Pirates 3 Red Carpet Interviews

MoviesOnline got up close and personal with an amazing array of stars, special guests, lucky ticket-holders, and thousands of enthusiastic pirate fans who came to Disneyland on Saturday for the highly anticipated world premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," the third installment of the hugely popular "Pirates" trilogy.

Once again Disney transformed their Main Street, USA into an exciting Hollywood red carpet arrival scene where enthusiastic fans and media alike cheered the many celebrities who attended the special event. Many fans had staked out a spot along the red carpet waiting since early dawn in the hopes of getting a glimpse of their favorite stars and perhaps an autograph. Their long wait was rewarded when many of the stars of the film appeared including Johnny Depp, Orando Bloom, Keith Richards, Bill Nighy, Naomie Harris, Chow Yun-Fat, and Geoffrey Rush, as well as producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski.

In addition to the cast members, crew, and other VIPs from the "Pirates" film, dozens of other celebrities turned out to celebrate the release of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." Invited guests included Teri Hatcher, Kobe Bryant, Ian Ziering, Janice Dickinson, Martin Landau, Jon Voight, Emma Roberts, Matthew Lawrence, and stars from ABC's hit program, "Dancing with the Stars": former 'N Sync member Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson, and Julianne Hough and speed skater Apollo Anton Ohno.

Special guests also included Roy Disney, John Lasseter, the Chief Creative Officer of Pixar, and David Williams, President and CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation International. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is dedicated to granting the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions and the Walt Disney Company is helping to make wishes come true for children all over the world by donating proceeds from the World Premiere of Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and Make-A-Wish International.

This was the first time that the public has been invited to participate in a Pirates Premiere. The gala celebration for the third installment of the enormously popular Pirates saga raised over $3 million for Make-A-Wish efforts through ticket sales, with Disney providing an initial donation of over $1 million to the charities as well as underwriting the entire cost of the Premiere so that 100% of the ticket income will benefit both Make-A-Wish organizations.

The red carpet event began at 4:30 pm and concluded a little after 8:00 pm as celebrities and guests made their way up the red carpet to the Frontierland/New Orleans Square area of the Disneyland where special stadium seats and a giant movie screen had been constructed around the Rivers of America for the world premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." Over the past week, workers had built the seating and screen in the area, installing props from the movie, lighting, as well as bridges across the Rivers of America so guests could access the stage on the island to be introduced before the movie.

Guests were treated to a dinner at dining locations on the west side of Disneyland. Various booths offered food and drinks, as well as promotions for various Pirates of the Caribbean related products. Guests were then slated for the film once it became dark, and the world premiere began.

On the specially-decorated stage on Tom Sawyer Island, the stars of the film, including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, and Keith Richards, were presented. Also, composer Hans Zimmer performed some of the pieces he wrote for the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.

After the film premiered, the guests were invited to enjoy the rides and attractions on that side of the park until closing time.

MoviesOnline was very excited to be there for the premiere. Here are just a few of the exciting celebrities we interviewed as they made their way along the red carpet last night:

Peter Badalamenti (plays Penrod in POTC 3)

MoviesOnline: Hi Peter, How was it working for the Captain?

PB: The Captain! I love my Captain Davy Jones. It was amazing. I’ve always wanted to have Davy Jones as my boss.

MoviesOnline: Was he a tough boss?

PB: No, he was a very gracious, good boss. He took good care of us.

MoviesOnline: So what do they make you do as part of the Crab Crew?

PB: Well I’m a lobster pirate so I’m just crazy as ever. I’ll crawl for him and make a lobster’s tail and all these three legs and it was just amazing to be that character in this movie.

MoviesOnline: What was the best part about making this movie?

PB: The best part was when I got to bring my family to the Bahamas and they got to come and enjoy seeing all the ships and everything.

MoviesOnline: Is your family here today?

PB: Yes, they’re here somewhere. That’s my daughter over there (pointing to a young girl on the red carpet).

MoviesOnline: What are you working on next?

PB: I’m in a film called The Curious Case of Benjamin Button being directed by David Fincher.

MoviesOnline: Thanks very much for your time.

Mark Indelicato (plays Justin Suarez on the TV series Ugly Betty)

MoviesOnline: What’s it like to work with America Ferrera?

MI: It’s really great. She’s really great to work with and it’s a lot of fun.

MoviesOnline: Do you think Ugly Betty has had a positive impact on the image of Latino people?

MI: I think that this is changing – the way people think about television and the way people think about Latinos. I just think it’s changing the Latino community a lot.

MoviesOnline: Do you think Ugly Betty has had an impact on how we view people?

MI: Of course, I mean everyone has had the – how can I say this – you see people truly from the inside, not on the outside. This is really making that shine, that quote. Yes, I think it’s definitely changing how people think about people.

MoviesOnline: The other day America Ferrera got upset with you because you said she was the most beautiful Ugly Betty. She was really upset.

MI: She wasn’t upset. She was just saying that that wasn’t the point, but I mean it’s true. All the Ugly Bettys are beautiful. I’m just saying I know America personally so I just think that she’s the prettiest.

MoviesOnline: Do you think you’ll continue working with the series?

MI: Yes, of course.

MoviesOnline: Do you have any plans for the future?

MI:: Just to keep working on Ugly Betty and just keep going.

MoviesOnline: What’s it like to be here for the Pirates premiere?

MI: It’s great fun. We get to be around all this great stuff, be in Disneyland and getting all this great publicity for the show. It’s just exciting.

MoviesOnline: Tell me about the movie. Did you watch Pirates I and Pirates II?

MI: Of course, of course.

MoviesOnline: Who is your favorite actor in the movie?

MI: Keira Knightley.

MoviesOnline: What about Johnny Depp?

MI: Johnny Depp, he’s great, but Keira Knightley, she’s just hot. I don’t know. There’s no other way around that. I think all the actors are really great. It takes a lot to do what they do.

MoviesOnline: Are there some other projects you have coming up?

MI: I’m going to be recording an album this summer. I’m really excited about that. We haven’t started yet.

MoviesOnline: Do you have any plans to do some musical theater?

MI: No, not yet. There’s not really anything out there for me at my age right now. It’s kind of an awkward age. You know I have to wait until I’m an adult to break back into Broadway and musical theater.

David Williams, President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Foundation

MoviesOnline: If Walt Disney were alive today, what would you say to him?

DW: Well I would just say thank you, thank you because Disney is all about making a difference for kids, making dreams come true, and that’s what Make-A-Wish is about. You know I’m with the international side of the organization and we’re in 30 countries. We’ve done over 6,000 wishes this past year and many of them Disney wishes. It makes a major difference in the world.

MoviesOnline: This is the first time Disney has sold tickets like this. Were you surprised that the people who bought them came from all over the world? That’s what I understand happened in 14 days.

DW: Yes, I was absolutely shocked. I just had no idea that people from all over the world would come to something like this.

MoviesOnline: It almost makes you speechless.

DW: It does. It’s amazing. I think it shows the power of Disney and of this film and also I think tying it in with the Make-A-Wish Foundation is a really good thing and for people to know that 100% of their ticket is going to benefit kids that are courageous kids that are struggling with awful illnesses. I think that just made something even better.

MoviesOnline: Did you ever think it would sell out that quick?

DW: No, I didn’t. But this isn’t what I do for a living and Disney obviously knew what they were doing.

MoviesOnline: Well you do this very well. Thank you so much.

Sophia Milos (plays Detective Yelina Salas in CSI Miami)

MoviesOnline: What brings you to the premiere?

SM: I’m a big fan of Pirates of course and it’s an opportunity to be back at Disneyland where I had one of my first dates, look at the beautiful people here today, and I get to see Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom and actors who go the extra mile to really do what is entertainment. I think that‘s what Pirates is all about. It’s about real entertainment. That’s why I think it’s a brilliant idea to have it at a place like Disneyland and I’m here to be entertained. I’m seeing sexy Johnny.

MoviesOnline: What have you been working on?

SM: I just finished shooting. You know I’ve done my first three years since I’m with CSI Miami and came back in the fifth season. In between I did 65 episodes of a different show, Desire, and now this summer I’m going to go to Italy to shoot a movie that’s a romantic comedy.

Sara Paxton (starred in the feature film "Aquamarine”)

MoviesOnline: What brings you here? Are you a big fan of the movie?

SP: I’m such a big fan of Pirates of the Caribbean and all the actors are so great.

MoviesOnline: Tell me about you. What projects are you working on now?

SP: I have a movie coming out this summer called "Sydney White and the Seven Dorks” starring Amanda Bynes and it’s a remake of "Snow White.”

Ted Elliott (Screenwriter, Pirates of the Caribbean)

MoviesOnline: What did you enjoy most about writing the script?

TE: You know it’s the 21^st century and we’re writing pirate movies. I’m making a pretty good living out of it. I don’t know that anybody could have anticipated that ten years ago. That’s the part that I like best. I have this theory – any movie that has one good sword fight, that’s a good movie as far as I’m concerned. So this has just been a pleasure.

MoviesOnline: It’s a great script, a great cast…

TE: Oh thank you.

MoviesOnline: and a great director

TE: Well, yeah, no kidding! [Laughs] It’s funny how much apparently everybody just wanted to make pirate movies. Who knew?

MoviesOnline: So what are you doing next?

TE: Actually something without water and without ships. That’s all I know at this point. We don’t have it set on the new things.

MoviesOnline: Thanks so much.

TE: You’re welcome.

John Lasseter (President of Pixar)

MoviesOnline: How do you guys continually do it with your films? It seems that the Pixar films you guys release are always so groundbreaking.

JL: I do believe that with every film that we do we should be trying to take risks on things that are different. It’s always scary when we start but we never try to copy ourselves. We never try to copy anybody else. Just do something new, go out on a limb, every once and awhile the limb breaks, but we only let the successes get out and the things that don’t work stay inside. It’s really important to keep taking risks.

MoviesOnline: How cool is it to come to these parks and see the characters that you guys created entertaining guests in very interactive ways as attractions?

JL: The Nemo ride, for example, is really phenomenal. Here’s a movie and then it comes out and it goes into the submarine ride. I remember it as a kid only now it’s come together as something totally new based on what we did at Pixar. It’s really amazing. It’s very gratifying.

MoviesOnline: Thank you so much.

JL: Thank you.

Jon Voight

JV: I made it!

MoviesOnline: How are you? You’re always the most popular person on the red carpet. You sign so many autographs. Thank you for coming over here.

JV:[to other press] You know why I’m over here? Because of her. She gets me. No matter where I am. There may be 50,000 people and she screams ‘John’ and I get over there. [Laughs]

MoviesOnline: Thank you! You always get roles like a leader, like the pope, like a president. You are so charismatic. How do you feel about that?

JV: I don’t know. There’s always a little something of yourself in every role you play so when they cast me for things, it must be because I’m somewhat in my life reminiscent of that character.

MoviesOnline: What about your projects? What are you doing right now?

JV: Well this is going to be my biggest year ever I think. I’m in Transformers, and then September Dawn, a very powerful movie, then after that I’m in a police movie which is another very powerful movie so that’s three, and then there’s Brats, a little children’s movie for young kids, young girls, and then National Treasure 2.

MoviesOnline: So stop!

JV: Whoa! I don’t want to go to any more premieres though because my hand will fall off. [referring to all the autographs he’s signed]

MoviesOnline: That’s because you’re so popular with everyone.

JV: I’ve done this every year so they’re used to me and they know that I’m supposed to be there. They’ve got to get me into the theater. See you later.

Thank you.

Joey Fatone and Kym Johnson (Dancing with the Stars partners)

MoviesOnline: [Teasing him] Tell me about your days with the Back Street Boys.

JF: [Laughing] It was ‘N Sync.

MoviesOnline: [Laughing] Whoops! I’m sorry!

JF: Ah hah! It’s okay, trust me, I get that all the time. There’s a difference with Back Street Boys. AJ used to color his goatee. I can grow mine. There’s a big difference. [Laughs] That’s a huge difference. We sang 5-part harmony, they only did 3 or 4. Anyway, it’s actually a lot of fun to be out here. We’re doing me right now with my dance partner, Kym Johnson. We’re doing Dancing with the Stars right now. We’re actually in the finals.

MoviesOnline: Is it fun doing something different like ballroom and Latin dancing? I imagine it must be a lot of fun to be able to do something like that live.

JF: It’s cool. I enjoy it. We’re very excited to be here and just having a lot of fun doing it.

MoviesOnline: Kym, how is it to dance with this big guy?

KJ: How is it?

JF: [to Kym] She’s just digging a hole, isn’t she? [Laughs] Back Street Boys, big man, oh man!

MoviesOnline: Oh my!

JF: [Laughs] I’m teasing you! How’s it feel?

KJ: It’s great. He’s wonderful. I’m having seriously so much fun. It’s very cool. He’s so naughty sometimes.

JF: I’m a little naughty.

KJ: Yeah, he is.

JF: I’m a little bit country and I’m a little bit rock & roll. I’m full-blooded Italian. Oh baby!

MoviesOnline: What other projects do you have besides dancing?

JF: Actually we’re going on the Dancing with the Stars tour, believe it or not, and after that I’m going to try and do some more film and television for myself. [referring to Kym] She actually has a DVD for Dancing with the Stars out right now.

MoviesOnline: A DVD?

JF: It’s a workout video.

KJ: Yes, it’s a workout DVD. The tour is going to be a lot of fun for us.

MoviesOnline: You’re going to do a lot of exercising?

JF: Yeah, well we’re not really exercising that much, but it’s fun because when you do this, it’s such a cardio workout. I’ve been losing a lot of weight which is crazy. I used to be a size 36-38 waist.

MoviesOnline: And now?

JF: And right now I’m like a 33.

KJ: It’s amazing.

MoviesOnline: You look fantastic. Tell me about your trip to Spain.

JF: We were in Barcelona, Balboa and a couple other places.

MoviesOnline: Any special memories from your visit?

JF: The beaches are beautiful. One of the beaches that we went to that was really beautiful was in Barcelona. I’m actually going back there again on a Disney cruise. Right after we do this, I’m going to Spain.

MoviesOnline: Thanks so much for your time.

JF: You’re welcome, sweetheart. Don’t work too hard.

Naomi Harris (Tia Dalma in POTC 3)

MoviesOnline: Are you excited about being on this big red carpet?

NH: Oh my goodness! It’s really overwhelming, but I’m glad that I had some kind of preparation for it last year when I came for POTC 2.

MoviesOnline: Can you tell me about the dress you’re wearing?

NH: I’m wearing Erica Davies.

MoviesOnline: What projects are you working on right now?

NH: I just finished working on one of them called August with Josh Hartnett directed by Austin Chick and then I go on to Night Watch with Keanu Reeves and Forest Whitaker directed by David Ayer.

MoviesOnline: Can you tell me something about your character in Pirates 3?

NH: Wow, I couldn’t because it’s very secretive, but you’ll see a lot more of Tia Dalma. That’s for sure.

Gore Verbinski (director)

MoviesOnline: Well you’ve done all three now. This must be a very exciting night for you.

GV: It’s is. It’s amazing.

MoviesOnline: I saw Pirates 3 at the press junket last week. It was great! Congratulations!

GV: Thank you very much.