A few interesting questions to director Mijke de Jong and
the two main actors Elske Rotteveel (13) and Kees Scholten (9)
about their movie "Bluebird" from Holland, which tells about trust, courage and about growing older.
How did you come to make this movie?
Mijke de Jong: I read the script and story got very close to me in an instance.
Elske and Kees, how did you get to be chosen for your characters?
Elske Rotteveel: I was at a casting, then Mijke saw me an chose me.
Kees Scholten: I don't remember so well, somebody of the team came to me and talked me into it, for in the beginning I didn't really want to do it.
Has the movie been shown in Holland so far?
Mijke: Yes, on Thursday last week (11.2.) it had premiere in seven smaller cinemas in Holland (laughs). Well, Holland is quite small. But it has been on TV already.
What do you say about the movie, Elske?
Elske: I like it very much, the topic of the movie is very important and real.
have you ever been mobbed by your classmates?
Elske: Yes in 4th or 5th grade I was teased, but luckily that is over now!
Why did Merel in the movie not tell anything to her parents or teachers?
Mijke: She didn't want her parents yet another thing to be worried about. And she was also afraid, that this would make everything worse and her fellow students might attack her brother.
How is your connection in real life?
Elske: We see each other at Mijke's place for dinner from time to time, but we have not really been in contact since the movie. But on the set we liked each other a lot. I also hardly meet the other actors, although we all became friends.
Why does Merel say, that Caspar is not her brother?
Mijke: She carries a lot of problems with her, and just now it is Caspar she takes her exasperation out on. But actually she doesn't really mean it, she is sorry afterwards.
Could the children suggest own ideas?
Elske: Yes, everything was very democratic, we could make suggestions and Mijke said if she liked them or not. We hat a great time on the set, everybody was nice to us and very accomodating.
Another thing we found interesting: Kees wrote the song about the pumpkins himself and kept singing it on the set!