During our Big Hero 6 press day, we also got the chance to interview Jamie Chung, who voices Go Go Tamago, and Genesis Rodriguez, who voices Honey Lemon. They were so down to earth and we had a blast, just like girlfriends hanging out and talking about the latest movie.
Big Hero 6 Interview with Jamie Chung and Genesis Rodriguez
What was your favorite part about playing the character that you played?
Jaime : My favorite is Go Go doesn’t say a lot at the beginning of the film but when she does say something, it’s very on point and it’s quite sassy. She was described to me as the female version of Clint Eastwood. It was just fun to like sass it up. If I said a line with too much of a smile, the directors, Chris and Don, do it, “No, No, No, No, No, a little bit meaner.”
Genesis : For me, it was having to be so positive all the time. I really felt like I was acting a fool and I was getting paid for it. It really is just the biggest blessing to have this cast, warm and loving characters cause you’ll never get to play that kind of part in a live action thing. I can speak for the both of us – we’ve been huge Disney fans all of our lives and we’ve been princesses. I was literally combing my red hair in restaurants as Ariel. It’s like a dream come true to be able to play these strong female characters and give that back to future Generations. Such a gift.
About Honey Lemon’s character, she looks Caucasian but seems to say “Hiro” with almost a Japanese accent. Why is that?
Genesis : So Honey Lemon is very Latino and “Hiro” is a Latin pronunciation. And it is Japanese too. That’s the correct way of pronouncing it either way. But the beautiful thing about Latinas is we come in all colors. My mom is Honey Lemon – a really natural blonde, lighter eyes. It’s wonderful that it’s not like a stereotype of any sort. It just happened and nobody kind of talks about it so it’s great. I feel like she pronounces it that way because it’s more endearing or it’s more like she cares about him. My manager who I’ve been with for 13 years, his name is Ivan but I say Iv-AHN. I can’t say Ivan because it feels so weird to me, it’s Ivon not Ivan, you know what I mean?
Did you like having a strong Female lead in the movie?
Jaime : Absolutely. Talking further on stereotypes, what I love about this film is that there is no stereotype. It kind of breaks all of those boundaries in terms of being a Nerd and being not cool. This is the absolute opposite of that. In terms of strong female characters, Honey Lemon and Go Go are so different from each other and yet they both represent strength in their own way. With Disney, what’s great is it’s not like a cookie cutter example of, “This is a strong woman.” They both come in different shapes and sizes, and different shades and what not, and that’s what I love about this.
When you’re in studio and you’re doing your voices, are you very animated?
Jaime : I heard this story of a famous voice over actor and he prefers to lay down and say all of his lines. I don’t know how that’s possible because, I think Genesis is the same way, you have to do the motion to get that sound out. It’s so hard to do because you have to stay still but it’s like, “Now, make a noise like you’re falling 6 feet and you’re landing on the floor.” It’s really hard to do. You have to use your imagination but it helps to move. , not an action like–
Genesis : I couldn’t not move. I can’t imagine saying my lines like that. There’s definitely lots of hand movement and probably I was like 4 feet away from anything around me.
What did you like wear to get into these characters?
Genesis : What’s weird is that I did the audition exactly like Honey Lemon and I hadn’t seen the character at all. I did a very bold fashion choice – I did socks in heels and I did an undershirt with a dress over it. I don’t do that like at all but I don’t know why I went like that. Then I saw Honey Lemon and the way she dressed and was, “Okay, this is freaky.” I couldn’t have planned it better.
Did you add anything uniquely you to your character? Do you have blades that you fly around in?
Jamie : Oh I wish. In terms of an adrenaline junkie and being sassy, I do feel like I embody those characteristics. Genesis is just Honey Lemon – happy, perky, awesome, smart woman.
There are so many emotional pulls in the movie. Was there anything in particular that really triggered you?
Jaime : The first time I didn’t cry cause I was absorbing everything and very aware. Though, last night when I watched it with my nephew and my family and everyone, I let myself go. The moment where he goes, “I can’t leave you Baymax,” I’m like [CRIES]. Like I’m just about to cry right now like it was so good.
Genesis : I cried 3 times and I’m not going to say the last two because I don’t want to spoil it for the readers. The first time I cried, is the flight scene when he (Hiro) sees his reflection like he did with his brother. Oh, that kills me.
Jaime : What I love about Disney is that they’re not afraid to unfold the story of tragedy of real life issues – death. Disney is not afraid to address to the younger generation. I think it’s important that they do because in the end everything is gonna be okay. It’s okay to be sad and it’s okay to be happy. It’s just the process of overcoming grief and it’s really important. And it’s always kind of a diffused message and it’s always there. Kids get it.
Do you think that doing the Movie anyway changed your perspective on certain things? Does it want you to be better?
Jaime : In terms of like sending the right message, it is a superhero movie but it stresses the importance of education and science. I love that the message that it sends is that intelligence and smarts is not sex biased, nor is it race biased. Everyone’s equal and everyone has that same opportunity to reach that milestone in terms of education. So I think it’s cool to part of that. In terms of 10, 20, 30 years from now, this movie’s still going to be relevant.
Genesis : I was so excited for a movie to talk about robotics and technology. I was on a robotics team…to even have a movie just making girls want to be in technology and be smart. I hope girls especially will be wanting, after this movie,to be the first ones to raise their hands in class and realize that being smart is a super power. If we got to do that for them then, again, we’re so blessed. Robotics is cool. Science is cool.
Fun, right? I’ll leave you with this photo of the adorable nail art Genesis Rodriguez was showing off 🙂
Big Hero 6 is out now!
- Official Site: http://www.disney.com/BigHero6
- Like Big Hero 6 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DisneyBigHero6
- Follow Walt Disney Animation Studios on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DisneyAnimation
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- Follow Walt Disney Animation Studios on Instagram: http://instagram.com/disneyanimation
- Hashtag: #BigHero6 #BigHero6Event
I was invited on an all-expense paid media trip as a guest of Disney and ABC in honor of the Big Hero 6 movie and mentioned sitcom series. All opinions are my own.
See more: Marvel’s Avengers Event | Monsters University Event | Frozen Event | Big Hero 6 Event
6 comments
Hww cool, I know you guys had a blast! The movie was amazing.
What a fun event! Thanks for sharing your time.
Looks like it was fun chatting with them. I loved interviewing Jamie! She’s a blogger too!
It was such a good movie and I teared up a couple of times while watching it. Love their nails!
I know I cried a few times also! I absolutely adored Big Hero 6. I hope there are sequels in the works!
Looks like you had an absolute blast! Can’t wait to see this with the fam!
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