化為六月息

-----【譯文初稿】-----

隨著種族歧視的式微，這股風潮也襲向了電影界。由迪士尼推出的動畫電影《公主與青蛙 (The Princess and the Frog)》，首度以一位非裔美國籍的公主作為主角。故事背景設定在紐奧良(New Orleans)與路易斯安那(Louisiana)的一處河口沼澤地，由泰倫斯‧霍華(Terrence Howard)與安妮‧卡諾尼‧蘿絲(Anika Noni Rose)主演，而知名的脫口秀主持人歐普拉‧溫芙瑞(Oprah Winfrey)也前來客串一角。

電影《公主與青蛙》的主角緹亞娜(Tiana)，是一位獨立而充滿抱負的年輕女性，由榮獲托尼獎肯定的安妮‧卡諾尼‧蘿絲所飾演。緹亞娜這個角色是最近才加入迪士尼這個大家庭的，在緹亞娜之前，迪士尼已經推出過八位不同的公主人物，她們在動畫電影上活躍了超過七十年之久。至於緹亞娜的父親詹姆斯(James)，由泰倫‧斯霍華飾演，而母親伊鳩多菈(Eudora)則由歐普拉客串擔綱。

三十七歲的蘿絲在接受訪問時表示，幕後配音工作因為沒有臉部表情與肢體動作的表達，對她來說是一項挑戰。蘿絲說：「我真的很喜歡配音，我覺得對一位演員來說，配音能你更上一層樓，因為你與無形的障礙一起工作。」而在談到片中緹亞娜一角時，蘿絲則是對她讚譽有加，蘿絲說：「緹亞娜非常獨立而聰明，是個目標取向的年輕女性，絕非泛泛之輩。」

四十歲的霍華，則談論為什麼自己想要參與這部電影，他說：「嗯，和迪士尼動畫合作，你知道的，對任何演員的演藝生涯來說，都是一個很耀眼的經歷。而能夠參與具有指標性意義的電影、傳遞美好的訊息，並且永垂於迪士尼的歷史中，則是另一個誘因。」

就像迪士尼公主系列中的其他女性主角一樣，緹亞娜是一塊未經雕琢的璞玉，在她能夠找到自己的定位之前，緹亞娜必須經過一連串的考驗，從中學習經驗並汲取教訓。雖然緹亞娜的母親是位裁縫師，但她卻擁有很棒的廚藝天分，並且夢想成為餐廳的老闆，好榮耀已故的父親。

電影《公主與青蛙》，已經在11月25日於北美上映。

 ※ 正式定稿與影像：「 新唐人電視台 ─ 娛樂新幹線 」

 ※ The original article was taken from Reuters Website.  ( 原文取自路透社網站 )

-----【原文對照】-----

INTRO: First black princess in new Disney film. "The Princess and the Frog" is an updated fairy tale featuring for the first time an African-American princess leading the cast of voice characters in an animated Disney film.

STORY: "The Princess and the Frog" is an updated fairy tale featuring for the first time an African-American princess leading the cast of voice characters in an animated Disney film. The story tale is set in New Orleans and the swampy bayous of Louisiana. The movie stars actors Terrence Howard and Anika Noni Rose. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey even has a small part.

Rose, a Tony Award-winning singer and actress, plays Tiana. Tiana, an independent and ambitious young woman, is the latest addition to the Disney royal court. She makes her debut following in the footsteps of eight other princess in a span of more than 70 years. Howard plays her father, James. Winfrey has a cameo as her mother, Eudora.

Rose shared why playing an voice character in an animated film and not being able to rely on facial expressions and physical gestures was a challenge. "I really loved this. I really loved doing it," smiled the 37-year-old. " And I think that as an actor it can only help you be better, because you are working with the handicap of no body."

Howard talked about why he wanted to make the film. "Well, just to work with Disney Pictures, you know, that's a highlight in any actor's career," said Howard, 40. "To have participated in a landmark film, is another attraction. To have a wonderful

message that you deliver, and to be immortalized inside the Disney vaults."

Rose described her hard-working character as being a good role model. "She's very independent. Intelligent. Goal-oriented young woman. She's not someone who is easily deterred."

Like each of the other Disney princesses before her, Tiana is a diamond in the rough. And, she must learn a few life lessons along the way before she can properly fulfill her role. Born the daughter of a seamstress, Tiana is gifted with great cooking ability and dreams of owning her own restaurant, in part to honour her late father.

The film celebrates iconic Mardi Gras images - from a jazz-loving alligator to a voodoo villain to a Cajun firefly. And pop music star turned Oscar-winning film composer Randy Newman was hired to provide the musical backdrop for the film.

Newman talked about what inspired his creativity on the project. "Much of it is in the bayou, much of it is in New Orleans," explained Newman, 65. "The place is important when you score.  Suggests certain sounds. Romance suggests certain things."

"The Princess and the Frog" opens across North America today (November 25).