Hollywood star Jack Black has been chatting to education charity FILMCLUB about his new film Kung Fu Panda 2 which high kicks it’s way into cinemas on Friday 10th June.
The actor, whose known for his roles in School of Rock, Gulliver’s Travels, Be Kind Rewind and Kung Fu Panda chatted to two of the charity’s young ambassadors - 11 year olds Annie and Siobhan - telling them what he believed were the key ingredients to a family blockbuster;
Jack Black; "It’s got to be a fun adventure, for me.
"It’s got to be funny and it’s got to have some good heart. I’ve got to get involved emotionally with the characters. Those are the magical ingredients, I’d say."
Jack cited the themes of family and adoption as his favourite part of the film; "My favourite part in the film are all the parts I have with my adopted father, because he’s so funny - the goose that’s my dad - Ping. I just think it’s very moving, their story."
The comic also admitted that - like his character in the film - that food is a personal weakness that would help him to train, saying; "Yeah, if you dangled a cheeseburger in front of me I’d pretty much do anything you say!"
When quizzed on whether there was going to be a School of Rock 2, he said; "I hope so! But I’m only going to do a School of Rock 2 if it’s at least as good as the first one, and that’s the challenge. So there may never be a School of Rock 2 because I don’t want to sully the memory of my best movie!"
The duo also interviewed the film’s director Jennifer Yuh, who told them about bringing Po and his friends back to the big screen for another adventure.
Siobhan said of her experience; "When we met Jack, we were very, very, VERY nervous but once we sat down in front of him we started talking, he was really funny like a normal guy so we felt a bit more relaxed."
She added; "And the whole experience of being on the red carpet was great and I love being part of FILMCLUB at my school because I get to watch films with my friends and view movies I probably wouldn’t normally watch at home."
Annie said; "Interviewing Jennifer Yuh Nelson the director was actually quite different from interviewing Jack Black because Jack was a bit funnier and louder.
"Whilst Jennifer was giving longer answers which were a bit simpler, I actually did really enjoy interviewing her."
In relation to the themes of adoption that are raised in the film, FILMCLUB has put together a new season of films, ‘Looked After Children’ around the theme of adoption and children who come into contact with the care system for young viewers to explore this topic further. Titles include;
Oliver Twist (1948, U): Adaptation of the famous Charles Dicken novel, about a boy who grows up in a brutal workhouse in Victorian London before joining a pickpocket gang.
Annie (1982, U): Big screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, including a few new songs to the heartwarming tale of little orphan Annie trying to find happiness.
We are Together (2006, PG): Moving documentary about 12-year-old Slindile Moya and her siblings, who lose both parents to AIDS in South Africa and end up in an orphanage.
The Italian (2005, 12): A desolate orphanage in rural Russia offers little hope to its inhabitants, but when a wealthy Italian picks little Vanya, he is not ready to leave.
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