Dwayne Johnson: Advocating diverse cultures on-screen ‘critically important’PA Media
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00:00How important do you feel it is, sort of championing these different diverse cultures on screen?
00:07I think it's critically important to be an advocate for representation and for culture.
00:15I can tell you just by experience with Moana, it's been not only an incredible experience,
00:21but also I think one that brought me closer to my own culture.
00:29And I just said this the other day when I was doing an interview,
00:33you realize regardless of what stage and phase you are in life,
00:38when you're open to learning, every day is a learning lesson for your culture.
00:43Regardless of how much you think you know, or how much has been embedded in your DNA.
00:49So every time I go back home to Hawaii, or speak with my Samoan elders,
00:55or call on my ancestors, you always learn so much.
00:59So I think to be able to bring Moana to the big screen and to have a lot of BS,
01:06a lot of people around the world who anticipate the film is really a great thing.
01:12But also I think embracing not only our culture, our Polynesian culture,
01:17but also embracing their own culture too as well.
01:22And as a girl, Dad, what is it like being a part of their childhood?
01:26It's the greatest thing.
01:27I think there's two parts for me that's just so incredibly personal and connected to Moana 2.
01:32Number one is my grandfather, the character Maui was largely inspired by my grandfather.
01:39So in a way I speak as him and I'm in his skin in a way.
01:47We just wrapped live action Moana 2 as well.
01:49So that's been very special.
01:52But also just being a girl, Dad, and having my little girls and my big girls.
01:56I have three daughters, 23, 8 and 6, all ages, who see themselves represented in Moana.
02:03And that's amazing.
02:05And what's also amazing when I go around the world to promote the film,
02:08like here in London or wherever I've been,
02:11you meet all these little girls around the world and little boys who see themselves
02:17who are not brown skinned and it's beautiful,
02:21who see themselves in Moana and Maui and it's amazing.
02:26Thanks so much and congratulations on the project.
02:28Thank you so much. Thank you.