HAIRSPRAY Questions answered here! (inevitable Spoilers)- Page 4

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:07pm

Jerry Stiller is definitely too old now to believably play the father of a teenage girl.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:23pm

Marc, the Hairspray movie is one hour and 37 minutes of unremitting excellence. The writing, performances, the band, the mix, everything is as good as it could be. Thanks not just for this great movie, but for the other couple of movie musical projects that will get greenlighted because of how well Hairspray will do.

Are we hearing you playing piano anywhere on the soundtrack?

Also, this is more of a technical question and I realize you weren't present for much of the actual filming... but, when the scene with Christopher Walken and the improvised mattress was filmed, did they mean to make me scream?

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:30pm

Marc - can we expect some sort of, for lack of a better term 'directors cut' or lengthier version of Hairspray on DVD?

With all the lil cut scenes and goodies back in. Like the longer lead in to 'Welcome to the 60's' with the hoola hoop girls and the mod girls, 'It Takes Two' (if it was filmed) Edna telling off the cop, Little Inez during 'Baltimore Crabs', 'I Can Wait', and all that jazz.

or do you and the filmakers look at something like a longer DVD release as being disrespectful to the final cut and released film version?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:41pm

Marc, you strike me as someone who would drive from city to city, county to county, just to see the movie again and again with different audiences.

Be honest, am I gonna see you at the Commack Multiplex tonight?

A terrific, crowd pleasing film. I've never seen an audience so enthused.

PS: Is that you and Scott with Rikki Lake as the talent agents?


Updated On: 7/21/07 at 02:41 PM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:45pm

In the lyrics to I CAN HEAR THE BELLS in the CD booklet, it has Penny's dialouge listed, but it's not heard. Was that listed to let you know she says those lines or were they recorded then taken out?

that Penny dialogue discrepancy got past us! Since we didn't use that dialogue on the CD, I guess we should have lost it from the lyrics. BUSTED

Link was to sing a song on the 'Miss Teenage Hairspray Pageant' (By the way, can I just say how cute is Zac's lil southern accent when he says "pageant" and throughout the rest of the movie if you listen for it.)

Anyway- Link was to sing for the agents (you) SO, my question is- what would Link have sung? and can you give us the chorus?

Mateo, you have clearly lost your mind.

1) There was never a plan for Link to sing for the agents

2) Zac is from the Santa Barbara California area so, that Southern accent you think you hear is clearly the alcohol you've been consuming all weekend!



(note: I realized I misread Mateo's question. He is still insane though.) Updated On: 7/22/07 at 02:45 PM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:47pm

Why didn't jerry Stiller play Wilbur?

yes, Jerry Stiller is a tad old for the role of Wilbur

Are we hearing you playing piano anywhere on the soundtrack?

yes, I played on a few things here and there, I KNOW WHERE I'VE BEEN being the only complete song I can remember playing the entire piano part on.

Updated On: 7/22/07 at 02:47 PM

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:50pm

Whose idea was it to make John Waters the flasher? I don't think he could have been given a more perfect cameo.

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:52pm

can we expect some sort of, for lack of a better term 'directors cut' or lengthier version of Hairspray on DVD?

With all the lil cut scenes and goodies back in. Like the longer lead in to 'Welcome to the 60's' with the hoola hoop girls and the mod girls, 'It Takes Two' (if it was filmed) Edna telling off the cop, Little Inez during 'Baltimore Crabs', 'I Can Wait', and all that jazz.

or do you and the filmakers look at something like a longer DVD release as being disrespectful to the final cut and released film version?

I think those will appear as "cut scenes" but not IN the film

I can tell you the Edna telling off the cop for treating her differently than the black woman in the paddy wagon was fabulous, and I pleased with Adam to put it back in, but he felt the flow was better with how he had it. I am glad you will get to see that scene, Travolta is great


Marc, you strike me as someone who would drive from city to city, county to county, just to see the movie again and again with different audiences.

Be honest, am I gonna see you at the Commack Multiplex tonight?


TOTALLY BUSTED. I WOULD drive across USA to go to every theatre, but only to make sure the sound is correct.

I went last night to see it at Union Square here in NYC, and it was TOO FU**ING SOFT! And the 5.1 sound did not seem properly aligned. And it was the first time I sat with an audience that, though clearly enjoying it, did not applaud after songs and stuff like that. New Line is actually getting the word out RIGHT AWAY to theatres to play it at the level we SENT IT.

PLEASE, tell the theatre managers to crank it! It is supposed to be played at what the theatre sound trade calls "7". (I of course, wish it went to, a la Spinal Tap, "11")



Updated On: 7/22/07 at 02:52 PM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 2:53pm

Whose idea was it to make John Waters the flasher? I don't think he could have been given a more perfect cameo.

I do believe it was Adam who came up with the idea of John Waters' perfect cameo. Yay!!
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 02:53 PM

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:01pm

Last night I had a dream. I work at a movie theatre (even in real life) and in the dream I was, for some reason, transferred to another branch. They had carpeting in the break room. Anyway, in the break room, where they store employee posters, I was deciding whether or not to take a Hairspray poster. Then I heard a voice behind me, "Take the poster. Always take the poster."

It was Shaiman in his FAME BECOMES ME gown - although he looked like Woo. Go figure.

Anyway, can't wait to see it. And for free (sorry)!

[Becky]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:06pm

I really love the "Mama" trio - and I was wondering if they filmed anything when the three girls recorded for the DVD extras?
Updated On: 7/21/07 at 03:06 PM

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:10pm

Just got back from seeing it. COMPLETELY mind-blowing. I had to pick up little pieces of my brain and skull up off of the floor afterwards.

This isn't really a question, but this is more of a statement. You TRULY know what you're doing when it comes to making musicals for the screen. So many movie musicals nowadays just completely fail because they're in the false belief that whatever works on the stage MUST work on the screen. This film COMPLETELY avoided the common pitfalls and the common missteps that so many other musical films easily fall into. It was so energetic that I thought it was going to fly completely off the screen. This was completely amazing, good sir. I think the last time I felt this way about a movie musical was........well.........SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER, & UNCUT! :)

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:10pm

1) There was never a plan for Link to sing for the agents

2) Zac is from the Santa Barbara California area so, that Southern accent you think you hear is clearly the alcohol you've been consuming all weekend!



NO!! I know that! I just wanted you to make up a song. :)

and Zac is from San Luis Obispo, CA... I meant that he PUT ON a southern accent for Link, and you can't tell me otherwise -you can clearly hear it when he talks to Tracy in Maybelle's.

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:16pm

and it's not really southern-

its just Link trying to be Elvis- But. Its. There.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:21pm

Thanks for this cool feature! It's like the Carol Burnett Q&A section.

(expecting the "Who's Carol Burnett?" question)

Anywhoo. just wondering about your new songs and what may (or maybe will) happen when they "not so legally" find their way into a high school production of Hairspray. I assume there will be sheet music with the new songs?

Would you be flattered or more angry if/when you hear about that happening?

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:42pm

When is MTI going to officially release the rights to everyone for hairspray!? PLEASE ANSWER THIS ONE

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:43pm

I have put on so many illegal productions of Hairspray it's like not even funny.

Of course they are all one-man/woman shows.

But I get good reviews.



I wish I was kidding - but I actually have for about 15 people on a High School stage.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:49pm

a cast of 15 people?

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:54pm

an audience of 15. It was something I started doing while on a break from painting a set- and wound up doing the whole show.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 3:57pm

ok....

[the_gambler3]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 4:09pm

"I went last night to see it at Union Square here in NYC, and it was TOO FU**ING SOFT! And the 5.1 sound did not seem properly aligned. And it was the first time I sat with an audience that, though clearly enjoying it, did not applaud after songs and stuff like that. New Line is actually getting the word out RIGHT AWAY to theatres to play it at the level we SENT IT."

Ack, so true! Saw it at AMC Empire 25 on 42nd street last night and I thought it was too soft. Much lower volume than the trailer right before it. I hope they're blasting it when I see it again over the weekend.

Oh, and by the way... best movie ever! Applause after almost every number & people watched the credits all the way till that little strings snippet you put right at the very end :)

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 4:15pm

when I watched it last night - I thought the sound was low- and then half way through "Come So Far" the speakers went to a full sound...

I was a lil peeved.

[tomemiller]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 4:31pm

Marc,

I'm glad that you brought up the topic of "soft" sound because I felt that there was something wrong with the sound when I saw a preview last week in Florida. Knowing that I was taking 18 coworkers to see the film on Friday, I called the theatre manager prior to the screening to confirm that this problem wouldn't happen again. Although it was better it really wasn't the 5.1 Surround Sound experience I expected. Now that I know the magic number is "7" I will try again! Thank you so much for bringing so much joy to so many!

Updated On: 7/21/07 at 04:31 PM

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 4:50pm

Some of my fav pieces of the Score:

Of course the vamp to 'Good Morning Baltimore.'

The lead up to 'Nicest Kids in Town.'

The lil ditty that plays when Motormouth and Velma are getting ready... Is it like a mix of 'Big Blonde Beautiful' and 'Baltimore Crabs'? Whatever it is, i love it! So sultry and devilish when it hits Velma.

I also love the tail end of 'Baltimore Crabs' as Tracy enters the school. Even though we dont get the Lil Inez portion- the music works so well as Tracy sneaks in to her desk.

and the last lil jingle before the credits end.

Iam sure there are TONS of treasures throughout the score- that will only be revealed with more viewings.

Updated On: 7/21/07 at 04:50 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 4:52pm

Marc,
First of all, THANK YOU and CONGRATULATIONS!!! As for your concern about how the movie is being shown in various locations, you may want to check the theater in Battery Park City (I forget the name). I saw it there yesterday, and their copy was all jumbled up. Scenes were jumping around cutting in and out of sequence (I've seen it again since, so I know my observation is correct). I tried to tell the theater manager, but he didn't seem to believe me.

Now, for my questions:

1) What are your realistic expectations for box office take this first weekend?

2) I missed it in the credits, but was the nurse in I Can Hear The Bells actually a guy in drag?