Authentic Friendships, Relationships, and Identity Fill New Film from the Land of Oz
"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" began as a series of children's books in the early 1900s by author L. Frank Baum. For a time, Baum was a member of the Methodist church, and then the Episcopal church. And he was quoted saying "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was a story divinely inspired.
Baum said, "It was pure inspiration. It came to me right out of the blue. I think that sometimes the great author had a message to get across."
The inspirational story became a silent short film in 1910. It was followed by a feature film in 1939. Then in 1974, a Broadway musical adaptation called "The Wiz" premiered, followed by The Wiz feature film in 1978. A prequel story in the Broadway musical called Wicked came in 2003, and now the film adaption is playing in theaters nationwide.
It reimagines the classic Wizard of Oz. Elphaba is misunderstood because of her green skin. At school, Elphaba meets a popular girl named Glinda and the two forge a friendship. Ariana Grande plays the role of Glinda and Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba. Erivo told CBN News' Studio 5 what she thought about the character.
"I don't think she really understands her full potential, and I think people have already prejudged her when she steps into the room because of what she looks like, and they haven't taken the time to know her. So yeah, I do think she's misunderstood, and I do think she doesn't fully realize her power, but she takes the time, and she warms up into it and has to learn what she's made of."
Music is also an integral part of the film including the songs "Popular" sung by Grande and "Gravity" sung by Erivo.
"What first comes to mind is what fun we had. It was just such an incredible experience. I mean, to be able to take on these songs that have been here and that have been iconic for decades already, and to breathe our own new life into them and to have such fun doing it. And I mean, it was just really an emotional ride. I mean, even the comedic days were emotional," Grande tells CBN News.
Both Grande and Erivo realized their voices worked well as a duet after a day of spending time together before the filming process started.
"The first time we sang, we were at John's house, and we did for Good Together and immediately recognize that our voices worked. Something like that's very intimate. When voices work together, it means that you are listening for one another and can also hear one another," says Erivo.
It was no small task for filmmaker Jon M. Chu to step in as director of the film.
"I mean definitely there's a lot of fear in that, but that's what we do filmmakers. I'm glad that I was able to have made many movies before this with lots of different fan bases, whether there's a Justin Bieber fan base, a Step-Up fan base, a G.I. Joe fan base. I mean you name it. What I always clung to was what I felt when I first saw Wicked in San Francisco before it ever went to Broadway. I remember just feeling like a little kid. I mean, I was in college, but I felt like a kid watching something for the first time, break the screen. And so, I always clung to that feeling and moments that I tried to protect in the movie and knowing the tools that I have as a filmmaker to then blossom it, I guess," he told CBN News.
The importance of friendships and acceptance is a major theme of the film. As for Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande it's a friendship that goes beyond their roles on the big screen.
"I think it's a story that I've loved, that we've loved, since the Wizard of Oz, really. And it's a show that has brought me so much comfort and so much joy since I was 10 years old. I clung to the original Broadway cast recording for Safety and Escape since I was 10. And to live it in this way has just taught me so much more than I could ever imagine. And becoming close with this amazing, incredible human being (Cynthia Erivo) and with Glinda and spending time in this world has been just so incredibly informative and inspiring and ever-changing," Grande said.
READ: Mattel 'Deeply Regrets' Error of Listing Porn Site on Doll Packaging for 'Wicked' Toys
