Upside-Down Magic: Disney Channel’s New Movie Taps Into the Supernatural
Imagine a world where one can manifest popcorn on demand, turning kernels into a buttery snack with a simple flick of the wrist. Here, a person also morphs into a Dritten (a cat/dragon hybrid), while another sings to animals to control their behavior. These are just a few of the magical elements featured in Disney Channel’s Upside-Down Magic, the network’s latest addition to a roster of iconic “DCOMs.” The original flick—reminiscent of Harry Potter at several points in the plot—follows two best friends on their adventures at the Sage Academy for Magical Studies, where the duo is instantly separated upon being assigned to their appropriate house. Reina (Siena Agudong) is placed in the prestigious faction of Flares who can ignite flames, while Nory (Izabela Rose) is trapped in a basement with fellow UDMs, the school’s group of outliers. Reina finds herself facing a challenge of her own: her body is taken over by the Shadow Monster, and it will consume the entire school if UDMs can’t stop it. Yasmeen Fletcher—who plays Chandra, the student that introduces Reina to her darker powers—provides a behind-the-scenes peek at the magic (or special effects) that went into the making of the film.
What was the audition process like for Upside-Down Magic?
It was a whirlwind. By the time I auditioned, there wasn’t much time left to cast the role, so everything moved quickly. My first audition went insanely well, and I was happy with the positive feedback I got from the casting directors. I got a callback and producers’ session and had to wait to hear back. Right after that, we went on vacation for a week and had to pack my passport and extra clothes in case we needed to go to Canada [to film] on a moment’s notice. I'm glad we did because I ended up getting a call the following Thursday from my manager saying that I had booked the role. I got on a plane at 6 p.m. that day! It was a crazy experience.
Describe the first day on set.
The first day on set was technically for the table read. It was surreal because the day before, I was on vacation in Santa Cruz with my family, having no clue I'd be a part of a Disney movie the next day. It was also my first-ever table read, so it all felt like a dream. In the elevator, on my way up to the table read, I met Siena. It was a weird moment because we both realized at the same time that it wasn't the first time we had met, nor was it the first movie we had filmed together.
Who were some of your favorite cast members to work with, and why?
Because of who Chandra is, all of my scenes were basically with Reina and Reina only. That being said, it was amazing to work with Siena. We clicked on an extreme level, so it was easy to perform with her. When we were filming the final manipulation scene between Chandra and Reina, it started getting really late. I was frustrated with myself, but Siena was so comforting and told me how well I was doing and that we were both just getting tired. I love her to death, and anyone who gets to work with her is incredibly lucky.
Was it difficult working with special effects? How did the team help the “magic” come to life?
It actually wasn't too difficult for me. I heard more effort required for some of my castmates because there were many special effects involved in their scenes. I was told the scenes with the Shadow Monster were difficult. They had to pretend they were fighting a monster that wasn't there, which I’m sure was really awkward. The scenes I was in, however, were mostly conversational. The special effects used in the scenes with Reina and me had nothing to do with us, more so the other Flares in the scene. But the team behind the camera always made us aware of where the special effects would be, and they helped us feel as comfortable as possible.
What was your favorite scene to film, and why?
Despite it being one of the most challenging scenes, the last one with Reina was definitely my favorite to film. The camera and a fan were set up on this cool circular track to create the shot. Walking in and seeing the setup in action was insane. Of course, my hair didn’t want to cooperate with the fan, but we figured everything out in the end! It was also just a really fun scene to act out.
What was the most challenging part of tapping into your character?
Chandra was a complicated character. I had to figure out how, exactly, she would get what she wanted out of Reina. The most challenging part was getting that manipulation down. I wanted to be enticing and convincing, so I put the most effort into that.
What lesson do you hope viewers of the movie will take away?
The movie provides the audience with a sense of pride and joy in that they can be exactly who they are, and that’s more than okay. The UDMs don’t fit in the way that Sage Academy wants them to, and they‘re called “wrong” and “wonky.” But they prove that even though their magic is different than everyone else’s, they‘re still capable of succeeding at Sage (and maybe even saving the day). Every person should know that they‘re valid and worthy. No matter how different you’re perceived to be, you aren’t lesser than anyone else. You’re perfect the way you are!
Follow Yasmeen on Social Media:
Instagram: @yasmeenfletcher
Twitter: @yasmeenfletcher
Snapchat: @meena_fletcher