Auli’i Cravalho Reveals Tina Fey’s ‘Power Move’ on Mean Girls Set: ‘Everyone Quiets Down’ (Exclusive)

Tina Fey ran a tight ship on the set of the new movie Mean girls film, according to star Auli’i Cravalho.

In an exclusive chat with PEOPLE, the 23-year-old actress, who portrays the character Janis in the new movie musical adaptation, talks about how Fey, 53, used a “power move” while the film was in production.

“Tina Fey speaks very quietly on set, which is actually a powerful move, because everyone leans in and shuts up to listen to her,” Cravalho says of Saturday night live alum, who reprises her role as Mrs. Norbury in the film.

“I thought it was a boss move and I’ll take it with me,” she continues. “It was great to see women in power.”

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Tina Fey in the new ‘Mean Girls’.

Jojo Whilden/Paramount

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According to Jaquel Spivey, who plays Janis’ best friend Damian in the film, Fey told the duo to “have fun” while filming the project.

“Tina told us to be who we are and make these characters our own, have fun and believe that we were chosen for a reason,” Spivey, 25, tells PEOPLE.

“For me personally, her whole demeanor, the way she carries herself on set is a big lesson in itself,” adds Avantika, who portrays Karen Shetty, about Fey. “She really is the epitome of an amazing woman in this industry, who really leads with kindness and brilliance and an incredible work ethic, and she’s incredibly talented.”

“As someone who has always aspired to be a producer and go beyond acting in this industry, she is truly admirable in every sense of the word,” he continues.

The ‘Wicked Girls’ poster.

Paramount Pictures

New Mean girls the film comes nearly 20 years after Fey’s original film premiered in theaters in April 2004.

Mean girls starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert. Lohan (37) played Cady, a high school student who immigrated to the United States from Africa.

Then he is introduced to the complexities of social hierarchy in high school when he meets young queen bees Karen Smith (Seyfried), Gretchen Wieners (Chabert) and their leader, Regina George (McAdams) — a trio known as The Plastics.

The new movie musical stars Angourie Rice as Cady, Renée Rapp as Regina (reprising her Broadway role), Avantika as Karen and Bebe Wood as Gretchen.

Jaquel Spivey, Angourie Rice and Auli’i Cravalho in ‘Mean Girls’.

Jojo Whilden/Paramount

How to watch Mean girlsincluding where it will be available for streaming

On finding an updated cast of stars for the new adaptation, Fey — who wrote the film while Arturo Perez Jr. and Samantha Jayne directed — tells PEOPLE, “Getting the cast together is one of my favorite parts of the process, whether it’s on film, television or stage.”

“I love getting the chance to be a part of it,” she continues. “I am so thrilled with this cast that has come together for the new film Mean girls.”

“They’re all so incredibly charismatic,” Fey adds of the cast, which also includes Jon Hamm as Coach Carr, Jenna Fischer as Cady’s mom and Busy Philipps as Regina’s mom. Mean girls currently playing in theaters.

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Source: HIS Education