Kristen Bell At CA Portrait Shoot In NYC

Oh summer, it isn’t enough that you bring scorching heat outside but you also bring scorching heat -- in the form of fireballs hurtling at your face in 3D -- to the inside. That’s right folks, in case you didn’t notice the two sequels leading the box office this week, tentpole season is here and the studios have turned the screws on the marketing machines for two of the biggest gambles this summer. Despite all of its CG-wizardy, Guillermo Del Toro’s “Pacific Rim” remains very much a risky proposition. It isn’t based on a previously-existing -- and easily marketable -- property and it has no real stars in the cast unless you count Idris Elba (Stringer Bell!). In order to gather the mainstream audience up to speed -- because let’s face it, if you’re a Del Toro fan, you’re already in -- Warner Bros. has dropped a featurette (via IGN) that further elucidates how the two pilots of the Jaegers work together in piloting the giant robots and how they deal with...

Going to a press conference is a weird experience. Members of the press sit in a room at some swanky hotel while the stars of a movie sit in the front and answer questions thrown out at them. But you gotta do what you gotta do when you're an Entertainment Editor, so I agreed to head to Columbus Circle, NYC, on a weekend, to ask some qs to Amanda Seyfried, Jason Sudeikis, Aziz Ansari and more of the voice cast of Epic. And, let me tell ya, it was an all-around epic time. Here's what transpired... Photos: Beyonce and More Pop Stars Who Have Voiced Animated Characters I arrive to the press conference a few minutes early and take my seat, as other reporters are just sitting, eating some fruit, waiting around for all the action to happen. The studio people tell us the cast is running late because the red carpet premiere beforehand went long, but I was fine. Just taking in the sights and awaiting the celebs to come out. A usual Saturday activity. Right before the cast comes into the press conference room, I see a few of the actors outside by the kraft services table. Aziz was scoping out the breakfast options, as one would. Amanda was just standing there looking gorgeous. Colin Farrell was too. Then, they come in. Colin, Jason, Amanda, Aziz, Chris O'Dowd and the director, Chris Wedge, come out and take their seats in the front of the room as us regular folk look at them in awe. Then, the questions start a flowin'. Someone asks Chris O'Dowd (from Bridesmaids and Girls) if he's happy finally doing a more family-friendly movie, to which he sarcastically replies, "Normally I hate kids." Touche. He was joking, FYI. OK! Exclusive: Behind the Scenes at The Croods Press Conference Someone then asked how the actors prepared for their voice-over work, to which Aziz cleverly said, "I didn't even know the movie was animated.  I knew I was playing a slug, so I was confused...." His character, Mub, is the comedic relief of the whole movie. Aziz was the comedic relief of the day. Another reporter asked if any of the cast members have ever had an old, raggedy pet (since there's a blind, three-legged dog, Ozzie, in the film), to which Amanda replied, "I have a one-eyed deaf  cat." We went on for about 3 minutes talking about her pet Fran, and it was magical. Photos: Best Pics from The Hangover 3 Premiere Then Chris, being the hilarious person that he is, said "I have a one-eyed Tiger snake. Named Tiny Tim." Um, Chris, this is a children's movie. Let's keep it PG, please. Nonetheless, the room clearly cracked up at his on-the-fly comment. I was LOLing too. All was great, until one reporter (I don't know her name or her outlet but she was British and really pretty) asked a super personal question, although we always go into these things being told not to. She asked Amanda if she's ever fallen for a boy who was unattainable like she did in the movie (her and Josh Hutcherson's character have a thing). Dude! Really?! Amanda played it off well, though, saying that she's fallen in love with fairytale and ideas of certain men. Well-played, Amanda. Well. Played. Watch: Beyonce Talks About Her Role in Epic Then things go off on random topics, talking about bad guys vs good guys in movies, Fast and Furious 6 (thanks for that, Aziz), and why this film is amazing because it's going to get kids out in the backyards exploring nature. The last question was directed at the comedians of the bunch (Jason, Aziz and Chris), and Chris said that the film was about 90 percent scripted, even though those three dudes are definitely used to doing some improv. Guess things are different when you're in a voice booth though, right? Then the press conference ended after approximately 21 minutes, and Chris responded with "That's it?" Yeah, dude. I would've wanted to stay longer too. And hang out with you and talk about Lena Dunham and Kristen Wiig. But there's always next time for that. Everyone dispersed at this point, including the actors. I was this close to going up to Aziz and telling him he's funny since I was right next to him on the way out, but I didn't. I mean, how many times a day does he get THAT, you know? Meanwhile though, British girl who asked that awkward personal question to Amanda had the nerve to ask Colin Farrell to take a pic with her. Maybe I'm just bitter that she got one and I didn't? That she's aggressive and I'm not? Again, that will be saved for part 2. Photos: Celeb Couples Who Broke Up When Their Movies Came Out Epic comes out Friday, May 24! Are you going to see the film? Which of the voice actors in it is your favorite? Who's funnier - Aziz or Chris? Tweet us @OKMagazine, and stay tuned for our full review of Epic coming Friday on OKMagazine.com! Photo credit:  20th Century Fox