Jamie Foxx and Usher Join Dreamgirls Film- Page 7

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 5:52pm

"I know the races of creators not that it mattered, you bringing up the fact that they are white proves what?"

It proves that you're assumption that just because Bill Condon is white and hasn't written anything for "blacks" that he has no business doing this film. That's what it proves

"Bill Condons has done a handful of films, Chicago was not the best movie-musical and im not going to praise him just because hollywood went crazy over the movie."

I don't recall anyone on this board asking you too. To each his own. You're entitled to your opinion.

"I said it would be nice if Bill Condon had history with writing for blacks.
Can you direct me to a novel that he has wrote that can prove me wrong?"

What does writng novels for blacks have anything to do with writing and directing a movie musical, just because the central characters are black. Tom Eyen the original writer for the show didn't write any black novels and he had no problem writing the original show.

So am I to believe from your comments that whites should only write "white films" and blacks should only write "black films".
That is some backwards_@ss thinking my brother.


Bill Condon is the go-to guy, when someone doesnt like the way a upcoming film is going this man comes from out the shadows.

I don't know where you are getting your information from Ghetto. Name me some other films Condon has been asked to do because "someone doesn't like the way it's going".

And for the record Condon is not some fly-by-night neophyte, he's not "just coming out of the shadows", he's proven himself in the business.


"In 97 or 98 Chicago was to be made with Madonna & Goldie Hawn,
What happened?

Things happen for a reason. It didn't get made. Get over it. The other queens did.


"My bringing up Motown goes to the character breakdown with the charector Teddy Campbell and that the Dreams are from Detriot, Curtis has a record label Rainbow records."

I don't know what character breakdown you are referring to but it sounds like third hand gossip to me. The Dreams are from Chicago.

"I dont know if Diana wanted to sue but she was angry, Mary wanted to be compensated for them obviously using their story.."

Diana Ross' anger must have been really short lived as she went on to record the song "Family" from the show's score and actually performed it live numerous times over the years. Mary Wilson wanting to be compensated is a joke. I'm not even going to touch that one.

People are tossing around names on who they think should play who in this film, and that's cool. There's nothing wrong with that. But no one here can honestly say that the people they have so far chosen for the roles of Curtis, Deena and C.C. are wrong.

A lot of people are complaining that C.C.'s character was changed to beng the choreographer for The Dreams. This is not true! He's still the songwriter AND the choreographer. So what if Condon gave the character double duty? It doesn't hurt the show or the character one bit and it actually enhances that character.






Updated On: 5/24/05 at 05:52 PM

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 5/24/05 at 10:49pm

Ley me set the record straight about Miss Ross and Mary Wilson's views on Dremagirls. I am more than justified to do so as being that I even found out about Dreamgirls was through theses women. Ok Miss Ross beef with Dreamgirls was that people were calling it The Supremes story which it is not. And from what I've told the original opening of the Second Act was originaly a press confernce where Deena was asked about her movie career and she answered that "Diana needs some competion" Mary wilson saw Dreamgirls and said that although the story could have been about any feamale group she saw some simularties to The Supremes. Mary Wilson loved DreamGirls so much she named her autobiography after it. I think that Marques Houston is another good choice for C.C. You know Truth you been coming up with good sugesstions lately for C.C. All of the people you named can sing and have proven theirselves as good actors.

[Marquise]

Posted: 5/25/05 at 8:12am

That's right dreamboy, one of the original lines sung by the character of "Deena" in the second act press conference when she's asked about going into film is "Diana needs some competition", which actually got a huge laugh. By "Deena" actually saying this the author's were telling the audience that "Deena" was not Diana, eliminating any suspicions to the contrary.

As we all know that line has since been cut out but The Supremes are mentioned along with The Shirelles and The Chiffons by Lorell in the first act.
Updated On: 5/25/05 at 08:12 AM

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/25/05 at 11:12am

Plus, Diana wishes she could work it like Deena!

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 5/25/05 at 1:54pm

Hold up Truth don't try and play Miss Ross. No Just kidding I love Miss Ross and I must say that Deena is my favorite becuase she does remind me of Miss Ross. Not to say that the character Deena is based on Miss Ross,but Diana Ross is the quentstial front woman for any r&b female group ,as The Supremes are the standard for female groups. So any female black female r&b group is going to get compared to them and the lead singer to Miss Ross. Hell Destiny's Child did a vibe cover dreased like the Supremes. I saw an intrview once on Sheryl Lee Ralph and she said the Dreams were about all the girl groups of the sixties. She also said that for some reason people just always identified her with Diana Ross. I believe this is true because I always thought Effie charcter more like Patti LaBelle than Florence Ballard. Patti said when her group the BluBelles audtioned for a record producer he took one look at her and said she was too black and plain to sing lead. This was said before he even heard her sing but once he did he signed them and gave Patti and new last name Labelle which is the beautiful in french,go figure.

[Kavana]

Posted: 5/26/05 at 12:52pm

Angel Prada
i wish you would answer your phone...

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:01pm

I just seen Destiny's Child video Cater 2 u and in the video there's a part where DEstiny's Child dressed in gowns do this hot choreography you have to see it. Beyonce does the damn thang can't wait to her as Deena. BEYONCE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/26/05 at 10:09pm

The gowns looked good, but not for where they were at.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 3:45am

I wish Destiny's Child would put out a video for "I'm Through With Love' that's the best song on the CD.

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 5/28/05 at 3:18pm

I think that best song on the Destiny's Child Cd is "If". Thos harmious are unbelievable and utterly gorgeous. There voices blend together so well it almost makes me cry. If Beyonce can rock it like that on her cd I have full confidence she can do dreamgirls.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 5/29/05 at 1:25am

Yeah, I don't think people really recognize Beyonce's/Destiny's Child's musicianship. They are all really talented.

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 2:23pm

Do you all think that Bill Condon will keep all of the score. I ask this because alot of the dialouge is sung instead being spoken. Do you all think this will transfer well on film?

[Thetruth]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 3:09pm

Condon said something about adding 4 new songs, so I guess there will be more music than the show. I believe they will cut/shorten some songs. I hope they don't cut much, the film should be as long as it needs to be in order to stay true to the original.

[dietcherryemma]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 3:32pm

I don't see too much of a problem with casting Eddie Murphy as Jimmy. I think he could pull it off quite well, actually. I know it sounds odd, but if you listen to his voice in Shreck and Shreck 2, there is a whole lot of Jimmy in there. Plus, Jimmy is supposed to be a bit aged a sleeazy - he does sell out pretty quick, and he's getting a bit old to be a star, so I think Eddie Murphy would do the character justice.

I also agree with Usher as CC and Beyonce as Deena. They both will bring so much star-power to the movie, and you can't deny that they both can sing. Beyonce really has become a pop-idol, much like Deena becomes in the show.

The only issues are acting and timing. Acting, being that we're not sure if said people can do such, or if it will be directed in a way that will accomodate their styles... and timing in that the RENT movie is coming out soon, Phantom just came out and did... mildly... and Chicago was a year or two ago, so it might be movie-musical overkill.

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 8:42pm

I bet out of those for new songs to be added at least oneof them will be a solo for Deena. You evver noticed that of all the main characters Deena is the only one without a solo. I mean sure she does all of the Dreams songs and her duet with Curtis but she never had a song all to herself. Also I wonnder if they'll develop the character of Michelle more. The musical left her largley underdeveloped. I wonder often how Michelle felt coming into the group and knowing she was taking her boyfreinds sister spot plus maybe they will show exzactly when Michelle and CC became a couple. Plus I would like to see when Curtis and Deena got together,because Effie always acussed Deena and Curtis of sneaking around but they always dismissed it and then in the second act they were married. Also maybe someone can clarify this for me but wasn't Michelle originaly in the Stepsitsers, you know the group that open up the show at The Apollo?

[dietcherryemma]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 10:46pm

Yeah, Michelle is definitely the lead in the Stepsisters before she comes back in at Heavy. But about Deena not really having a solo - - are you kidding? She sings lead on so many songs, most of the time with minimal backup, that she ends up with an amazing solo role. Lorell doesn't technically have as much solo vocal as Deena does.

We just did Dreamgirls, and they had Michelle come out during Lorell's birthday party scene ("Party, Party", "When I like a Man's Eyes", etc.) and just be a guest, and that was where she met CC.

Also, Deena and Curtis actually don't really get together until after Effie leaves (or is kicked out)- Curtis likes Deena, but she is clueless, to both Effie's anger and Curtis's affection.

[Kavana]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 11:27pm

um NO
Michelle was not in the Steep Sisters, it was just the same person playing the role

[dietcherryemma]

Posted: 6/3/05 at 11:30pm

oops, I must have gotten the wrong idea then - sorry. I always just figured they were the same

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 12:20am

Does anyone know if Usher has been casted as C.C., because on imbd they have him listed as C.C.

[adamnyc]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 8:49am

Usher and Jamie Foxx- WHY OH WHY? I know Jamie Foxx was great in Ray and as for Usher- I just don't see why people go crazy over him- maybe it's me - I just don't see the attraction (or talent)

[bill mobley]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 9:35am

In Dreamgirls, is Effie the character that sings "and I'm telling you I'm not going?" If so I can't think of not one person (beside Ms. Holiday) fitting that role. I think they may have to go to the gospel world. There is a singer by the name of Lashaun Pace who would probably be great. She may be too old for the role though, but then again Diana Ross was too old for The Wiz. Also another gospel singer "Beverly Crawford" may be good for the role. I can't think of anyone in the secular world. And by the way, I think the casting (Jamie Foxx, Usher, Eddie Murphy, Beyonce) is so exciting.

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 3:25pm

I know that Bill Condon and his producers said that they were going to get some unknown new talent to portray Effie,but I really wish that they would at least consider audtioning Tarralyn Ramsey. I just listened to her gospel album and the girls has some major pipes. Someone once mentioned that she had lost weight and it is nothing to make her gain it back for the role. All you have to do is give her a nice portion of pork ,cakes ,and pies and she will be all good to go as Effie. No need to worry about her acting skills because Jennifer Hollidsy herself said that who ever plays Effie needs to be a singer first and concetrate on acting next.

[Thetruth]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 4:37pm

I see Tarralyn's CD creeped out. Anybody buy it?

[Kavana]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 10:46pm

Both of her albums are good and you know i dont like gospel.

"And Im Telling You" was just sampled by the group "Da Back Wudz"
if you dont like rap dont download it

You Gonna Love Me

[dreamboy2004]

Posted: 6/8/05 at 11:44pm

Someone posted on IMDB that auditions for Effie are being held in New York.