Interview with Anne Hathaway & Garry Marshall (right) of 

The Princess Diaries

3 p.m. June 20, 2001

at the Ritz Carleton in San Francisco

(Mia, the lead character and the film's director).

Do you identify with Mia and her final speech? (Kamala)

Anne Hathaway: Absolutely, that is one of the reasons why this film appealed to me because watching her make the transition from adolescent to young adult with the realization is not about what life is going to do for you; it is not about what you can get out of every situation. It is about finding the best way to help other people who maybe don't have a voice; who can't have the power that you have, and using that power to help them, and putting other people first. And that is something that I have just recently realized in my life because I am only a little bit older than Mia, so obviously it was about that time that I made that realization as well, and I think she does it in such an elegant and beautiful way. And something else that really appealed to me was just the fact that we got to show Mia looking really awkward... and how she had to go from really awkward and not perfect to really beautiful. And I wanted to say that when she has her most important moment in her life... she is soaking wet with no make up on, so I think that is one way that we address that the important transition is not the physical one but the emotional one.

Hear her refreshing comments about realism in the portrayal of teens (audio clip).

Anne Hathaway: We all felt really strongly about showing that just because you are a teenager does not mean you do not have power... Even if you do all you can and only reach a few people, it is totally worth it.

So what was your experience like working on a major summer release role? Was it nerve-wracking? (Kamala)

Anne Hathaway: I care about being true to myself and the people I know. I had so much fun that it was very hard to think about anything else other than how much I love this project and I loved the people working on it (she describes her experience as going to "summer camp":)... Whenever I get a job I am always nervous and I always feel really comfortable the day I find out that we shot enough film that they can't fire me. (laughter) I really learned a lot from Julie (Andrews). And I am so grateful to have had the opportunity.

One thing she learned from Julie is the value of an education. Both Julie Andrews and Garry Marshall strongly advised Anne to stay in school and so now she plans to return to continue her college education. She explained that will balance going to school with having a career. (I think she is setting a positive example for others to follow). Miss Hathaway expressed sincere admiration and respect for both Marshall, whom she describes as "possibly the loveliest man in the world" and Andrews, whom she describes as "so gracious". In addition to Marshall and Andrews, Hathaway also expressed deep-felt respect to Meryl Streep for her devotion to acting as an art not just being a star, Cate Blanchett for her realism, and Angelina Jolie for her raw quality. After fifty-eight days of shooting, Hathaway says everyone felt like family. She describes the experience as very positive and collaborative.

Find out what beauty tip she shared with the movie. Hear the audio clip.

Anne Hathaway: I am very lucky that I got to do a film that I believe in and I hope that I am always able to do that... But hopefully I will be able to stay true to my ideals and be able to do good work.

Are you hoping to transition into something like writing or directing? (Kamala)

Anne Hathaway: Absolutely, absolutely! I love writing so much and directing I wouldn't be presumptuous to say that I am ready to do that yet, but after I study it more and study with more directors, hopefully by working with them, I will be ready.

How do like working in film versus television? (Kamala)

Garry Marshall: I kind of retired from TV after 20 years; I did it I am tired...

You had a lot of hit shows. (Kamala)

Garry Marshall: A lot of hits, some misses, so I have no complaints.

Very few misses, a lot of hits. (Kamala)

Garry Marshall: It's fun. I learned a lot of craft there. I got my sister a job.

Hey, she's doing well for herself too. (Kamala)

Garry Marshall: She's a very good director... Penny was one of the chief bust through girls. They respect awards, they respect a hit; they respect a picture that makes over a $100 million and Penny made two... I enjoy it. I moved onto films. I made fourteen films or something and I enjoy it very much; and now I like to do theater. And the Falcon Theatre is a dream of mine. But as you know, in theater you can't truly make a lot of money. So sometimes the movies to pay for the theater and we will see what happens. But I think movies are a palette, for lack of another word, that are more interesting... And there are actors out there that you always want to work with; some of them are brilliant, but they can drain you. So I have basically chosen that if you have a TV series, you could end up with somebody for eleven years, but in movies you only have to put up with them for twelve weeks. I think I can live with anyone for twelve weeks; and that is why I like movies. Sort of not an artistic reason, but it's the truth.

Mr. Marshall described how Disney brought him on to help give the "sweet G movie a broader base" by making it "crazy, or funny, and double up jokes that adults might get", which I think he does well. He explains that even though he has been doing comedy all of his life, he saw making a funny G-rated movie as a welcomed challenge. Shooting on location in San Francisco also gave him the opportunity to visit with his grandchildren. It also gave him the opportunity to work with Julie Andrews, with whom he declares he could work with for more than twelve weeks because he thinks that she is "a very nice lady" who knows how to do comedy. (Random Fact: Andrews (1966) and Marshall (1974) lived in the same house in Toluca Lake.)

Garry Marshall: "Your posture improves when you meet Julie Andrews." (He jokes, sitting upright.)

When asked how the project came together, Mr. Marshall explained how Whitney Houston, a good friend of his sister Penny Marshall since "The Preacher's Wife", brought a book to Penny and they shopped it at Disney. Then Julie Andrews came on board because of the family orientation that would enable to whole family to watch and enjoy the film together. Marshall also found the family audience potential attractive:

Garry Marshall: "I had some precedent in this thing to be honest because HAPPY DAYS was a show that was very rewarding to me because I got the mothers and fathers and kids to sit in the same room and watch it... So I thought PRINCESS DIARIES is another chance to have an actual father and daughter sit together and possibly laugh at the same thing."

Once Julie Andrews signed on, Marshall called his old friend Hector Elizando (driver), and Larry Miller (hair dresser) to join to cast. Then they searched for some talented teens and found a few "who could deliver the goods" (Garry Marshall). The search for Mia started with about 1000 young hopefuls, until they found Anne Hathaway. Marshall liked Hathaway because she was able to play Mia before and after her transformation with conviction; and she was able to hold her own opposite Heather Matarazzo, whom Marshall has admired since "Welcome to the Dollhouse". Fifty to sixty of those Marshall personally reviewed on tape; about thirty live/ in-person, the other 900 plus were screen by over five (5) casting directors. He also liked Robert Schwartzman, the brother of the "American Pie" star, after seeing him in "The Virgin Suicides" because "he has the right hair and he can act" (Garry Marshall). Erik Von Detten has a relationship with Disney doing voice overs for "Tarzan" and "Hercules" and even though he is a little skinnier than most jocks, he sails and Marshall made that the featured sport.

AUDIO: hear one of Marshall's trick question regarding how to get girls.

What aspect of the filmmaking process do you prefer? acting? directing? producing? (Kamala)

Garry Marshall: I think it depends on what kind of work you do. I enjoy writing the best. Basically I am a writer. I broke in as a writer... and I can fix a script... You make a choice to find your voice. Not to be pretentious, but Aristotle, who never did movies or TV, says that Sophocles writes how man should be, and Euripides writes how man is... I like to do a lot of work about how mankind should be.

What advice would you give to young filmmakers? (Kamala)

Garry Marshall: I think young filmmakers should understand that they should start off with powerful stories, interesting stories. And another thing, not too expensive to make because you've got to make them with almost no budget... Then get it out there and make some noise; and one of the best places to make some noise is on the internet... Then someone will see it.

Marshall thinks that this is a good time to be a filmmaker because there are so many channels of distribution and exhibition.

Garry Marshall: I think the best advice is to think small at first and get your film made because you can tell just as powerful a story with two people as you can with four hundred camels riding across the dessert. And then you would have to house the camels and it's a fortune!... And if you have a personal story that you really want to tell, do it independently and cheaply because then you will be able to tell the story as you want to tell it.

CHECK OUT GARRY MARSHALL'S NEW MULTICULTURAL LIVE STAGE THEATER FOR CHILDREN AT: