Juju Brener – Hocus Pocus 2

By starrymag | September 30, 2022

By: Ashlee Dell’Arciprete

 

 

 

Q) You will be starring in Hocus Pocus 2 as the young version of Sarah Jessica Parker’s character. How exciting is it to star in such an anticipated sequel?

 

A) Yasss! I’m very excited about Hocus Pocus 2. I know fans have been waiting for this sequel for nearly three decades! The fandomania is just wow! We knew how anticipated it’s been but didn’t expect the magnitude. It’s crazy what’s going on from all the merch popping up to social media content to major company collabs going on. I know audiences will be super happy with the story, tone, look, characters and all the surprises in the script. Also, it’s so incredible that it’s reuniting the original stars: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy as the iconic witches. It’s so cool to be part of such a cultural phenomenon, a cult classic! I’m grateful I got to step into the younger shoes of such a talented, respected actress as SJP. And being a part of the Disney family is so special to me since it’s been my favorite since I was teeny.

 

Q) What was your audition process like for Hocus Pocus 2?

 

A) As with most roles, actors go through a series of auditions. I always prep accordingly and put in the work on all of mine. If you’re initially right for something, you typically go from one stage to the next depending on how well you do. It’s a competitive process. I can’t say much on this one due to confidentiality, but each role and project has many factors involved in making a casting decision. In this case, I also needed to match in feel, attitude, vibe, look and mannerisms of an adult actress. I’m super thankful to my manager April Mills at AME and my agents Domina Holbeck and Pam Fisher at A3 for getting me this audition and believing in me through the process and always.

 

Q) What are you able to share about your most memorable moments on set filming Hocus Pocus 2?

 

A) Filming Hocus Pocus 2 was absolutely insanely amazing! There are so many aspects from the script, sound stages, set design, costumes, hair and makeup and locations! All was so meticulous and creative. Everyone at Disney and production were so nice, hardworking and efficient. The set was very large and spread out with so many departments and personnel. Also, the fact I got to travel to Providence, and we shot all over Rhode Island was neat to have all the authentic New England locations. They even built the whole city of 1600s Salem from scratch in Chase Park. It was fascinating and very inspiring. I also met one of my best friends for life, Taylor Henderson, who plays Young Winnie. We bonded from day one like we knew each other and have been sisters forever. On top of it having a special talented team of a female director, Anne Fletcher, a female producer, Lynn Harris, and a female writer, Jen D’Angelo…I mean there were awesome producers all around including Adam Shankman, David Kirschner, and Ralph Winter. Being surrounded by a main and supporting female cast is super special.

I love that girls have a strong voice these days! Everyone on set knew they were making something that is gonna be part of movie history. I am forever grateful for this experience.

 

Q) Talk about the process behind getting your own capsule collection with YMI Jeans, titled YMI x JUJU. 

 

A) Fashion has always been a big part of my life. I’ve been expressing my own unique individuality through my outfits for as long as I can remember. My grandmother is crafty and taught me and my sister how to put patches on our jeans from an early age. My sister Mila used to model for YMI when she was younger, and we stayed in touch over the years. CEO/Founder David Vered is a Hocus Pocus fan, so when I wrapped the movie, he and my branding agent Yoav Davis of Davis Media NY put their creative ideas together to come up with a project we can collaborate on. The idea was to spotlight their kid’s line. I have been co-designing the line alongside the company’s creative team, which will include jeans, pants and jackets. I’m so excited I got to co-create this capsule denim collection YMI x JUJU launching in October! Getting to design my own line is a dream come true. I’m also their brand ambassador as a new face of YMI Jeans Girls. YMI is great because it appeals to girls and women of all ages who are confident, vibrant, fashionable and want to express themselves through what they wear. It was important to all of us to create a collection that reflects the trends of the moment in youth sizes. The line has super hip fits for kids, tweens, and teens.

 

Q) What’s your favorite piece from your capsule collection with YMI Jeans?

 

A) Personally, I’m really into flared leg right now. It’s a huge trend. The collection has various flare fits some low waisted some higher and in different denim washes, fabrics and also solid colors. There is even a black one that can work as a dressy vibe.

 

Q) What can you share about your starring in the upcoming book-to-movie adaptation, The Furry Fortune? 

 

A) The Furry Fortune is my first starring role! It’s a book-to-movie adaptation based on the best-selling children’s book by the same name. The family comedy also stars Mason Blomberg and Henry the dog. It is directed by Justin Ward and produced by Brad Wilson. The story centers on twins Zoey and Dax who are growing apart and discover their pet rescue dog is shedding money. The neighbor, a malicious IRS agent, and his slimy son, kidnap the money-making canine and the siblings must work together to save their pet and their family. I got into D. Good Morgan’s book as I prepped for the role. I ordered it off Amazon. It was so cool to have Morgan on set as she’s also one of the executive producers. Fun fact: the character of Zoe in the book is actually a boy. It was such a dream job because I got to spend a summer working with a dog. I love dogs and all animals and pets. Henry is really special. He is a rescue. Spending this time with him and his owner Courtney making this movie inspired us to rescue as well. We now have Pixie who we rescued a few months ago via Wagmor. [winks] I also met one of my good friends, Mason Blomberg, on this shoot. We felt like twins from the moment we met we were literally completing each other’s sentences. He is super cool, funny and talented and so is his mom Cassandra and the rest of their family. We actually were born only a few days apart in real life and now refer to each other as “twins for life.”

 

Q) Would you ever want to produce and direct in addition to acting?

 

A) I have plans to write scripts. My sister is working on directing, so it would be a dream one day to work together on a script that I write and she directs. We have also discussed plans to produce together.

 

Q) You’re also a dancer, model, and singer. What else do you enjoy doing in your spare time when you’re not working?

 

A) Since I was little, I would always doodle and draw. Over the years my dad, who is a contemporary abstract artist, has taught me some of his techniques. There are dozens of papers all over our house and in drawers with my drawings. I’m really into deserts and exploring food, sampling it all wherever I go. I love traveling. It’s been a big part of my life. My family and I are snow skiers. I also love beachy resorts where I can swim and do water sports. I equally like big urban cities with museums, shows and shopping. My dream right now is to travel to Japan and Hawaii. I’ve always been into amusement parks and as soon as I was tall enough to hit the cool rides. I got pretty obsessed with roller coasters.

I also just like to hang out with my friends. We really love sleepovers and some of my friends have pools, so we go swimming. We also like going to the mall eating and shopping at stores.

 

Q) Talk about your experiences working with huge stars like Morgan Freeman on Vanquish and Miley Cyrus on “Younger Now” respectively?

 

A) The last few years being in the presence and working alongside such acting legends like Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and music icons like Miley Cyrus – I am constantly inspired and try to learn each day from every experience. These are incredible talents. I notice what they do and try to emulate it or take the advice they give me and apply it. Morgan was so calm on set and also as an actor. There is so much commotion on set, I was so impressed with that because there are distractions. I feel like I learned from him to work toward that. Miley was very hands on with her production and all artistic aspects. She did not leave it up to others. She had a strong vision, but was very collaborative with director Diane Martel, like a perfect balance. It taught me that and that’s how I try to approach my work now. Also, when we were rehearsing in the venue for the VMAS she had to sing over and over. She went all out every time, even though there was no audience during those rehearsals, and it was a cappella. I learned to do that. Give it my all even if it’s a rehearsal and there are only three people in the room. I feel so lucky my life has taken me at such a young age in these directions and inspired me to work toward being as good an artist as they are. [winks]

 

Q) Do you have any other upcoming projects you can tease?

 

A) I just wrapped on the film Born Again, which is the sequel to Born in East LA, produced by and starring Paul Rodriguez. It also stars Jay Mohr and Luis Guzman. It is directed by Rene Bueno and set to release theatrically in 2023.

 

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

 

A) I am so touched by all the love and support. I get a lot of it on social media, which my mom and sister handle. They show it all to me and that’s really cool. I’m still just a kid having fun doing what I love, so it’s really nice that people like it and pay attention. It’s really sweet of them to take the time to make me edits or write me notes. I hope to continue connecting with everyone who follows and supports my journey <3