Latest news with #Pets
Straits Times
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Pets on Disney+ is the rare documentary for children, about children
Pets, directed by actress Bryce Dallas Howard, is a documentary that seeks to convince viewers to support and develop a love for animal rescue. PHOTO: DISNEY+ Pets on Disney+ is the rare documentary for children, about children NEW YORK – Most documentaries are not really aimed at children. The film world seems to think they are interested in only animated movies about, frequently, talking pets. If a documentary is for families, on the other hand, there is a good chance it involves wildlife. But Pets (2025) on Disney+ remixes all of that. It is a documentary about the title subjects and their humans, aimed at and largely populated by children. Directed by Hollywood actress Bryce Dallas Howard, it is a sweet-tempered film that celebrates the animals people love and seems to have a secondary purpose too: to convince viewers to support and even develop a love for animal rescue. Howard accomplishes this by taking a kind of segmented approach. Adorable children give studio interviews about their own pets – their names, their characteristics, the ways they seem to understand the children's emotions. These are interspersed with home videos, largely the kind of vertical ones you might catch on a social media feed: dogs doing tricks, cats smirking and pigs waddling around . Then there is a series of mini-documentaries about people who work with animals, especially rescues or otherwise traumatised creatures. Among those subjects are Sterling 'TrapKing' Davis, a rapper who is a contagiously enthusiastic cat guy; Rodney Stotts, a master falconer who dedicates his work to both the birds and local children; and Shinobu Takahashi, who runs the no-kill shelter Dog Duca in Nagoya, Japan. I don't think anyone inclined to watch Pets really needs convincing that animals are cool and that people should like them. But this focus on rescuing those that are, for whatever reason, in harm's way is rather lovely. And to Howard's credit, the theme is integrated seamlessly into the celebration of life alongside animals, which might broaden the viewership but certainly will plant a seed of interest in youthful viewers. What struck me about the movie was an influence I have not often considered when thinking about documentaries. The segmented structure and varied style in Pets felt familiar, and about halfway through, I realised I was thinking of Sesame Street, on which generations of kids have been raised. That show also has its own varied style and structure, broken up by different types of film-making, such as interviews with children, fun kid-on-the-street clips and short documentaries about ordinary things that are somehow fascinating, including observational footage from factories that make crayons or saxophones. Kids are actually interested in the real world around them, the ordinary things they encounter, and curious about how everything works. Documentaries are good at feeding that curiosity, at giving children a peek into worlds they cannot necessarily access on their own. Pets is engineered to make a child not just want a pet if he or she does not have one, but also want to find one that needs a home and some love. And in that way, Pets serves up entertainment and something for its young audience to consider. NYTIMES Pets is available on Disney+. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Forbes
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Bryce Dallas Howard Talks ‘Pets' And Filmmaking: ‘I Always Approached Storytelling Through More Of A Director's Lens'
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 11: Bryce Dallas Howard is seen in Midtown on April 11, 2025 in New York ... More City. (Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images) 'I'm always asking people 'So, do you have any pet?' It's one of the most fun ways to get to know a person, it's through their pets or by being introduced to their pets, because you're like 'I see who you are,'' actor and director Bryce Dallas Howard told me in an interview. Pets, her new documentary about our relationship to our fur babies, is now streaming on Disney+ and if you are in need of a heartwarming, touching and funny watch, Pets is what you're looking for. Some things in life can make you cry instantly and watching a compilation of viral videos of parents surprising their kids with a puppy or a cat is one of them. Howard knows it, and that's exactly how she decided to open Pets, which is not your regular, scientifically explained documentary. Pets is the incredibly charming result of kids explaining in front of a camera what their pets mean to them, but it's also stories from all over the world and people sharing their new lives as dog parents or explaining the importance of a raptor's sanctuary. When talking about the emotional response we can have regarding our pets or even the way we talk to them, Howard said, 'I was always very good about not using the baby voice with my kids, but with my pets, I'm out of control, it's really obnoxious, it comes from a different place in my body.' I asked Howard how she had pitched Pets in the first place, and particularly how she explained it to the young kids being interviewed. She said, 'Oh gosh I actually have an answer to that and it's gonna make everybody in the world cringe, but I'll tell you. So in general, I love watching things with talking heads, with people who are experts. But for me, as a storyteller, I'm really interested in feelings and in revealing human behavior we can relate to, instead of being like 'Oh that's an interesting fact.'' 'Pets' directed by Bryce Dallas Howard She added: 'I've been directing short documentaries for 15 years maybe, and I've always done this thing like it has to be in full size, and I'm asking them questions about things that may not even be relevant because it's just sharing their humanity. So when I was first pitching Pets, people were like 'Oh and we can learn about the history of pets' and I was like 'Not this one, it's a celebration'. But something I said to the kids when I was trying to explain that I was making a documentary, that word doesn't necessarily trigger anything. So at one point I was like 'I'm going to interview you, you know, like in reality television!' And the producers were like 'No! This is not reality TV!' But it is giving us all contextualization for the medium.' As a director, Howard has been incredibly busy these past few years, especially with the making of Dads, her 2019 documentary, but also with her official entry into the Star Wars universe. Her love for Star Wars needs no introduction and shines through her work as the director of some of the best episodes of The Mandalorian, Skeleton Crew or The Book of Boba Fett. When talking about her editing process (Pets is also incredibly funny thanks to some great editing), I asked her if she had the same approach and the same techniques whether she was editing a documentary or a TV episode. She said, 'It's very interesting because there are stages where it's all very similar, narrative, fiction, documentary, and other stages where it's very different. What I would say is when I'm shooting something whether it's a commercial, a short film, or an episode of Star Wars, there is a goal, a picture in mind that I have. What I always say is 'We want to achieve this or something better.' It can always be something better, but we don't want something less.' Bryce Dallas Howard on the set of 'The Mandalorian' She added: 'So there's definitely a mission, that's through pre-production, in production, and then you edit in post- prod, you have to take a moment, relook at all your footage without that main goal in mind, and see what you got. Because you might have gotten something that you didn't know you needed but it's like the secret ingredient. So that phase of narrative filmmaking is very much so like making a documentary, because you know that something is happening, you know that there is a story there, but you're trying to see it, you're trying to experience it, you're not projecting it onto a situation.' She then explained that in order to make a documentary, she needs to know the elements she wants to include. She said, 'I wanna have someone adopting a new pet, I wanna see someone who understands what it is to experience pet loss, I wanna be interviewing kids, I want there to be viral videos. So I know what the elements are but I don't necessarily know what the final result is going to be. So to essentially have this beginner's mind and think about what is really there, instead of what I wanted. That applies to both documentary and filmmaking narrative to a certain point.' Growing up and learning from her father, Ron Howard, the actress and director realized that she wanted to surround herself with filmmakers she wanted to learn from. She explained how that really shaped how she views both directing and acting. Howard said, 'I always approached storytelling through more of a director's lens.' I asked Howard what she had learned about herself as an artist, whether it was in her acting career or by becoming a very talented filmmaker herself. She said, 'Thank you! That's how I grew up and what I was privy to. I already had that perspective. So when I was acting, I was trying to act almost outside in. And with directing, I've learned so much by being an actor and seeing what works for other actors or what works for me, or what doesn't work for me.' 'Pets' directed by Bryce Dallas Howard She added: 'What I kind of learned is you want to do no harm when you actually get to direct a scene. You wanna let the actors do their thing. I try to have them do their scenes a few times before I say anything. I want there to be that discovery, space and room for not something I just want to achieve, but for something greater than that. So both have certainly impacted the other.' Recently, Howard shared her strong desire to direct a Star Wars movie, and gave some hopeful news about the reboot of Flight of the Navigator. When I asked what the triggering factor was that made her want to direct a documentary when she is involved in so many narrative projects, or the other way around, to go back to fiction after a documentary, she said, 'That's such a great question! At any given moment, I have probably 4 or 5 documentaries, that if I was given the budget, I would do them right now. And I have definitely maybe 4 narrative projects, that if I was given the budget, I would do it now.' She added: 'So it's never really 'Oh it's time to do this!' You're always sort of hustling, like I'm sure for you as a writer, you're pitching multiple story ideas, and see which one does your editor respond to. Then you're like 'Great, that's the one I'll go with right now'. And then something happens in the news, and it's like 'Remember that thing you passed on a couple of months ago, it's relevant right now, we can do it now!' So you're sort of always developing a few things, and then you're waiting for there to be opportunities for others to basically be like 'Oh yeah, we'll pay for that'. So that's kind of how it is.' Pets is now streaming on Disney+.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bryce Dallas Howard 'Vividly' Remembers Dad Ron Howard Telling Her Truth About Santa: I Was 'Too Young'
Ron Howard didn't sugarcoat things when daughter Bryce Dallas Howard asked for the truth about Santa Claus. During Bustle's One Nightstand interview, Pets director Bryce, 44, recalled her "complicated" feelings about how Ron, 71, broke the news to her as a child that Santa was make-believe. "When I was very young — too young — my cousin was like, 'Santa isn't real.' And I was like, 'Well, you're wrong. And I can prove it to you, and here's how I'm going to prove it to you: My dad will never lie to me. I'm going to ask him, and I'm going to keep a walkie talk on in the room.' And I did." After Ron burst her bubble, the Jurassic World actress said her mom Cheryl then "came in and I was crying; it was, like, the night before Christmas. She was like, 'What did you do?' and he's like, 'Well, she asked me. What am I supposed to do?' And she goes, 'What? Lie to her! Lie to her, Ronnie.'" Related: Ron Howard Says He Worried About Daughter Bryce Dallas Howard Facing 'the Opie Mythology' as a Child Actor Bryce added, 'I very vividly remember that," and admitted that her How the Grinch Stole Christmas director dad "had the best of intentions and ultimately, I think, made the right choice because of the fact that I know that my dad will not lie to me." She said with a laugh, "We all know: Ron Howard doesn't lie." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! For Ron's birthday in March, Bryce wrote on Instagram, "I love you so much Dad, more than words can say." On Bryce's birthday a day later, Ron paid tribute to her on Instagram, "You've always made your mom and me happy and incredibly proud. But the scope of what you've achieved with your family and career and the future you are building exceeds our wildest hopes from back when you were this adorable kid we loved so much." Ron shares Bryce with wife Cheryl, whom he met in high school and married in 1975. They also have three other kids: twins Jocelyn and Paige, 40, plus Reed, 38. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
What's Coming To Disney+ In April 2025 For Canada
As we move into spring, Disney+ has announced a list of content arriving in Canada in April 2025, including Doctor Who Season 2, Pets, Andor Season 2, and more. Hopefully, you've cleared your calendar, as Disney+ is adding a variety of content to the video-streaming service in Canada next month. As the snow melts and flowers bloom, viewers can enjoy a range of new content during their binge spree, from the documentary Pets to the premiere of Doctor Who's second season. To make it easier to discover content on Disney+, here are some highlights worth checking out. Premiering on April 12, Doctor Who's second season focuses on The Doctor's embarking on a quest to help Belinda Chandra return to Earth. However, a mysterious force is preventing the return, and the TARDIS team faces a greater challenge, with new enemies and terrors. Pets is a documentary about the connection between animals and humans worldwide, from people helping animals to building a bond with their pets. From witnessing loving, tragic, and funny scenes, explore the beautiful connection established with the owners and their pets in this crazy world. Set five years before Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, witness Cassian Andor from being a disinterested nobody to a rebel hero. Premiering on April 22, the second season of Andor picks up on Cassian Andor being a revolutionary volunteer and a key player in the Rebel Alliance as the war is on the brink of starting. From visiting London with Florence Pugh to visiting Malaysia with Henry Golding, No Taste Like Home With Antoni Porowski offers an insight into the guest celebrities' lives and their connection with their heritage all thanks to the delicious food. See below for more content arriving at Disney+ in April 2025. American Dad (Season 20, New Episode) Marvel Television's Daredevil: Born Again (New Episode) Lost Treasure of Rome (Season 2, All Episodes) National Parks: USA (All Episodes) The Spy Who Dumped Me (2018) April 2 – Gannibal (Season 2, New Episode) April 2 – Good American Family (New Episode) April 2 – Hyper Knife (New Episode) April 3 – Abbott Elementary (Season 4, New Episode) April 3 – The Kardashians (Season 6, New Episode) April 4 – 9-1-1 (Season 8, New Episode) April 4 – Buried Hearts (New Episode) April 4 – Doctor Odyssey (New Episode) April 4 – FX's Dying for Sex (All Episodes) April 4 – Maria: The Outlaw Legend (Maria E O Cangaco) – All Episodes April 5 – Buried Hearts (New Episode) April 7 – Family Guy (Season 23, All Episodes) April 8 – Marvel Television's Daredevil: Born Again (New Episode) April 9 – Gannibal (Season 2, New Episode) April 9 – Good American Family (New Episode) April 9 – Hyper Knife (New Episode) April 10 – Abbott Elementary (Season 4, New Episode) April 10 – The Kardashians (Season 6, New Episode) April 11 – 9-1-1 (Season 8, New Episode) April 11 – Buried Hearts (New Episode) April 11 – Doctor Odyssey (New Episode) April 11 – Pets (2025, Documentary) April 11 – The Abyss (1989, 4K remaster) April 12 – Buried Hearts (New Episode) April 12 – Doctor Who (Season 2, Premiere Episode) April 12 – To Catch a Smuggler (Season 8, All Episodes) April 13 – Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (New Episode) April 14 – Family Guy (Season 23, New Episode) April 14 – Tracker (Season 2, New Episode) April 15 – Marvel Television's Daredevil: Born Again (New Episode) April 16 – Gannibal (Season 2, New Episode) April 16 – Good American Family (New Episode) April 16 – Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends (Season 3, New Episode) April 16 – No Taste Like Home with Antoni Porowski (All Episodes) April 17 – Abbott Elementary (Season 4, New Episode) April 17 – The Stolen Girl (Premiere Episode) April 18 – 9-1-1 (Season 8, New Episode) April 18 – Doctor Odyssey (New Episode) April 18 – Light & Magic (Season 2, New Episode) April 19 – Doctor Who (Season 2, New Episode) April 20 – Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (New Episode) April 21 – Tracker (Season 2, New Episode) April 22 – ABC News Live Special: Last Lands (All Episodes) April 22 – Andor (Season 2, Three-Episodes Premiere) April 22 – Guardian of the Galapagos (2025) April 22 – Sea Lions of the Galapagos (2025) April 23 – Gannibal (Season 2, New Episode) April 23 – Good American Family (New Episode) April 23 – How I Escaped My Cult (All Episodes) April 23 – Shifting Gears (All Episodes) April 24 – The Stolen Girl (New Episode) April 24 – Vanderpump Villa (Season 2, All Episodes) April 25 – Jessica Kirson: I'm the Man April 26 – Doctor Who (Season 2, New Episode) April 27 – Go! Go! Loser Ranger! (New Episode) April 28 – Family Guy (Season 23, New Episode) April 28 – Tracker (Season 2, New Episode) April 29 – Andor (Season 2, New Episode) April 30 – Good American Family (New Episode) April 30 – Mickey Mouse Funhouse (Season 3, All Episodes) April 30 – Primos (All Episodes) Alongside the content arriving on Disney+, Marvel has recently released a slow-reveal announcement of the cast for Avengers: Doomsday. Notably, some of the highlighted cast members in the upcoming film include Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, Channing Tatum as Gambit, Robert Downey Jr. as Doctor Doom, Patrick Stewart as Professor Charles Xavier, and Letitia Wright as Shuri/Black Panther. That's everything coming to Disney+ in April 2025 for Canada, bringing plenty of content throughout the month. To watch Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic content, users can sign up for a subscription by visiting
