When Samoan Cherelle Fruean attended the Moana live action premiere in New York City, she expected to capture content for Coconet TV. Instead, she walked away with an exclusive interview and a memorable exchange with Hollywood star Seiuli Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Fruean, who had travelled to the United States for work, attended the premiere in Washington Heights alongside Tongan friend Veronica Pome'e as representatives of Coconet TV.
Armed with only their mobile phones and a small microphone attached to an 'ili, the pair took their place at the end of a crowded press line alongside international media outlets including People magazine and the New York Post.
"They had all these big media companies with their professional setups, and we just had our phones and a little microphone," Fruean told the Samoa Observer.
Everything changed when event organisers realised they were the only Pacific media representatives on the blue carpet. The pair were escorted to the front of the media line, where Johnson greeted them warmly.
