On an adventure to Madagascar!

Imagine this: Going to a movie press release before the actual movie hits theaters. Imagine: leaving an ordinary day at school to go to the Waldorf Astoria, (the same hotel that the President of the United States stays in when he visits New York) to interview Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Short, Jada Pinkett Smith, David Schwimmer, Chris Rock, and Ben Stiller — a/k/a Maurice, Stefano, Gloria, Melman, Marty, and Alex — who all star in Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted. The movie is about animals who have escaped from a zoo, but for me this was an escape from everyday 7th grade life and the experience of a lifetime.

If you think the actual characters are funny, you will do a double take when you hear the actors who give voice to these animated characters. When I walked into the interview rooms, I was amazed by the comic exchange between Ben Stiller and Chris Rock, the friendly and humorous responses of Cedric the Entertainer, the collaborative thoughts of Jada Pinkett Smith and David Schwimmer, and the interesting and simply put responses to my questions by Martin Short. I never thought there would be a day that I would interview not one but six celebrities. It was pretty amazing to say the least!

Each celebrity had a unique style and way of answering my questions. When I interviewed Chris Rock and Ben Stiller, I could actually visualize Marty and Alex in a comic exchange somewhere in Europe. When I interviewed David Schwimmer, I felt like Melman was sitting with me in the room. It was all really very surreal. Martin Short’s new character, Stefano (the sea lion), added so much humor and wit to the movie and it is not hard for me to understand why Martin Short was cast for this role. Jada Pinkett Smith was so easy to talk with, just as I imagine Gloria would be. All of the celebrities were funny and eager to discuss their feelings about running away to join the circus.

I’m not sure what my act would be if I ran away to join the circus, but if this cast was in it, I am sure I would have a grand adventure!

Check out the video of my interviews with the cast of Madagascar 3 on the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps website!

—Kid Reporter Dani Bergman Chudnow

Photo: Vitaly the Tiger, Gia the Jaguar, Marty the Zebra, Alex the Lion, Gloria the Hippo, and Melman the Giraffe are a circus success in DreamWorks Animation's Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, to be released by Paramount Pictures. (Courtesy of DreamWorks Animation) 

Comments

[Aunt Janis]

WOW!!!!! You sound like a real reporter. Maybe journalism is in your future. I'm soooo proud of you. Love ya