KEY POINTS:
The Bridge To Terabithia was filmed in and around Auckland's Riverhead Forest, using the special effects of Wellington's Weta Digital.
The film adaptation of Katherine Paterson's popular young adult novel, first published in 1977, is from the producers of the Narnia films, backed by Walden Media and Disney.
And while its two teen leads, Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb, are rising American stars, the film gave roles to a group of young Kiwis who attended its premiere in Hollywood earlier this year.
TimeOut asked three of them what the Terabithia experience was like ...
Elliot Lawless (who plays Gary Fulcher)
Age: 14
Previous experience:
Includes being a Whacked presenter for Nickelodeon, roles in Power Rangers, Maddigan's Fantasia and PET Detectives. Also in the upcoming NZ-shot fantasy film The Waterhorse
Devon Wood (who plays Brenda Aarons)
Age: 16
Previous experience:
Was in the Treasure Island Kids series of films shot here in 2003.
Cameron Wakefield (who plays Scott Hoager)
Age: 14
Previous experience:
Roles in TV series The New Tomorrow and The Killian Curse.
How did making Bridge to Terabithia compare to your previous acting experiences?
Elliot: The make-up and wardrobe was the same but what was totally different is the relationships with the people. It's amazing how close we have all become.
Devon: Bridge to Terabithia was a much larger-scale production with a far bigger budget than the other films I was in.
Cameron: It was great to be involved in a Disney movie especially with it being a true story. I knew a lot of the crew from other sets so working was like being with my second family and friends. To be able to have had the experience of working with [director] Gabor Csupo was real cool and the legendary [director of photography] Michael Chapman was an honour. Hanging out with the American cast was cool. I have stayed in contact with them and look forward to hopefully working with them again soon.
What sticks out most in your memory about the time you were making the movie?
Elliot: The Kiwi kids having their own trailer and the fun we had during breaks. Also the classroom scenes.
Devon: I guess that would be hanging around on the set with the other cast members, chatting and getting to know them.
Cameron: The scene where my character got punched by the good guy because I bullied him. Everyone on set cheered when he nailed me. They set up cups full of confetti to land on me when I impacted! It looked really good in the movie. Also meeting David Paterson, one of the producers and screenwriter, as he was the boy who was bullied in real life and his mum Katherine who wrote the book.
Had you read the book, or did you read it after you got the part? And if you've read it what did you think of it?
Elliot: Yes, I read the book after I got the part.
Devon: When I heard I got the part I read the book. I loved it, and I cried while I read the sad parts of the story. It was thought-provoking and I love that in a book.
Cameron: Unfortunately, I did not have time to read the book before the audition, but I read it before we started filming. I found that my character was not in the book; they had changed most of the names for the movie as most movies do.
How did you learn to do an American accent. Was it hard?
Elliot: Because I've done so many projects where I have had to use an American accent it only takes me several minutes before I start doing it naturally.
Devon: It was challenging to get all the words exactly right, but I have spent my whole life hearing American accents in movies and television so I don't find it too difficult to slip into the accent when I need to.
Cameron: I'm not really sure where I learnt it. I have been good at imitating accents and singers for a while, but I'm pretty sure I learnt it from all of the movies I watch!
You went to America for the opening of the film - what was that like?
Elliot: It was overwhelming, just like you see on TV at red carpet premieres and I never expected it to be like that; very overwhelming. Two long black stretch limos collected us from West Hollywood and took us to the El Capitan Theatre where they screened the movie. We were interviewed the entire length of the red carpet by all the paparazzi and we were signing autographs. After the screening all the kids and adults hung out at Josh Hutcherson's favourite bowling alley. That night we went to Gabor Csupo's house for a party in the Hollywood Hills.
Devon: It was an amazing experience, walking down the red carpet and being photographed and interviewed. It was quite daunting, but I enjoyed myself immensely.
Cameron: A limousine came to my hotel and picked up my mum, my sister and me and drove us down to the El Capitan Theatre. The whole way there I was extremely nervous, wishing there was a toilet in the limo! The reason I was nervous was because I had seen all of the red carpet premieres on the TV but I was wondering what I would say when I got there and wondering if I would screw up. We went from interview to interview and after the first five I was a lot more chilled realising the only questions asked were things like: "Who are you?", "What's your role?" Altogether it was an amazing experience.
What was it like seeing yourself up on screen?
Elliot: Mainly the change in my appearance since I filmed the movie and I didn't realise how much I have changed.
Devon: It was quite surreal, watching myself up on the movie screen. I didn't have a large part in the film but I'm proud that I could be a part of it, and I got to meet some great people who were also involved with this movie.
Cameron: It was pretty awesome, but it felt weird at the same time because my voice has broken and I've gotten taller since the movie! It was also unreal seeing my name on the credits.
Lowdown
What: The Bridge to Terabithia
When: Opens at cinemas Thursday, June 14
