Wicked director defends the movie’s BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage

Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage

As a long-time fan of musicals, I must say that the directorial choices for “Wicked” have been quite intriguing to me. Coming from a background where I’ve seen my fair share of productions, I can appreciate the unique vision each director brings to the table.


The new Wicked movie has dazzled critics and dominated the box office, but its director still felt the need to defend one of the film’s most debated aspects: the color grading. 

Some viewers find the new movie’s colors less vivid than the original 1939 version of The Wizard of Oz, with its lively Technicolor palette, and they feel that the newer film could have been more bright and dynamic.

Jon M. Chu, director of the movie version of the hit Broadway show featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, directly responded to criticisms about the film being slightly dull in color after it was labeled as such during a conversation with The Globe and Mail.

Chu explained, “You see, there’s vibrant color everywhere, and our intention was to make Oz seem like a genuine location. If it were merely a figment of someone’s imagination or dream, then the authentic emotions and challenges experienced by these two characters would lose their impact.

Chu continued by sharing that he aimed to offer a new perspective of Oz, something unprecedented for the viewers.

He pointed out that it had the quality of a matte painting or a digitally rendered video game environment. However, what he yearned for was a more tactile experience – something with a gritty texture, something worn and weathered. In other words, it shouldn’t feel like plastic.

Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage

Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage

In my own words, I’d say that the color grading of the movie reflects the profound bond shared by the characters and the environment they live in, as detailed by Chu.

In the narrative, the expansive vistas, the play of sunlight, and the wildlife of Oz significantly contribute to the plot. More specifically, Elphaba’s character progressively alters the setting, with the color differences becoming more pronounced as her impact expands throughout the story.

To be honest, I found myself utterly captivated by Chu’s insights, yet not everyone seemed to share my enthusiasm. A few fellow enthusiasts voiced concerns about his strong focus on realism, which didn’t quite resonate with them as much as it did for me.

‘Counterpoint: movies are dreams and can look as bold and crazy as dreams do. Why not? Who is demanding this realism?’ one fan retorted.

Another added, ‘The real world isn’t desaturated.’

And one user didn’t mince words, bluntly stating, ‘The film is lit like an insurance commercial.’ 

Discussion about the chosen color palette has been burning up social media platforms, particularly following the initial image previews that were unveiled in April.

And when asked about criticism that those early images were too dark, Chu had an explanation.

Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage
Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage
Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage
Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage
Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage

‘I chose those images specifically,’ he admitted at the time in an interview with Variety.

At such an early hour, we commenced filming. I aimed for capturing thought-provoking and stimulating visuals to convey this isn’t a cheerful, flowery narrative.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I share an anecdote from behind-the-scenes: Initially, the visual effects were still pending. A tranquil blue backdrop was our canvas. To bring in some dynamic skies, VFX magic was needed. With a few taps on my trusty iPhone, I added a splash of color to the scene, unfazed by the early criticism that came our way.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’d like to share a handy tip from my end for those planning to catch the movie. Similar to me, you might have heard some buzz about sound problems experienced by certain viewers. To ensure an optimal viewing experience, I recommend arriving early at the cinema to secure seats that are closest to the speakers, or ask the staff if there’s a specific section in the theater known for better sound quality. Happy movie-watching!

In a social media post on November 23, he motivated fans to personalize their audio experience before the movie’s premiere, inviting them to take control.

Posting on X he penned: ‘Tell your movie theater to turn it up to a 7… 

‘I’ve gone to a couple screenings and they are more like a 6.4. If you want it the way it was intended 7 is the way.’

His comment refers to sound levels for the Dolby audio systems used in some cinemas.

Wicked director defends the movie's BIGGEST flaw amid fan outrage

Dolby then responded to Chu’s post, writing underneath: ‘We’ve got you covered.’

According to reports from Page Six on Tuesday, it’s now confirmed that the upcoming Wicked movie was initially slated to be directed by British filmmaker Stephen Daldry, who had ambitious plans to cast Lady Gaga as Elphaba and Shawn Mendes as Fiyero.

Lady Gaga, the artist behind “Born This Way,” had several meetings with the production crew to share her thoughts about the character she was portraying.

In a series of discussions between the two of them, they discussed the character and her personality. [Lady Gaga] was essentially chosen for this role, but unfortunately, things didn’t work out in the end, as per the inside source.

But Daldry’s vision never came to be—he left the project in 2020 due to scheduling conflicts.

In stepped Chu, assuming the role of director and creatively reshaping the acting troupe. As a result, Erivo joined as Elphaba, Grande was cast as Glinda the Kind Witch, and Jonathan Bailey became Fiyero.

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2024-11-26 02:04

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