Sitting Down with the Producers and Directors of Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse! #SpiderVerse opens Dec. 14th

I was invited on an all expenses paid trip to cover the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse press junket.  All opinions are my own.

I had such a great time in LA attended the Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse press junket!  I got to screen the movie (It is soooooooo good!) and I will be sharing my review with you soon so keep an eye out for that.

Since I loved the movie, I was really excited to get to sit down with a few of the creative minds behind it.  I sat down with Producers Christina Steinberg, Chris Miller, and Phil Lord.  As well as Directors Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey & Rodney Rothman.

They started out by telling us that making this film was a 3 year journey full of ups and downs. “I wish people could see how much work actually goes into making one of these movies.  It’s amazing.” Director Peter Ramsey told us. 

When Directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller were approached to do an animated Spider-Man movie, Chris told us “There were two things that were exciting about that.  One was telling Miles Morales’ story which would be a fresh way to approach Spider-Man.  And the other was the opportunity that animation gives you to make it feel like you are in a living breathing comic book.” They said they wanted to push the limits of animation to make something new and different.  After seeing the movie, I am so impressed by how unique and new this animation is.  I believe it took a great movie and made it excellent.

This movie is going to be very popular for many ages.  Director Phil Lord told us, “When we were testing the movie, we would test it with families and general audiences. Everybody we would ask afterwards, “Who is this movie for?” and kids would say, “It was for me” and parents would say, “It was for me”, and 20 somethings that had no kids said “This was for me”.  Everybody could find something in it and felt like it was speaking to them. Which was really cool”

Early on, they wondered if a Multi-Verse would be too hard for the audience to understand. Director Bob Persichetti said “As soon as I said Multi-Verse to my 7-year-old he was like “okay a multi-verse”.  In a way, they [kids] are almost smarter than us. They are more open-minded. They haven’t had a lifetime of things drilled into them.” I have to agree with him. Kids have a whole different view on life and it’s inspirational. 

Even though it’s very hard to choose just one, Producer Christina Steinberg told us, “Truly one of my favorite moments in the movie is with Miles and his mother Rio at the door, when he is getting ready for school. Kissing his face.  It’s just so warm so real, I love it. And I think it sets the tone for the whole movie.” As a mom it was one of my favorite parts of the movie as well.  It’s very sweet and I absolutely love seeing a happy loving family who is all still together in an animated movie. Spider-Man usually doesn’t have parents and it was nice to see. 

Director Rodney Rotham told us about the mission statement for the movie that was written by Producer Phil Lord. “You are capable and we are counting on you.“  Rodney told us that mission statement existed before the script and it was used as an inspiration throughout the making of the movie.  No wonder the movie turned out so wonderfully. 

Ultimately, what do the creators of Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse want kids to take away from seeing this movie? 

“We are all counting on them.”-Chris Miller

“They are not alone, help is on the way.”-Phil Lord

“The idea of grit and resilience.  If you get knocked down you get back up.“-
Director Bob Persichetti

“Anyone can be behind the mask. And you don’t have to do it the way everyone else does it, but you all have it in you to be your own version of a superhero and to create your own dream.“-Producer Christina Steinberg

“Finding yourself.  A kid discovering who he is and what he has to do to get there.  He realizes all this wisdom, all this empowerment is already in my life if I can just open myself to it and take hold of it and make it my own.”-Director Peter Ramsey

“To young people everywhere, they could do this. It’s a regular person behind the mask.” -Director Rodney Rotham 

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse opens in theaters Dec. 14th! 

Stay tuned for my review of the movie and interview with some of the voice talent…