H.E.R. & Liza Soberano on Friendship, Filipino Culture, and Forgotten Island

About this episode

H.E.R. and Liza Soberano are no strangers to the spotlight. With acclaimed albums, world tours, 5 Grammys and an Academy Award, H.E.R. is just getting started. Meanwhile, Liza is a celebrated actress in the Philippines, known for her roles in hits like Alone/Together, My Ex and Whys, and Forevermore. But their new project, DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island, marks an exciting new chapter in both of their careers. A wholly original concept from the directors of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Gabi and Liza voice Jo and Raissa, two lifelong best friends about to embark on separate paths when they’re transported to Nakali, a mythical island inhabited by creatures inspired by Filipino folklore. Rendered in breathtaking animation, Forgotten Island is a celebration of Filipino culture that explores universal ideas about change, memory, and the power of friendship.

In this episode, H.E.R. and Liza join Jacqueline Coley to discuss bringing Jo and Raissa to life, finding unexpected pieces of themselves in the characters, and recording with real life best friends, directors Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado. H.E.R. tells the story behind the original song she wrote for the film, Liza reveals the moment that brought her to tears when they recorded the song together, and they both reflect on and what it means to them to be spotlighting their culture for a global audience—with the help of their “Filipino Avengers” castmates Lea Salonga, Dolly de Leon, and Manny Jacinto.

_To watch the movies discussed in this episode and more, head to _streaming.fandango.com