Much has changed for Uli Li’a Crevalho since his debut.
The actress was 14 when Disney tapped her to star in “Moana” when the animated musical Tytler Island voiced the heroine. She still lived with her mother in Ohio, Hawaii, where she focused on singing, AP classes, and an emerging interest in microbiology.
Five years later, the base of Cravallho’s new home is now her Los Angeles apartment, where for the first time she’s living on her own – save her years-old tuxedo cat Rocco, who has tied up about half a dozen bow ties to beggars. Wardrobe. (“She and I are really good friends now.”) He said, “But at first, she was very funny.”)
Crowalho still wants to go to college, but his career is stalling at school: his role in the Netflix drama “All Too Rate Now,” starring Sofmore, can be seen starting Friday. She plays the Amber Apple platoon, a high school student, balancing a homeless and creative family life and with her dreams of becoming a singer and enrolling at Carnegie Mellon University.
So Crawlho is gleaming a lot of change: one move, growing up, animation for live action and a shift from voice over-to-earth – not to mention the loneliness that comes with epidemics, epidemics for the outgoing and powerful.
But at least one thing is still the same: his mother, Puana, moved to her place in Los Angeles, just 10 minutes from Crawlho. Recently they saw his new film together for the first time.
“My mom was crying next to me, and I was like, ‘Oh gosh, why do I do those things with my hands?'” Crevalho added, “She was like, ‘You’re great!’ And I was like, ‘Does my face always look that way?’ ”
In a recent zoom interview of her apartment apartment, Cravollo discussed the relationship with the role, it was like shooting her first live action film and a cast like Carol Burnett and a well-trained Chihuahua. These are edited excerpts from the conversation.
How was your audition process?
I actually gave our director Brett Haley an audition for another of his Netflix films. It was kind of like, “You know, you’re not right, but I’ll keep you in mind.” And i was confirm it. But he really did.
As soon as I read the script, “All Together” is something that has touched my heart. I myself was personally concerned with Amber coming from a single-parent home – she’s very optimistic, and also has big dreams and passion for music. It felt like the perfect role for me. The script also has an amazing ability to connect this hope to reality. We hope she becomes a little more real about how hard it is to be optimistic all the time.
NBC’sRise“In 2018, you played the role of another student facing difficulties in her domestic life. Did you notice that there were similarities between” All Too Now Now “and the show?
I am blessed to have played strong women. I started with Moana, who goes where her parents haven’t been before, and I felt the same way with Lillet from “Rise”. She has a musical influence and she wants a lot for her life and is not afraid to call people sometimes. And now I want to play Amber, and she has music, but it wasn’t just her story. I hope I can continue that move of strong women.
Although you have done many live-action projects from “Moana”, this is actually the first feature film where we are seeing your face. How has that transition been going?
It’s very nerve-racking. I had a little knack for voice over-the-top, because I’ve been singing for so long – I was in my school anthem and in my church choir. This is very different. My face is in every scene. I have to thank my director for being so collaborative and for allowing me to find my character’s voice, really allowing ad-gender. The cast was fantastic too – we have a cast that is neurotypical and differently capable, so these real relationships also get to shine on this screen.
There are some really emotional moments in this movie, and definitely dives into some dark spaces for your character. How did you approach those scenes?
“All Together” drives a whole bunch of emotions – there are socio-economic conditions that people of color can have and mental health struggles and that’s the step. There’s also a lot more compassion that can be shown to these individuals, and we’ve seen from Amber that her upbringing makes her feel a little ashamed, keeping the reality of many of her close friends a secret. It’s not an easy topic to talk about.
What were some of the biggest challenges?
I was very nervous since this was my first film. I moved to Portland for about two months, and it was the longest time I had been away from my mom. In a way, I felt like I was actually an actor for the first time, because at the end of each day, I had nothing left. I came home with my cat and I went to bed. But it felt great.
There is an original song in this movie that your character sings – what was it like to shoot the scene?
A beautiful song written by Keegan DeWitt is “Feel Like Home”. I remember we got together, and it was like, “Which key do you want to sing it to?” And I’m like, “I don’t know, do I have to like it?” Brett Haley got the most song in one piece, which was really important to him, but he stressed me out Out, Brother.
There’s another character with whom you share more of your screen time – Bobby Big Boy, Amber (the adorable) Chihuahua.
We have a dog: Legend, Legend, Tintin. Very beautiful He’s very trained, but he’s also an old cub, so we put him in a little sweater or jacket throughout the movie, because we kept him warm. I carry it in my backpack, I carry it in my jacket, and it rains a little along Portland, so I smell like a wet dog.
You also had to work with Carol Burnett.
When the name Carol Burnett was wiped, quietly, to disturb Juju, I remember being so excited – “We got Carol!” Which is a straight line from “ie,” “We’re Gonny” – that’s how I got to know Carol Burnett, because she played Miss Hannigan, and my mom knew her “Carol Burnett Show” course, so we both Were screaming. When we see the official announcement. He is very kind, and from the point of view of acting he is very natural.
The film ends on a note where he certainly feels there is more to this storytelling. Will there be any kind of sequel?
I do not know. This isn’t even about being a cutie about me; I have absolutely no clue. I really love Amber’s story, and I agree that the way we leave you in the film, her story isn’t over. So I don’t know, but I’ll be excited to see it.
