As a long-time fan of musicals and someone who has seen countless adaptations, I must say that Jon M. Chu’s approach to “Wicked” is truly refreshing. The director’s decision to eschew the glorious technicolor look of “The Wizard of Oz” in favor of a more grounded, realistic feel for Oz is both brave and inspired. It adds a layer of depth that makes the world feel lived-in and believable, which is crucial for audiences to invest in the relationships between the characters.
Following a prolonged stint of shooting due to strikes, the film adaptation of Wicked is now gracing movie theaters at last. Critics have been lavishing praise upon its musical aspect, and it has also seen impressive earnings during its opening weekend at the box office. However, there’s been some negative feedback directed towards the blockbuster, particularly concerning its color grading. Now, director Jon M. Chu has come forward to justify his decision to deviate from the “vibrant technicolor” aesthetic when it comes to the big screen.
Ever since its cinema debut, “Wicked” has shattered records and garnered immense acclaim for its cast’s acting. However, the movie’s color palette has sparked conversations on social media, which eventually caught the attention of the director of “Crazy Rich Asians”. This led to a direct response from him.
What Jon M. Chu has said about Wicked’s use of color.
In connection with the upcoming movie musical “Wicked”, Chu and the cast have been extensively promoting the project, which appears to have yielded impressive results at the box office. However, no undertaking escapes scrutiny entirely, and the musical has drawn some criticism regarding its color grading. During an interview with The Globe and Mail, Chu clarified his decision to depart from the vibrant color palette of “The Wizard of Oz” (now available on Max). In his own words:
We aimed to make Oz seem genuinely tangible in our adaptation, rather than just a dream or a computer-generated world. This way, the struggles and emotions experienced by the two characters would feel authentic. Additionally, we wanted to present Oz in a new, more tactile manner, so you could imagine feeling the grime and wear on its surfaces, making it appear less like plastic and more like a real place.
The investigation has come to an end. The vibrant, eye-catching backdrops of “The Wizard of Oz” are undeniably captivating; however, after Dorothy arrives in Munchkinland, the film no longer appears to be based on our reality. Despite this, when creating “Wicked,” he aimed to make the settings feel authentic and grounded for viewers—including the dirt and all.
The trailers for the film Wicked demonstrated its stunning visual style, and it indeed provided a vibrant and entirely theatrical adventure when viewed in cinemas. Director Jon M. Chu aimed to create a genuine atmosphere, utilizing colossal practical sets. Moreover, they employed the actual sun as their light source, filming outdoors at Pinewoods Studios in the UK, as Chu himself explained.
In this setting, nature serves as our backdrop. The sun is its primary illuminator, revealing expansive landscapes and the very air we breathe. Creatures abound in this environment, making it their home. Two characters will journey through two films, and their bond with the land is significant; they interact intimately with the unique nature of this terrain, which the wizard has intertwined himself into. Over time, the color scheme intensifies due to Elphaba’s influence on this world.
There you have it. Clearly there was a very specific vision for how Wicked would look, and Jon M. Chu has seemingly accomplished what he was shooting for. So while some might be complaining about the color grading of the film, it was all done for a very specific reason.
How technicolor was received in The Wizard Of Oz
1939’s “The Wizard of Oz” is among the most enduring films ever made, with its vibrant color palette playing a significant role in its timeless appeal. Transitioning from sepia to Technicolor as Dorothy arrives in Oz creates an enchanting cinematic moment, and the colors continue to pop brilliantly for the film’s entire 102-minute duration.
Initially, viewers were captivated by the vibrant hues of “The Wizard of Oz”. However, this colorfulness significantly prolonged the production timeline. To ensure the film’s effectiveness, lighting and costumes had to be intensely colored. It is said that the technicolor scenes required an astounding six months to complete. Although it wasn’t the first production to utilize technicolor, “The Wizard of Oz” significantly boosted its popularity during that era.
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2024-11-25 21:39