wouldlove your help on uh, just idea
(21:48):
brain brainstorming, because youknow we have wicked and we have
this amazing cast.
At the time, you know, theywere like ariana grande.
And then they said cynthia revoto me and I immediately knew
who she was and they were likewell, what do you mean?
And I was like well, you know,harriet?
And I was like she's.
And then I said the first time Igot to experience her was color
purple on broadway.
(22:09):
And they were so excited that Iknew her so immediately I was
like there's so much you can dowith her.
It's just she's super talented.
And so they were like we wantyou to go to la to meet with the
team.
And I was like what, okay?
And I didn't even charge them.
I was like, okay, I'm goingright, so I go this is more of
that.
Like I work for free, I work forfree yeah, because I was just
(22:32):
super excited and I was talkingto them about all these ideas
about what you could do and Iwas like it's kind of like and
ironically the evp of universalwas at disney, uh, when black
panther was started and I kindof helped walmart, green light,
black panther.
(22:52):
So I I don't want to say that Iwas the reason why they moved
black panther to february, uh,but I had a lot to do with it of
having black panther come outon black history exactly.
It's all about how things andand I believed in Black Panther
so much and I believed in Wickedso much and at the time exactly
(23:12):
, and at the time they thoughtthat they were going to do maybe
a couple hundred milliondollars in product for Wicked
and I was like no, no, no, no.
I said this is the BlackPanther of our generation.
I said they have a multi andthen I was already obsessed with
the fact that Michelle Yeoh,she had just won the Oscar.
So they were freaked out abouthow much I knew about it, right,
(23:36):
super fan.
You were the super fan.
Yeah, I was, I wasn't, and so Igot the opportunity to.
So they presented me with theopportunity to go to London, to
go to set, and they didn't evenknow why I was going there.
Most people were like who isthis person?
And I just love Rafa.
He was like we just want you tobe you, we want you to come to
(23:57):
set, take it all in like andcome up with a merchandise
strategy and just give us yourideas.
And I was like this is what I'mdoing, this is what I want to
do like.
I want to be able to use mycreative mind to come up with
ideas, to think outside the box,to figure out how to scale it,
(24:18):
but also to to introduce peopleto certain things that they
would never, ever, ever get tosee and do or think of, and and
there is when I really on my wayback, because I was only in
london for 48 hours, that's ituh-huh I in my head, you were on
that step fora week.
No, uh-uh, no.
(24:38):
I literally was in la.
I flew to la on monday, metwith the universal team on
Tuesday, they flew me home onWednesday, flew to London on
Thursday, landed on Friday, hadto go straight to Universal to
get like, because I had like 15COVID tests, because this was
COVID time, yeah, covid tests,industry party that night.
(24:59):
And then you had to then wakeup early to take another COVID
test, okay, and in order for youto be able to get on the bus to
go to the set was two and ahalf hours outside of London.
And one of the most magicalthings that I've ever
experienced got to see MichelleYeoh come in as Madame Morrible,
(25:22):
because she was late to set,because she had been doing all
the award shows for her oscarand she was stressed this had to
be february.
Oh yeah, right, oh yeah, shewas dressed in all things,
everything.
And no, it was in march, right,because it's right after it was
in march, right, and she pullsout her oscar and literally I
have a good spot.
She's right there because ralphis like come sit with me and
(25:45):
I'm in the front row.
So then I was like how I mean,you can't get any better than
this.
So then she whips away and goesback to set and who's like,
literally 10 feet from me isAriana Grande and Cynthia Erivo,
and you can't take any picturesbecause they have locked up
your phone somewhere.
So I was like is this reallywhat's happening?
(26:07):
And right then, and there Isaid I know what I'm doing I
love it.
Speaker 1 (26:12):
That was your aha moment.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
That was my aha moment.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
It was the most epic experience it wasn't just me,
and still it.
Yeah, that was your aha moment.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
yeah, I've had a lot of really good moments, but it
was that one where I was like Icould do this, yeah, and I and I
have, you know, uh, ceciliaraymond to thank for it.
You know, she was the one whowe became really close when she
was at warner brothers, uh, weworked a lot to work through
bringing licensing together, andthen she was from la right and
(26:45):
we had that in common and shefell in love with bentonville
and moved her family here andthen went to universal and so
fast forward.
And then, of course, rafa wasat disney and I had a great
relationship with him for blackpanther, uh, which they were all
shocked that I knew whochadwick boseman was, and then
he went to universal.
So it's like all the stars justkind of aligned and I feel to
(27:09):
me it's like always a connectedthread, always, yeah, and I know
we got off of BFF, but yeah.
Speaker 1 (27:14):
But no, we didn't, because Wicked is showing.
You're closing out the outdoortheater with.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
Wicked and I was like we're closing it out with
Wicked and then, hopefully,fingers crossed, we don't know
yet.
So the the wicked for goodtrailer is uh attached to the
how to train your dragon, okay,which comes out june 13th, I'm
kidding.
So we're, we're, we're hopingthat we'll also get to get you
show it, uh, and show it, andthen, right after wicked, it's
(27:45):
fireworks it is fireworks firsttime or second oh, last year was
the first time.
Okay, my bad, yeah, shoot, yeah,well, no, last year we were
stressed because we were like wecan't set the parking lot deck
on fire.
No, but they'll never let usback again, for and it was so
successful, we're doing it again.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
I love that.
I thought that was so exciting,so I thought the fireworks were
new.
That's my bad, that's okay,okay.
So I think that's a good placeto wrap up, because what's the
tagline?
Come for the movie, stay forthe magic.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Oh, I might steal that from you.
It's on your website, no, but Imean, you know, we're just so
grateful.
Uh, the marketing, the social,everyone, it's on point this
year.
Oh, thank you, it's on pointthis year.
We're trying, we're learningevery day and I'm sure is with
you with 3w.
It's like you do one thing andimmediately you're like, okay,
(28:41):
wait, no, I know I can be better.
Like, oh, I saw this, I'm gonnado this, um, and so gosh, we're
just, I'm just so grateful, um,and every day is different and
exciting, stressful sometimes.
Okay, and make sure youappreciate the highs, appreciate
the highs and living in themoment, yes, having a blast
that's what you have to do,right?
Speaker 1 (29:01):
that's authentic and life is life.
Life is change.
Got it?
It's how you navigate, exactly.
Yeah, I love it.
Oh my gosh, thank you, friend.
Thanks for having me.
I love that you came and didthis.
You were so great to kick offlike I were just resurrecting
the podcast, so I love thatyou've brought this.
You've kept come with me alongthis journey in the past few
years.
I'm glad you accepted my friendrequest.
(29:22):
Yep, I did.
Yes, thank yes, thank you somuch.
We've gone over time so Iapologize if you've stuck with
this this long.
Thank you so much.
I say that all the time.
Thank you for supporting thepodcast.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
Don't forget to go get your Hershey's salty snacks
and don't forget, the BentvilleFilm Festival is June 16th
through June 22nd.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
Yes, it's going to be there.
It's going to be so great.
Get your tickets now on ourwebsite.
Yeah, absolutely.
Keep inspiring the culture ofgiving till next time.
Thank you, thank you.
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