Her Gone Life

If you read my interview with Chris Evans, then you know the film GIFTED focus on the choices of what is best for Mary (played by McKenna Grace), a child math genius. McKenna did an amazing job portraying Mary, child caught between two worlds, who is also trying to figure out her place in the world and in the life of Frank, her uncle.

Note: I was invited as media by Role Mommy Writer's Network and Fox Searchlight to the movie screening and press junket interviews. However any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.

Since I enjoyed GIFTED so much, I was excited when Role Mommy Writer's Network and Fox Searchlight invited me to interview both Chris Evans and McKenna Grace about their role in the film.

Since this is a movie about a child math genius, I wanted to ask McKenna.....

If you could pick a subject that you can be a genius in, what would it be?

Social Studies. That would make my life a lot easier. Social Studies is really hard, and sometimes it can be pretty boring. I think that if I could be smarter at it, I think that it would help me a lot in school.

McKenna was SO sweet. And her answers to the other interview questions was amazing. Read on to learn more.

what was it like working with the cast and crew on Gifted?

Oh my goodness, I loved the crew, I loved the cast and I loved working with Chris even though I couldn’t go anywhere with him because there were always ladies following him around and screaming. I loved working with Octavia because we’d always have dance parties, and I’m so thankful I got to meet and get to hang out with all of those people for two months

what it was like working with Fred on set

Oh my goodness. It really wasn’t Fred. His name was Bob, and he was so great. He was so soft and snuggly. I loved to snuggle him, and he would purr and meow. Well, that’s what all cats do, but I just love cats. He was my best friend, and he loved treats. They were always giving him treats, and he was just a really good cat.

How did you handle all the hard math problems on the set? Did you have to memorize the equations?

Yes, I did. But, my mom and I, we turned it into a little song that I sang in my head. I still remember that tune to this day because it was so catchy, it had to be a catchy tune or else I would forget it

What do you think about bullies and how do you think people should work against them?

Well, kindness, kill them with kindness. I think that no matter what, we should all be kind to one another. If you see or experience bullying then you should tell an adult and try and fix it by telling someone or maybe saying hey, that’s not really right to do that.

I think that you should be friends with everyone that, just everyone, because if someone is alone, then you should sit next to them because you don’t know what’s happened to them in their life. They could be looking happy or fine on the outside, but they could be really hurting on the inside.

Where do you tap into the emotions that you portray?

Well, I kind of just make in my head, I really put myself in Mary’s place and I really tried to think, if I really am Mary and if I really am in that scene, and that’s really happening to me. Sometimes the scene with me and Chris, whenever he left me there at the home, I just kind of go into a dark place in my mind and just think about some bad things that have happened to me and that might not happen, and just think about sad things.

What was your favorite scene to film and why?

One of my favorite scenes, even though I had a really bad allergic reaction in this, it was probably whenever I got to snuggle Fred inside of the bed. That rhymed, but it really didn’t, I really did not want it to rhyme. But there was a short split scene in the movie, and it was where I was asleep in my bed with the cat. I really enjoyed getting to snuggle him because he’s such a sweet cat.

What would be your dream role to play someday

Oh my goodness, I’d love to be in a musical, but a role I’d love to play, let me think. I’ve always wanted to play a superhero, like always. That would be so cool, or maybe a villain like playing Harley Quinn would be really cool.

Where will we see you next?

Well, I just did some "Designated Survivor", and I will be in Season 3 of "Fuller House", and then I also was in "I, Tonya," which I think comes out in 2018 or late 2017. I’ll also be in "How to Be a Latin Lover" which comes out pretty soon I think, April 28th is what my mom says. I’m really excited for all of those things to come out.

Who would be the perfect audience for this movie?

Anyone that has a heart, anyone that feels, and anyone that wants a feel-good movie that has a happy ending, and anybody that feels different, or alone. We all feel different sometimes, and I feel like this is a really great feel-good movie to go watch.

Why do you think people should go see this movie

This movie is a really great feel-good movie, and it has a happy ending. I think that it carries a great message, and the message that it carries is family, that it comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, beliefs. And you may not be blood relatives with who you stay with, or you may have one mom, or one dad, or two moms, or two dads, or a mom and a dad, or just live with your uncle like Mary does. But at the end of the day I think that family is the people that you love and that love you and who you care about.


Well said McKenna! Indeed GIFTED shows us what to means to love and be there for your family in so many ways. Make sure to go see it!



MOVIE SYNOPSIS

Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man raising a child prodigy - his spirited young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace) - in a coastal town in Florida. Frank's plans for a normal school life for Mary are foiled when the seven-year-old’s mathematical abilities come to the attention of Frank’s formidable mother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) whose plans for her granddaughter threaten to separate Frank and Mary.

GIFTED TRAILER


Octavia Spencer plays Roberta, Frank and Mary’s landlady and best friend. Jenny Slate is Mary’s teacher, Bonnie, a young woman whose concern for her student develops into a connection with her uncle as well.

Cast: Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Lindsay Duncan, Jenny Slate, and Octavia Spencer

Director: Marc Webb (500 Days of Summer)

To learn more about GIFTED, visit -www.GiftedMovie.com

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