George Clooney Jets Off in Tomorrowland

[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”700px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]The future is yours and it’s yours to decide what it will be.[/dropshadowbox]

Inspiring words from Academy Award winning actor George Clooney, spoken last week at the Tomorrowland Press Junket.  Not unexpected from a humanitarian like him and certainly motivating to here about a summer blockbuster movie.

George Clooney on Tomorrowland

Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with George Clooney for an exclusive interview about his upcoming role as Frank Walker in Disney Pictures Tomorrowland. And to say our group was a little nervous to meet him was an understatement. We were all in awe that this larger-than-life actor was taking the time to meet with us.

His persona of “George Clooney” may be big, but he couldn’t have been more down to earth.  He immediately put us at ease with his charm and his quick wit.  He looks you right in the eye when you are speaking and honestly answers your question, making you feel like you are the only one in the room.  And very quickly the shift in the room went from, George Clooney – MEGA star, to just a fantastic conversation with a guy named George.

Let me tell you a little of that conversation:

Photo Credit: Louise Bishop of MomStart.com

Clooney walks into the room and charmingly asks us about being a group of “Mommy Bloggers” – Is this a group?  How long have you been together? When we answered 2 days, he deadpans, “Uh-oh.  This could be really dangerous.” And with that, he put us all at ease.

First thought on everyone’s minds is how did this award-winning actor come to star in this Disney summer blockbuster?  What attracted him to the role of Frank Walker?

At first I wanted to work with Brad Bird. I think he doesn’t make bad films, and I just love the kind of films he makes. And then when I read the screenplay, I thought what I loved was the idea that their future isn’t just automatically inevitable. And that you have to participate and you don’t have to just accept how it ends.  

He goes on to tell us how growing up in the 1960s helped influence his decision to take on the role in the movie.

I was born in the early 60’s, so I grew up in the era where the individual actually had effect…..the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam movement, the Women’s Rights movements, and that stuff.    I was raised that there was a version where you could affect the future, and you didn’t have to just accept it. The Russians weren’t gonna necessarily just blow us all up with nuclear bombs. So I really loved the idea of hearing this again {in Tomorrowland}, this idea that we’re not just necessarily doomed, that there’s something that you can do about it if you pay attention and you work hard. And I liked it.

Photo Credit: Louise Bishop of MomStart.com

Ironically enough, Tomorrowland screenwriter Damon Lindelof & director Brad Bird actually wrote the part of Frank Walker with George Clooney in mind.  And they were just as thrilled to have him play the role as Clooney was to play it.

Brad and Damon called me and said we’ve written a part for you in a movie. And I’d been trying to work with Brad for a long time. I was like wow, that’s amazing. And then they send me the script and I open it up and the description of me is “55 year old, angry, bitter guy.” I’m like thanks guys. Thank you so much.

And after all these years, acting is still playing make believe to him.

The thing about being an actor is you really don’t ever have to grow up, right? We’re still playing make believe. I’m 54 and I’m playing make-believe. So when they put you in a contraption, and say now you’re gonna fly, it’s like you’re still a 12 year old. Am I gonna fly from here to there? Oh yeah, let’s go, it’s fun.

Disney’s TOMORROWLAND. Photo Credit: Disney 2015

He spoke of his younger co-stars of Tomorrowland fondly and had fun working with them.  He even gave them a piece of advice, proving to us that Clooney has it all in perspective.

They are really sweet. And I think they had a really fun time.  That’s how it’s suppose to be. When I work with younger actors, I always try to remind them that this is the fun kind of job that most people don’t get to do. If you get to be an actor and someone pays you for it, you caught the brass ring. And it’s just fun. 

Disney’s TOMORROWLAND Photo Credit: ©Disney 2015

Clooney found working on the retro-futuristic Tomorrowland was magical. And there was one thing he wished he could bring home from the future…..a jet pack.

Let me put it to you this way. So you’re at LAX. You get your bags. I’ve got to get to Studio City. It’s 4:30 on a Friday. It would be the greatest moment ever, just blasting right over all the traffic. I think it would be fantastic, although, you know, I don’t know that I want everybody to have one ’cause they’d just be circling my house. “Hey Clooney! What’s Amal gonna wear to the MET Ball?” 

And with that, he had us rolling. And wondering…..did he keep a jetpack or anything else from the movie……

Now here’s the thing, Disney has armed guards around all that stuff. And Brad {Bird} is very possessive of all those things as well. So I will not answer what I stole, because they will come take it away from me…..but it shoots rays and it’s a gun.

The last question I was able to ask him was selfishly for me and my kids.  I found Tomorrowland to be an inspiring movie. And with 2 teenagers at home, I asked Clooney to tell us in his words, how this movie will inspire teenagers.

[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”700px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]The idea of Tomorrowland is that, the future is yours and it’s yours to decide what it will be. I feel as if we have to get to that point where we all understand that the individual is not helpless. Regardless of who you are, your voice has to matter and you have to participate. Even if two people hear you, those two people may change. We have to constantly remind ourselves that we’re not just stuck here.[/dropshadowbox]

Tomorrowland is a great summer movie for the whole family.  Go see it when it comes out in theaters May 22, 2015.

Want to hear more about Tomorrowland??

Here’s why I think you should take the whole family to see the movie! Also, find out what valuable lesson his costar, Britt Robertson learned from Clooney. And find out what inspired Director/Producer Brad Bird and Screenwriter/Producer Damon Lindelof to create Tomorrowland in my exclusive interview with them.

We visited the Walt Disney Archives to learn how Tomorrowland producers used items from the archives to recreate key scenes in the movie.  Then we headed over to Disneyland’s Tomorrowland- here’s 13 Fun Facts You Don’t Know about Tomorrowland. Visitors to Disneyland can get a special sneak peek at Tomorrowland and see props from the movie.  And check out all the fun that Disneyland has planned for it’s 60th Anniversary, starting May 22, 2015.

Disclosure: I was an invited guest at an all expenses paid trips to Los Angeles for the Tomorrowland Press Junket by Disney Pictures.  I was not compensated for any of these articles. All opinions are my own.