Finding Dory Opens in Theaters on June 17th
The friendly-but-forgetful blue tang fish reunites with her loved ones, and everyone learns a few things about the real meaning of family along the way.
World Premiere Experience & Movie Review | Interview with Ellen DeGeneres and Ed O’Neill
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We sat down with Kaitlin Olson to discuss her role as “Destiny” in Finding Dory.
Kaitlin Olson voices “Destiny” in Finding Dory, coming to theaters on June 17th. We had the chance to sit down with Kaitlin just this past week to her role in Finding Dory and how she balances work and motherhood.
We asked if her kids saw the movie at the premiere, the night before. She said her little one was scared, but when she asked him why he didn’t like it, it was the fact that he ‘didn’t like the scary squid.’ Although, her older child ‘loved the scary squid. He loved it. Thought it was really funny and really sweet.’
What was your favorite scene?
I liked all of the scenes with Tiny Dory, that little baby Dory was so cute, her voice, I was like get out of here. That’s why I love Pixar movies so much, you can truly get emotional when you’re watching them. Like they’re funny and they’re fun to have in the background if your kids are watching a movie but I actually am invested in the movie […]. She’s just so sweet, all that stuff I thought was really sweet because it moved me.
What is your favorite characteristic of Destiny?
I like that she can’t swim well and that she’s imperfect, there’s just something so great about that. About all of these characters, there’s something imperfect about all of them, in that they still are making it happen and- and helping each other out. That’s what I like about her most I think.
Do your kids enjoy it when you speak whale to them?
I try not to speak whale as often as possible [laughing] because I had to do it so much, but Andrew [Stanton] and Lindsey [Collins] were so funny. At the end of every session they were like, sorry but we just need a little bit more whale. Sorry, sorry, sorry, I’m like okay, I just feel so dumb doing it [laughing]. So no I haven’t – and they haven’t asked, I’m sure they will someday.
How much training did you do for your whale [voice]?
I didn’t do any, yeah we can all do it. [laughs]
Why was it important for you to take on this role? What attracted you to it?
I think Pixar movies are amazing, they really, truly are my favorite kids’ movies, Wall-E, Toy Story all of them, they’re just amazing movies, they’re sweet, they have good messages. When I found out about the project, before I even found out what kind of character it was going it be, instantly I was like yeah-yeah-yeah yeah-yeah-yeah – anything yes. Because I’m on a show that’s for adults, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is not something we let our children watch, [laughing]
I was really excited to do a kids’ movie. At the time I had one baby and I was pregnant with my second one, so it has been four years, now that little one is four and he came to the premiere last night, I know it was pretty cool. I wanted to do something they could watch.
This is an iconic movie- your grand children will see it- what does that mean to you?
I seriously feel so incredibly honored to be a part of this movie for that reason. It’s a quality project. I feel like I’m repeating myself, but all the Pixar movies now they really relate to adults and children. I’m really focused on movies and shows that you want to sit down and watch with your family, because that’s just where I am in my life now too. I remember going to the movie with my family, it was like kind of of a special thing for us. We didn’t go very often.
And sitting down together on Thursday nights to watch Cheers, you know what I mean. And it’s important to me to find and work on things where we can all kind of get excited and watch together. So I just feel just incredibly honored to be a part of it for that reason, I believe in Pixar’s model and I really love this movie and I think it’s going to be around for a while.
[Tweet “”…family is really what you make of it. If you don’t have one, you can…” – @kaitlin_olson #FindingDoryEvent”]
What lesson about friendship does Destiny’s and Dory’s relationship relate to kids and adults as well?
Well working together for one thing and that family is really what you make of it. If you don’t have one, you can create one with with good people around you, which is really amazing. The just keep swimming thing – it’s a wonderful thing for everybody to keep in mind. Nobody has a perfect life, nobody is perfect, and that’s okay. I’m specifically dealing with that with one of my sons who’s just a perfectionist.
And he gets so upset, I mean even the Legos will fall apart and it’s not- and it really is the end of the world, and he feels personally like he is a terrible person. [Laughing] it’s like the Legos fell apart. That’s like a theme of his whole life and I’ve been trying to tell him for a long time, nobody is perfect I promise and he does not believe me, he really thinks he’s supposed to be. So that’s a message in this movie that really resonates for me personally- it’s you don’t have to be perfect. No- and there’s no such thing.
[Tweet “”Nobody has a perfect life, nobody is perfect, and that’s okay.” -@kaitlin_olson #FindingDoryEvent”]
For the scenes with Ty Burell did you record alone or did you record together?
Both, I got to work twice with Ty, which was the most fun. Ty is truly the sweetest, kindest, funniest, most generous person. He’s amazing, I loved working with him.
A lot of people like to work alone. But, I’m much more of an actor’s actor. We improvise a lot on my show, it’s just kind of what I’m used to, and, it was great for me to be able to work with him, we come up with a lot of cool stuff that way.
Other than Little Dory, who is your favorite character and why?
My sons and I really love the seal and the sea lion who are screaming all the time [LAUGHTER] but, Becky and Gerald probably – I would have to pick Becky and Gerald, they’re great.
You mentioned you had a little guy who’s a perfectionist, when he saw the film, did he get it? Were you able to elaborate?
He doesn’t totally get it but he’s super smart, so he knows when you’re trying to hammer him over the head with something, but we’re yes I’m using that as a tool to talk to him about that stuff, which is just so great, this is such a good, nice movie and it’s really helping me with my parenting [laughs]. It’s great to be able to point at something and not- have it not be about your kid – like I’m not talking about you, I’m talking about her [Destiny], and see how she did that yeah, it’s great.
How long did it take, I mean how long were you actually in recording?
I probably did eight or nine sessions over four years. But each of them are like a four or five hour session, maybe more. It was great, because you go in and you have this great fun day and then you have like a month off and then they send you a new script and it’s different and things have changed and the character is changed and you get to go back in and do it again.
The truth is, Andrew Stanton is a really-really wonderful director. It’s no surprise that my favorite Pixar movies are ones that he’s worked on, I just like his sensibility. And he’s wonderful with actors. He’s great at giving direction in a way that helps you figure out how you want to do it differently. So they were just really fun sessions and I’ve done some voice over before where the people reading the other lines are just kind of reading them, and they’re actually acting them out with you so you do feel like you’re working with other actors which was really nice too.
You mention showing your kids, this is what mommy does for work, how do you balance being a parent with your career.
That’s a fantastic question, my kids are one hundred percent my priority, so I don’t take things that will take me away from them too much. I recently agreed to do this pilot called The Mick, it just got picked up on Fox, so I’ll be shooting that next year and, luckily we’re mid season, so it’s just going to be twelve episodes this coming first season. I said I wanted to produce it so I could make sure that it was not only the vision that I wanted. But that I could also have a little bit of control over the schedule. I always want to be there for bedtime, there are times when I miss it. It’s rare that I go a day without seeing them. If I do, I’m there in the morning, you know what I mean. I just do the best I can, like everybody is. You know, lots of working moms out there. And I have the luxury of being able to have them come to me after school and play in my trailer and I can’t always hang out with them, because I’m working, but at least they’re close and they feel like I’m not too far away.
Besides that project, anything else coming up?
We’re currently in production for season twelve of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, that’s what we’re doing right now. I took the day off for this it’s pretty exciting. Then, The Mick on Fox will be airing at the end of this year and this [Finding Dory] and that’s about it for right now.
And then the kids, as we all know, a complete full time job in and of itself.
Now that you’ve done a family film, a big one like this, will you think about doing more family films?
Oh absolutely, as long as they are good, good quality. I would love to. I would love to.
We mentioned that maybe Destiny gets her own film and she laughed, and responded with “…just tell Andrew [Stanton], it sounds beautiful. Actually talk to Ellen and start a campaign now.”
[Tweet “On parenting: “As long as I can be a total goofball…” – @kaitlin_olson #FindingDoryEvent “]
What role does humor play in your life?
It’s number one [she’s laughing] well patience is number one and then humor. Yeah, it’s huge. I’m constantly, you know, at the end of a hard day, it’s just been like, why couldn’t you have just laughed when he wrote on the wall, rather than… I think it’s of the utmost importance. It’s a huge part of my life. Our set and our Mick set will be filled with people who are kind to each other and funny, because we’re all putting in all these hours and having a gigantic long day.
You don’t want to hang out with people who are filled with drama and entitlement issues and it’s just- well making TV shows and movies – it’s important to me but it’s not that important. So yeah parenting – as long as I can be a total goofball and they think I’m a goofy idiot, I’m perfectly happy with that.
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