In 2005, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants opened in theatres and quickly became the feel-good girly comedy of the year, making stars out of its four lead actresses along the way. This summer the girls are back, and in college—and they learn a lot about life, love, and long-lasting denim. At the premiere I got to speak with several people: executive producer Debra Martin Chase; producer Kira Davis; actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, who plays Bridget's archaeology professor in the film; actor Jesse Williams, who plays Lena's love interest Leo; actress America Ferrera, who stars as Carmen; actress Blake Lively, who stars as Bridget; and actors and premiere guests Mark Indelicato and Matthew Settle. Enjoy our coverage!Debra Martin Chase
Hi, my name is Keely. It’s nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
What drew you to working on this film and on the other Sisterhood film?
Ann Brashares wrote an amazing series of books and we just absolutely loved them, and the first movie went so well—we loved it, it was so well-received, we had the most amazing group of young actresses, and so we decided to do it again. And we had a great time doing this one as well.
And this film ended up being an entirely female-run ship, too.
I know! I was just—we didn’t intend for it to be; it just ended up that way. The producers are female; our director Sanaa Hamri is amazing; our two screenwriters are female; our editor, our music supervisor, our composer! [laughs] And we just had a blast. It’s very unusual, and it worked fantastically to have it all female.
Yeah. And fantastic people—actresses, director.
Great actresses, yeah.
Thank you so much; it was great to meet you.
Thank you!
Kira Davis
Hi, I’m Keely. Nice to meet you.
Hi, nice to meet you!
You produced this film with three other female producers as well—the film is such an entirely female project—what do you think caused this?
You know, it was a complete accident. We didn’t set out to have all females; we all said that had there been a male composer or a male editor or a male director we would still be as happy. It just kind of culminated in all women, and it’s been really exciting, so I think it helps!
So, what originally drew you to the project? Did you work on the original Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants?
I was. I was working on the—I read the book and was really excited about the book so I felt like it would make a great film, and I’m lucky enough we decided to do that. We got a great script and, you know, here we are at film number two.
The film has a great cast, as well. All of the actresses seem to fit their characters perfectly.
They did! I mean, it’s a very difficult thing when you have readers who have a certain expectation of an actor or a character, meeting their expectations, so you’re always worried you’re going to disappoint. And we didn’t. And we’re very fortunate in that way. I think these girls have really embodied the book characters in such a beautiful way.
Thank you. It was nice to meet you!
Hope you enjoy it!
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Hi, it’s nice to meet you!
Hi!
In the film you play the role of Professor Nasrin, who is Bridget’s archaeology professor in Turkey. Could you say what about the role appealed to you?
Well, I had seen the first one on the plane and I thought it was so entertaining and so much fun, and it passed so fast I didn’t even realize two hours had passed. So when the author came around, of course I immediately said yes. They allowed me to read it and make sure, but I said yes.
[laughs] And your character helps teach Bridget that there is more to archaeology and life than simply small bones.
That’s right. She, like any other young girl, is after bones. Finding bones. And my character teaches her that archaeology is not just about finding bones. It’s about lost cultures and people who’ve left us and left so many precious things for us to find and to learn from.
Professor Nasrin hints, also, that she’s had a past that has been disturbed by war. To a great extent.
Well, more or less, [she and Bridget] are both suffering from the same thing: from lack of friendship, lack of true love, and they share it together. Nasrin has no problem sharing it with Bridget because she knows if she does so then she will help this young lady to get out her past and start her life.
Thank you so much; it was so great to meet you.
Thank you very much!
Jesse Williams
Hi, my name is Keely. It’s nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you.
What drew you to working on this film and on the other Sisterhood film?
Ann Brashares wrote an amazing series of books and we just absolutely loved them, and the first movie went so well—we loved it, it was so well-received, we had the most amazing group of young actresses, and so we decided to do it again. And we had a great time doing this one as well.
And this film ended up being an entirely female-run ship, too.
I know! I was just—we didn’t intend for it to be; it just ended up that way. The producers are female; our director Sanaa Hamri is amazing; our two screenwriters are female; our editor, our music supervisor, our composer! [laughs] And we just had a blast. It’s very unusual, and it worked fantastically to have it all female.
Yeah. And fantastic people—actresses, director.
Great actresses, yeah.
Thank you so much; it was great to meet you.
Thank you!
Kira Davis
Hi, I’m Keely. Nice to meet you.
Hi, nice to meet you!
You produced this film with three other female producers as well—the film is such an entirely female project—what do you think caused this?
You know, it was a complete accident. We didn’t set out to have all females; we all said that had there been a male composer or a male editor or a male director we would still be as happy. It just kind of culminated in all women, and it’s been really exciting, so I think it helps!
So, what originally drew you to the project? Did you work on the original Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants?
I was. I was working on the—I read the book and was really excited about the book so I felt like it would make a great film, and I’m lucky enough we decided to do that. We got a great script and, you know, here we are at film number two.
The film has a great cast, as well. All of the actresses seem to fit their characters perfectly.
They did! I mean, it’s a very difficult thing when you have readers who have a certain expectation of an actor or a character, meeting their expectations, so you’re always worried you’re going to disappoint. And we didn’t. And we’re very fortunate in that way. I think these girls have really embodied the book characters in such a beautiful way.
Thank you. It was nice to meet you!
Hope you enjoy it!
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Hi, it’s nice to meet you!
Hi!
In the film you play the role of Professor Nasrin, who is Bridget’s archaeology professor in Turkey. Could you say what about the role appealed to you?
Well, I had seen the first one on the plane and I thought it was so entertaining and so much fun, and it passed so fast I didn’t even realize two hours had passed. So when the author came around, of course I immediately said yes. They allowed me to read it and make sure, but I said yes.
[laughs] And your character helps teach Bridget that there is more to archaeology and life than simply small bones.
That’s right. She, like any other young girl, is after bones. Finding bones. And my character teaches her that archaeology is not just about finding bones. It’s about lost cultures and people who’ve left us and left so many precious things for us to find and to learn from.
Professor Nasrin hints, also, that she’s had a past that has been disturbed by war. To a great extent.
Well, more or less, [she and Bridget] are both suffering from the same thing: from lack of friendship, lack of true love, and they share it together. Nasrin has no problem sharing it with Bridget because she knows if she does so then she will help this young lady to get out her past and start her life.
Thank you so much; it was so great to meet you.
Thank you very much!
Jesse Williams
Hi, Jesse, I’m Keely. It’s nice to meet you.
It’s nice to meet you!
In the film you play Leo, who is Lena’s love interest. Could you talk about your character?
Yeah. Leo is a real kind of free-spirited guy. He’s a bit of a kinder personality but a bit of a hot-shot accomplished artist in his own right at RISD, a really great painter, this free spirit that kind of meets Lena in a funny place because she’s kind of played by a different set of rules. So they come together and teach each other a little bit about relationships and labels and judgment, and he shows her what it means to live your own life and not live by the rules that others put upon you. So it’s a really nice little arc we have together, actually.
And the film plays up the contrast between your character and her first love Kostos as well.
I guess it does. I guess it does. I think there’s a bit of an inherent contrast: while his character has been established in the first film, I’m kind of the new kid on the block. He’s kind of—where is he? Is he going to come back? There’s this history around him, and my character might be a little more mysterious in his own right no matter when you meet him. So I think there are some sort of built-in differences there. I don’t think that means we’re that different, you know; we’d probably get along, have a couple of drinks.
Thanks so much; it was great to meet you!
Thank you! A pleasure.
America Ferrera
Hi, America, it’s great to see you; as always, you look stunning tonight. What can audiences expect this time around?
Well, the girls are a little older, and they’re experiencing more mature journeys. And it’s fun for us to come back three years later and catch up with the growth of these girls.
What was it like, everybody getting back together after three years?
It’s wonderful. The four of us really hit it off the first time around, and we stayed in touch, and we didn’t know if there was ever going to be a second movie so we kind of ran with our friendship. And when we got called to work together again it was kind of like, you know, a paid summer vacation here. It was fun.
Thanks so much!
Thank you!
Blake Lively
Blake!
Hi; it’s so great to see you again! How are you?
I’m good. How are you?
I can do two questions.
BLAKE'S REP: Blake, we have to take the cast photo.
One question!
Okay—how did it feel to get back together with the cast this time around?
It was so incredible. We all became such good friends on the first one that it didn’t even feel like work, so it was really great.
It was so great to see you again!
Thank you! Congratulations on [Good Prattle]!
Mark Indelicato
So you’re here supporting America.
Yes!
Excited to be here?
I’m very excited to be here. I can’t wait to get inside and, you know, see America, and see everyone, and just see the movie! I’m so excited.
And you’re filming Ugly Betty in New York now anyway.
We’re filming in New York now, and I am so excited. I love New York so much, so it’s going to be so awesome.
Brooklyn too?
Yeah! Brooklyn too! Brooklyn too.
[laughs]
I mean, hey, we’re going to be shooting a lot in Queens because Mark obviously is from Queens. But, Brooklyn, I’m comin’ for ya.
Hey. Borough pride. I live in Brooklyn.
Awesome. I love Brooklyn.
Glad to hear it.
Yes!
Yes! It was great to meet you.
Thank you!
Matthew Settle
Hi, I’m Keely. It’s nice to meet you.
Hi, Keely. How are you?
I’m good. So, you’re here to support Blake.
See the movie! See the jeans, more.
[laughs] Did you see the first film?
No, nah. I did a film called [Divine Secrets of the] Ya-Ya Sisterhood, so that has “sister” in it. They both have it in the title.
There’s a connection.
Yeah, there’s a connec—no, and my wife and I used to watch Gilmore Girls so I’m also a fan of Alexis Bledel. That’s how I came to know the CW network, and that’s how I’m on Gossip Girl, because I pursued it once I read the script. And now I’m here with Blake Lively, yeah.
Yeah, you’re working on the second season of Gossip Girl right now. How’s that going?
We’re having a blast. Rufus is going to start dating some women; it’s probably going to ruffle Lily’s feathers a bit. I think young Jenny Humphrey is probably going to have to make a decision between her design career and school, and Dan’s taking a mentor who’s going to encourage him to take more risks and maybe do some things that are a little dangerous.
A little scandal?
Lots of scandal! There’s going to be a lot of scandal, yeah.
Great to meet you! Thanks for talking.
Good to meet you. Bye!
It’s nice to meet you!
In the film you play Leo, who is Lena’s love interest. Could you talk about your character?
Yeah. Leo is a real kind of free-spirited guy. He’s a bit of a kinder personality but a bit of a hot-shot accomplished artist in his own right at RISD, a really great painter, this free spirit that kind of meets Lena in a funny place because she’s kind of played by a different set of rules. So they come together and teach each other a little bit about relationships and labels and judgment, and he shows her what it means to live your own life and not live by the rules that others put upon you. So it’s a really nice little arc we have together, actually.
And the film plays up the contrast between your character and her first love Kostos as well.
I guess it does. I guess it does. I think there’s a bit of an inherent contrast: while his character has been established in the first film, I’m kind of the new kid on the block. He’s kind of—where is he? Is he going to come back? There’s this history around him, and my character might be a little more mysterious in his own right no matter when you meet him. So I think there are some sort of built-in differences there. I don’t think that means we’re that different, you know; we’d probably get along, have a couple of drinks.
Thanks so much; it was great to meet you!
Thank you! A pleasure.
America Ferrera
Hi, America, it’s great to see you; as always, you look stunning tonight. What can audiences expect this time around?
Well, the girls are a little older, and they’re experiencing more mature journeys. And it’s fun for us to come back three years later and catch up with the growth of these girls.
What was it like, everybody getting back together after three years?
It’s wonderful. The four of us really hit it off the first time around, and we stayed in touch, and we didn’t know if there was ever going to be a second movie so we kind of ran with our friendship. And when we got called to work together again it was kind of like, you know, a paid summer vacation here. It was fun.
Thanks so much!
Thank you!
Blake Lively
Blake!
Hi; it’s so great to see you again! How are you?
I’m good. How are you?
I can do two questions.
BLAKE'S REP: Blake, we have to take the cast photo.
One question!
Okay—how did it feel to get back together with the cast this time around?
It was so incredible. We all became such good friends on the first one that it didn’t even feel like work, so it was really great.
It was so great to see you again!
Thank you! Congratulations on [Good Prattle]!
Mark Indelicato
So you’re here supporting America.
Yes!
Excited to be here?
I’m very excited to be here. I can’t wait to get inside and, you know, see America, and see everyone, and just see the movie! I’m so excited.
And you’re filming Ugly Betty in New York now anyway.
We’re filming in New York now, and I am so excited. I love New York so much, so it’s going to be so awesome.
Brooklyn too?
Yeah! Brooklyn too! Brooklyn too.
[laughs]
I mean, hey, we’re going to be shooting a lot in Queens because Mark obviously is from Queens. But, Brooklyn, I’m comin’ for ya.
Hey. Borough pride. I live in Brooklyn.
Awesome. I love Brooklyn.
Glad to hear it.
Yes!
Yes! It was great to meet you.
Thank you!
Matthew Settle
Hi, I’m Keely. It’s nice to meet you.
Hi, Keely. How are you?
I’m good. So, you’re here to support Blake.
See the movie! See the jeans, more.
[laughs] Did you see the first film?
No, nah. I did a film called [Divine Secrets of the] Ya-Ya Sisterhood, so that has “sister” in it. They both have it in the title.
There’s a connection.
Yeah, there’s a connec—no, and my wife and I used to watch Gilmore Girls so I’m also a fan of Alexis Bledel. That’s how I came to know the CW network, and that’s how I’m on Gossip Girl, because I pursued it once I read the script. And now I’m here with Blake Lively, yeah.
Yeah, you’re working on the second season of Gossip Girl right now. How’s that going?
We’re having a blast. Rufus is going to start dating some women; it’s probably going to ruffle Lily’s feathers a bit. I think young Jenny Humphrey is probably going to have to make a decision between her design career and school, and Dan’s taking a mentor who’s going to encourage him to take more risks and maybe do some things that are a little dangerous.
A little scandal?
Lots of scandal! There’s going to be a lot of scandal, yeah.
Great to meet you! Thanks for talking.
Good to meet you. Bye!
For more information about the movie, visit its website.
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