Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley

Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado have spent much of the past twenty years making each other laugh. After instantly hitting it off as storyboard artists on Kung Fu Panda 2, the pair went on to become best friends and creative partners, earning a reputation for boundary-pushing animated storytelling with The Croods: A New Age and the Oscar-nominated Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Now, they're back with Forgotten Island, an original animated adventure inspired by Filipino folklore about two best friends who are transported to a mythical world where the very foundation of their friendship—their memories of each other—is put to the test.

In this episode, Joel and Januel join Jacqueline Coley to discuss Forgotten Island’s origins in their own 20-year friendship, using “every tool on their belts” as animators and filmmakers to explore the complexities of memory, and why H.E.R. and Liza Soberano couldn’t have been better cast as Jo and Raissa, the film’s leads. They also share memories from their early days working together as DreamWorks story artists, the lessons they learned from Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’s slow burn box office run, and the cinematic and cultural influences they drew on for Forgotten Island, from 90s anime and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind to The Hangover and Dumb and Dumber.

To watch the movies discussed in this episode and more, head to streaming.fandango.com

H.E.R. and Liza Soberano are no strangers to the spotlight. With acclaimed albums, world tours, 5 Grammys and an Academy Award, H.E.R. is just getting started. Meanwhile, Liza is a celebrated actress in the Philippines, known for her roles in hits like Alone/Together, My Ex and Whys, and Forevermore. But their new project, DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, marks an exciting new chapter in both of their careers. A wholly original concept from the directors of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, H.E.R. and Liza voice Jo and Raissa, two lifelong best friends about to embark on separate paths when they’re transported to Nakali, a mythical island inhabited by creatures inspired by Filipino folklore. Rendered in breathtaking animation, Forgotten Island is a celebration of Filipino culture that explores universal ideas about change, memory, and the power of friendship.

In this episode, H.E.R. and Liza join Jacqueline Coley to discuss bringing Jo and Raissa to life, finding unexpected pieces of themselves in the characters, and recording with real life best friends, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. H.E.R. tells the story behind the original song she wrote for the film, Liza reveals the moment that brought her to tears when they recorded the song together, and they both reflect on and what it means to them to be spotlighting their culture for a global audience—with the help of their “Filipino Avengers” castmates Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, and Manny Jacinto.

_To watch the movies discussed in this episode and more, head to _streaming.fandango.com

Nobody can predict where a Zach Cregger movie is going to take them… not even Zach Cregger. Since starting his career in sketch comedy, Cregger has gone on to become one of the most talked-about filmmakers in horror – earning acclaim for the perspective-shifting, expectation-subverting storytelling showcased in Barbarian and Weapons, the latter of which earned Amy Madigan an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Now, he’s bringing his signature vision to Resident Evil, the legendary survival horror franchise. Starring Austin Abrams, the film is what Cregger calls “a love letter” to the games, aiming to recreate the exhilarating dread of pressing deeper into the unknown with dwindling resources, no way back, and no idea what might be waiting in the shadows ahead.

In this episode, Zach talks with Jacqueline Coley about pitching Resident Evil while he was still making Barbarian, and how he approached translating the games to the screen through meticulously choreographed stunt work, practical effects, and how his vision was shaped by the thousands of hours he’s spent playing the games. He lets us into his creative process, dissecting how Barbarian started as a simple writing exercise inspired by a self-help book and how an abandoned screenplay eventually gave birth to Weapons’ Aunt Gladys. Zach and Jacqueline also discuss their favorite Austin Abrams performances, Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead II and its influence on Zach’s work, and why his years writing comedy taught him to always be on the lookout for the weirdest possible idea.

To watch the movies discussed in this episode and more, head to stream.fandango.com

Adria Arjona has made a point of choosing roles that resist typecasting. Since joining the Star Wars universe in Andor, she’s showcased her versatility across comedy, drama, and genre, from charming in offbeat romantic comedies like Hit Man and Splitsville to navigating serious subject matter with nuance and humor in Blink Twice and Los Frikis. But in her latest film, 80s-inspired horror-thriller Onslaught from A24 and director Adam Wingard (The Guest, Godzilla vs. Kong), she’s going darker and bloodier than she’s ever gone before. As Celeste, an ex-army sniper and struggling mom managing PTSD, she’s forced to go full “Sarah Connor” to defend her daughter when a group of supersoldiers escape from a government facility and descend on her trailer park.

In this episode, Adria joins Jacqueline Coley to discuss the grueling physical demands of Onslaught and her creative involvement throughout the process as executive producer, and the close bond she formed on set with Blake Kennedy, the young actress who plays her daughter in the film. She also shares stories from her past projects, from her nerve-wracking Andor audition for showrunner Tony Gilroy to developing her Hit Man character’s dialogue with Richard Linklater and Glen Powell, and reflects on the importance of having a seat at the table as she takes on new challenges in every performance.

To watch the movies discussed in this episode and more, head to stream.fandango.com

Few filmmakers have had a bigger impact on the past 20 years of rom-coms than Will Gluck. From reimagined literary classics like Easy A and Anyone But You to his wry take on situationships in Friends With Benefits, his films are beloved for their witty dialogue, unforgettable chemistry, and astute observations about love and dating. Now he's back at it with One Night Only, a raucously original rom-com about two people looking for love in New York City on the one night a year that premarital sex is legal.

In this episode, Will joins Jacqueline Coley to discuss the ingredients of a great romantic comedy, how he shapes his films around his actors’ chemistry, and why he considers John Hughes his “North Star” as a director. He reflects on giving Emma Stone her big break in Easy A, how obvious it was to the entire crew she was destined for greatness, and why he’s convinced audiences will feel the same way about Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner after seeing them in One Night Only. He also shares how growing up in New York City shaped One Night Only, the world-building production meetings and freezing night shoots that went into making it, and why the film's central contrivance was the perfect allegory for the disconnection of modern dating.

To watch the movies discussed in this episode and more, head to https://stream.fandango.com