HAIRSPRAY Questions answered here! (inevitable Spoilers)- Page 6

[DefyingEDCT]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 5:40pm

Would you do anything different the second time around?
.. would you make changes to the movie if you could

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 5:44pm

Question: Is it too soon to start a push for a supporting actor Oscar nom for agent #4?

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 5:46pm

LOL. What were the hardest changes to accept from the stage show to the movie?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 5:55pm

QUESTION: What was the craft service like on the set?

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 6:05pm

Would you do anything different the second time around? would you make changes to the movie if you could

there are pretty insignificant musical arrangement things I would still tweak, but I think it came out pretty well as is!


Is it too soon to start a push for a supporting actor Oscar nom for agent #4?

The Oscar campaign for William Morris Agent #4 has already kicked into high gear. It's just that no one is listening

What were the hardest changes to accept from the stage show to the movie?

nothing was too hard to change. We wanted to try to make a great movie, not be stubborn and short sighted.

What was the craft service like on the set?

mmmm, craft service! one word: TWIZZLERS!
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 06:05 PM

[Weez]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 6:08pm

nothing was too hard to change. We wanted to try to make a great movie, not be stubborn and short sighted.

And I think that pretty much sums up the attitude needed by the creative team for the making of a movie musical.

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 6:19pm

Agreed.

[SNLMedia]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 6:29pm

Two completely random questions:

1. Is there any reason why the station letters were changed to WYZT instead of WZZT?

2. Any significance to the little jingle heard at the very end of the credits?

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 6:33pm

I think I know the answer to #1 -

There is a REAL WZZT- and the only reason John was allowed to use it in the original.. was to agree to let the real owner have a cameo in the titled acres scene.

So may be it was just copyright? But then again- the musical uses it.

hm, I didnt answer the question. :)

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:00pm

Is there any reason why the station letters were changed to WYZT instead of WZZT?

I don't know about the call letters...maybe Mateo is right


Any significance to the little jingle heard at the very end of the credits?

the "jingle" at the end was everyone's favorite piece of music at the dub

next time you see the movie (tonight, you will go and see HAIRSPRAY again...and again...and again...) listen REALLY closely when we cut to Mr. Pinky on the phone. It is the muzak playing in his store during his phone call with Edna. Luckily, the reaction to seeing Jerry Stiller and then his performance pretty much drowns it out, and that is fine with me!

And so, the guys at the dub (the mixing of the movie) tacked it on to the end as a surprise gift to me!
Updated On: 7/22/07 at 07:00 PM

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:03pm

awesome!


ooo, I love this thread its like a create your own DVD commentary.

Speaking of.. Did you record one? with Adam perhaps?

[mateo]

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

What musical instruments make up the "I can hear the bells" portion of the opening in to "Good Morning Baltimore"?

[Cruel_Sandwich]

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

QUESTION: How can I force my musicals-hating friend to see this film?

[BroadwayEnthusiast2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:18pm

How old are they?

[mateo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:19pm

umm. you say "I'll pay."

[amoni]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 7:19pm

Hey Marc, I'm not going to start kissing up because your work is so amazing because realistically if I did, you'd have to have my lips surgically removed from your ass. Suffice to say, anyone who doesn't feel joy after those 107 minutes is just someone I don't have any interest in knowing.

[jrb_actor]

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

I had so much fun seeing this last night. what a great ensemble. I think you all did a terrific job--the music was fantastic. I got chills during 'I Know Where I've Been'. Congrats! you deserve all the praise coming your way.

[Yankeefan007]

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

PS: Kudos for figuring out how to include the little overture/prologue (whatever you want to call it) before Good Morning Baltimore. So many movie-musicals do away with overtures, I was very happy to hear that tiny "I Can Hear The Bells" excerpt like in the show.

The orchestrations were fantastic. Highlight of the movie!

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 8:55pm

I have a question I'll get to about Edna, and the development of her character, from both an acting and a writing standpoint...

Travolta's "Edna" was so different from previous versions, and I still can't stop thinking about it. John gave a pretty incredible performance... that at times was silly, underplayed, overdone, clownish, heartbreaking, awkward AND polished. There were moments throughout the film when I felt Edna was fading away into the background... and there were moments (like the end) where she took over the entire picture like a force of nature and blew everyone else off the screen.

I loved this Edna. My heart breaks for her. She doesn't quite know how to behave, fit in, or react to anything. I wanted to laugh at her, turn away from her, and hug her at the same time.

SO... all that said...

How did the creation of this new Edna come about? Was it Travolta's choice first, and then you (the creative team) followed with the agoraphobic backstory, etc.? There were many shifts that happened---some acting choices---and some writing and directing choices throughout the film---but they all added up to this strange, new, fascinating "hybrid character." It's not "drag," and it's not a real woman. It's not commedia dell'arte, and it's not an SNL sketch.

It's almost (for me) like Kabuki---Where we know these very beautiful women in front of us are men. We're in on it, but it's not a "joke," but rather an irrelevant detail. We move on with the story and the character, just the same.

Fascinating.

And I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. I'm glad you all decided to "walk the high wire" with that one. A gamble, but I think it paid off big-time, by actually breaking new cinematic ground.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:00pm

Though it's completely different, the Kids in the Hall did something similar. The men played women, not as jokes, but simply as women. And they all were pure brilliance as it.

[timrobb]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:04pm

AMAZING film - thanks for the great movie. i apologize in advance if this was asked, but, did harvey make a cameo on the final song with ricki, nikki, and marissa? we have listend it to it a million times and swear it is him!

again, amazing movie!!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:15pm

Yep, that's Harvey's voice at the tail end.

[JP2]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 9:36pm

Marc, I'm so sorry you went to Union Square! that theater is just no good (though now I wish I had gone there!).

I saw the film again today and read the credits.. They're pretty hilarious, but I'm sure you know that Reverend.

[jo]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:06pm

Hi Marc,

A Big CONGRATULATIONS for the artistic and box office success ( the latter is a given ) of HAIRSPRAY!

I saw the show with Harvey on Broadway and am seeing it with John when the movie opens here in Manila ( Philippines), which will probably be next month.

I am also hoping to see it with Michael Ball in London - thanks for the great casting choice!

Here are my questions --

*Any chance you might compose another song for the London production - maybe for Michael Ball's great musical theatre voice? Would love to see/hear him in an Edna showstopper song!

*Will you be personally involved in the pre-production for the London version -- show changes ( such as adaptation of any of the new items from the movie), if any, and / or rehearsals?

Thanks,
Jo


Updated On: 7/21/07 at 10:06 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 10:22pm

Travolta was wonderful! I loved the way he held his purse in front of his stomach. Anyone who has ever been on the heavy side can relate to that!