‘Wicked’s’ Color Grading Is Intended to ‘Immerse People Into Oz, to Make It a Real Place,’ Says Director Jon M. Chu: If It Was ‘Fake,’ Then the Relationships and Stakes ‘Wouldn’t Feel Real’

As a lifelong fan of musicals and fantasy stories, I must say that Jon M. Chu has truly outdone himself with “Wicked.” The way he has brought this beloved tale to life on the big screen is nothing short of magical.

Eighty-five years post the premiere of “The Wizard of Oz,” director Jon M. Chu revives this enchanted realm onto the silver screen with “Wicked,” a movie version of the beloved Broadway play, featuring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in leading roles.

The recently released musical film, earning $114 million during its opening weekend at the domestic box office, has been praised by both critics and viewers alike. This movie received an “A” rating on CinemaScore and a 90% average score on Rotten Tomatoes. Nevertheless, some cinema-goers have expressed concerns about the film’s color grading and how it contrasts with the Technicolor used in “The Wizard of Oz.

During an interview with The Globe and Mail, Chu discussed the thought process behind the visual style of “Wicked”, following the comment that the movie appears a bit subdued in color.

Chu stated, ‘The vibrant colors everywhere were intentional to make Oz seem tangible, not just a figment of imagination. If it were a fantasy or someone’s dream, the authentic emotions and challenges faced by these characters would lack substance.’

Chu expressed his intention to portray the Land of Oz in an entirely new manner, unlike anything we’ve seen before. He explained, “It’s been depicted as a matte painting, it’s been a digital world from video games.” However, for him, it’s essential that we can touch and feel the authenticity. Thus, he wants it to be more than just plastic.

In his explanation, “Wicked” director elaborated, “We’ve created an environment, the sun serves as our primary light source. Observe the expansive vistas, notice the atmosphere, witness the inhabitants living here. The connection between these two characters, who will span across two films, with their surroundings is significant; particularly their bond with this land that the wizard has shaped. As Elphaba enters the scene, the contrast in colors intensifies, symbolizing her impact on this world.

Ever since the initial sneak peeks of “Wicked” hit social media, there’s been a lot of buzz about its color grading. In a recent chat with EbMaster, director Jon M. Chu addressed criticisms that the photos looked overly dark by revealing his thought process behind the choice.

Chu intentionally selected those particular images at the early stages of shooting. He aimed for images that were intense and thought-provoking to convey this wasn’t a cheerful, vibrant tale. At that point, we hadn’t added any special effects yet. The backdrop was blue, so VFX was needed to create the sky. In the midst of this, Chu was using his iPhone to color the images, which turned out to be quite bright when he shared them. He realized afterward, ‘Oh, everyone doesn’t typically boost their iPhone brightness that much.’ He felt a bit guilty about it because he didn’t want viewers to adjust their screens. There wasn’t any studio post-production involved.

“Wicked” is now playing in theaters.

2024-11-24 23:47

‘Wicked’s’ Color Grading Is Intended to ‘Immerse People Into Oz, to Make It a Real Place,’ Says Director Jon M. Chu: If It Was ‘Fake,’ Then the Relationships and Stakes ‘Wouldn’t Feel Real’

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