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Sofia Carson Talks Disney's 'Descendants'

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's 'Descendants'

9:43·By Gemma G

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SUMMARY

Sofia Carson visits the Young Hollywood studio to discuss the massive success of Disney's 'Descendants,' which was her first film and changed her life. She also talks about filming her first music video for "Rotten to the Core" in a unique 3D green cylinder in London. Carson shares insights into her personality, childhood, and plays a game of "Young Hollywood Finish My Sentence."

About this video

Sofia Carson stops by the YH studio to discuss Disney's 'Descendants' and the music video for "Rotten to the Core"! She gives us her signature selfie face and teaches us a dance lesson!

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Young Hollywood

So happy to have this stunning Sofia Carson here. You look beautiful.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Thank you so much. As do you. I'm obsessed with your outfit and your shoes.

Young Hollywood

You wanna trade? Can we please? Yes. I want those pants.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Oh, they're all yours. All yours.

Young Hollywood

Do I get your body with it? Oh come on. No seriously. Let's just gush about each other. You're so pretty. Um, happy to have you here.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Thank you so much. Happy to be here.

Young Hollywood

Let's first of all talk about Descendants and the unbelievable success. Yes. Number five most viewed film in cable history. Did I get that right?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yes. In cable history.

Young Hollywood

Okay. So I got that stat right. The soundtrack debuted is number one. Billboard.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yes.

Young Hollywood

The prequel 15 million weeks. Did I get that right?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yes, you got that right.

Young Hollywood

Anything else you wanna add? That's impressive.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Um, what else? Oh, and on the premiere date 12 million people saw it. And I think overall it's like 18 million views or something crazy like that.

Young Hollywood

Wow. So for you, going from filming it to to the reaction. How has that been? Take me through that.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

It's been such a whirlwind. It's been such a roller coaster. You know, it was my first movie. So.

Young Hollywood

Are you kidding me? Oh, I didn't know that.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

No. So this has completely changed my life.

Young Hollywood

What?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yes. This is like my own fairy tale. So, I feel like kind of what what happens in Descendants is kinda what's happening to me and like I was not just it's been a whirlwind of a year. Um so last year I was just a college student dreaming and you know, working for this always auditioning and stuff and Descendants changed my life completely so it's been a whirlwind.

Young Hollywood

Wow. So let's talk about the video. Rotten to the Core. Yes. I just saw it. I saw 12 of you. I saw 12 of you. Which you're beautiful. So there should be 12 of you. Oh my gosh. Um, so tell me what this was like the first time someone did a green screen in like a cylinder or something like that. Okay. Yeah.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yes. This is my first music video. And it also happens to be

Young Hollywood

I know.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

It's my first movie, first music video, first time at Young Hollywood. Exactly. It's so so cool to be here. I'm kinda starstruck. Um, so we shot this music video in London. And the the director's name is Naren Wilkes. He's an incredible British um, director. And he invented this technique where he created like a 3D green cylinder. And I was kinda trapped inside the cylinder surrounded by

Young Hollywood

How big was the cylinder? Are you claustrophobic?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

It was about a little smaller than this room.

Young Hollywood

Okay. So it wasn't like crazy.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

No, it wasn't like crazy. But it was there and they would seal it. So I couldn't go in and out. And they would communicate with me through small holes in the cylinder where there were nine cameras all around it and three cameras from above.

Young Hollywood

I love that you just did like a whole like That was a dance move in itself. Like That was amazing. Wow. Wow. So what was your reaction when you saw it the first time?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

It was so cool. I was like this is way too cool. And I just danced my heart out for like 48 hours and I can't believe how it turned out. It's so cool.

Young Hollywood

And there's this hashtag where is Evie. Where is Evie? Has been trending. So tell me about that.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

So basically hashtag where is Evie is they're showing the promo right after the coronation where I'm kinda lost. And it's to promote the videos like where did Evie go? And the idea is that Evie is trapped inside her magic mirror.

Young Hollywood

Wow. Are there three Do you have three personalities?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I feel like I have about five or six. I think we all do, don't we?

Young Hollywood

Yeah. I definitely have two.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Do you? And what are they?

Young Hollywood

Well, one is like I'm like kind of a hermit and kinda shy in school. And I never had too many friends in school. Like they would always say like like you sing and act? What cuz I was like the long We had I had school had plaid skirts but mine was like below my knee. I was like not a cool girl ever.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Really?

Young Hollywood

Always with my glasses on and reading a book. So there's definitely like the nerd of me and then there's I guess the the actress and the singer and the performer. What was it like going to school having like a uniform? Do you think it's better because then girls are like

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I think it's much better. It's much easier. You don't have to think about it. And it was like an all-girls school. So we didn't care what we looked like. We all were like messes with like dirty hair.

Young Hollywood

That sounds amazing.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

It was great. It was amazing. I adored high school. I wish they would have like an all-girls something like now that you can just go.

Young Hollywood

It's actually you know what it is? Like a nail salon. You go to get your nails done.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

That's true.

Young Hollywood

Have you ever noticed that? Doesn't matter what you look like. Girls go in their sweats.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yes. In their sweats. That's so true.

Young Hollywood

And then a guy walks in occasionally to get a manicure and then everybody's like this. It's like you're not allowed in here. Get out of here. I don't look good. I don't need I don't need to be sized up right now.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Exactly.

Young Hollywood

Um, if I could give you a magic wand and you could work with anyone who would it be?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Oh, director I would say Baz Luhrmann. Um, cuz when I was little I fell in love with Moulin Rouge.

Young Hollywood

Oh my gosh. Ewan McGregor. He was so hot. I would die.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Ewan McGregor. Yes. I know that whole soundtrack. I would die.

Young Hollywood

I interviewed him. He sat there.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

He sat here?

Young Hollywood

Yeah. Um, okay. I'm like never gonna leave here.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I was gonna say I was starstruck. I'm not kidding. Oh my gosh. Yes. He was one of them. Yeah. Well, I would love to work with him.

Young Hollywood

Do you know it's so funny when I'm talking to you. Certain people who can sing and really sing. They have this normal speaking voice and you can't tell but you, you tell a story and it's like I'm like, oh my gosh. Oh, thank you. You could like read children's stories to people to children and like lull them to sleep. You have an incredible speaking voice.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Really? You know I was made fun of in high school for my speaking voice.

Young Hollywood

No.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yeah. Cause I always loved reading out loud in English class. I always Oh, I have the I have the I always asked who wants to read? And I was like and then I would read and you would always say that I had a weird voice. I was like, oh man. But thank you for that. I appreciate it.

Young Hollywood

Not at all. Um, because this video is kinda like a dream like a dream life. Yeah. It is totally a dream sequence. Best dream you've ever had or worst dream you've ever had?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

You know, it's gonna sound really weird but I usually have the same dream over and over again since I was a little girl. And it's always me on a big stage on the same stage but in different parts of the world. And one time I was in the pyramids of Egypt. And I was like that is way too cool. Is that crazy?

Young Hollywood

It's a great idea. I think you should do it. It's a great idea. I see it coming on. I definitely see it coming on. What was your favorite fairy tale sort of growing up?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Um, it was always Beauty and the Beast. Cause Belle was a brunette and I always thought I looked like her. And we were actually just going through photos today of like six years worth of Halloween costumes where I was just Belle.

Young Hollywood

Oh, you were? Every year?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I was so not creative. Every year it was Belle. And one year for my birthday my mom brought the Beast. And I like danced with him and I I really thought I was Belle for the I thought I was in the fairy tale.

Young Hollywood

Have you thrown that on your Instagram anything for Halloween?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

No, but I think I will soon. I need to. I need to.

Young Hollywood

So I have a little game for you. Okay. It's called Young Hollywood finish my sentence. Okay. So I'm gonna start something out and and you'll just fill in the blanks. Okay. Are you ready?

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Ready.

Young Hollywood

My personal style is

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

uh, rock and roll meets like classical.

Young Hollywood

The biggest adrenaline surge for me is

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

uh, performing live on stage.

Young Hollywood

Yeah, I can imagine. I love

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I love my family.

Young Hollywood

Oh, I love that. Um, my signature selfie face is

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

My dad always makes fun of it. But I'm always like And apparently this is the eyebrow. Can you do it?

Young Hollywood

I know. Let's see if I have like a phone here like this. You gotta have the like fake phone in your hands. I love it. I love it.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

It's so bad.

Young Hollywood

Something from the past I wish I could've witnessed is

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I would've loved to have seen Michael Jackson live.

Young Hollywood

Yeah. Thanks. Maybe we'll do a moonwalk after. Um, I have plans to

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I have plans to do what I love for the rest of my life.

Young Hollywood

I love that. I binge watch

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Friends. With my sister every night.

Young Hollywood

Yeah. I love Ross. Ross is hilarious. I really like Ross and Joey. Joey's like my spirit animal. I love that. Okay. Um, my vice is

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

My vice, I'm stubborn.

Young Hollywood

Really? Okay. My favorite emoji is

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

My favorite emoji is the kissy winky face. I probably did it bad with that one.

Young Hollywood

No, that was really cute. That was it. Yay!

Young Hollywood

That was great. So um, before we started rolling, you promised me because on your Instagram you just put up the most kick ass Thank you. video and you are you're working with a choreographer.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Yes. Yes.

Young Hollywood

And how do you describe I don't even know how to describe the style dance? It's like hip-hop kinda like

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

It's hip-hop but it's also kinda like it's hip-hop but it's girly hip-hop. Did you know what I mean? Cuz it's like a mix of like the cool hip-hop but also kinda like pop star.

Young Hollywood

There's no way I'm gonna learn the entire thing. But I wanna learn something. Okay. So if I'm going to the club or I just wanna like impress somebody. In the club just break out. I can just do my same move. I'll be like a meme. I'll just do like the same thing over and over. I love it. Okay. Let's do it. Okay. Ready? So you have your feet separately and you're Okay. Head down. And then you go like this. Okay. Say what? So there you go. So this one goes behind your left. Right behind left. And your hand's like this. Right. Okay. And then you go back to here. Okay. And with your hands like this. You go like this. And then afterwards you like do like a Why do I look like I'm doing jazzercise? Flick. Flick. And then And then Oh my gosh. There's no way I'm gonna remember all this. Okay. Um, so flick and then there's like a Okay. Let's just do it again in slow motion. Okay. So you're there. And then boom. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. Flick. I can't even believe I forgot I have a mic on. Oh, thank you so much for coming in.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Thank you so much. Thank you.

Young Hollywood

Congratulations. Can't wait for Descendants 2.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

I appreciate it. And hopefully

Young Hollywood

Fingers crossed. Yes. Hopefully. You're awesome.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Thanks.

Young Hollywood

Awesome, awesome.

Sofia Carson Talks Disney's

Thank you.

Timestamps are approximate — click one to jump the player.

PEOPLE MENTIONED

  • Sofia Carson

    Interview subject, discussing her work on Descendants

  • Naren Wilkes

    Director of the 'Rotten to the Core' music video

  • Baz Luhrmann

    Director Sofia Carson would like to work with

  • Ewan McGregor

    Actor in Moulin Rouge, mentioned by Sofia Carson

  • Michael Jackson

    Artist Sofia Carson wished she could have seen live

  • Belle

    Sofia Carson's favorite fairy tale character growing up

  • Ross

    Character from Friends mentioned by Sofia Carson

  • Joey

    Character from Friends mentioned by Sofia Carson

FAQ

What is 'Descendants' known for?+
'Descendants' is known for being the number five most viewed film in cable history, with its soundtrack debuting at number one on Billboard and reaching 12 million viewers on its premiere date.
What was Sofia Carson's first movie?+
Disney's 'Descendants' was Sofia Carson's first movie, which she says completely changed her life.
How was the music video for "Rotten to the Core" filmed?+
The music video for "Rotten to the Core" was filmed in London by director Naren Wilkes, who invented a technique using a 3D green cylinder with nine cameras around and three cameras from above.
Who is Sofia Carson's favorite fairy tale character?+
Sofia Carson's favorite fairy tale character growing up was Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast,' because Belle was a brunette and she identified with her.
What director would Sofia Carson like to work with?+
Sofia Carson would love to work with director Baz Luhrmann because she fell in love with 'Moulin Rouge' when she was little.
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