Written by Trinity Ray. Photos by Trinity Ray.
On October 30, members of the creative team behind the highly anticipated “Wicked” movie visited SCAD Savannah Film Festival to give us some insight into the filmmaking process. “Wicked” (2024) is a loose adaptation of the hit book (1995) and Broadway musical (2003) of the same name. Showcasing the life of a young woman named Elphaba (portrayed by Cynthia Erivo), the film follows Elphaba through her journey as a student as she makes an unexpected friend, Glinda (portrayed by Ariana Grande). This is the story of how the Witch of the West came to be wicked.
During this first look panel, Variety senior artisans editor Jazz Tangcay led us through a conversation with cinematographer Alice Brooks, editor Myron Kerstein and costume designer Paul Tazewell.
Alice Brooks spoke about how they wanted to make this movie feel authentic to the Broadway touch that had been placed on the story previously. The attention to detail and care that was placed onto this film is phenomenal. Brooks discussed how she used every color of the rainbow when lighting the sets for the film. Both stars, Erivo and Grande, were captured using lenses specific to each of them individually. Brooks handpicked these lenses based on what made each of the actors shine on screen. In the film, we see Erivo captured on a 65mm and Grande on a 75mm.
Paul Tazewell took us through the costume design process and decisions that were faced during production. He spoke about how a variety of costumes were made with textures and movement in mind. There needed to be a richness in the outfits, and they also needed to allow the actors to fully embody their characters. A lot of costumes, including Jonathan Bailey’s outfit for Fiyero during the “Dancing Through Life” number, were designed with mobility in mind, as the film’s musical nature necessitates. Tazewell also threw out a few easter eggs for us to watch out for: Nessarose’s glass slippers may feature a swirling hint toward “The Wizard of Oz” tornado.
Myron Kerstein told us how he chose which cuts to use in the movie to create the intense emotions that they needed for the story. He said that every cut was amazing and he highlighted how Erivo and Grande portrayed their characters extremely well. There are a lot of musical numbers throughout this film, and Kerstein emphasized how the purpose of the scenes drove his creative decisions.
The first look and focus on the artistry behind the film leads to even more excitement for its release. Witness the magic of “Wicked” when it hits theaters Nov. 22, 2024!
Alice Brooks, Myron Kerstein and Paul Tazewell after the first look
