As a cinephile with a penchant for movies that push boundaries and challenge the status quo, I must say Coralie Fargeat’s “The Substance” is a cinematic triumph that left me absolutely spellbound! This film, while seemingly straightforward in its plot and setting, is a rich tapestry of metaphor and emotional extremes that demand the best from its stars, Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley.
In simpler terms, Coralie Fargeat’s movie, titled The Substance, may appear straightforward due to its compact storyline and restricted locations. However, it is deeply symbolic and posed significant challenges for lead actors Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. Beyond the intense emotional scenes, they were required to endure physical hardships as well, including nude scenes and working with intricate body horror prosthetics.
In a candid conversation during our recent virtual interview, director Coralie Fargeat discussed the vital role of open dialogue she had with actors Elisabeth Sparkle and Sue while developing their characters for the upcoming release of “The Substance“.
Coralie Fargeat Was Quick To Illustrate Her Vision For The Substance
Initially, I asked about conversations she had with Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley following their reads of the script. She initially highlighted that she focused on her artistic vision and extensively employed symbolism in her work, as stated by the French director.
Initially, we delved into the central theme of the movie, discussing why it resonated so deeply for each of us individually. Moreover, I wanted to expand on the film’s various aspects beyond just the characters’ journeys since the movie is skillfully constructed with every element – from locations and cinematography to sound and performances – playing a crucial role in narrating the story as a whole.
The Substance
Through the unique approach of Coralie Fargeat, it might have been challenging for Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley to grasp the essence of “The Substance” solely from reading the script. To ensure they fully comprehended her vision, the writer/director was ready to provide them with visual explanations.
In simpler terms, I spent a considerable amount of time with them, showing various visuals, design concepts, music I was creating for them, along with references and additional visuals. Furthermore, I explained in detail how I intended to film everything, as it would significantly influence our collaborative work, and I wanted them to be well-prepared, equipped with all the necessary tools to construct a performance based on that.
How Coralie Fargeat Approached Discussions About Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley’s Nudity And Prosthetics Work In The Substance
In my investigation, I inquired about the specific physical demands of portraying Elizabeth and Sue in “The Substance,” and director Coralie Fargeat highlighted the importance of candid conversations with her cast regarding the film’s most intense scenes. Both Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley appear without clothing in these roles, and Fargeat was transparent about how these scenes would be filmed while also explaining their role in the movie’s visual narrative: their significance in communicating the work’s themes and messages.
For me, it was super important. For the nudity scenes, I really needed and wanted to spend the time to explain to them all the shots and what they were meaning, because I think that was the most important. So what were the reasons for them to be there, what they needed to convey, how important they were to kind of infuse them with how it, first of all, of course, how it was gonna meet the level of nudity that they would have to agree [to] and be prepared for, and, most importantly, so that they have all the keys again, to kind of then afterwards feel that where their very own emotional layer, which is the beating heart of the scene.
Furthering the conversation, Fargeat elaborated on the fact that there were parallel talks regarding the movie’s prosthetics. To avoid revealing spoilers, it’s worth noting that Elizabeth and Sue undergo harrowing transformations in The Substance. This meant that the actors had to dedicate significant time in the makeup room and grapple with their characters’ narratives out of chronological order.
In reality, putting on prosthetics was no different; it involved lengthy explanations about the time required for application and the level of constraint they would impose. The challenge lay in the fact that sometimes we only had a limited amount of time to work – just two or one hour left before shooting – which made the process more demanding from a performance perspective. This was because we often had to perform actions out of sequence, not according to logical flow, due to technical constraints that couldn’t be altered.
Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley both displayed great generosity in their roles, embodying both the allure and the dread associated with their characters in the movie “The Substance,” which offers a critique on societal expectations of age and beauty for contemporary women.
Coralie Fargeat emphasized the importance of aligning everyone’s understanding from the start, ensuring a harmonious collaboration throughout the production process, resulting in the finished film being as intended.
It was crucial for them to have everything they needed as soon as possible, to help them mentally gear up for facing these difficulties while delivering their best performance. This discussion, in my opinion, was the most valuable and informative, as it not only tackled the essence of the film but also prepared us to jointly sculpt its final form.
Featuring Dennis Quaid, The Substance is currently showing in cinemas across the country after generating significant interest following its well-received debut at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. This film has been hailed as the standout movie of the year (I awarded it five stars in my TopMob review), so if you haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, consider adding it to your immediate viewing plans.
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2024-10-01 03:37