From Rebecca Murray,
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As a former film executive at Warner Bros. and 20th Century Fox, Clifford Werber worked on such critically acclaimed films as "Braveheart" and "Trainspotting." Now with the teen romantic comedy, "A Cinderella Story," Werber finds himself serving as a producer for the first time.

Along with director Mark Rosman, Werber did a lot of research prior to starting work on their updated version of the classic Cinderella fairy tale. In attendance at the World Premiere of "A Cinderella Story" starring Hilary Duff and Chad Michael Murray, Rosman and Werber discussed what they learned from talking with high schoolers and how they adapted the fairy tale for today's teens.

INTERVIEW WITH DIRECTOR MARK ROSMAN:

You directed Hilary Duff in this movie, and you're doing it again for her next film. What’s it like directing Hilary Duff?
I’ve done it again and I did it before this movie. I directed 11 episodes of “Lizzie McGuire,” the TV show. She was just this dream. I worked with her before she was known and I saw her bloom from this sweet 12 year old to this very sweet 16 ½ year old who is this multi-famous, talented actress. It’s been a dream to work with her. After “A Cinderella Story,” we just wrapped shooting two weeks ago on “The Perfect Man” with Heather Locklear.

What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in her?
The way she relates to people has not changed. That’s been the most surprising thing. She is as giving and generous and sweet and grounded as she was when she was 13. Her acting ability has really developed. She brings much more to the part now. She asks questions and really dissects the role and brings parts of her and parts of what she’s seen in life to the roles. She really contributes now.

Having directed her so many times before, do you bring something different out in her than another director would?
Yeah, I mean I know all of her physical quirks and all of her strengths and her weaknesses. We just have a very simple rapport where I can just easily say, “Remember this?…” She goes, “Ah, yeah, I got it.”

The rumors and gossip surrounding all these teen stars can be very vicious. As someone who knows her well, do you hear stuff about her that really makes you angry?
Just sometimes I hear, “She’s really mean,” and she really isn’t.

INTERVIEW WITH PRODUCER CLIFFORD WERBER:

It was your idea to update the classic fairy tale. How did you come up with the idea?
You know, it was actually a long time ago – back in ’92, I think – when I was working at Fox and [there was a project] called “Clueless” in turnaround at Paramount and I thought, “What a good idea to contemporize some of these classic stories.” I got the broad strokes of the idea. I just felt the story was popular as a marketing hook but also if you could draw some comedic and contemporary parallels that are both funny and resonating with kids today. And [with] this film, the notion of kids figuratively wearing masks actually really rings for kids.

Mark and I were doing research before the movie even started pre-production and we went to high schools in the valley just to talk to kids and see what they wear and what music they are listening to. There was a young girl there and not knowing what our movie was about, just talking about high school life, she said to us, “You know, I get the feeling kids really aren’t themselves. They all put on facades, almost like they’re wearing masks.” And that’s what the movie – if it’s about anything more than just a fun comedy – it’s about what kids go through because of peer pressure and parental pressure.

It sounds like parents might relate to this movie as much as teens.
Oh absolutely.

How do you sell this movie when there’s other teen movies out there in theaters?
Hilary Duff. Hilary and Chad [Michael Murray] obviously help (laughing). I think the title actually helps. In trying to get the movie made over a period of nine years, everybody thought the title was so predictable. It hurt in a way, but certainly the movie’s proven itself. It has enough twists and turns and the [comedy] is clever. The dropped cell phone… If you can make it clever then I think the movie sells itself, apart from Hilary in the film, because it works. It worked with test audiences. It worked for kids up to 20 years old. I think it works for older people. There’s a line in the movie that Dan Byrd’s character says at the very end of the movie, “You’ve got to love high school.” And I think that when a 50 year old year hears that line by that moment in the emotionality of the movie, we all smile. You’ve got to love high school.

What’s up next for you?
I have another one of these that we’ll probably do with Warner Bros.

Another teen movie?
I don’t know – it wasn’t intentional. I didn’t decide to be ‘the teen movie producer’ but it seems to be working out that way. I love it.

ADDITIONAL INTERVIEWS FROM THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "A CINDERELLA STORY:"
Hilary Duff & Jennifer Coolidge / Madeline Zima & Simon Helburg / Brad Bufanda & Kady Cole
Special Premiere Guests: Jason Ritter / Brie Larson / Courtney & Ashley Peldon