Contemporary Christian singer Jaci Velasquez has sold more than 4 million albums, including three certified Platinum recordings. She hosts the popular Family Friendly Morning Show on national radio, and she has been on more than 50 magazine covers.
Despite all of her success and acclaim, Jaci’s voice gets excited and, well, animated when she talks about her newest project – starring as the voice of Sadie, wife of Shem (voiced by Wayne Brady) in the upcoming VeggieTales movie NOAH’S ARK, which will be available on DVD and digital download on March 3.
Jaci spent some time talking about her enthusiasm for NOAH’S ARK, and we’re happy to share her interview with you.
Why did you want to make a VeggieTales movie?
VeggieTales is like the Mecca of our house – I’ve got two little boys, and they cannot get enoughVeggieTales. So, to be a part of this is just a wonderful thing for me. My husband and I like to sing to our kids, but they could care less – it’s to the point where we’ll sing and practice a song with them while we’re giving them baths and they’ll plug their ears and say, “Mommy, Daddy! Stop!” To be part of VeggieTales and do something for the first time that my kids might actuallyenjoy is wonderful.
The story of Noah and his ark has been told many times. What makes the VeggieTalesversion different?
Well, I’m pretty sure it will be the only version with singing vegetables and a giant squid! I think it was pretty brave of VeggieTales to take on the story of Noah because it is so familiar – but they make it feel completely new. The animals are absolutely adorable, and there’s so much comedy; I’ve always thought VeggieTales movies were funny, but this one is really funny. They’ve also really discovered something important about the story, because Noah’s Ark is about patience, trusting and believing. Kids need to understand those things. Whatever we pour into our children is what will pour out of them – what they learn as children is what they will be as adults. We are planting seeds in their hearts and souls, and it’s important for them to understand that God has a purpose and a plan. We don’t always understand it, and we have to trust in it. That’s a big lesson, and Noah’s Ark helps parents start to teach it.
Who is your favorite VeggieTales character?
Sorry to be so typically “normal,” but it’s always Larry! I love Madame Blueberry, as well, but really … Larry. He just makes you happy. He makes you laugh. It’s like he’s every kid you’ve ever known, but he’s not – because he’s a vegetable!
Why do you think VeggieTales has been so popular for so long?
I think parents want good entertainment for their kids, especially in the world we live in. You know, human beings are born knowing how to do the wrong thing, but we need to be taught how to do theright thing, and what better way to do that than through entertainment? As a mom, I know that it can get really overwhelming to try to teach kids everything they need to know. You say prayers with them at night, you read books with them, you take them to Sunday school – but that’s only one day a week. So it helps to have entertainment that teaches them the truth and that teaches them fundamental things about life. As a parent, VeggieTales gives me such gratitude!
Here is a clip of a brand-new VeggieTales song, “We Welcome You Aboard,” here:
And don’t forget to pre-order VEGGIETALES NOAH’S ARK and get more information about the movie at the Official VeggieTales website – www.veggietales.com.
Also, the VeggieTales Hotline continues to receive calls from VeggieTales fans everywhere. (It accepts calls from Canadian callers now, too!) It’s available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling toll-free (844) 2-VEGGIE.
Based on the 1987 true story, “McFarland, USA” follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically
challenged town in California’s farm-rich Central Valley, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under
the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school. Coach
White and the McFarland students have a lot to learn about each other but when White starts to realize the boys’
exceptional running ability, things begin to change. Soon something beyond their physical gifts becomes
apparent—the power of family relationships, their unwavering commitment to one another and their incredible work
ethic. With grit and determination, the unlikely band of runners eventually overcomes the odds to forge not only a
championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well. Along the way, Coach White realizes that his
family finally found a place to call home and both he and his team achieve their own kind of American dream.
Check out the movie trailer:
Here are some Fun Facts about the movie:
§“McFarland, USA” is inspired by a 1987 true
story, in which an unlikely band of inexperienced, under-equipped, young Latino
runners with exceptional determination rise to become cross-country state
champions under the leadership of their coach, Jim White. Over the years since
then, the McFarland High School cross-country teams have won nine state
championships and the small school is considered a powerhouse in the sport.
§Coach Jim White is retired now, but if you go to
McFarland, chances are you will see him out there on his bike, keeping up with
the kids every evening with a lot of his original team running alongside as
well. White retired in 2002 after teaching in McFarland schools for 40 years and
coaching for 25 years.
§A number of the original runners on the
championship 1987 cross-country team became educators in the McFarland school
district. The former teammates are not only working in their hometown, but also
raising their families there and actively supporting the cross-country teams of
today by coaching, helping out with the meets and practices and donating goods
or money so the teams have what they need.
§Three out of the seven young actors on the team in
the movie are from the McFarland area—Sergio Avelar who plays Victor Puentes
and Michael Aguero, cast as Damacio Diaz, are actual runners and Ramiro
Rodriguez, as Danny Diaz, was a champion soccer player.
§Ramiro Rodriguez had no intention of auditioning
when he agreed to drive his cousin to the casting tryouts for “McFarland, USA.”
He landed the role of Danny Diaz after being pestered repeatedly by executive
producer Mario Iscovich to audition.
§Sergio Avelar is a bona fide runner and a member of the
McFarland Track Club. He has been running since 2001 and considers himself a
“decent runner.” One of his coaches in middle school was actually Thomas
Valles, the real-life person represented
by the role that Carlos Pratts plays.
§Actor Rafael Martinez, who is by naturesoft-spoken and polite, admits that he
cut school in order to audition for the movie. Needless to say, having won a
role, he has no regrets.
§Prior
to the start of principal photography, director Niki Caro organized an informalgathering for the
on-screen White clan that proved insightful for her and the actors. In
pre-production she assembled the actors together—Kevin Costner, Maria Bello,
Morgan Saylor and Elsie Fisher—and had them play Monopoly as a family unit. The
interesting exercise kick-started a family dynamic that lasted for the entire
shoot.
§Kevin Costner, who plays Coach White, was a
great hit with the young actors. He quietly mentored them and offered advice if
they wanted it but for the boys, listening to Costner’s stories and watching
movies with him in his trailer was a highlight. They felt so comfortable with
the famous movie star that they even nicknamed him “KC.”
§Like the real McFarland team, all seven young actors
had to train to become champion runners. Although some had more track and field
experience than others, all of them took their drills very seriously. Mark
Ellis, the coach hired to train them for the film, would have it no other way
and the team evolved over time. But training them wasn’t as simple as merely
putting shoes on their feet. Every morning at 8 a.m. the runners showed up for
practice, which was literally running and more running to build up endurance.
§In the script, the character Thomas Valles,
played by Carlos Pratts, is a natural runner with prodigious talent. But the reverse
was true for Pratts, who zealously prepared for the cross-country scenes and in
the process, became a runner. In addition to drills with the film’s running
coach, Mark Ellis, Pratts worked out with personal trainer Brian Nguyen. Nguyen
famously got Mark Wahlberg into boxing shape for “The Fighter” and did likewise
for Pratts.
§The production took the cast and crew to some of
the most beautiful spots in Southern and Central California, from Lake Castaic
to Malibu to the Griffith Park Observatory, in addition to the fields and
neighborhoods of Bakersfield and McFarland.
§There were some unique cinematic opportunities
in the filming of the movie, especially the embankments of almonds covered in
protective plastic that served as training hills for the team. The expanse of
these weird mounds across the landscape was visually arresting and certainly
emblematic of McFarland, home to Blue Diamond Almonds.
§Classic lowriders are featured in “McFarland,
USA” in several scenes. Lowriders are custom cars fitted with hydraulic jacks
that allow the chassis to be lowered almost all the way to the road. Lowriding
was very big in California’s Central Valley in the mid-’80s with Bakersfield being
one of the lowriding epicenters of the area. Lowriding is often stereotypically
depicted as gangster-related in film but the reality is that these car clubs
are essentially about family and community and the cars are lovingly treasured.
§Director Niki Caro took particular interest in
the “hero-car” lowrider vehicle—and not just in the service of the movie. The
car actually belongs to Caro and she likes to drive the 1970s Chevrolet Caprice,
which was customized to the movie’s specifications. The beautiful classic
features an iconic chain steering wheel and a mural on the hood that is in the
likeness of the owner’s girlfriend in the film, Lupe. The painting is in the
style of the Virgin of Guadalupe, which is an ongoing visual theme in the
movie.
Based on the 1987 true story, “McFarland, USA” follows novice runners from McFarland, an economically challenged town in California, as they give their all to build a cross-country team under the direction of Coach Jim White (Kevin Costner), a newcomer to their predominantly Latino high school, with whom they ultimately bond to build not only a championship cross-country team but an enduring legacy as well.
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