Interview: The thrill of ‘Monster Mia’

Verena Fels is the director of the spooky and hilarious new animated film. monster mia — It opens in theaters nationwide starting this Thursday, October 8th. The film, which screened at Annecy earlier this year, is based on a series of books that tell the story of a girl who hopes humans and monsters can get along. (This animated scoop Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. Image: Sola Media)

Jackson Murphy: Congratulations! First of all, what’s it like releasing this movie in theaters just in time for Halloween so families can actually enjoy it on the big screen?

Verena Fels: This is truly amazing to me. I think this is the first film to go to America, and it’s really amazing and a huge honor to see how it did well in theaters. And to see it done and done and appear on the screen is almost unbelievable.

JM: This film was screened in Annecy earlier this year. What was that experience like?

VF: When I was a young student, we went to see a festival in France, and I… [I] I really became a filmmaker to premiere my feature film there. It was really cool to see all these movies that inspired me years ago, and now I have my own to go along with them. Very cool. It was really, really exciting.

JM: It’s fantastic. Have you been interested in animation since you were young, and did you get into this medium?

VF: huh. I also got my diploma… I had already shot a short film when I graduated from high school. And of course, I studied animation and went to film festivals as a student. And now I am functioning as an expert.

JM: It’s great. “Monster Mia” [is] It is based on the book series called Monstrous Maud. How familiar were you with the books used to create this piece?

VF: To be honest, not that much. But I like the book, and of course I knew about it. Among them, I received a script, and I used that opportunity to work on it. And of course, I read that one book, and I was inspired by that, so I had the opportunity to mix it up a little bit and work with the writers on a script. So I got a lot of inspiration for the final draft.

JM: That’s really cool. Mia is a really strong protagonist in this movie. A young girl full of personality. How did you want to show that personality, especially at the beginning of the film?

VF: Mia is a strong role model, especially for young girls, but I think the key point of this story is that it gives hope to all genders. I think I wanted to make them stronger and somewhat independent, without believing in everything they were taught at school or by their parents. So she wants to experience those things [on] Her own. I think it’s the best, the best [true]Especially in this day and age, you don’t believe everything you see or hear. You must think for yourself, be independent and strong. Even if something scares you a little, you can still find your own path and become a creative and powerful person. Of course, everything is easier with friends.

JM: Of course. Having friends is a source of independence and strength. But she also has a twin sister named Marie. What was it like working from that angle as a storyteller? Since twins often appear in movies, it can create a really interesting dynamic in storytelling.

VF: It was important to me that the relationship between the sisters was somewhat realistic. Of course, because I have always had a special relationship with my parents. Especially since sisters don’t always like each other. I think the hardest fights are between the sisters, but they love each other. So this dynamic is really clear and quite frankly, very interesting, but on the other hand, when something important happens, they stick together and form this kind of bond. And of course, the contrast was very interesting, with Mia being the exact opposite of Marie.

JM: And there is a lot of contrast here as it shows the dynamics of a human village that hates monsters. [Primrose Valley]And Mia ends up going to a school for monsters who hate humans. [Rotwood Academy]. There are many layers to it. There are so many comparisons and elements, how interesting was it to play with all of that, figure it all out, and present it all as the story progressed?

VF: It was great to have the opportunity to make a film with two completely different worlds. You don’t have to be tied down to one world. You can compare them with each other. The most important thing for me has always been to create contrast in everything: light, color, animation and sound. You can’t be loud without being that loud. And it cannot shine brightly without shadows, dark things, and sharp things. So creating this crazy world was really, really cool for me. On the other hand, Primrose created a cotton candy world and Rotwood created an edgy one. And of course, I bring in these little Easter eggs with my favorite movies and references and all this stuff.

JM: Because of Rottwood Academy’s visuals, style, and gothic nature, I had to imagine that the design and atmosphere of the school was inspired by classic films and classic animation, so I wanted to ask about everything.

VF: entirely. I think a little bit of my artistic genes come from film school and all the films I had to learn with German Expressionism. So even though this is a mainstream, fun family movie, I wanted to bring in these references and it’s in my genes to have footage like this. So it was really fun to bring more joy to this picture and this world, like Dracula or Frankenstein or whatever monster movie you remember. Then I bring them into a new context, a new world, my world, my interpretation of these objects. It was really amazing.

JM: wonderful. I love the principal’s coffin chair. The personalities are perfect and the atmosphere is perfect. Are you inspired by geometry? Because even in some of the opening scenes where we see a lot of houses and a lot of things in the village, there are shapes that are so well defined that I said, “Wow.” Sharp angles and all that. Have you always been interested in geometry and seeing things that way?

VF: yes. On the one hand, I’m an engineer who deals with math and all this stuff. That can’t be denied. You know? I love shapes, and when you have a clear structure like this, you can put a lot of emotion into it. Of course, I love the symmetry of Wes Anderson as a superhero. He is always a huge inspiration. I love it and try to bring it… The connection between the story and the picture is very important to me because it fits Primrose. It fits perfectly with the story that everything is predetermined. You have to wait in line. So symmetry was the perfect symbol to power the story.

JM: Okay, no spoilers. But there’s a song and sequence near the end of the movie called “The Midnight Miracle,” and as you watch and listen to it, you think, “This is a tribute to “Thriller,” right?” You are doing a great job at that.

VF: huh. thank you It has always been a “thriller” – an inspiration. I am a child of the 80s. I can’t deny it. So I brought it. We wanted it to be close, but not so close that it was completely torn apart. But I think it was good.

JM: This movie is about power and what kind of power you have. To me, Mia’s greatest strength is her compassion for others and being around people who may be different from her. But you all have something in common. Those great messages and themes, how important was it to showcase those themes and convey them in this film?

VF: This was very important. This was her main character. And I wanted to show that being different from others is powerful and special. You are special in the way you are and this is cool. And I think everyone on the team has a little bit to do with it. Because when you work in animation, you always think, “Okay, I’m a little different. I like the people around me.” So we all feel a little kind and a little bit monstrous about Mia. [their] Technology and superpowers. Many team members can relate to this. Everyone can feel at times, “Okay, I’m different from the people around me.” So I wanted to bring that out.

JM: huh. And it shows what unique qualities and items you have to offer and how important it all is. And I think it achieves so much of what young people want when it comes to animation. You are making a movie. You are traveling the world. You’re getting it all out there. What would you say to young people who want to enter this field and achieve the success you have had?

VF:I think the most important thing is to be true to yourself. Be authentic to what you are doing. When you want to tell a story, you can only tell it if it’s honest, if it’s important to you, if you feel what you’re talking about, and if you know what you’re talking about. Sometimes young students ask me, “Okay, I want to tell this, this, and this story.” And I always ask, “So are you aware of it? Do you feel it? Do you understand the people who are living that life? Do you understand the people that are going through that problem or conflict?” Because you can’t tell a story that’s not authentic… Emotionally connected. We are connected to these things not only intellectually, but also emotionally. And I think this is the most important.