If you were producing the film version of DREAMGIRLS...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 3:11pm

Let's play "I'm the producer of the film version "DreamGirls""

Here's the rules:

You've just set your budget:

Budget:$60 million ..($15 million more than CHICAGO)

You have to make a great picture..that gets great reviews

...and you have to promote an art form (the film musical) which has just regained a small foothold back as a viable product...

But..

... you also must earn back EVERY PENNY of that $60 million + the $35-40 million spent on pre-publicity and publicity..

If you fail at either task, you will lose credibility within the industry which hinders your ability to work within it in the future, and you will lose a studio almost 100 million dollars...


NOW.... CAST THE FILM!

That's why Audra MacDonald won't be in it!

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 3:16pm

Effie-Frenchie Davis

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 3:18pm

That is why Beyonce WILL be in it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 3:26pm

Effie- Queen Latifa (vocal lessons-Joan Leder)

Deena: Beyonce Knowles

Lorrell: why not cast non-major film star: How bout Headley

Curtis Taylor, Jr - Taye Diggs

James Thunder Early - Jamie Foxx (gorgeous singing voice)

[ross04]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 4:52pm

First off no Beyonce, yes she's really big right now but can't see her as Deena. She's alredy seen as a Diana Ross like diva but now as for Deena I think Gabrielle Union could pull it off wonderfully or Mya as Deena would be great. Of course Frenchie Davis as Effie is the next best thing to Jennifer Holliday. I was thinkg of Jammie Foxx maybe playing Curtis or Taye Diggs both wonderful choices.Also Will Smith might be nice. Now as for Jimmy I would cast Tyrese. C.C.,Usher.. Loreel ther's a wonderful singer actress named Rhona Bennett who could do wonders as Lorell. Michelle I really can'y say or for Marty either. What do you think?

[Kavana]

Posted: 7/18/03 at 7:47pm

you wont get your money back with Beyonce as Deena

Now Jennifer Lopez as Deena you would get your moneys worth.

Im not a HUGE fan of hers but i love DG

She CAN PLAY DEENA and ill cuss anyone out if they say diff (you know who im talking to)

There were girl groups with hispanic/very light black girls girls.

If you want all races to see your movie shes your girl

As for Effie have a talent contest around the country
Jennifer was only 19 when DG opened.
Her voice was untouchable watch the 82 tonys she makes you wanna scream.

FRENCHIE CANNOT SING I HEARD HER SING AND IM TELLING YOU LIVE AND NO I DONT THINK SO

R.Kelly - Curtis -
C.C - ME
Jimmy - David Alan Geir?

ross04 - Rhona as Lorell?? she is a Deena ....oohh what about Taral for Deena?? didnt you want her at one time..

i have so many ideas for this film

[ross04]

Posted: 7/19/03 at 4:56am

Well,well,well if it isn't my old freind Kavana. Me and Kavana have been discussing this for some time now and I look upon him as DG expert infact you could say he has it flowing through his veins. But anyways J-ho will never do how in the hell is she going to portray charecter losely based on Diana Ross and she's not even black. See that's what's wrong with Jenny now she tries to hard to be down with black culture at her own convices. She wants to be Jenny from the block but when was the last time she went to her block? Now I had almost completly forgot about my beloved Taral but I know how hollywood is and their going to want some one with a name for themselves. Taral would be perfect for broadway but not the movie. I men yes this girl can sing and act but I really don't think she'd be casted but then again I'm the producer so what the hell I would cast her as Deena! Also has anyone heard any news on the revial? Updated On: 7/19/03 at 04:56 AM

[divarobbie2]

Posted: 7/19/03 at 4:19pm

Effie... Frenchie Davis
Lorell... Laryn Hill
Deena... Beyonce Knowles
Curtis... Taye Diggs
Jimmy... Billy Porter (so he can record it better)
CeCe... Darius deHaas

Just some ideas...
Robbie Rozelle Online Updated On: 7/19/03 at 04:19 PM

[ross04]

Posted: 7/21/03 at 2:13pm

I think Usher and Tyrese could pull off Jimmy and C.C.

[Buddha]

Posted: 7/21/03 at 8:43pm

Effie: Ayesha DeHaas (Darius' Sister)

Lorell:Anastasia Bain (A hot new comer!!!!!)

Deena: Vanessa Williams(For the box office!!!)

Curtis:Taye Diggs (An ultimate must!!!!!)

Jimmy: Robert Grose (One of London's finest black men!!!!!)

Cece: Darius DeHaas (To keep it in the family)

Michelle: La Chanze (she sings for the man she lost in 911)

Dreams do come true!!!!!!

Nam myoho renge kyo!!!!!!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 3:59pm

First of all. Bill Condon (Gods and Monsters / Chicago) should write the script and direct it with an African American choerographer:

Jimmy should ne BILLY PORTER

Dena should be SHANA STEELE (Hairspray)

then fill the cast with all unknowns...this show is a staple in the African American community and has the great success of having big cross over appeal because of ONE song...it's a great peice of work - it can stand and sell on its own greatness....but i do love some of the ideas listed here

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 4:18pm

it's a great peice of work - it can stand and sell on its own greatness....

Voiceanth: With a 60 million dollar budget? I don't think so...a small indie film made for 2 million, yeah, but not this...

[scooter38432]

Posted: 7/22/03 at 4:42pm

I feel absolutely ancient, and I'm only 37!

I've never heard of most of these people. Who the hell are Frenchie and Beyonce?

[ross04]

Posted: 7/31/03 at 3:23pm

I've just got information that the Dreamgirls revival will be taken place at The Plymout Theatre. I can anyone confirm this for me.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 7/31/03 at 3:52pm

Scooter:
Frenchie is Frenchie Davis the woman who would have won the last season of American Idol if she had not been kicked off for admitting to nude photos on line. A double standard if ever there was one since the first season's second runner up was a stripper. She has a great voice and will have a great career.

Beyonce is Beyonce Knowles one third of Destiny's Child. She is now going solo like gangbusters. I'm sure you have seen/heard her. She is almost inescapable these days. Which is why I think she will be used to sell this film. If it ever happens.

(BTW, I am older than you! TeeHee)

But I know what you mean. These pop stars/celebs come and go so quickly.

[WTripleThreat]

Posted: 7/31/03 at 7:08pm

how about we leave it as a msucial and hope the movie industry never gets its hands on Dreamgirls? they'd prolly cut the best songs and scenes anyways. look at what they did to chicago. besides thewy wouldn't pick the right people either. they'd change the music and arrangements like they always do for movie musicals.

how about a revival instead? with the same cast as the concert version (maybe a different lorrell. i love heather headly, but i didn't love "ain't no party")

dream on! :)

[Kavana]

Posted: 8/1/03 at 5:16pm

the concert cast was "too white"

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/1/03 at 5:29pm

I can't imagine what 'too white' means when discussing the likes of Lillias White, Audra McDonald, Tamara Tunie, Heather Headley et al. But whatever.

I like a lot of the ideas on this board actually.

Beyonce was born to play Deena Jones. Like Marisa Jaret Winokur, right actress/right role. I REALLY like the idea of Lauryn Hill as Lorrell. Agree with y'all on Taye Diggs as Curtis, Jamie Foxx as Jimmy and Usher as CC.

It's Effie that concerns me. I think Latifah, though WONDERFUL, is a little long in the tooth for the role. Frenchie is a terrific vocalist, but can she bring the pathos absolutely needed for this role. Or, with all the star names we've listed, can a fabulous newcomer be brought in?

Who can say? But I do think it will make a terrific movie. The staging was so incredibly cinematic, it seems to already have a blueprint.

[ross04]

Posted: 8/1/03 at 5:29pm

That is so true about the concert. It totally lacked the soul of the obc recording."Move" which electrified my soul on the obc lacked luster as did One Night only disco version, Hard to Say Goodbye my Love, and don't get me started on And I Am Telling You. But it trully did lack soul it dind't sound like it was inspired by motown. What were they thinkg? (Audra McDonald!)

[mamamia sammy]

Posted: 8/1/03 at 6:09pm

I would pick Missy Elliot to play Lorelle

[Thetruth]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 10:54pm

They need to bring in all unknowns

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/26/03 at 12:19pm

Dreamgirls needs one or two big names but cast it with a few unknowns. It needs to be done like a music video to succeed. Maybe if you updated it just a tad to make it a little more modern.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 8/26/03 at 12:29pm

Haha... Emily and Alice were blacker than Audra in the concert version. I love Audra to death... but she's the whitest black person I've ever seen!!!

But who really cares with a set of pipes like hers, right? She's far too classically trained to "sing black." Even when she tries, you still get that classical feel... it's never totally "there."

[Thetruth]

Posted: 8/26/03 at 12:55pm

I liked Audra's Deena. The way she sung it..fit well with how she acted it and it brought out things in the script that I'd never really noticed before. She was much more goodytwoshoes and less Diana than any Deena I'd seen and that's ok by me. I like it when people do something diffrent with a role and Audra does have the pipes. That part in "When I first Saw you", where Sheryl usually sung-spoke some of the lyrics, Audra belted them out very nicely. Her "Heavy" had this eerie operatic feel to it that I liked.



As far as the movie...I think Effie should be the unknown. I don't think anybody out right now can truly do justice to that song.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/26/03 at 1:05pm

The production budget for Chicago was 30 million and the prints and advertising budget cost 30 million, which explains how Harvey Weinstein willed that thing to be a hit.