The Knockturnal sat down with Selena Gomez and Andy Samberg for an exclusive interview on their upcoming movie, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation! The third installment which continues the love story of Jonathan and Mavis, and of course Count Dracula.
What do you like the most about how far your characters have come in this story- for me personally I like how when the story started you know youโre just two young teenagers in love and now youโre married and have a family and going on this trip together. I find that very exciting for this story.
Andy Samberg: I like that too. I mean itโs definitely for me, lined up almost identically with how that has gone down in my real life.
Selena Gomez:ย Thatโs so nice! Love that!
Andy Samberg:ย But also I think itโs kind of a little bit of an anomaly in animated movies. Like usually thereโs not like huge leaps of life change and that kind of thing and I enjoy that as a viewer certainly.
Selena Gomez: Yeah it was fun. Iโm nowhere near any of that but it was-
Andy Samberg: Closer than you might think! *Laughs*
Selena Gomez:ย But no I think itโs fun I feel comfortable with everyone.It just feels like weโre getting back with old friends and doing it. I havenโt seen him in six years but I enjoy every time Iโm with Andy so.
Andy Samberg:Yeah-both times weโve enjoyed it.
Does the process change? Like what is there a big difference between the recording sessions that you did for the first movie versus the one you did for this one?
Andy Samberg:ย Yes I mean it just moves a little bit more quickly I think is the main difference. Similar to any show or movie sequel and you have shorthand with the creatives and the characters. You know what they are you know what the voice is supposed to sound like. Uh-you fall into it a lot faster thereโs less experimenting cause you know what you wanna get more-
Selena Gomez: You know whatโs funny though is my voice changed.
Andy Samberg: Did it?
Selena Gomez: As I was probably 17 or 18 when I did the first one.
Andy Samberg: You finished puberty!
Selena Gomez: Yes! The voice just got lower and lower but I watched the first one and I canโt go that high anymore. So it actually helps in my benefit that they are growing up cause-
Andy Samberg: Yes!
Selena Gomez: Yeah that helped
Andy Samberg: My voice was always like this. Junior high especially. It was not squeaky.
When you see the finished product do you see any of yourselves or your personal mannerisms or facial expressions in these characters at all?
Andy Samberg: A little bit, I think for the first one they would film us more while we were recording for that reason. Um, but yeah itโs more, once you see how crazy they go with the expressions. You try to match that with your voice as opposed to the other way around I think.
Selena Gomez: Yeah I think itโs very, Iโm very similar actually to Mavis just in the little sarcasticness and yeah for sure.
So what does one do when they go on vacation to the Bermuda Triangle?
Andy Samberg: You just get lost.ย I mean this is the movie that finally answers that question. Itโs gonna kill off a lot of you know, cable specials about what the Bermuda Triangle really is. Now weโre gonna know, factually.
Do you guys have any like family vacation horror stories that are kind of, spill over into this movie or are kinda similar to what youโve done here?
Selena Gomez: My family vacations were just like taking a drive to San Antonio. We didnโt really have much exposure outside of Texas, so it was a lot of Basketball games. My dad really wanted me to be a boy so.
Andy Samberg: Thatโs always the best.
Selena Gomez: Yeah that was great. Thatโs pretty awesome I mean there nothing funny about it. That was kinda my vacation growing up.
Andy Samberg: Did he make his peace with it eventually?
Selena Gomez: Uh I donโt think so no, he wants me to like play golf with him still
Andy Samberg: Just barfing lot of barfing, family trips. I mostly just remember like tons of tons of barf. We had a Volvo station wagon and we had the flip up seats in the way back that face backwards. I donโt think that should be allowed.
The footage that spoke the most to me what the gremlin airlines. Have you guys ever been on a plane where like Iโm not so sure about this?
Selena Gomez: Yes!
Andy Samberg: Most planes yeah. I feel like the older I get the more Iโm afraid of flying too. When I was younger Iโd be like yeah this will work I trust everyone and now itโs like uh-oh every time thereโs turbulence.
Do you like hold from your chair?
Andy Samberg:Yes, you yeah. The number of times Iโve just been like, โNot like this!โ
Selena Gomez: I donโt know, Iโm kinda like if I go I go.
Andy Samberg: Gotta be more like Selena.
Iโm so sad about poor lonely Dracula. I thought the monster Tinder thing was really funny. Will Mavis be helping him at all in his journey to meet someone special?
Selena Gomez: Uh I think like I actually was in real life when my dad and my mom split up I was very much like I didnโt want anyone with him. And so I like, I was younger, this wasnโt recently cause I want him to be happy. But I feel like I think thatโs her. Sheโs not really aware that heโs alone, heโs just her dad so I think she you know it took her a minute to kind of adjust. Maybe sheโs against him a little bit at first.
For a lot of kids who see these movies this is sorta like their gateway to meeting these creatures- monsters, Dracula and Frankenstein. We didnโt have these when we were kids I think. Do you remember your first exposure to these creatures, to these sort of iconic characters?
Andy Samberg: Yeah I mean. Probably either the original or a second iterations of them is definitely black and white on like you know public access television or something. I feel like I remember being a kid and seeing like Frankenstein with- was Frankenstein three strooges? Abbott and Costello. Yes exactly, Abbott and Costello. Stuff like that Iโd be like โOh Frankenstein, thatโs what that isโ. And then young Frankenstein for me was obviously major. But thatโs-I never got wildly into the like horror version of it because by the time I was watching when I was a kid they seemed kind of old. I feel like these monsters are actually flipped correctly into this franchise because to generations now that have like Saw and stuff they are actually kind of fun and silly. Like you know you see them in like Count Chockula and Frankenberries and stuff. Itโs definitely been watered down and horror has changed.
Selena Gomez: Itโs true. I was first exposed for Halloween. I think thatโs kinda when I knew. But I was-my family started me young so like Chucky and Jason and Freddy, I knew all those first. So these characters were very comforting when I was younger cause I agree with what youโre saying. They never seemed frightening, you know?
This was kinda touched on the previous question but Iโm curious just about your relationship both like watching the previous two movies but also just your work in general. like do you watch your own stuff, and is this easier cause itโs animated?
Andy Samberg:ย It takes less time. Thereโs no hair and makeup which I do an equal amount of cause the world is fair. And I definitely watch them, I watch almost everything I do. Just to learn you know and see how it turns out. And particular people I work with and see what choices they made and stuff like that.
Selena Gomez: Yeah same I guess. Iโve been very focused on music the last two years but I would do the same thing. I mean I love coming up with creative and stuff so yeah.
Thank you for mentioning music because your fans are dying to know if the rumor is true that you have a new song coming out during Billboard?
Selena Gomez: I have no idea actually to be honest. Iโve been working on this record for two and a half years and to be honest itโs been complete in my mind. Iโm still doing things with it and going in and trying new things. But Iโm just waiting. I donโt know when the right moment is and I really mean that. Not in the way that Iโm trying to be mysterious or cool itโs just- I donโt know. Itโs been a lot of kind of the same thing. So Iโm just trying to make sure I feel inspired and that I really want to create these stories and I donโt know tell a story cause itโs hard to be- I donโt know itโs hard in pop to actually have a voice and make sure your content means something. Cause I donโt wanna just be something that people are following onto all the time.
Whatโs the best thing about playing an animated character?
Andy Samberg: You get to go huge with your performance and not be judged.
Selena Gomez: Yeah thatโs great.
Andy Samberg: Like thereโs no take too crazy.
Selena Gomez: For me I have to be honest, I love staying connected to the littles. Like itโs just something I really really miss. It kinda sounds weird to say but I love being a part of a show that was centered for families and kids. It seemed fun and easy. And I donโt know thereโs nothing better than making a kid smile, genuinely. Especially in what we do.
What was it like working with Katherine Hahn sheโs like new to the mix. Sheโs gone from Parks and Rec to Transparent and so many other things so just curious to know how it was.
Andy Samberg: She was on Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Great sheโs always great sheโs hilarious. She brings good energy always. You know we donโt do a ton of recording in the room together at this part, but when I heard that they were bringing her in I was very psyched. Iโm a fan of hers always.
Selena Gomez:ย Itโs nice sheโs so fun and easy. And you know her and Iโve only met her once sheโs great.
Earlier you mentioned that you werenโt like in a recording booth, you were like in an open area with a lot of people. How was that experience and why was that? Are there like two actors saying the scenes at the same time of how does it work?
Selena Gomez: No I mean Genndy will read sign us when weโre there. I think itโs-everyone just stays silent and I donโt really- thatโs just how weโve been doing it the last few times Iโve recorded. Itโs kind of awkward. Especially itโs very bright. Like when I go and record music I like everything dark and no one to look at me. But with this itโs- I donโt know you just kinda go on and youโre laughing at yourself and laughing at what youโre watching. So itโs a little awkward but itโs fine.
Andy Samberg: I mean with music though, itโs a vibe.
Selena, what do you think about Ronda Rousey, was just at Wrestlemania a few nights ago-
Selena Gomez: Didnโt know that!
And I hear sheโs gonna main event the next Wrestlemania. So how did you like getting to meet her and work with her? And sheโs going to be main eventing- like the first woman to main event a wrestling pay per view.
Selena Gomez: Good for her! Thatโs awesome. She was awesome to work with she was so fun. She like devoted her time to really being good on the show and sheโs a really great person I loved meeting her.
Go back a little bit to Brooklyn Nine-Nine youโre surrounded by two beautiful latinas. I mean how awful and terrible is it for you to be surrounded by so many talented and beautiful, amazing Latinas?
Andy Samberg: I wouldnโt say itโs awful at all. It’s fantastic. Thank you for the sell.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is actually one of the few shows that show Latinas that are badass powerful.
Andy Samberg: Yeah absolutely and weโre all very proud of that fact and those ladies are the greatest, theyโre my buddies. Hopefully weโll make more.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation will be in theaters July 13!
