THE GREATEST SHOWMAN

[jo]

And filmsite reporters reacting to the teaser/trailer --

" A movie for film lovers!"


www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rwVQ6T9xP4

[jo]

Another filmsite reacts online -- Fastforward to 12'28" for THE GREATEST SHOWMAN!

It looks like THIS IS ME is going to be a real winner!

[jo]

Putting this up again -- in case you missed it from the other page...

Take a look - before the FOX police has it taken down

[jo]

preprod.instagram.com/p/BSTYpFIhwfP/?taken-by=kealasettle

It looks like this was one of the 5 workshops! Hugh is almost bald -- so this must be right after he wrapped filming for PAN ( sometime in June 2014?).

Aaron Tveit is on the right hand side wearing a maroon checked shirt.


Ellen -- can you spot Sutton Foster ?

[qwerty]

I have a question: who sang This Is Me?

[jo]

Keala Settle! She plays The Bearded Lady, so it was logical for her to sing the song for the so-called circus freaks.

[jo]

Deadline speculates on Oscar possibilities after CinemaCon --

deadline.com/2017/03/new-oscar-buzz-begins-with-studios-showing-off-several-awards-possibilities-in-vegas-this-week-cinemacon-1202056511/

Pete Hammond is the Awards columnist for DEADLINE.

Oscar Buzz Begins With Studios Showing Off Awards Possibilities At CinemaCon

by Pete Hammond
March 31, 2017 8:46am



If, as Deadline reported exclusively yesterday, it’s not too early to name next year’s Oscar show producers (Mike De Luca and Jennifer Todd will return, with Jimmy Kimmel eyed to host again), then it’s not too early to speculate on just who might be nominated. I am talking specifically about what I see as awards and Oscar possibilities coming out of the week I just spent at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where eight studios showed off their product reels to the theatrical exhibition community. Granted, most of the movies on view here fall into more of a commercial category than necessarily award-sy (don’t look for The Fate of the Furious at the Oscars unless they establish a stunts category) but, just one month after the infamous 2017 Oscar show, I say let’s get the ball rolling with what looks promising out of CinemaCon and all those studio presentations Deadline exhaustively covered.


Starting with 20th Century Fox — the studio that displayed the most showmanship by far with a song-and-dance show bookending star appearances and clips — Hugh Jackman starring in the big, brassy original musical on the life of P.T. Barnum called The Greatest Showman would seem to have enormous potential both above and below the line, at least based on the snappy, impressive footage shown. With songs by the Oscar-winning La La Land team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also are strong Tony possibilities for Dear Evan Hansen, this looks like the kind of movie that easily could rack up several nominations including lead actor for Jackman, whose most recent nom was for another musical, Les Miserables. Or perhaps a supporting player such as Keala Settle, who plays the Bearded Lady in the film. The Broadway stalwart, most recently in Waitress, has her first big movie role and gets to deliver what I hear is a Jennifer Hudson-like Dreamgirls moment. In introducing the clips for the Christmas Day release, Jackman was raving about her.

More...

[jo]

The Los Angeles Times also thinks THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is an Oscar hopeful --


www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-fox-cinemacon-20170331-story.html

Hugh Jackman puts on the greatest show at CinemaCon

Hugh Jackman, star of the upcoming film "The Greatest Showman," at 20th Century Fox's CinemaCon 2017 presentation at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. (Chris Pizzello / Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

Amy KaufmanContact Reporter

Hugh Jackman’s P.T. Barnum musical “The Greatest Showman” was the star of 20th Century Fox’s slate Thursday, helping make the studio’s presentation the greatest show at CinemaCon this week.

Also part of the Fox lineup: a sexy spy thriller starring Jennifer Lawrence, Ridley Scott’s latest “Alien” flick and a new “Planet of the Apes” movie featuring stunningly lifelike monkeys.


But it was “The Greatest Showman” — which doesn’t hit theaters until December — that got the biggest push at the annual gathering of theater owners. Whereas other studios tend to highlight their blockbuster movies at CinemaCon, Fox often opts to put a spotlight on its Oscar hopefuls. In years past, Ang Lee promoted “Life of Pi” and James Cameron touted “Avatar” in front of thousands of exhibitors, who would have been thrilled if Cameron had showed up here with a news of his long-anticipated “Avatar” sequels.

Jackman, though, did plenty to wow the crowd and sell the “The Greatest Showman.” After thanking his “mum,” who was apparently in the audience, the actor addressed the exhibitors at length, thanking them for their commitment to the theatrical experience. “There’s not one person in this room who didn’t, at some point in their lives, love movies more than anything else and wish that one day they could be in this business,” Jackman said.


So the audience was already on his side before he introduced the trailer for the film, which tells the origin story of P.T. Barnum, who founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus (later merged with Ringling Bros.). Though that very circus recently announced it would close this May after 146 years in the business, the film portrays the circus as a purely magical place. With music from the guys who wrote the Broadway hit “Dear Evan Hansen” — and costarring Zac Efron, Michelle Williams and Zendaya — the movie, directed by Michael Gracey, appears to have an inspirational tone.

“Every one of us is special,” Barnum says to a little person he hires to be in the circus, “and nobody is like anyone else. That’s the point of my show.”


More...

[jo]

At CinemaCon --

Sorry, but I don't get this and similar remarks about the photo --

Many similar comments on his Instagram upload.



EDIT: It seems there were faux fatal accident reports on John Cena in the past.

[jo]

Did you ever wonder who @visual prostitute referred by Keala in his Instagram message is?

Wonder no more -- it's Michael Gracey!

www.instagram.com/visualprostitute/?hl=en

It looks like that we have another Hugh film director who is also another photography addict


Jo

[jo]

Gracey's Instagram photos are mostly of structures and views -- does he also have a cinematographer's eye?

But his interest is not only about stunning visuals of views. Look at this action shot he did of the choreographer who once visited Hugh at Pearl Studios for a meeting in the early days of GREATEST SHOWMAN --



Stunning choreography move and stunning photography eye!

[jo]

I think in terms of the visual tone and artistry of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN, we are in safe hands with Michael. The music side, it seems from comments to the CinemaCom footages, seemed to have already won audiences.

I am curious how MG dealt with the big screen intimate scenes, hopefully those tinged with drama and other heartfelt emotions! That element will cement the movie's hold on its award chances, together of course with the likely-great performances and portrayals by the major cast!


Jo

[jo]

Hugh Jackman starring in the big, brassy original musical on the life of P.T. Barnum called The Greatest Showman would seem to have enormous potential both above and below the line, at least based on the snappy, impressive footage shown.

Generally-speaking, above-the-line seems to refer to the key people involved in a film production. That may include the producers/the director/the screenwriter/the lead actors.

Below-the-line seems to refer to the rest of the creative team, the cast, and the crew with significant work in the movie.

Musical scores are usually cited only for Original Song ( not to be confused with Film Scoring), but in this case, the musical score is also a key creative talent, much like the screenplay especially if it is key to advancing the story.

Jo

[jo]

Mar 31, 2017 11:20:37 GMT -5 jo said:

preprod.instagram.com/p/BSTYpFIhwfP/?taken-by=kealasettle

It looks like this was one of the 5 workshops! Hugh is almost bald -- so this must be right after he wrapped filming for PAN ( sometime in June 2014?).

Aaron Tveit is on the right hand side wearing a maroon checked shirt.


Ellen -- can you spot Sutton Foster ?

Is Sutton the lady sitting down in front of Keala, wearing a green top and has long hair?


Jo

[mamaleh]

Yes, that's Sutton Foster, in front of Keala and next to the boy.

Ellen

[jo]

Let's hear it from someone who is not a musicals fan --


www.joblo.com/movie-news/cinemacon-2017-fox-presentation-alien-greatest-showman-red-sparrow-more-230

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN -

The last blast for Fox's presentation was the musical biopic of PT Barnum aka The Greatest Showman and they brought out Hugh Jackman to the stage to talk about the film, passionate, vibrant, and goddmaned charming to the last. Jackman reminisced about his first time at CinemaCon (then known as ShoWest) and told a story about meeting Clint Eastwood on stage and fumbling over his words with Clint responding "You're holding up the line, kid" as everyone was exiting. Funny stuff and gracefully told by Jackman.

We then were treated to a first look at the film, which looks to be a really emotional and moving musical. Ripe with the rags-to-riches type journey we've seen before, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN looks like a grand journey with some great songs and performances to carry it through the box office this December. Even if musicals aren't your thing (they're not really mine, but then again I loved LA LA LAND) this feels like the very definition of an all-inclusive film, having something for everyone and tapping into the human spirit drama that can really uplift when you need it the most. We'll still have to wait and see how the final product comes out, but from the early peek, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN looks to deliver on the title.

For a non-musicals fan, this film blogger is the only one which highlighted that THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is not just pure musical spectacle but a film with emotional depths! He mentions that from the trailer, one could see that the film seems to tap into the human spirit drama that can really uplift when it is needed the most!

I wonder if part of that is due to the wise move to include THIS IS ME and what must have been a very touching back story of The Bearded Lady and other circus oddities!

Even a clown can have a sad story!

I hope they don't make us wait too many months to see the first trailer! And if the people who gave us the first trailer of LOGAN will also be working on GREATEST SHOWMAN, we will likely get a trailer which emphasizes both the spectacle and the drama from this movie!

Jo

[jo]

More period piece props --

@scottie10006
Classic "fire truck" in #cityhall  #nyc  for #thegreatestshowman  #filmshoot 

The firetruck that may have been used for the big fire!

[jo]

Box Office Pro ( which is the best predictor site for box office performance in the USA/Canada) reports on the presentation at CinemaCon, but with a little detail missed from other reports.

pro.boxoffice.com/cinemacon-2017-studio-presentations-fox/

CinemaCon 2017 Studio Presentations: FOX
Fox Wows with Big CinemaCon Presentation Emphasizing Showmanship

Author Daniel Loria Published April 1, 2017


Fox decided to emphasize exhibition’s roots in showmanship with its presentation, opening with an intricately choreographed dance number and closing with a slew of executives singing on stage...


Fox closed its presentation with an early look at this holiday season’s musical, The Greatest Showman. Star Hugh Jackman took the stage, thanking exhibitors for their support of Logan in the weeks leading up to the event and sharing personal anecdotes of his previous visits to CinemaCon. The audience was treated to footage from the musical and one if its headlining numbers, “This is Me,” as balloons rained down from the auditorium’s ceiling. It was a festive end to the presentation, with Fox guests rising from the audience to join Jackman on stage and sing along to the final notes of the song.

Sounds like a Jackman variety show on Broadway


Jo

[jo]

@dhwang80
Filming #TheGreatestShowman 
Supreme Court, New York County

It looks like an evening gala event, not one for legal proceedings, with people on the steps wearing evening finery? Maybe they are just using the building façade as a set ?

[jo]

The Barnum family are part of the event

Elegant Hugh...er Phineas Taylor

Hey, maybe the Oscars should add another below-the-line category -- BEST IN COSTUME
Not just Costume Design!


The filming was caught on camera by:

@christopher.peterson
@thehughjackman filming The Greatest Showman in New York City #hughjackman  #thegreatestshowman  #ptbarnum 

[jo]

Hugh always looks credible portraying a Dad! Real or surrogate film father!







Since this is a musical, will he sing together with his screen daughter


Jo

[jo]

Wow - a cornucopia of photos from the filming on Saturday! Was this the location mentioned in that filming notice (which I posted the other day) supposed to be happening on lower Broadway in the Tribeca area? Is this the location of the NY County Supreme Court?


www.justjared.com/2017/04/01/hugh-jackman-michelle-williams-film-the-greatest-showman-in-nyc/




I almost did not recognize Michelle Williams -- she looks very beautiful in this photo!






So does Hugh in the above photo!

[jo]

Can't wait to see their "ballroom dancing on the rooftops of New York" scene! My favorite Hugh dancing skill is when he does the waltz...or maybe the swing, in this case?


Jo

[jo]

On Christmas Day this year, would you rather see a movie about a fashion designer portrayed by DDLewis ...or a movie with gorgeous people wearing designer togs, albeit circa 19th century

Loving the elegance and color palette of their film costumes -- can compete with the best of the Met Musuem Costume Ball

Again, how can the awards prediction site of Clayton Davis prefer the tennis wear of Billy Jean King and Bobby Riggs ( Battle of the Sexes) to these elegant-looking movie costumes?


Jo

[jo]

Lucky onlookers --