re: Jennifer Holliday: 'What the public doesn't understand is that I actually created my role'- Page 3

[bjivie2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 3:45pm

I'm not even sure if Holliday would have worked in the movie when she was 21, anyways. She's so big that it would be hard for a performance like that to translate well to film. It would have taken a great director to help her make very subtle choices.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:18pm

God, I love Margo....

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:20pm

Read her blog today--you know how excited (and vindicated) I get when I agree with her?

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:25pm

I poked around that website after reading the Holliday interview and read something about the LA Times article involving Diana Ross. It was aying that it is possible that if she comes publicly puts the movie down, holloywood may side with her and it could dash Oscar hopes for the movie. Now I could be wrong, but even though she is a true diva, I don't think she weilds THAT much power! I suspect that closer to the film's release, the entertainment shows are going to stir up some sort of "controversy", but I don't think it will affect the succes of the film. Only that it may make more people interested in seeing it. The "controversy" over the musical didn't seem to hurt it. I know I plan to be at the 1st showing on Christmas! Just my thoughts.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:25pm

Re: Using her voice in the trailer

No one can see her on records.

[Mischief]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:45pm

Well put Margo!

[Trekkie2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:48pm

This movie was cast a long time ago, Hollywood speaking. Why would she bring this up now unless she wanted to create bad publicity for the movie?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:54pm

Diana Ross should keep her big yap shut. She'll just prove that all the rumors are true if she does complain.


*EDIT typo*

Updated On: 11/22/06 at 04:54 PM

[WalkOn]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 4:55pm

I really wish some measure and peace and happiness for Holiday. Her role in the creation of DREAMGIRLS was invaluable. It should be acknowleged more often.

I noticed in the most of the press surrounding the movie that the original creative team is hardly mentioned. For the film CHICAGO, everyone was tipping their hats to Fosse and sometimes Kander and Ebb. But for DREAMGIRLS, you get the slightest of allusions to its Broadway pedigree.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:10pm

I think the Fosse thing with Chicago was because he also won an Oscar for Cabaret and his style is undeniably iconic. Michael Bennett, however, has a less identifiably "Michael Bennett" style to those non-Broadway buffs. The only dances anyone could recognize outside of musical theatre as Bennett's would likely be the opening of Chorus Line, or the finale of Chorus Line, where as Fosse's was both undeniably a "style" and was also in an Oscar-winning movie. (especially considering that the Bennett estate is so protective of his material)

I'm sure that Krieger and Russell will be getting some more recognition when the movie gets closer to coming out, what with the added songs and such. (Thought almost all of the publicity will go to the HUGE names involved cast-wise)

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:22pm

bjivie2 --- I agree. Nicely said.

[morosco]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:51pm

"I poked around that website after reading the Holliday interview and read something about the LA Times article involving Diana Ross. It was aying that it is possible that if she comes publicly puts the movie down, holloywood may side with her and it could dash Oscar hopes for the movie."

Diana Ross? Does Hollywood even remember who Diana Ross is anymore?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 5:54pm

Mahaga-who?

[morosco]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:08pm

From Yahoo News:
-----------
The singer's biographer J Randy Taraborrelli is, however, convinced Ross will not blast the film.

He says, "I think that Diana has decided that there's not much she can do about this and she wisely knows that there wasn't much (R+B legend) Billie Holliday's estate could do about her when she did (1972 biopic) Lady Sings The Blues."
-----------
OUCH!


Will Diana Ross wreck Beyonce's Oscar dreams?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:09pm

Pot, Kettle....

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:11pm

I have not heard much of Dreamgirls so I didn't know they have been using her voice in the trailer. I would be pissed about that if it was me. Her role in Dreamgirls was almost 20 years ago. I don't think they would call her up to play it now.

[roquat]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:33pm

Diana Ross said (famously) that she deliberately never saw the Broadway production of DREAMGIRLS, nor would she allow her children to see it. If she had, she would realize that the character of Deena Jones actually whitewashes some of her more unpleasant tendencies.

Jennifer Holliday worked with a friend of mine on a week-long benefit run of DREAMGIRLS several years ago. Apparently she walked through one or two rehearsals (the rest of the cast had been killing themselves getting everything down before she arrived) and didn't even run through "And I Am Telling You" with the orchestra until the final dress rehearsal. I know she performed it to death, but was there nothing new to discover in Effie? He liked her personally, though--she talked about how the sudden rush into fame at such a young age had gone to her head and caused innumerable bad decisions and fractured friendships.

Sheryl Lee Ralph has a perfectly good career--why does she also have such a difficult reputation? I heard nothing but horror stories about her MILLIE experience--anyone else?

I find it interesting and highly gratifying that Loretta Devine has worked so steadily, after her DREAMGIRLS costars have burned themselves out. It just shows that you'll work forever if you have both talent and professionalism (and don't conduct yourself like a raging diva.)

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:34pm

They used Jennifer's voice for the teaser trailer only, which was shown in theatres last December... before they had even cast the film. Teasers are often made before production has begun. It's a way to start "buzz" for a film, well in advance of its release. Usually the music used in a teaser is from another film entirely, or is a "stock" or even a classical piece (like Carmina Burana, which was used for every epic action pic for about ten years!).

The ladies used on-screen in the Dreamgirls teaser trailer were doubles, seen mostly in sillhouette.

[uncageg]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:39pm

Just an aside....A friend of mine in New York was telling me just awhile ago, as we were discussing this, that Dreamgirls, the stage musical, was supposed to be a vehicle for Nell Carter. Mr. Bennett wanted her for the part. Don't know why she did not do the show but my friend said that it was thought that it could have been because of some problems she was having with drugs, etc.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 6:41pm

uncageg --- I remember hearing it was initially for Nell Carter as well. I don't know the reason why it didn't happen... perhaps Margo does!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:21pm

It wasn't that dramatic - she just got a television series (GIVE ME A BREAK) which took her out of the workshops. She did do the first pre Michael Bennett workshop called "One Night Only" - but it has only a very passing resemblance to what became "Dreamgirls."

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:27pm

Jen Holiday seems very greedy. I am not a big fan of hers. For some reason she feels that because she was in the original Dreamgirls and etc productions the whole world needs to bow down to her. Daphne was upset that she was not in the movie but the woman has moved on.

[Julian2]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:41pm

Did Krieger write the new movie songs? This is something I've been wondering about, and if he did, who did his lyrics?

Updated On: 11/22/06 at 07:41 PM

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:42pm

Diva is as Diva does.

i feel bad for her, & i hope she uses the hurt to create something spectacular!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 11/22/06 at 7:48pm

Hey now! Careful how you turn the word Diva into something bad.

It used to be that the Diva was just a female star, when did it turn into meaning 'bitch'?