‘I Could See Grips Tearing Up’: John M. Chu On The Wicked Moment That Had Everyone Crying On Set (And Of Course Cynthia Erivo Was Involved)

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As a lifelong musical theater enthusiast who has spent countless hours belting out show tunes in the shower, I can confidently say that John M. Chu’s adaptation of “Wicked” is nothing short of enchanting. The film’s standout moment, for me, is the hauntingly beautiful rendition of “I’m Not That Girl” by Cynthia Erivo.

One way to rephrase the given text could be: “One of the main attractions of John M. Chu’s movie version of Wicked is undeniably the superb interpretations of well-known songs by an exceptional cast. Since its release, audiences have been raving about Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo’s live vocals. These performances are sure to create some unforgettable and moving scenes, particularly for those who happened to be on set when a group of birds spontaneously sang along.

I had a chat with John M. Chu directly, and during our conversation about his work on Wicked, he shared an touching tale about his most memorable moment during production. This happened when Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba emotionally performed the song “I’m Not That Girl” with some avian companions assisting her.

One particularly chilling experience was the song “I’m Not That Girl,” as sung by Cynthia. If you watch closely, it seems as though the music arises spontaneously, almost as if from thin air. In reality, we couldn’t hear it unless I wore headphones. Instead, all I could discern was a faint echo in this vast forest set built on our soundstage. Interestingly, birds had made nests in various parts of the set and would respond to Cynthia’s singing by joining her melodies with their own chirps.

What an enchanting scene! It seems like Cynthia Erivo’s performance was reminiscent of a fairy tale scene, almost as if it were lifted directly from “Sleeping Beauty.” Her voice possesses such power that I imagine even live birds would falter. The tranquility on set only served to heighten the intensity of this moment, with no background noise from pre-recorded instruments to overpower the sweet songs of the birds and the resonant notes she sang. John M. Chu went further to elaborate:

However, her soft singing moved everyone deeply, as evidenced by visible tears and an undeniable sense of something profound occurring. It struck a chord with us all, not just because we weren’t the girl in the spotlight, but because we could relate to not being the one expected to excel. I find it captivating when familiar songs take on new meanings, and Cynthia is particularly skilled at achieving this effect.

As a passionate gamer, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the release of “Wicked” – a movie that’s garnered nothing but praise from critics, even earning a perfect 5/5 in our review. The original Glinda herself, Kristin Chenoweth, has given it her seal of approval! Despite the controversies and haters this production faced, I can confidently say that John M. Chu and his team have managed to clear those hurdles, ensuring a successful theatrical release in just a few days.

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2024-11-21 05:37