More Dreamgirls Movie news

[GhettoBway]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:50pm

Found this in my fax from my agent.

NOVEMBER 2005

(Los Angeles, CA) -
ASAP
Title: DREAMGIRLS. CAST, Beyonce Knowles; PROD, Laurence Mark; DIR/SCR, Bill Condon. Shoot Dates: November, 2005 (in Los Angeles).
Breakdown--

Curtis: 30’s-40’s. A handsome, charismatic African-American Cadillac salesman, he has a keen appreciation of R&B music and an intrinsic sense of what sells. Imbued with a dream, Curtis takes over the management of Jimmy Early’s career and later oversees the ascent of the Dreams to superstardom. Initially warm and approachable, years later Curtis becomes a domineering kingpin, hardened by wealth and power - not to mention his sordid and unethical business practices.

Must Sing.
Lead; Effie White: First seen in her late teens, this vibrant young African-American woman is as oversized in talent as she is in person. Driven and often full of herself, Effie is the true powerhouse in the group, a soaring singer whose voice overpowers and transcends Deena’s and Lorrell’s. Smitten with Curtis from the beginning, Effie is overcome with anger and jealousy when she senses his growing attraction to Deena. Effie should be full-figured but not obese and her size carries with it a true sense of sexuality.

Must Sing. Lead; Lorrell Robinson: First seen at age 17, Lorrell is a sexy, flirtatious African-American girl from the projects of Detroit who has been singing with her best friends Deena and Effie for years. Lorrell carries on an uneven affair with Jimmy Early, a singing star who refuses to leave his wife for Lorrell. Upset by the commotion in the group caused by the temperamental Effie, Lorrell is even more disturbed by her nowhere affair and ultimately announces that she’s leaving Jimmy for good. She later has cause to regret her actions. Must Sing and have comedic instincts.

Lead; Marty Madison: 50’s +. A street-savvy African-American man, he’s Jimmy’s longtime manager who oversaw Jimmy’s ascent from singing for pennies on the street to stardom. Marty represents the faded age of the chitlin’ circuit and broken down vaudeville houses. When Curtis happens upon the scene with new ideas, Marty refuses to change with the times and ultimately quits Jimmy’s employ. Later he oversees Effie’s comeback bid.

Lead; Wayne: 40’s, African-American. A Cadillac salesman who works with Curtis, Wayne is a trusted associate who comes to work at Rainbow Records during the early days. He remains by Curtis’ side as they rise from rags to riches. Later, even the loyal Wayne is disturbed by Curtis’ increasingly unethical behavior.

Must Sing; Magic: 7-9, a pretty African American. She’s Effie’s daughter. Curtis is her father, although Effie has never informed either one of them of that fact. Initially embarrassed by her big and awkward mom, Magic is later moved to admiration and awe by her mother’s transcendent talent;

Teddy Campbell: 10, a shy but ambitious African-American boy. He’s an up-and-coming pop star whose family group, the Campbell Connection, is the hottest act in the business. Teddy models his moves and flair on his idol,Deena. Must Sing and Dance.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:56pm

Saw this...

They are obviously adding the roles of Magic, Effie and Curtis' daughter and a Michael Jackson type kid for Deena to discover. Not sure I am happy about that. It is enough like the Supreme's already and there is no need to add more parallels.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 2:59pm

Oh please! They are writing songs for the CHILDREN? Please tell me this is a hoax. My anticipation for this movie is flagging by the minute.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:15pm

Why dont they just call the charactor.. Mitchell Johnnsson

and they could call it the Johnnsson Five or something. LOL

[uncageg]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:19pm

Oh please...just say it isn't so! I mean didn't they deny that this was the Supreme's story when the show first opened on B'way? And now this? No doubt some stupid movie exec's suggestion/decision.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:29pm

Yes its interesting that the film is evolving into a more thinly veiled telling of the Supremes story. Already I have heard radio announcers and even the usually fairly accurate IMDB say Beyonce is playing "Diana Ross."

I actually don't think the film is going to be that different then the play, but its perhaps easier to market and sell the film if you throw in the Supremes analogy.

[Plum]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:50pm

Sorry, I just have to interject- if IMDB is "fairly accurate," this must be Bizarro World. IMDB's WENN news blurbs are completely untrustworthy.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:54pm

I have no idea about their news stories, but IMDB's cast lists for films is usually fairly accurate.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 3:59pm

Aren't The Dreams supposed to be from Chicago?

[GhettoBway]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:01pm

What is Condon doing? Updated On: 5/2/05 at 04:01 PM

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:29pm

Here's a link to another article discussing possible Effie's. They are pro Jennifer Hudson
http://bv.channel.aol.com/entmain/buzz_canvas?id=20050502070909990001

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:32pm

Oh, and here's a link to Jennifer's Online Diary where she talks about the possiblities of playing Effie. She mentions Fantasia, which is interesting.


Jennifer's Diary

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:51pm

I doubting the validity of Jennifer's "diary".

1.) She spells the world "role" as "roll". Could she honestly not be spelling the word correctly?

2.) If Bill Condon already had her in mind then why would she need someone to write an article about her to put her name in the movie producers minds? Obviously the director knows about her.

I'm still pulling for her to get the "roll" though.

[sweetiedarlinmia]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 5:53pm

Why do I feel that the original show is going to be but a faint memory when this is all over... Now we have singing children...This is not helping the heartburn this is causing me.

I was listening to the Concert recording and thinking, don't cut ANY of these songs!!! I'm too attached to them all.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 7:57pm

I won't believe any of this until I see more reliable proof/sources . Too many people on the internet making up rumours about so many things it's hard to take things at just face value. That's just the way I feel about it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:12pm

I thought Capathia Jenkins had been announced for Effie?

[apdarcey]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:15pm

so this means deena, jimmy and cc have already been cast. i'm assuming that's beyonce, eddie murphy and usher respectively?

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:17pm

Marquise, I wasn't insinuating that Jennifer was going to play Effie. I was just putting information out there about Jennifer Hudson. About Jennifer's diary...

1)It is real as far as it's her writing it. It's from her official website. Charge the misspelling to her being "ignant" and not having anybody editing her posts. She has spelled a lot of things wrong in the past as well.

2) In refrence to the bit about Bill Condon. I took it as the reporter (Jawn Murray) was telling Jennifer Hudson that Bill Condon said she would be perfect for the role. So, that part would be on Jawn not Jennifer, if it's not true. And just because Bill Condon may want her (if he in fact did say that) doesn't mean that the studio wants her. So, it may be an issue of Jennifer needing to campaign to get the big wigs to see her in the "roll." This may explain why she "needed" to have the article written about her even though "Bill Condon thinks she's perfect for it." I don't know if any of this is true, but it's a possibility so their comments have not been completely discredited yet.

[GovernorSlaton]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:19pm

D, that was an April Fool's joke, though it was a month early...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 8:21pm

A little search just showed that the article announcing Capathia was an April Fools joke - as if I didn't hate all that nonsense enough already.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:25pm

That joke was mean.

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:30pm

They haven't begun to cast the role of "Effie" yet. They have a list of names and are also holding auditions.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:30pm

That's why I wrote what I wrote. Too much *stuff* (and you know what *stuff* I'm talking about) is floating in the bowl. I'd be more interested if it came directly from a studio press release and on Dreamworks letterhead.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:40pm

Actually, I'm liking all the speculation. It keeps the hopes of my dream cast alive. I've got one down so far!

[CapnHook]

Posted: 5/3/05 at 12:42pm

Exactly. Any "name" that is given in an article, from Playbill.com, Variety, the Associated Press, etc. means the "name" is POSSIBLY being CONSIDERED for the role. Sometimes, the press uses the term "IN NEGOTIATIONS." This doesn't mean others are also IN NEGOTIATIONS.

Until there is an official press release from the studio, it is not confirmed.

Beyonce, Usher, and Eddie Murphy are ATTACHED to the film at the moment - but contracts have not been signed. The roles ARE theirs - but not yet officially.