In episode 14 of The Young Entertainment Podcast, Daniella and Mordechai are joined by Young Entertainment’s newest host, Lauren Smolka, to break down our interview with the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon stars Mason Thames and Nico Parker. Lauren breaks down her experience at the press junket and the best parts of the film. If you’ve ever wanted a podcast to learn from the stars and get BTS moments from your favorite shows and movies, you’ve come to the right place!
The live-action film with CGI-animated dragons is set on the rugged isle of Berk as an ancient threat endangers both Vikings and dragons alike. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the son of Chief Stoick the Vast, defies centuries of traditional dragon-fighting practices when he befriends Toothless. Their unlikely bond challenges the very foundation of Viking society.
The star studded cast also includes Gerard Butler reprising his role as Stoick the Vast, Nick Frost, Bronwyn James, and more. And even better, the already announced sequel is set to be released in 2027.
We were joined by our newest entertainment host, Lauren, who is also an actress with an extensive background in musical theater! Lauren’s first ever interview with us was attending this press junket, and what a way to start! After watching How to Train Your Dragon the night before the interview, Lauren described the film as, “suspenseful, sweet, and entertaining.”
Lauren: “I was not prepared for how sweet and magical the original [How to Train Your Dragon] was.”
Even the interviewers were transported to the Isle of Berk at the press junket, as Lauren was welcomed by the cast and people dressed up as the characters. But her favorite part of the experience was how down to Earth both Mason and Nico were.
Lauren: “The whole cast was there. It was pretty incredible.”
We got to watch the interview for the first time, and our favorite part was just seeing how much fun Nico and Mason have together, and their excitement of starring in such a major film was obvious.
Lauren: “It was really cool to have a conversation with people who are just getting started in the industry.”
The live-action How to Train Your Dragon is out now, and Lauren said the film is so suspenseful and has so much action, even calling it one of her top five favorite live-action remakes!
“Their banter is so sweet so it was really fun to talk with them.”
Thank you, Mason, Nico, and Lauren, for the incredible experience! As always, this podcast is for you, the fans! We want to know who you want to hear and learn from and have many exciting guests and stories coming up in future episodes! We’ll be releasing episodes each week so don’t forget to subscribe and stay tuned!
Consider this:
- Active listening is one of the best skills to learn as an interviewer. Use nonverbal cues to signal that you are listening and also don’t be afraid to jump around with questions based on where the interview is going, let it be a natural conversation!
