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 you’re just two young teenagers in love and now you’re 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 it’s definitely for me, lined up almost identically with how that has gone down in my real life.
Selena Gomez: That’s so nice! Love that!
Andy Samberg: But also I think it’s kind of a little bit of an anomaly in animated movies. Like usually there’s 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. I’m nowhere near any of that but it was-
Andy Samberg: Closer than you might think! *Laughs*
Selena Gomez: But no I think it’s fun I feel comfortable with everyone.It just feels like we’re getting back with old friends and doing it. I haven’t seen him in six years but I enjoy every time I’m with Andy so.
Andy Samberg:Yeah-both times we’ve 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: 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 there’s less experimenting cause you know what you wanna get more-
Selena Gomez: You know what’s 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 can’t 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 it’s 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 it’s very, I’m 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. I mean this is the movie that finally answers that question. It’s gonna kill off a lot of you know, cable specials about what the Bermuda Triangle really is. Now we’re 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 you’ve done here?
Selena Gomez: My family vacations were just like taking a drive to San Antonio. We didn’t 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: That’s always the best.
Selena Gomez: Yeah that was great. That’s 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 don’t 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 don’t 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 I’m not so sure about this?
Selena Gomez: Yes!
Andy Samberg: Most planes yeah. I feel like the older I get the more I’m afraid of flying too. When I was younger I’d be like yeah this will work I trust everyone and now it’s like uh-oh every time there’s turbulence.
Do you like hold from your chair?
Andy Samberg:Yes, you yeah. The number of times I’ve just been like, ”Not like this!”
Selena Gomez: I don’t know, I’m kinda like if I go I go.
Andy Samberg: Gotta be more like Selena.
I’m 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 didn’t want anyone with him. And so I like, I was younger, this wasn’t recently cause I want him to be happy. But I feel like I think that’s her. She’s not really aware that he’s alone, he’s just her dad so I think she you know it took her a minute to kind of adjust. Maybe she’s 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 didn’t 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 I’d be like “Oh Frankenstein, that’s what that is”. And then young Frankenstein for me was obviously major. But that’s-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. It’s definitely been watered down and horror has changed.
Selena Gomez: It’s true. I was first exposed for Halloween. I think that’s 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 you’re saying. They never seemed frightening, you know?
This was kinda touched on the previous question but I’m 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 it’s animated?
Andy Samberg: It takes less time. There’s 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. I’ve 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. I’ve been working on this record for two and a half years and to be honest it’s been complete in my mind. I’m still doing things with it and going in and trying new things. But I’m just waiting. I don’t know when the right moment is and I really mean that. Not in the way that I’m trying to be mysterious or cool it’s just- I don’t know. It’s been a lot of kind of the same thing. So I’m just trying to make sure I feel inspired and that I really want to create these stories and I don’t know tell a story cause it’s hard to be- I don’t know it’s hard in pop to actually have a voice and make sure your content means something. Cause I don’t wanna just be something that people are following onto all the time.
What’s 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 that’s great.
Andy Samberg: Like there’s no take too crazy.
Selena Gomez: For me I have to be honest, I love staying connected to the littles. Like it’s 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 don’t know there’s nothing better than making a kid smile, genuinely. Especially in what we do.
What was it like working with Katherine Hahn she’s like new to the mix. She’s 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 she’s always great she’s hilarious. She brings good energy always. You know we don’t 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. I’m a fan of hers always.
Selena Gomez: It’s nice she’s so fun and easy. And you know her and I’ve only met her once she’s great.
Earlier you mentioned that you weren’t 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 we’re there. I think it’s-everyone just stays silent and I don’t really- that’s just how we’ve been doing it the last few times I’ve recorded. It’s kind of awkward. Especially it’s very bright. Like when I go and record music I like everything dark and no one to look at me. But with this it’s- I don’t know you just kinda go on and you’re laughing at yourself and laughing at what you’re watching. So it’s a little awkward but it’s fine.
Andy Samberg: I mean with music though, it’s a vibe.
Selena, what do you think about Ronda Rousey, was just at Wrestlemania a few nights ago-
Selena Gomez: Didn’t know that!
And I hear she’s gonna main event the next Wrestlemania. So how did you like getting to meet her and work with her? And she’s going to be main eventing- like the first woman to main event a wrestling pay per view.
Selena Gomez: Good for her! That’s awesome. She was awesome to work with she was so fun. She like devoted her time to really being good on the show and she’s a really great person I loved meeting her.
Go back a little bit to Brooklyn Nine-Nine you’re 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 wouldn’t say it’s 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 we’re all very proud of that fact and those ladies are the greatest, they’re my buddies. Hopefully we’ll make more.
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation will be in theaters July 13!
