Nikki_luv
08-15-2004, 02:25 PM
Here's an interview I found, it came with videos, lol.
Low quality video link (mms://media.tribute.ca/interviews/ravensymone_lo.asf)
High quality video link (mms://media.tribute.ca/interviews/ravensymone_hi.asf)
B.L. I have to tell you that my two kids are very upset that they can’t be here with me right now, because they think you are great!
R.S. Well, thanks so much. That’s very nice of you to say.
B.L. We spent New Year’s Eve with Raven. My kids insisted on watching the That’s So Raven Marathon.
R.S. You did? You must be so sick of me. I didn’t even spend New Year’s Eve with Raven! (laughs).
B.L. Over the last couple of years you have achieved such amazing success on TV, with your music and in the movies. How thrilling has all of this been for you?
R.S. I am having so much fun. I dreamed about doing a lot of things at once when I was a really little girl, so to have this dream come true is just amazing.
B.L. How exciting is it for you to be a part of The Lion King 1 1/2 DVD?
R.S. Being a part of something so classic is crazy, and I get to sing and dance – it’s awesome. I was a part of The Lion King Special Edition DVD as well, so just being part of the Disney Family I get to be on so many different cool projects and am affiliated with so many cool people like Elton John.
B.L. Did you meet him?
R.S. Unfortunately not, but just knowing that I got to work on the same project as he did is mind blowing.
B.L. Now, you aren’t a voice in The Lion King 1 1/2 but you are in the music video that is a special feature on the disc. You sing "Grazing in the Grass" which is an old classic song. How did you enjoy getting the chance to update the song?
R.S. I enjoyed it. I was too young when the original song came out, and I didn’t hear it before I recorded it but after I recorded it, I started hearing it everywhere! Things like that happen all the time. I thought it was such a wonderful song, it’s so upbeat and it goes so well with the movie and it was fun to do.
B.L. Do you have a lot of input when you are doing music videos in terms of choreography?
R.S. I worked with the same choreographer that I have been working with for years, so he knows my style and he knows what I like and what I hate and can’t do. Turns don’t work very well for me; I just can’t get all the way around. So any turns that you see my dancers doing in the video, you’ll notice that I am just standing there with a pose and then I’ll go right back into it. I had a lot of input on the clothes that I got to wear so that was fun.
B.L. You have been acting since you were about three years old, getting your big break playing little Olivia on the Cosby Show. When you look back at that opportunity what did you learn from someone like Bill Cosby?
R.S. Working with Bill Cosby I learned a lot about timing, but to be honest I was just a kid and for me it was all about having fun. I think it all just soaked in me, just being there around these people every day. Being around such professionals at such a young age, it just melts into you. I think that I have brought some of the things that he taught me into my entire career.
B.L. With all of your success, you seem like a very grounded young lady! Who helps you stay on track?
R.S. Thank you. My family, most definitely my family. They have been with me throughout my entire career and have been so supportive. My father is my manager and when I’m not working I go home to my mom who puts it all into perspective. She tells me right off "my room isn’t clean, so what’s important here? Do you really want to test me? You are not Raven-Symone the celebrity in this house." So it’s like that, they keep me pretty grounded that way, and so do my friends.
B.L. Your TV series That’s So Raven is extremely popular in Canada. Are you having a good time working on it?
R.S. It’s a lot of fun and we do have a great time. The first season we were just getting to know each other, so I think a lot of energy was put into that and understanding our characters. Now that we are into our second season we know our characters and we spend a lot of time trying to make each other laugh instead of just trying to make the audience laugh. We do a lot of stuff in the scenes for each other which some people catch. That’s when it becomes a really smooth sailing type of show and it runs on its own. We know what to do, we know the safety precautions because we do a lot of stunts but we just mesh well together and try to make it a family thing and we do.
B.L. Do you have any difficulty memorizing lines?
R.S. Not really. I love memorizing things. In school, I always did well on tests. I’d learn the information and use the information in some way. So, I am pretty good when it comes to memorizing my scripts.
B.L. You have also starred in the Dr. Dolittle films, and now that your character Charisse has the ability to hear and talk to the animals the possibilities are endless!
R.S. I know, I was saying that the third movie should be called Dr. Dolittle 3: Charisse Strikes Back. I would love to see that happen and working with Eddie Murphy is a blast.
B.L. So what else do you have up your sleeve?
R.S. I am going to be doing a movie called All American Girl about a girl who saves the President of the United States by mistake. I am also remaking a movie called Sparkle and I will be in the lead role. I’ve got a That’s So Raven soundtrack coming out this May and I have a solo album coming out at the end of the year. I have a little part in The Princess Diaries 2 and I get to be a princess. Oh and I am a part of Disneymania 2!
B.L. Do you ever relax?
R.S. I do, I had a month off in December because I was forced to! I was told that 2004 is going to be busy, busy, busy, so I took time off. But now I am ready, energized and revitalized – so give me some more!
B.L. What advice do have for aspiring youngsters who would like to follow in your footsteps?
R.S. Be professional, that’s the main thing, and soak up all the information that you can. I find that if you are always professional and on your best behavior people will simply respect you more and take you seriously. Surround yourself with people you love and trust because when you are in the business, you can’t trust everyone.
Low quality video link (mms://media.tribute.ca/interviews/ravensymone_lo.asf)
High quality video link (mms://media.tribute.ca/interviews/ravensymone_hi.asf)
B.L. I have to tell you that my two kids are very upset that they can’t be here with me right now, because they think you are great!
R.S. Well, thanks so much. That’s very nice of you to say.
B.L. We spent New Year’s Eve with Raven. My kids insisted on watching the That’s So Raven Marathon.
R.S. You did? You must be so sick of me. I didn’t even spend New Year’s Eve with Raven! (laughs).
B.L. Over the last couple of years you have achieved such amazing success on TV, with your music and in the movies. How thrilling has all of this been for you?
R.S. I am having so much fun. I dreamed about doing a lot of things at once when I was a really little girl, so to have this dream come true is just amazing.
B.L. How exciting is it for you to be a part of The Lion King 1 1/2 DVD?
R.S. Being a part of something so classic is crazy, and I get to sing and dance – it’s awesome. I was a part of The Lion King Special Edition DVD as well, so just being part of the Disney Family I get to be on so many different cool projects and am affiliated with so many cool people like Elton John.
B.L. Did you meet him?
R.S. Unfortunately not, but just knowing that I got to work on the same project as he did is mind blowing.
B.L. Now, you aren’t a voice in The Lion King 1 1/2 but you are in the music video that is a special feature on the disc. You sing "Grazing in the Grass" which is an old classic song. How did you enjoy getting the chance to update the song?
R.S. I enjoyed it. I was too young when the original song came out, and I didn’t hear it before I recorded it but after I recorded it, I started hearing it everywhere! Things like that happen all the time. I thought it was such a wonderful song, it’s so upbeat and it goes so well with the movie and it was fun to do.
B.L. Do you have a lot of input when you are doing music videos in terms of choreography?
R.S. I worked with the same choreographer that I have been working with for years, so he knows my style and he knows what I like and what I hate and can’t do. Turns don’t work very well for me; I just can’t get all the way around. So any turns that you see my dancers doing in the video, you’ll notice that I am just standing there with a pose and then I’ll go right back into it. I had a lot of input on the clothes that I got to wear so that was fun.
B.L. You have been acting since you were about three years old, getting your big break playing little Olivia on the Cosby Show. When you look back at that opportunity what did you learn from someone like Bill Cosby?
R.S. Working with Bill Cosby I learned a lot about timing, but to be honest I was just a kid and for me it was all about having fun. I think it all just soaked in me, just being there around these people every day. Being around such professionals at such a young age, it just melts into you. I think that I have brought some of the things that he taught me into my entire career.
B.L. With all of your success, you seem like a very grounded young lady! Who helps you stay on track?
R.S. Thank you. My family, most definitely my family. They have been with me throughout my entire career and have been so supportive. My father is my manager and when I’m not working I go home to my mom who puts it all into perspective. She tells me right off "my room isn’t clean, so what’s important here? Do you really want to test me? You are not Raven-Symone the celebrity in this house." So it’s like that, they keep me pretty grounded that way, and so do my friends.
B.L. Your TV series That’s So Raven is extremely popular in Canada. Are you having a good time working on it?
R.S. It’s a lot of fun and we do have a great time. The first season we were just getting to know each other, so I think a lot of energy was put into that and understanding our characters. Now that we are into our second season we know our characters and we spend a lot of time trying to make each other laugh instead of just trying to make the audience laugh. We do a lot of stuff in the scenes for each other which some people catch. That’s when it becomes a really smooth sailing type of show and it runs on its own. We know what to do, we know the safety precautions because we do a lot of stunts but we just mesh well together and try to make it a family thing and we do.
B.L. Do you have any difficulty memorizing lines?
R.S. Not really. I love memorizing things. In school, I always did well on tests. I’d learn the information and use the information in some way. So, I am pretty good when it comes to memorizing my scripts.
B.L. You have also starred in the Dr. Dolittle films, and now that your character Charisse has the ability to hear and talk to the animals the possibilities are endless!
R.S. I know, I was saying that the third movie should be called Dr. Dolittle 3: Charisse Strikes Back. I would love to see that happen and working with Eddie Murphy is a blast.
B.L. So what else do you have up your sleeve?
R.S. I am going to be doing a movie called All American Girl about a girl who saves the President of the United States by mistake. I am also remaking a movie called Sparkle and I will be in the lead role. I’ve got a That’s So Raven soundtrack coming out this May and I have a solo album coming out at the end of the year. I have a little part in The Princess Diaries 2 and I get to be a princess. Oh and I am a part of Disneymania 2!
B.L. Do you ever relax?
R.S. I do, I had a month off in December because I was forced to! I was told that 2004 is going to be busy, busy, busy, so I took time off. But now I am ready, energized and revitalized – so give me some more!
B.L. What advice do have for aspiring youngsters who would like to follow in your footsteps?
R.S. Be professional, that’s the main thing, and soak up all the information that you can. I find that if you are always professional and on your best behavior people will simply respect you more and take you seriously. Surround yourself with people you love and trust because when you are in the business, you can’t trust everyone.