The genre of musicals in film has existed since the first musical movie The Jazz Singer in the 1920s, even though Broadway musicals had been a popular American pastime since the early 1700s. The appeal of transforming musicals into movies began exclusively as an association with Hollywood but has now grown into countries such as India, Italy, Germany, and Japan.
Conventions of the content in the musical genre include musical numbers, uplifting themes, romance, and national sensibility. Musical numbers are one of the most key components of what makes a musical film fit into its genre. These scenes feature the characters of the movie breaking into song and dance to advance the plot and express their emotions that may not be explicitly described otherwise. The songs in a musical are often integral to the storyline and help to convey character development as well. Music is also helpful towards depicting uplifting themes aiming to entertain and inspire the audience. Romantic subplots that are often intertwined with the main narrative can also have the emotions of the characters and their progress in the relationship described through song. All of these components come together to add onto the typical theme of nationalism and inspiring community and optimism.
The production techniques involved in the musical genre are quite complex to be able to portray the plot accurately. Choreography creates movement and seamless dance numbers to add more energy along with the music composition. Sound design is extremely important in this genre to achieve the best audio quality, and since actors often lip-sync to pre-recorded songs, sound engineers have to work hard to ensure a high-quality audio experience. In films like Les Misérables, however, the singing was done on set and required for the area to have a specific design that allows the vocals to be heard clearly. Editing also plays a crucial role in pacing of the movie and creating smooth transitions between dialogue and the songs. Arguably, one of the most important features in all movies to help craft the story, is the set design and costumes. In the musical film genre, elaborate sets and costumes are essential to create visually engaging and immersive musical sequences. A certain dress or costume also helps the fluidity of dance moves.
Along with the already harbored fame of existing musicals on Broadway, marketing of musical films usually involves highlighting the movie’s star performers or standout musical sequences in a trailer. As music plays a big part in this genre, releasing the film’s soundtrack separately allows fans to enjoy the music and builds excitement around the movie’s release and popularity. Partnering with famous artists to cross-promote also helps expand knowledge on the movie to a wider audience like Mamma Mia! and the musical group Abba.
The Sound of Music (1965) - Set in Austria during the start of World War II, the content of the film The Sound of Music features numerous song-and-dance numbers that are central to the plot or give context to character development. At the start of the film, the background and personality of the character Maria (Julie Andrews) is explained through the song “Maria” where the other nuns in the monastery share their opinions of her, describing her as a carefree spirit. This helped foreshadow how the character Maria will leave the monastery and pursue other interests. The film also contains a strong theme of nationalism as the Trapp family shows pride towards their home Austria and don't wish to support the German occupation led by the Nazi party. This relates back to the conventions of the musical genre deeply and is further supported through the character Captain's (Christopher Plummer) song "Edelweiss."
La La Land (2016) - A modern take on the musical genre, combining traditional elements with a contemporary setting and storytelling, La La Land includes elaborate song-and-dance numbers that serve to express the characters’ dreams, aspirations, and love story. It features a central romantic conflict between the two lead characters, Mia (Emma Stone) and Sebastian (Ryan Gosling), with their relationship intertwined with the film’s musical sequences. Having these big actors star in the film helped gain promotion and interest in the movie as well as the film's unconventional view on the sacrifices involved in pursuing artistic dreams. The integration of music into the storyline is a key element, and the film’s original songs, such as the reoccurring “City of Stars,” are integral to character development and the plot.
The Phantom of the Opera
Grease
Singing in the Rain
High School Musical
Les Misérables
Cabaret
West Side Story
No comments:
Post a Comment