As a cinephile with decades of movie-watching under my belt, I must say that Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” has certainly piqued my interest. Having grown up watching the original 1988 classic, seeing its sequel unfold at the Venice International Film Festival was a nostalgic journey down memory lane.
Tim Burton’s film “Beetlejuice” had its world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival today, and prior to its North American release on September 6, actress Jenna Ortega wants to clarify that she wasn’t intending to imitate Winona Ryder. Ortega plays Astrid Deetz in the sequel, the daughter of Ryder’s character Lydia, but while there are clear similarities between the two roles, Ortega feels that her character is rooted in a different place than Ryder’s was 36 years ago.
At a press conference for the Venice Film Festival (as reported by IndieWire), Ortega discussed her portrayal of the character Astrid. She explained that the difficulty lay in making the role unique, without imitating Ryder, while also acknowledging that similarities would exist due to their portrayed mother-daughter relationship. For Ortega, it was essential to strike a balance between these two aspects.
“I wanted to avoid copying the previous work of the charming Winona. So, I aimed to create something original, yet retain some similarities in specific elements as a tribute.”
In the original film from 1988, Lydia Deetz was portrayed as a moody, disenchanted teenager with clear disdain for the world. Fast-forwarding to today, Astrid seems to have been cast in a similar role initially, but Ortega explains that her character’s anger stems from a unique source, which she utilized while making acting decisions to ensure Astrid doesn’t appear as just a replica of Lydia.
“They’re confident and firm in their beliefs, and they seem to know themselves well. I believe their anger arises from a unique source. You, Ryder, appear to have an affinity for the macabre, whereas Astrid may carry more pain and grudges against the world, and she seems to be dealing with these issues.”
Jenna Ortega Felt Like She Was ‘Joining a Team of Giants’
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice signifies the second joint project of Ortega and Burton since their successful Netflix series, Wednesday. Having previously collaborated with the director, it undoubtedly provided a sense of comfort on the set of the much-anticipated sequel. As she expressed, “‘It was truly delightful to have already built a professional rapport with Tim, as he’s someone I trust deeply and genuinely appreciate working alongside,’” she stated.
Yet, this didn’t imply that Ortega wasn’t deeply impressed by the opportunity to star in such a significant role. Being a devotee of the initial film, the young actress admits she carried a sense of responsibility as she entered the set, and made an effort to keep a low profile.
As a movie lover, stepping into this creative powerhouse felt like entering a league of titans, where every individual exuded an extraordinary talent. In an attempt to maintain my humble presence, I chose to keep a low profile, quietly observing from the sidelines.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-28 19:07