Camila Cabello to play Maria in Spielberg's WSS? — Page 2

People have like no imagination. If she auditioned for Anita and got Maria, maybe they saw something in her audition that screamed Maria to them. Just because we only normally see Cabello wearing late 2010s clothing and style with her stage demeanor doesn't mean she's not capable of toning those things down and showcasing Maria's qualities. I bet with different make-up and hair styling, she'll look a lot different from those pics. I do think she probably won't sing the score as written but maybe they're going for. Maybe they want a sound that resonates a bit more with what people are listening to now so long as Cabello is a soprano and doesn't belt the songs. I wonder if Cabello has a much better voice than the way she chooses to sing her pop songs but that remains to be seen. Also, this thread is bringing out the darkside of BWW again. Sierra can hit some high notes, but she is wrong for Maria in every other conceivable way. I still remember that horrific accent she did for a concert. She does not carry herself in anyway as Maria.

Updated On: 8/7/18 at 07:08 PM

GeorgeandDot said: "The role requires a classical soprano, which Cabello is not, therefore she is wrong for the part. Anita is much more suited to her skills. I was hoping they'd go for an unknown for both of the leads. There are some wonderful latin girls out there that could sing and act the part better. It's not that she doesn't look like a Maria because she does, but I think she could also look like Anita and that role would better suit her voice and dancing."

I do agree with you, but I bet they're "adapting" the score sort of like Sweeney Todd (ugh). Some people prefer that as they think stage singing is too much for a film these days. As much as we bitch about the Les Miz film, it was a huge hit and regular people who aren't Broadway purists like us loved the singing (except for Crowe). I think they're going to go for a more modern sound with the singing. I remember in 8th grade, we watched West Side Story and none of the kids in my class could stand Marni Nixon's singing. Even now, people my age aren't accustomed to hearing something clasically sung and they claim they can't understand the lyrics.

Anyway, from the reports, Spielberg's vision is to have a more "realistic" look to WSS so that should give us a hint for what he's going for. I bet all the singing will be more grounded and less theatrical and maybe the dancing will be "adapted" too which is what some even here wanted.

Updated On: 8/7/18 at 07:19 PM

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: " Some people prefer that as they think stage singing is too much for a film these days. As much as we bitch about the Les Miz film, it was a huge hit and regular people who aren't Broadway purists like us loved the singing (except for Crowe). I think they're going to go for a more modern sound with the singing. I remember in 8th grade, we watched West Side Story and none of the kids in my class could stand Marni Nixon's singing. Even now, people my age aren't accustomed to hearing something clasically sung and they claim they can't understand the lyrics."

This is a big problem and misunderstanding in musical moviemaking nowadays.

The les Mis film created a disconnect between acting and singing, resulting in insincere singing and insincere acting. It was acting in spite of song instead of acting through song.

In interviews I hear Tom Hooper always saying, well, the original was more operatic but this is more raw and real. NO. It is not. It is less raw and real. All stage Valjeans I have seen gave a much more real and filmic performance by singing "now come on ladies, setlle down" or "there is something I must do" and kept the last word short. Jackman held the note operatically for 10 seconds. That is "fake soap-operatic". It's this disconnect that is the problem.

Speaking 4 words an use a long vibrato on the 5th is not the solution, toning down the singing to apologize for the artform is also not the solution. You can't apologize for singing in the first 4 words and then exaggerate the 5th and expect the audience to accept it as natural and you can't constantly switch between 2 artforms in one line and expect the audience to switch with you all the time. The singing and the acting will feel out of place.

The real solution is real truthful singing. The notes and written melodies are actors too.

It is a real shame that we expose the new generation to this lame material and train them to not recognize quality, it is a downward spiral. Of course kids from today will only understand and recognize a hoarse, skimpy, moaning Maria, but isn't it nicer to show them how it also could be?

Anyway, here is a good clip of sincerity in acting through song and it shows exactly why the les Mis film is a failure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4NNlEPraKo

Updated On: 8/7/18 at 09:30 PM

I can see why producers want them though. They are the ones putting up the money for these projects and regular people who may potentially shell out the bucks to watch this movie don't seem to care about Cabello being the right voice type for the score as originally written have been pushing for her to be cast online for a while and it's been written in mainstream publications.

EVERY critic ever has made fun of the vocal performances in Les Miz and Mamma MIa. So, no, I don't think these two titles needed stars. Did we need Pearce Bronson to sound horrible? Did we we need an awful Crowe in Les Miz? We did not. Camila Cabello is a TERRIBLE actress. So they're wrong.

RippedMan said: "EVERY critic ever has made fun of the vocal performances in Les Miz and Mamma MIa. So, no, I don't think these two titles needed stars. Did we need Pearce Bronson to sound horrible? Did we we need an awful Crowe in Les Miz? We did not. Camila Cabello is a TERRIBLE actress. So they're wrong."

Previous generations had stars like Julie Andrews in many movie musicals and we have Amanda Seyfried.

This generation might go down in history like a joke. These movies too.

RippedMan said: "EVERY critic ever has made fun of the vocal performances in Les Miz and Mamma MIa. So, no, I don't think these two titles needed stars. Did we need Pearce Bronson to sound horrible? Did we we need an awful Crowe in Les Miz? We did not. Camila Cabello is a TERRIBLE actress. So they're wrong."

Has she acted before?

None of us have ANY idea about her acting or even her soprano abilities. Just because we've heard her sing one way (and maybe that way is the core of what she does) means nothing about what is within the realm of possibility for her voice. If no one has ever seen her act, can we really say she's a terrible actress?

That being said, I do agree that I would've wanted a newcomer for Maria, but I'm not going to trash Cabello for no reason. I'm always one to root for the newcomer from the open call...

Dave28282 said: "This generation might go down in history like a joke."

Such an ignorant statement.

My opinion is based on her live performances. There's a quality to a live performance, and she seems...distant. And not the quality I'd think you'd want for a Maria. I do not like WSS. I think it's boring. I think the characters are boring. So, I'm not the biggest fan of the project in general. Nor do I think it will be any kind of a success.

Yes, I understand Hollywood is a business. But I think people are a little naive when they think about movie stars. Did anyone go to Les Miz because they are a so-and-so fan? I don't know. I don't think so. I love Streep, but have I seen all her movies: no! I guess I'm maybe different in that way.

I'm just waiting for Efron to be Tony. Barf.

I highly doubt this is true. A friend of mine has been going through the callback process for the role of Maria. She has an upcoming callback that has yet to be canceled. Why would they be continuing to have her audition for a role that has already been cast?