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MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American actress Cathy Ang lends her voice to Fei Fei, the main character in the animated musical film Over The Moon that will premiere worldwide on Netflix on October 23.
In the film directed by animation legend Glen Keane, best known for the animated classics The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Pocahontas, Tangled, and more, Fei Fei is a brilliant young woman who builds a rocket to the moon. . to prove the existence of the Moon Goddess from the tales of Chinese mythology she heard from her mother as a child.
The production notes described how Cathy won the role of “pure kismet” because she had originally been chosen to record a temporary demo of Rocket to the Moon, one of the film’s major musical numbers, for an early screening. However, the producers found his performance “so powerful and perfect” that “not only did he get the role, but it ended up being the final version heard in the film.”
Photos courtesy of Netflix
In a Zoom interview with The STAR and other film media recently, Cathy expressed how “the world means” to her to be part of a project that advocates for Asian representation in film. In addition to her, Over The Moon features an Asian voice cast of names from Hollywood and Broadway, including Phillipa Soo (Chang’e), Robert G. Chiu (Chin), Ken Jeong (Gobi), John Cho (Dad), Ruthie Ann. Miles (Mom), Margaret Cho (Aunt Ling), Kimiko Glenn (Aunt Mei), Artt Butler (Uncle), and Sandra Oh (Ms. Zhong).
She said, “This is the first time that, as a Chinese Filipino-American, I have been able to play a Chinese character. So it is very exciting for me to be able to share my family’s culture and some of our traditions, and I am very proud that it is represented on screen and that hopefully the rest of the world will see it, be curious and will celebrate. So it means the world. “
With a background in musical theater, Cathy found that voice acting and stage performance are “quite similar” in terms of satisfaction and challenges, despite not being able to work with the other actors in the same room. “For an actor, it is very nice to be able to work with another actor. But other than that, I mean the joy of animation is that there are no limitations. It’s an incredibly exciting new way of storytelling for me, even if it’s very different from the setting. “
Of course, expressing a character who has a powerful story arc that includes grieving a loss, moving forward, and (re) discovering joy, was a learning experience for Cathy. “In fact, I learned a lot through Fei Fei. During the process, I lost one of my best friends. And I think that watching Fei Fei go through his pain was actually uplifting for me and helped me understand how to let go of a loved one, but still, you know, make the memory of them fill your heart with joy. The lessons you learn here are to first let yourself feel the pain and then move on and find a new love, which I think will speak to everyone in the world. I knew it was a big task, but I tried to imagine what I wish someone could tell me, and I think it came out in Fei Fei’s voice somehow. “
Cathy with (top to bottom, left to right) Over The Moon director Glen Keane, producer Gennie Rim, producer Peilin Chou, voice actress Ruthie Ann Miles and voice actress Phillipa Soo during the event world press of the film.
If Fei Fei embarks on an incredible journey to the moon in the movie, Cathy said that the whole process of making Over The Moon became part of her “personal identity journey.”
“I feel like I’ve learned a lot more about who I am, and even though I’m Asian-American, I’m still figuring out what that really means and how it will translate into the art I make. . But it’s been really nice because I appreciate the way my parents, who were immigrants from the Philippines, tried to pass on so much of their culture to me while I was growing up, and I realized, more than ever, that it’s a great gift. . And so, actually, the dialogue between my parents and I is more exciting because we have new things to talk about. “
The New York-based actress and singer shared more of her Filipino heritage during the virtual roundtable interview. “My father is from Ongpin (Binondo) and then my mother is from Nueva Vizcaya, she is from a small region called Bagabag. And I just want to go there! I want to go visit and see and just live in the area for a while because there is so much to learn about other cultures. Even if I’m Filipino, I want to go there and learn.
Cathy graduated from New York University’s BM Musical Theater, but in a separate press conference, she shared that she has always been drawn to science, making her character easily identifiable. “I love science so much. I grew up in a very STEM-focused high school, which is why I loved biology from a young age. My parents were doctors and my partner wants to be an astronaut. Therefore, I am currently obsessed with all space exploration; I actually joke with him because I’m the first person on the moon now, so it’s kind of funny. “
As for the film’s music, which director Glen Keane says is a combination of Broadway and K-pop sensibilities, courtesy of composers Christopher Curtis (Outer Critics Circle nominee for Broadway’s Chaplin), Marjorie Duffield (Jonathan Larson Memorial Fellow) and Helen Park (Lucille). Lortel Award and a three-time Drama Desk Award nominee, who had written the off-Broadway musical, KPOP, in which Cathy also starred).
“My favorite song to listen to is definitely Ultraluminary because Phillipa (Soo, who sings it in the movie) first of all fully embodies a goddess. If you’ve ever imagined a goddess, Philippa should sing for her. I mean, it’s about this woman who is so confident in herself. She is powerful. She is smart and knows that she is beautiful. And I think it’s a really fun song to dance to, and I don’t know, but you want to be her friend and you want to be her. In that way, it’s also a really empowering anthem, ”he said.
“But of course Rocket to the Moon is incredibly meaningful to me, but I think because I still get nervous when I have to sing it (laughs). Ultraluminary is where I can relax and just enjoy music. “
Meanwhile, Cathy believes that the timing of Over The Moon’s release couldn’t have been more appropriate. “I think we are all longing for connection right now. There’s a lot of division in the world and I think sitting down and watching a story about people learning to love each other, you know, that’s the connection the world needs to see. He is an example for everyone … and I think this is the perfect time for the story to come out, although it is also a difficult time for everyone. “
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