Angelina Jolie Opens Up About Working with Maddox and Bringing Her Kids to TIFF

“Extra's” Jerry Penacoli went one-on-one with Angelina Jolie as she promoted her film, “First They Killed My Father” at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Oscar-winning actress looked stunning in an off the shoulder black Ralph & Russo dress as she opened up about directing, writing, and producing the film based on Loung Ung's memoir by the same name.

Angelina explained she waited until her eldest, Maddox, who is from Cambodia was ready to tell the story, which is about the Cambodian genocide.

“When I first read it, it really affected me, but I didn't think of making a film… Loung became a friend and we became girlfriends for 16 years.” They went on to co-write the screenplay together.

Jolie's kids now call Loung auntie. She added, “They love her, she is family, Loung and I wrote the script years ago and we talked about it being a film, but we said it really has to be about Maddox, he goes back to Cambodia often he knows what it is to be Cambodian, but to work for months and go this deep into the history, was going to be another level of understanding he had to be old enough to absorb it.”

Maddox, now 16, was an executive producer on the film, “He was amazing, he actually really impressed me, he had to earn it. I was able to say, you have a job, get over here, help me with this… I would say more notes, type it up, he was great.”

Maddox helped make the film relate to Cambodians from the perspective of a child, “He was able to say to me, I don't understand this, you have to make it clear.” She said, “He and Pax helped and did photography.”

Jolie brought all six of her children to the premiere and they spent time together during the festival, calling it, “Wonderful.” She went on, “They're having a great time. They are really close friends with the cast's kids, so while we are working they are trashing a hotel room.”

The 42-year old, who is dealing with a public divorce from Brad Pitt, simply said this about dealing with all the ups and downs, “You move on.”