Kyle Mooney Has Ideas About Singalongs in Movie Theaters

by

As a lifelong fan of musicals and someone who has spent countless hours belting out show tunes in my living room, I can wholeheartedly agree with Kyle Mooney‘s sentiments about audience participation during screenings of musical films like Wicked. There’s something truly magical about being immersed in a world where everyone is singing along to the same songs, and it definitely beats the cringe-worthy experience of hearing fellow theatergoers talk or text during a movie.

The box office is igniting yet again due to the latest blockbuster musicals, namely Moana 2 and Wicked. Notably, Wicked boasts a rich history on Broadway, making it so familiar to musical enthusiasts that they might as well know most of the songs by heart. Many have attended multiple performances and eagerly anticipate watching Wicked on the big screen more than once. It seems that these dedicated fans, as suggested by reports, are so captivated by the enchantment of Oz that they can’t help but snap pictures of the theater screen with their phones in an outburst of excitement.

A point of contention with musical films such as Wicked is the audience members who won’t keep silent but instead sing along enthusiastically in movie theaters, harmonizing with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande as they perform some of Broadway’s most renowned songs. This behavior might create a similar feeling of awkwardness or discomfort as having people chat or text during a movie screening, according to director Kyle Mooney, who recently shared his thoughts on the matter in an interview with MovieWeb, given that his film, set in the Y2K era, boasts a prominent musical performer (Rachel Zegler) and includes its own musical numbers.

At the end of our movie, there’s a large musical performance segment,” he shared with us. “I’d be completely on board if audience members joined in singing, but we should make sure to catch any dialogue that might be happening simultaneously. It would be great if we could establish some sort of understanding at the beginning of the film screening, like, ‘Hey folks, we’ll be singing a bit. If that’s okay with you, great! Just remember to tone it down during specific scenes.’ So perhaps we should initiate a discussion about what kind of audience participation is acceptable. In general though, I think it’s best not to talk or text during the movie. I believe that’s a good rule to stick to.

Perhaps it’s time for us to initiate a discussion on how deeply involved we should be. However, I strongly believe that maintaining silence in this case is wise, so no chatting or messaging, if you don’t mind. That seems like the best approach to me.

The Year of Y2K and N64

In our latest interview, actors Jaeden Martell (from “Knives Out”) and Julian Dennison (“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”), both born after the Y2K panic, found themselves immersed in the nostalgia of retro video games and ’90s pop music. Martell shared that Mooney and other cast members helped them adjust to the late-’90s setting for the film’s distinctive narrative.

During the actual filming, Kyle served as our director, guiding us step by step through each scene and ensuring we got the physicality and technical aspects correct. Plus, Eduardo Franco brought some vintage gaming consoles, specifically a Nintendo 64, which we enjoyed playing together, including rounds of Mario Kart.

Back in the day, Martell’s preferred character from Mario Kart 64 was Yoshi, whereas Mooney favored Toad. Care to share your pick? Some of you might still be playing it on a functioning console even today. And guess what? A 4K version of the N64 is set to hit the stores in 2025 for everyone’s enjoyment!

Until then, from A24, Y2K was released Dec. 6 and is now playing in theaters.

Read More

2024-12-09 05:31