No compensation was received for this post. I attended a press conference which facilitated the writing of this post.
Culture, music, and a heartwarming story about family, converge in Director Carlos Saldanha’s latest cinematic achievement Rio 2. Inspired by his own Brazilian roots, the director ventured with his family to the Amazon to bring life and realism to the film, which debuts in theaters April 11th, 2014. The original cast returns for the 3D animated musical film which follows Blu, Jewel and their children to the Amazon on a journey of discovery to the unknown. We sat down with Saldanha, who gave us a first look at footage and provided insight on the research and inspiration behind this visually spectacular, musically uplifting 3d-animated film.
The difference between a good film and a great film is in its ability to immerse the audience within the world and the characters’ stories in a way that is authentic and believable. For Saldanha, realism was achieved by taking a family research trip to the Amazon. “I took my children with me because the movie is about taking your family to the unknown.” Despite their hesitancy (apparently the Amazon is known for housing bugs…and piranas!), Saldanha stated that it was one of the best family vacations they had together. From swimming with pink freshwater dolphins to fishing for piranas, “there were all of these discoveries [and] I wanted to bring them into the movie. I wanted to make sure that it felt like a discovery.” As a parent, I’ve sat through countless animated films, and the ones that stand out are conceived by filmmakers who are able to strike a balance between making a film that is exciting and captivating for children and offering something of value for the parents. “I write the movies for kids but I also write them for me. I’m a parent…I want to enjoy it as much as they do and I want the story to relate to my reality.”
While I’ve never visited Brazil, I imagine that it is as vibrant and colorful as it is depicted in Saldanha’s film. The visual aesthetic of Rio 2 is warm, rich, and lush which is exactly what Saldanha wanted to bring back from his time in the Amazon. “I was pushing for the impact of color…palette” he explained. “When you go to the jungle and you see these birds, the colors are so bright. I kept trying to aim for nature because nature does such a perfect job.” He went on to discuss how his first impression, like many of our own, was that the jungle is simply all green…how can there be color in the jungle? But when he began to explore this concept, he realized that the color is in the detail. “It’s in the orchids that grow into the trees…it’s layers of green that can become shades of blue or shades of green.” The film is a hybrid of realism and fantasy, but it is in the visual details that Saldanha feels audiences will feel connected to the story, the characters and the worlds depicted. ” I had a vision of the colors and creations…and when the first frames came out of the art department I was blown away.”
If you saw the first film, you’ll likely recall the influence of music, which helped to convey emotion while reflecting the Brazilian culture. Once again, Saldanha enlisted English composer/conductor John Powell to write the score for the sequel, which will feature music by Bruno Mars, Kristin Chenoweth, Jermaine Clement, and the Barbatuques, We got a taste of the music in Rio 2 during Saldanha’s presentation and it was all I could do to prevent myself from getting up and dancing.
Image: The Barbatuques
A fresh, unique addition to the film’s score includes music by the Barbatuques, a body percussion group popular in Brazil ,who just finished writing the song for the new Angry Birds. Since the jungle was the inspiration for Rio 2, it makes sense that the music would include percussion. “If animals were to use instruments in the jungle what would they use? Their bodies” commented Saldanha. The group itself is wholesome and often brings back old folk songs to make them accessible to children. Along with their talent, Saldanha was drawn to the Barbatuques because they are powerful yet down to earth and the songs they write are “soulful.” “When you see them doing it, you don’t believe that the sounds can come out of their bodies.” While the original group consists of 15 musicians, the filmmakers were only able to secure 5, so they “duplicated their sounds and recorded them in different layers to achieve vibrance.”
From the short presentation Saldanha provided, I gleaned a good sense of the movie including some of the general messages such as the bond between siblings, dealing with in-laws, and the joys and struggles of parenting. Additionally, there is a subtle environmental message that will inspire children to see the beauty of the Amazon while recognizing the dangers of people who may not have a pure agenda. According to Saldanha, he hopes that families will come away from the film with an idea of “the world I want to keep, the world I want to protect, and the family I want to be.”
Rio 2 debuts in a little over a month, and next week, I’ll share more details about the storyline. To stay up to date with the latest, connect with the film via the following social media channels:
Twitter #Rio2
Images: 20th Century Fox
- Discover Luxury at Sonesta Irvine: Your Ideal Staycation - August 8, 2024
- CHOC Walk Returns to the Disneyland Resort – Special Events and Ways to Support - June 28, 2023
- Beastly Ball Returns to the Los Angeles Zoo - May 8, 2023
Leave a Reply