The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 21, 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama and Big Bird Team Up to Help Get Kids Healthy

New Let’s Move! Public Service Announcements Filmed in the White House
Encourage Kids to Eat Healthy and Get Active

Washington, D.C. – First Lady Michelle Obama and Sesame Street’s Big Bird teamed up to film two public service announcements encouraging kids to eat healthy and get active. The new PSAs, which can be viewed HERE and HERE, are launched as part of the third anniversary celebration of Let’s Move! – Mrs. Obama’s initiative to ensure that all our children grow up healthy and reach their full potential.

The new PSAs feature Mrs. Obama and Big Bird in the White House showing kids how easy and delicious it is to eat healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables and demonstrating fun ways to get active like dancing and jumping. Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, will distribute these PSAs to 320 PBS Stations, Sesame Workshop’s partner channels as part of their Healthy Habits for Life Initiative. The PSAs are also posted on the Sesame Street and Let’s Move! websites.

These PSAs are part of the celebration of Let’s Move!’s third anniversary. Next week, the First Lady will kick off a two day nation-wide tour celebrating the anniversary by showcasing progress and announcing new ways the country is coming together around the health of our children.

Mrs. Obama launched Let’s Move! on February 9, 2010 to unite the country around our kids’ health and create real support for families to live healthier lives. Since then parents, business leaders, educators, elected officials, military leaders, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders, and kids themselves have stepped up to improve the health of our nation’s children.

Thanks to these efforts, families now have access to more information to make healthier decisions for their children. Young people now have more opportunities for physical activity in their communities. Food in schools has been dramatically improved.  More Americans now have access to healthy, affordable food closer to home. And the national childhood obesity rate has leveled off, and even declined in some cities and states.

More information on three years of healthy changes can be found here: http://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/02/08/lets-move-three-years-working-towards-healthier-generation-children

About Sesame Workshop

Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television programming with the landmark Sesame Street.  The Workshop produces local Sesame Street programs, seen in over 150 countries, and other acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company.  Beyond television, the Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning.  Learn more at www.sesameworkshop.org.

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 20, 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama to Embark on National Tour Celebrating Third Anniversary of Let’s Move!

February 27-28th, First Lady to make stops in Clinton, MS; Chicago, IL; Springfield, MO

WASHINGTON, DC – On February 27, 2013, First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off a two day nation-wide tour celebrating the third anniversary of Let’s Move!, her initiative to ensure that all our children grow up healthy and reach their full potential. The tour will showcase progress and announce new ways the country is coming together around the health of our children. Mrs. Obama will also travel to New York City this week to talk about the third anniversary of Let’s Move! on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show.

On Twitter, follow @FLOTUS and @LetsMove for live updates from the national tour and join the conversation using the hashtag #LetsMoveTour.

Mrs. Obama launched Let’s Move! on February 9, 2010 to unite the country around our kids’ health and create real support for families to live healthier lives.  Since then parents, business leaders, educators, elected officials, military leaders, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders and kids themselves have stepped up to improve the health of our nation’s children.

Thanks to these efforts, families now have access to more information to make healthier decisions for their children. Young people now have more opportunities for physical activity in their communities. Food in schools has been dramatically improved.  More Americans now have access to healthy, affordable food closer to home. And the national childhood obesity rate has leveled off, and even declined in some cities and states.

More information on three years of healthy changes can be found here: http://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/2013/02/08/lets-move-three-years-working-towards-healthier-generation-children

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2013

New York, NY

Mrs. Obama will be in New York City to talk about the third anniversary of Let’s Move! with several national TV outlets. Mrs. Obama will appear on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, to air the evening of Friday, February 22. The First Lady previously appeared on the show in a special comedy sketch facing off with Fallon in a lively fitness challenge taped at the White House for the second anniversary of Let’s Move!.

Mrs. Obama will also film a segment with Robin Roberts about the anniversary and a new Let’s Move! partnership that makes finding healthy, reliable recipes easy for busy parents. The interview will air on Good Morning America on Tuesday, February 26.

The First Lady, joined by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, will also tape an episode of The Dr. Oz Show to talk about how physical activity affects both children’s health and academic achievement. This episode will air on Thursday, February 28, the day Mrs. Obama and Secretary Duncan will make a major announcement about bringing physical activity back to schools.

The First Lady’s Let’s Move! national tour schedule is below:

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2013

Clinton, MS * 2:00 PM CT /3:00 PM ET * Change is Happening

First Lady Michelle Obama will join TV personality and child nutrition advocate Rachael Ray to highlight the new healthy school lunches that are now being served across the nation. Thanks to the bi-partisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, championed by Mrs. Obama and Ray, and signed into law by the President in 2010, the 32 million students who eat lunch provided by their school are now seeing more fruits, vegetables, low-fat or fat-free milk varieties, and whole grains; less saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium; and proper portion size on their lunch trays. Mrs. Obama and Rachael Ray will host a cooking competition between school chefs to highlight the new healthier school lunches. This portion of the visit will be pooled press and will also air on The Rachael Ray Show on March 11.

Mrs. Obama and Rachael Ray chose to highlight school lunches in Mississippi, which was rated the most obese state in the nation for several years, because the state’s childhood obesity rates have declined by 13% among elementary school students in recent years.  Mississippi is  one of several states and cities to show decreases in childhood obesity.  The Clinton Public School District in Mississippi, where the First Lady will be visiting, mobilized the entire community to make their schools healthier to support their children’s physical wellness and academic achievement. With leadership from the Superintendent, Board of Education, parents, students and community leaders, Clinton made healthy schools a top priority and implemented district-wide changes to bring physical activity and nutritious choices to students – all with no additional funding. 

Mrs. Obama and Mississippi leaders will deliver remarks to highlight the changes happening in Mississippi and across the nation. These remarks will be open press, members of the media can RSVP HERE by Friday, February 22 at 5:00 PM ET.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013

Chicago, IL * 11:00 AM CT / 12:00 PM ET * Bringing Physical Activity Back to Schools

First Lady Michelle Obama will return to her hometown of Chicago to make a major announcement to bring physical activity back to schools. The First Lady will be joined by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, NIKE, Inc. President & CEO Mark Parker, Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas, Allyson Felix, Bob Harper, Bo Jackson, Colin Kaepernick, Sarah Reinertsen, Paul Rodriguez, Serena Williams, a surprise musical guest and thousands of Chicago area teachers and students at the event hosted by the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Studies show that kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day to stay healthy, but they’re spending an average of 7 or more hours a day in front of a screen, and only 1 in 3 kids is active daily. In addition to the health benefits of an active lifestyle, research indicates that regular physical activity can improve test scores, classroom behavior and attendance. Yet, only 4% of elementary schools, 8% of middle schools and 2% of high schools currently offer daily P.E. and only 9 states require recess in elementary schools. Kids spend about half their time in schools, and the First Lady will call on leaders to work together to support schools’ efforts to ensure that all kids get the physical activity they need to stay healthy and succeed in school.

This event will be open press, members of the media can RSVP HERE by Monday, February 25 at 5:00 PM ET.

Springfield, MO * 2:25 PM CT/3:25 ET * Healthy Families, Thriving Businesses

First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to Springfield, Missouri to see changes Walmart has made to reduce sodium and added sugars from packaged food items, to make healthier food more affordable, and to include a simple front-of-package seal for identifying healthier food choices. The Walmart store Mrs. Obama will visit was built as part of the company’s commitment to Let’s Move! to open or expand up to 300 stores in communities with limited access to healthy, affordable food. This store tour will be pooled press.

Walmart is one of many businesses across the country that is making healthy changes to support their customers, because they recognize that what’s good for their customer’s health is also good for their business. Following the tour, Mrs. Obama will deliver remarks about how supporting the health of American families is also good for business, and remind consumers that it’s up to them to continue demanding healthier options.  These remarks will be open press, and members of the media can RSVP HERE by Monday, February 25 at 5:00 PM ET.

MONDAY, MARCH 4, 2013

Washington, DC * 11:10 ET * First Lady Michelle Obama Joins a Google+ Hangout

Following the national tour, First Lady Michelle Obama will continue the dialogue about healthy families online through her first Google+ Hangout. Continuing a series of “Fireside Hangouts” from the White House, Mrs. Obama will participate in a completely virtual conversation with parents and kids from around the country, moderated by Kelly Ripa, Emmy Award-winning co-host of daytime talk show LIVE with Kelly and Michael.

For a chance to join the Google+ Hangout with First Lady Michelle Obama, Google+ is inviting families to share their thoughts and questions on how we could raise healthier families and communities on the Let's Move YouTube channel. Entries must be submitted by Thursday, February 28, 2013 on the Let’s Move! YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/letsmove.

The First Lady’s Fireside Hangout will be streamed live on LetsMove.gov, the Let’s Move! YouTube Channel and the White House Google+ Page at 11:10 a.m. ET on March 4th, 2013.

WEDNESDAY, March 6, 2013

Washington, DC * First Lady Michelle Obama Answers Questions on Twitter

First Lady Michelle Obama will answer questions about her Let’s Move! initiaive using her office’s @FLOTUS twitter account. Additional details will be released closer to the event.

For live updates from the national Let’s Move! tour, follow @FLOTUS and @LetsMove. Use the hashtag #LetsMoveTour to join the conversation.

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 15, 2013

White House Announces 2013 White House Easter Egg Roll

The President and First Lady announced today that this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll will be held on Monday, April 1st.  The event will feature live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling and, of course, Easter egg rolling.  In support of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative to ensure that all our children grow up healthy and reach their full potential, the activities will encourage children to lead healthy, active lives.  The White House will open its South Lawn for children ages 13 years and younger and their families. 

White House Easter Egg Roll tickets will be distributed through an online lottery system, allowing guests from across the United States to participate in a tradition that dates back to 1878.  The lottery will open for entries on February 21st at 10:00 AM EST and close on February 25th at 10:00 AM EST.  Tickets are free of charge and are non-transferable.  Full ticketing details can be found at www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll.

To place your commemorative egg order, please visit www.recreation.gov, and follow the link to the online Easter egg store.

For the most up-to-date information on the Easter Egg Roll and other public events at the White House, please visit www.whitehouse.gov/eastereggroll or call the Visitors Office 24-hour information line at (202) 456-7041.  Media details will be released in the coming weeks.

West Wing Week: 02/15/13 or “You’re a Hero”

Adam Garber
Adam Garber
February 14, 2013
05:17 PM EST

This week, the President delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term, and then brought his proposals to a factory in North Carolina and a school in Georgia, presided over a Medal of Honor ceremony, honored the outgoing Secretary of Defense, and hungout on Google Plus. 

Related Topics: Inside the White House, Georgia, North Carolina

West Wing Week: 02/15/13 or “You’re a Hero”

February 14, 2013 | 5:34 | Public Domain

This week, the President delivered the first State of the Union address of his second term, and then brought his proposals to factories in North Carolina and a school in Georgia, presided over a Medal of Honor ceremony, honored the outgoing Secretary of Defense, and hungout on Google Plus.

Download mp4 (190.5MB)

An Everyday Hero: Menchu de Luna Sanchez’s View from the First Lady’s Box

Posted by Jason Tengco on February 14, 2013 at 12:17 PM EST
First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and Guests

First Lady Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, and guests in the First Lady's box in the House Chamber, stand and applaud as President Barack Obama is introduced at the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Feb. 12, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

For nearly three decades, extraordinary Americans who exemplify the themes and ideals laid out in the President’s State of the Union Address have been invited to join the First Lady in her viewing box.  Guests have included students, teachers and innovators, entrepreneurs and those serving in our armed forces.

On Tuesday, February 12, 2013, one guest in the First Lady’s box was Menchu de Luna Sanchez, a Registered Nurse at New York University Langone Medical Center.  When Hurricane Sandy cut the power at NYU Langone Medical Center, Sanchez devised a plan to transport twenty at-risk infants to intensive care units around the city.  She organized the nurses and doctors to carefully carry the babies down eight flights of stairs with only cell phones to light the way.  Even as her own home was flooding, she thought only of protecting the babies in her care. 

Sanchez was born, raised, and educated in the Philippines and she immigrated to the United States in the 1980s.  She has worked as a nurse in New York for more than 25 years, and has been at NYU since 2010.  She currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children, both of whom are in college.

“This is like a lifetime achievement, lifetime honor, and lifetime privilege,” Sanchez told me when asked how it felt to be mentioned in the President’s State of the Union Address.  “It was like floating in air,” she added, in reference to her experience sitting between First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden in the First Lady’s box.

Sanchez was lauded by President Obama during his speech: 

 “We were sent here to look out for our fellow Americans the same way they look out for one another, every single day, usually without fanfare, all across this country. We should follow their example.

We should follow the example of a New York City nurse named Menchu Sanchez. When Hurricane Sandy plunged her hospital into darkness, her thoughts were not with how her own home was faring – they were with the twenty precious newborns in her care and the rescue plan she devised that kept them all safe.”

“The experience that night is unimaginable to think about now, but saving lives comes very naturally when situations like these arise,” she said.

When asked how she felt about the President’s speech, Sanchez thanked the President for addressing hardships faced by Americans throughout the country.  She recognized how her own family has benefitted from the policies the President laid out in his speech, including around housing, education, and immigration. 

Finally, when I asked her if this experience has changed her life, she humbly brushed it off and said that she’ll be the same as she was before: still the mom of her children, and still the wife of her husband.  The only thing that will change, she noted, is that she hopes to set a good example for others and inspire them to do good things within their communities.

Like the other guests of honor in the First Lady’s box, Sanchez embodies everyday Americans doing extraordinary deeds to better our nation.  We look forward to highlighting the stories of other inspiring Americans in the years to come.

 

Jason Tengco is the Advisor on Public Engagement for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

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Interactive Film Workshop for Students: Beasts of the Southern Wild

February 13, 2013 | 50:48 | Public Domain

First Lady Michelle Obama welcomes 80 middle and high school students from the DC area and New Orleans to take part in an interactive student workshop with the cast and crew of the film Beasts of the Southern Wild.

Download mp4 (1925MB) | mp3 (122MB)

Read the Transcript

Remarks by the First Lady at the Beasts of the Southern Wild Workshop

State Dining Room

11:07 A.M. EST
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Hi!  How is everybody?  You guys good?  Good morning! 
 
AUDIENCE:  Good morning.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I am thrilled, beyond thrilled.  You guys excited to be here?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Was it a good movie?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, wonderful.  I am so glad you all are here to help us celebrate Black History Month at the White House.  We're doing a bunch of stuff this month, but this is one of the highlights.  And we are thrilled to be here with you all.
 
I want to start by thanking Rachel Goslins for agreeing to moderate the workshop today.  Rachel is a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.  And what that means is that her job is to connect all Americans, especially young people, to music, art, dance and film.  So thank you, Rachel, as always.  Thanks for all your hard work, and -- yes.  (Applause.) 
 
And, of course, I also want to thank our guests who are with us today -- Benh Zeitlin, Dwight Henry, and Quvenzhané -- my girl.  Did I say that right?  Did I get that right?  Quvenzhané Wallis for being here today.  Let's give them a round of applause.  (Applause.) 
 
But it's a special joy to have so many bright, smart and talented young people here.  You guys are looking good.  And I know that some of you have traveled all the way from New Orleans -- is that correct?  And many of you are here right from D.C., right in our neighborhood, our neighbors.  But let me tell you, no matter where you've come from or how far you traveled, we're just glad you're here today to watch what I consider to be one of the most powerful and important movies that has been put out this year -- or in a long time, quite frankly -- Beasts of the Southern Wild. 
 
And as I was telling the cast and the directors and the producers in the other room, I had the opportunity to watch this movie this summer with a large group of our friends and family.  And the ages ranged from three to 75 years old -- we had a big family.  But it's rare these days to find a movie that can so completely and utterly captivate such a broad audience, and that was one of the things that struck me about this movie.  It managed to be beautiful, joyful and devastatingly honest. 
 
It's a movie that makes us all think deeply about the people we love in our lives who make us who we are.  It shows us the strength of our communities, no matter what they look like.  It shows us that those communities can give us the power to overcome any kind of obstacles.  And it also tells a compelling story of poverty and devastation, but also of hope and love in the midst of some great challenges.
 
So there are so many important lessons to learn in that little 93 minutes.  That’s the other cool thing -- that a director and a set of writers and producers can say so much in just 93 minutes.  And it doesn’t always happen in a movie, quite frankly -- (laughter) -- but this one did it, and that’s why I love this movie so much and why our team wanted to bring it here to the White House and share it with all of you.
 
I am honored and grateful that the creators and actors of the movie have taken time to join us here today, particularly given their extremely busy schedules.  I mean, this is the high -- this is high season for film.  Benh, Dwight, and Quvenzhané -- did I get that right?  (Laughter.)  Do you have a nickname? 
 
MS. WALLIS:  A few.  (Laughter.) 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Okay.  None you're willing to share with me? 
 
MS. WALLIS:  Q.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Q.  Can I call you Q?
 
MS. WALLIS:  Sure. 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Okay.  (Laughter.)  They have been traveling all across the country promoting this movie and preparing for the Academy Awards in a couple of weeks.  Beasts of the Southern Wild is nominated for several awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.  And, Q, my girl, Q, here, is the youngest nominee?  Is that -- the youngest person ever to be nominated for an Academy Award, and that’s a very big accomplishment.  (Applause.) 
 
But despite all of the national and international attention these folks are getting, they have taken the time to be here with all of you to discuss this very important film today.  They are all amazing people in their own right with amazing stories, and, hopefully, they will get a chance to share some of their stories. 
 
But I know that Benh developed this movie without a huge budget.  This is not a multi-billion-dollar movie.  He didn’t have much, so he had to be really creative and resourceful in order to get this movie made.  So, hopefully, he will talk a little bit about how he got that done. 
 
And I don’t know if you all know the story -- the world knows it -- but Dwight never acted a day in his life.  Never.  Not one -- no plays, no pageants, no nothing.  (Laughter.)  Before he was cast for this movie, do you know what Dwight did?  He ran a bakery across the street from where the movie was being filmed, or where the auditions were taking place.  So that’s what he was doing before he did what you just saw.  He's also busy raising his five kids, who I hope to one day meet, as well.
 
So when they asked him to play the role of Wink, he had to think long and hard about it because he didn’t have the experience.  But in the end, he decided to take the risk.  And now, he is headed to the Oscars.  I mean, imagine.  That’s what happens in America when you're ready for stuff, right? 
 
And then Quvenzhané, as you know, was just five years old when she auditioned for the film -- just five, okay.  Imagine.  Now, she seems like a grown woman sitting up here.  (Laughter.)  And I understand she often acts like one.  (Laughter.)  But she was only five, so hopefully she will tell you a little bit about how a five year old learns those lines and learns how to take on the role of that character and to bring that character to life, which is why she has been nominated for an Academy Award.  It was very profound.  Amazing -- and it doesn’t happen often. 
 
So I think that we can all agree that she did an extraordinary job, as did everyone involved in this film.  So these folks worked hard to make this incredible film, and I hope that you all take full advantage of this time today -- do you hear me, young people?  Take full advantage of this time.  Ask lots of questions.  Don’t be shy.  I can't imagine that you all are shy, so don’t act like it in here just because you're in the White House.
 
Because we are all here today for you, and that’s what I -- we are here for you.  We did this for you.  This event is important to me not only because I love and believe in this film, but also because I deeply love and believe in all of you.  Do you understand that?  I deeply love and believe all of you and I haven't even met you.  But I know you're out there and I know your potential, I know your promise.  And I want to find every opportunity that I can to continue to find ways -- whatever ways we can to inspire kids like you all over this country to do amazing things.  That’s why we're doing this.  This is for you.
 
Because the truth is that I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I know that my husband, President Obama, wouldn’t be where he is today if he hadn't gotten that kind of inspiration from somebody in our lives.  We wouldn’t be who we are today without all those people who pushed us and believed in us and gave us opportunities to learn and grow and fulfill our potential.  We wouldn’t be here.
 
Like the characters in this movie, we know that our families and our communities gave us the love and support to go out and pursue our dreams.  But like Benh and Dwight and Quvenzhané, what I want you all to understand is that you have to do the work.  That’s my message:  You have to do the work.  We're not here because we didn’t do the work.  We all did the work. 
 
You all have to really be focused on preparing yourselves for the challenges and the opportunities that will lie ahead for all of you.  You've got to be prepared.  So that means you have to go to school.  Plain and simple.  Right now, your job -- as I tell Malia and Sasha -- is go to school.  No matter what is going on in your lives, you have to go to school and you have to do your homework every day -- every day.  That’s all you have to do.  That’s your job.
 
You have to prepare your minds and your bodies for greatness.  That’s how you have to think about it.  You're preparing yourself for greatness.  Because if Dwight wasn't ready, it wouldn’t have mattered what opportunity was waiting for him.  If he wasn't ready to take it, it would have passed him by.
 
So I want you all to understand that reading is important.  You have to read everything you get your hands on.  That’s one of the things that President Obama does -- he reads everything.  He reads all the time.  You have to read, read, and read again. 
 
And then I want you to think about everything you put in your body, the kind of foods you're eating.  Because if you're not eating healthy foods, you're not getting your mind or your heart ready for the greatness that lies ahead. 
 
And every day, I want you all to imagine who you are going to be.  That’s where it starts.  You have to think of who you want to be in your head every single day, and think of all the images and the people that you see -- whether it's me or Quvenzhané or Benh or the President. 
 
Think about who you want to be, and dream big.  Don’t aim low; aim high.  But then you have to get up every day and turn that dream into reality, and work towards being who you envision yourself to be in your head.  I still do that every day.  Every day I'm thinking about who I want to be and what I have to do every day; what kind of person I have to be, how honest and truthful and hardworking I have to be to achieve that image, that big, bold image I have of myself in my head.
 
That’s how me, the President, Benh, Dwight, Quvenzhané are doing what we're doing today.  That’s why we're up here.  And we know, absolutely know and expect nothing less from all of you, because we know you can be here, too.  That’s our expectation.  That’s the tradeoff of being here today, is that one day you'll be up here in some capacity doing some great thing.
 
So work hard.  Enjoy your time here today, and know that we love you all, okay?  Know that. 
 
I have to go, because they're going to have me do a bunch of more work.  (Laughter.)  But enjoy the discussion.  Rachel, I will turn things over to you so that you can continue to inspire these young people.
 
Thank you all for being here.  And thank you for all the teachers and staff and the folks who are working with these kids, the parents who are here today.  Thank you for your work, and enjoy. 
 
END
11:19 A.M. EST

Close Transcript

First Lady Michelle Obama hosts a “Beasts of the Southern Wild” Movie Workshop for Students

Colleen Curtis
Colleen Curtis
February 13, 2013
04:55 PM EST

First Lady Michelle Obama hosts a “Beasts of the Southern Wild” movie workshop at the White House, Feb. 13, 2013

First Lady Michelle Obama delivers remarks during a “Beasts of the Southern Wild” movie workshop in the State Dining Room of the White House, Feb. 13, 2013. Participating, from left, are: movie director Benh Zeitlin; actor Dwight Henry; actress Quvenzhané Wallis; and moderator Rachel Goslins, a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. (Official White House Photo by ) (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

First Lady Michelle Obama today welcomed 80 middle and high school students to an interactive workshop with the cast and crew of the film Beasts of the Southern Wild, in the State Dining Room. The students, who were from Washington, DC and New Orleans, LA, got to talk with director Benh Zeitlin, actor Dwight Henry and the movie's 9-year-old star, Oscar-nominated actress Quvenzhané Wallis,  who stars as Hushpuppy. 

Mrs. Obama described the film as "beautiful, joyful and devastatingly honest," and praised its underlying message of strength and resilience:

 It's a movie that makes us all think deeply about the people we love in our lives who make us who we are. It shows us the strength of our communities, no matter what they look like.  It shows us that those communities can give us the power to overcome any kind of obstacles. And it also tells a compelling story of poverty and devastation, but also of hope and love in the midst of some great challenges.

So there are so many important lessons to learn in that little 93 minutes. That’s the other cool thing -- that a director and a set of writers and producers can say so much in just 93 minutes.  And it doesn’t always happen in a movie, quite frankly, but this one did it, and that’s why I love this movie so much and why our team wanted to bring it here to the White House and share it with all of you.

Related Topics: Inside the White House, Louisiana

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 13, 2013

Remarks by the First Lady at the Beasts of the Southern Wild Workshop

State Dining Room

11:07 A.M. EST
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Hi!  How is everybody?  You guys good?  Good morning! 
 
AUDIENCE:  Good morning.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  I am thrilled, beyond thrilled.  You guys excited to be here?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Was it a good movie?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Oh, wonderful.  I am so glad you all are here to help us celebrate Black History Month at the White House.  We're doing a bunch of stuff this month, but this is one of the highlights.  And we are thrilled to be here with you all.
 
I want to start by thanking Rachel Goslins for agreeing to moderate the workshop today.  Rachel is a member of the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.  And what that means is that her job is to connect all Americans, especially young people, to music, art, dance and film.  So thank you, Rachel, as always.  Thanks for all your hard work, and -- yes.  (Applause.) 
 
And, of course, I also want to thank our guests who are with us today -- Benh Zeitlin, Dwight Henry, and Quvenzhané -- my girl.  Did I say that right?  Did I get that right?  Quvenzhané Wallis for being here today.  Let's give them a round of applause.  (Applause.) 
 
But it's a special joy to have so many bright, smart and talented young people here.  You guys are looking good.  And I know that some of you have traveled all the way from New Orleans -- is that correct?  And many of you are here right from D.C., right in our neighborhood, our neighbors.  But let me tell you, no matter where you've come from or how far you traveled, we're just glad you're here today to watch what I consider to be one of the most powerful and important movies that has been put out this year -- or in a long time, quite frankly -- Beasts of the Southern Wild. 
 
And as I was telling the cast and the directors and the producers in the other room, I had the opportunity to watch this movie this summer with a large group of our friends and family.  And the ages ranged from three to 75 years old -- we had a big family.  But it's rare these days to find a movie that can so completely and utterly captivate such a broad audience, and that was one of the things that struck me about this movie.  It managed to be beautiful, joyful and devastatingly honest. 
 
It's a movie that makes us all think deeply about the people we love in our lives who make us who we are.  It shows us the strength of our communities, no matter what they look like.  It shows us that those communities can give us the power to overcome any kind of obstacles.  And it also tells a compelling story of poverty and devastation, but also of hope and love in the midst of some great challenges.
 
So there are so many important lessons to learn in that little 93 minutes.  That’s the other cool thing -- that a director and a set of writers and producers can say so much in just 93 minutes.  And it doesn’t always happen in a movie, quite frankly -- (laughter) -- but this one did it, and that’s why I love this movie so much and why our team wanted to bring it here to the White House and share it with all of you.
 
I am honored and grateful that the creators and actors of the movie have taken time to join us here today, particularly given their extremely busy schedules.  I mean, this is the high -- this is high season for film.  Benh, Dwight, and Quvenzhané -- did I get that right?  (Laughter.)  Do you have a nickname? 
 
MS. WALLIS:  A few.  (Laughter.) 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Okay.  None you're willing to share with me? 
 
MS. WALLIS:  Q.
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Q.  Can I call you Q?
 
MS. WALLIS:  Sure. 
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Okay.  (Laughter.)  They have been traveling all across the country promoting this movie and preparing for the Academy Awards in a couple of weeks.  Beasts of the Southern Wild is nominated for several awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actress.  And, Q, my girl, Q, here, is the youngest nominee?  Is that -- the youngest person ever to be nominated for an Academy Award, and that’s a very big accomplishment.  (Applause.) 
 
But despite all of the national and international attention these folks are getting, they have taken the time to be here with all of you to discuss this very important film today.  They are all amazing people in their own right with amazing stories, and, hopefully, they will get a chance to share some of their stories. 
 
But I know that Benh developed this movie without a huge budget.  This is not a multi-billion-dollar movie.  He didn’t have much, so he had to be really creative and resourceful in order to get this movie made.  So, hopefully, he will talk a little bit about how he got that done. 
 
And I don’t know if you all know the story -- the world knows it -- but Dwight never acted a day in his life.  Never.  Not one -- no plays, no pageants, no nothing.  (Laughter.)  Before he was cast for this movie, do you know what Dwight did?  He ran a bakery across the street from where the movie was being filmed, or where the auditions were taking place.  So that’s what he was doing before he did what you just saw.  He's also busy raising his five kids, who I hope to one day meet, as well.
 
So when they asked him to play the role of Wink, he had to think long and hard about it because he didn’t have the experience.  But in the end, he decided to take the risk.  And now, he is headed to the Oscars.  I mean, imagine.  That’s what happens in America when you're ready for stuff, right? 
 
And then Quvenzhané, as you know, was just five years old when she auditioned for the film -- just five, okay.  Imagine.  Now, she seems like a grown woman sitting up here.  (Laughter.)  And I understand she often acts like one.  (Laughter.)  But she was only five, so hopefully she will tell you a little bit about how a five year old learns those lines and learns how to take on the role of that character and to bring that character to life, which is why she has been nominated for an Academy Award.  It was very profound.  Amazing -- and it doesn’t happen often. 
 
So I think that we can all agree that she did an extraordinary job, as did everyone involved in this film.  So these folks worked hard to make this incredible film, and I hope that you all take full advantage of this time today -- do you hear me, young people?  Take full advantage of this time.  Ask lots of questions.  Don’t be shy.  I can't imagine that you all are shy, so don’t act like it in here just because you're in the White House.
 
Because we are all here today for you, and that’s what I -- we are here for you.  We did this for you.  This event is important to me not only because I love and believe in this film, but also because I deeply love and believe in all of you.  Do you understand that?  I deeply love and believe all of you and I haven't even met you.  But I know you're out there and I know your potential, I know your promise.  And I want to find every opportunity that I can to continue to find ways -- whatever ways we can to inspire kids like you all over this country to do amazing things.  That’s why we're doing this.  This is for you.
 
Because the truth is that I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I know that my husband, President Obama, wouldn’t be where he is today if he hadn't gotten that kind of inspiration from somebody in our lives.  We wouldn’t be who we are today without all those people who pushed us and believed in us and gave us opportunities to learn and grow and fulfill our potential.  We wouldn’t be here.
 
Like the characters in this movie, we know that our families and our communities gave us the love and support to go out and pursue our dreams.  But like Benh and Dwight and Quvenzhané, what I want you all to understand is that you have to do the work.  That’s my message:  You have to do the work.  We're not here because we didn’t do the work.  We all did the work. 
 
You all have to really be focused on preparing yourselves for the challenges and the opportunities that will lie ahead for all of you.  You've got to be prepared.  So that means you have to go to school.  Plain and simple.  Right now, your job -- as I tell Malia and Sasha -- is go to school.  No matter what is going on in your lives, you have to go to school and you have to do your homework every day -- every day.  That’s all you have to do.  That’s your job.
 
You have to prepare your minds and your bodies for greatness.  That’s how you have to think about it.  You're preparing yourself for greatness.  Because if Dwight wasn't ready, it wouldn’t have mattered what opportunity was waiting for him.  If he wasn't ready to take it, it would have passed him by.
 
So I want you all to understand that reading is important.  You have to read everything you get your hands on.  That’s one of the things that President Obama does -- he reads everything.  He reads all the time.  You have to read, read, and read again. 
 
And then I want you to think about everything you put in your body, the kind of foods you're eating.  Because if you're not eating healthy foods, you're not getting your mind or your heart ready for the greatness that lies ahead. 
 
And every day, I want you all to imagine who you are going to be.  That’s where it starts.  You have to think of who you want to be in your head every single day, and think of all the images and the people that you see -- whether it's me or Quvenzhané or Benh or the President. 
 
Think about who you want to be, and dream big.  Don’t aim low; aim high.  But then you have to get up every day and turn that dream into reality, and work towards being who you envision yourself to be in your head.  I still do that every day.  Every day I'm thinking about who I want to be and what I have to do every day; what kind of person I have to be, how honest and truthful and hardworking I have to be to achieve that image, that big, bold image I have of myself in my head.
 
That’s how me, the President, Benh, Dwight, Quvenzhané are doing what we're doing today.  That’s why we're up here.  And we know, absolutely know and expect nothing less from all of you, because we know you can be here, too.  That’s our expectation.  That’s the tradeoff of being here today, is that one day you'll be up here in some capacity doing some great thing.
 
So work hard.  Enjoy your time here today, and know that we love you all, okay?  Know that. 
 
I have to go, because they're going to have me do a bunch of more work.  (Laughter.)  But enjoy the discussion.  Rachel, I will turn things over to you so that you can continue to inspire these young people.
 
Thank you all for being here.  And thank you for all the teachers and staff and the folks who are working with these kids, the parents who are here today.  Thank you for your work, and enjoy. 
 
END
11:19 A.M. EST

The First Lady's Box at the 2013 State of the Union

Kasie Coccaro
Kasie Coccaro
February 12, 2013
02:28 PM EST

For nearly three decades, extraordinary Americans who exemplify the themes and ideals laid out in the State of the Union Address have been invited to join the First Lady in her viewing box. From students to teachers and innovators, to entrepreneurs and those serving in our armed forces – use the interactive feature below to learn more about the remarkable individuals who will join First Lady Michelle Obama for the 2013 State of the Union Address.

The First Lady's Box at the 2013 State of the Union

Check out WhiteHouse.gov/sotu for an enhanced viewing experience of President Obama's State of the Union address and check out opportunities to engage online with White House officials and even President Obama himself.

Learn more about the State of the Union:

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