"Cher always put her imprint on everything she was wearing. Steven started to write it and it snowballed from there. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from Coffy to Jackie Brown. Clint always loved the idea of doing a more grounded Burlesque musical in a nightclub, not a broad comedy, and he pushed me to write the script. She later tells Tess about his plan, and they inform the owner (James Brolin) of new million-dollar condos being sold across the street. There wasn't anything Steven wanted, creatively, that anybody disagreed with. I said, "We're ambushing you. It did, however, win a Golden Globe, so perhaps I was wrong! Culpepper felt Aguilera's deep admiration for Cher emotions complimentary to the dynamic between Ali and Tess in the film. Yes, the gays love it, but there's no one in town that's surprised that the gays are going to love something that Christina Aguilera and Cher do together! . After leaving Iowa with stars in her eyes, Ali arrives at a Los Angeles burlesque lounge with dreams of taking the stage with her soaring voice. [12] It was later further revised by Susannah Grant, also uncredited. The difference is, in every movie, the director isn't in a relationship with the studio. These were extremely challenging to produce, with a very effective result, if I do say so myself! I respect her talent, her no-bulls---, genuine way of saying it as she sees it, making up her own rules, and helping to pave the way for so many other women in generations to come. The Spy Kids star portrayed club doorman Alexis, who briefly takes the stage for a risqu dance number. Alice "Ali" Marilyn Rose ( Christina Aguilera) is a young waitress from Iowa who dreams of becoming a professional dancer following her mother's death during childhood. It sounded like an '80s power ballad, which I love, but it seemed incongruous in the movie. Aguilera performed "Bound to You" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and gave an interview and performance on Conan. Aguilera told Collider in November 2010 that she wanted Alis character to be rewritten before she agreed to sign on to the project. There were a few scenes we shared where I learned from her that being a supportive costar really helps to create something special, and motivating each other is what makes for a great outcome. Others, I lost. It was obviously an audience that loved Cher and Christina, but I was worried. Antin filmed Aguileras performance too. As of 2021, Eric Dane (Marcus) and Peter Gallagher (Vince) have both appeared on the television series Grey's Anatomy (2005-present). Burlesque was an extension of "Glam" and "Prima Donna" from Bionic, a continuation of that fabulousness, but with a controlled theme and narrative. She'd rehearse, even at home, because Christina's not showing up to not be the best on set. Burlesque: Ali Saves The Show (Kristen Bell, Christina Aguilera HD MOVIE SCENE) Scene City 1.09M subscribers Subscribe 6.2M views 1 year ago Despite Nikki's (Kristen Bell) attempt to thwart. Pam Grier reflects on her most iconic roles, from, Behind the music: High Fidelity stars look back on the cult-classic film 20 years later, The rise and fall and rise of Kevin Smith's Mallrats. [37], Burlesque was released on Wednesday, November 24, 2010, the day before Thanksgiving in the United States; on its opening day, it came in third to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 and Tangled. AGUILERA: In songwriting, I had to tackle both the tender moments of Ali falling in love with Jack, while also tackling the opposite energy of the up-tempo [songs] where I needed to embody and exude the powerful, sensual, and celebratory sides that encompass a woman. There wasnt anything Steven wanted, creatively, that anybody disagreed with. Peter Gallagher and Cam Gigandet appeared together in The O.C. At the end of its box office run, Burlesque grossed $90 million worldwide, with multiple millions more in home video sales. A couple of weeks later I heard from Cher's manager, who loved the song, and she ended up recording it. The film marked Aguilera's film debut and Cher's first musical. All of that felt good. (2003), as Kevin Volchok and Sandy Cohen, respectively. Background Ali Rose (Aguilera) moves to Los Angeles after she quits her bar job when her boss refuses to pay her. WARREN: At one point they were saying [Steven] wanted to test the movie without the song in it, and I think Cher was like, if you even test the movie without the song in, I will do no press! Third, the first number seen at the club is reminiscent of Cabaret's opening with Cher introducing the dancers with little adages about each one. The truth was that I didnt have any idea where to stand, not that I know where to stand now. It was a joke between us, because after I met Cher at her house for three hours with Donald [De Line, the executive producer] and Steve, we called Christina as we left. She came on the set with us, and thats a little bit nerve-wracking when youve done nothing in film. CULPEPPER: Christina kept saying, "Please, Clint, get Cher! Ali leaves Marcus, after discovering his plans to sell the burlesque for money. There are several allusions to the Broadway show and film of Cabaret (possibly unintended). vevo arrestato volte biglietti contatto un conoscenza ad esempio ospita autorita aspetto di burlesque. How come individuals court relationship where the son is a lot old versus lady? FAYE: When Cher started working on that, she wanted to work at her house with her person, meaning one of her dancers coming to our rehearsals and bringing the work back to her. I'm in Cher's trailer dressing room, just hanging out and chatting. The O.C. CULPEPPER: The biggest challenge was making sure we had all the coverage for the dance numbers, but I was seeing that stuff cut together, because Steven was asking an editor to cut it together as he was going on so he knew what pieces he had to get. At Georgia's wedding, Jack appears to call off his engagement and becomes drunk. I was vocal about saying this isn't the best version of how this works. I don't think Steven even wanted it then! Most of the stand-ins for the female dancers in the performances of the Burlesque club were actually former members of The Pussycat Dolls, the Las Vegas burlesque-troupe-turned-pop-group (uncredited though). ANTIN: It's inspired by Burlesque: A re-imagination. [23] In all, the DVD has sold over 1.4 million units in the United States. Christina was on the other side of the lot rehearsing. Show me how you burlesque! Antin revealed that he filmed these shows into a single movie which eventually inspired Burlesque. MICHAEL KAPLAN (costume designer): I wanted a modern take on burlesque with a retro feel and a nod to its history and origins. Dandy Dillinger, a 33-year-old baker and burlesque performer living in the East Village, lost both her day job and her performance career when the pandemic hit. [14], Filming locations included the exterior and adjacent parking as the "Burlesque Lounge" of the Ricardo Montalbn Theatre in Hollywood,[15][16] as well as the interior of the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana.[16]. The "Beautiful" singer portrayed Ali, a small-town girl who heads to Los Angeles with big dreams and a dynamic voice to back up her determination to see her name in lights. It's a hybrid television event/series taking the movie to the next level. [38], The week after Thanksgiving, Burlesque experienced a substantial decrease on ticket sales, earning $9.65 million ($6.1 million for the weekend), for a total of $26.98 million for its first twelve days. I wrote a story for her show that loosely weaved together their musical numbers. The Glee alum made a cameo appearance as Jack's fiance, Natalie, who returns from New York to find her beau in bed with Ali. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place. I wanted to sing, Ive never been able to sing in a movie. CHER: One of my favorite scenes is when I was helping Christina with her makeup. After a few days, Denise said we weren't going to need a body double. [24], Burlesque received mixed reviews from critics. When he stumbles over words, she says "Jack, we're friends for Christ's sake. The most influential 50s burlesque dancers, who were successful in their decade and the genre. The theatrical trailer was attached to screenings of Step Up 3D and Easy A. Electra Avellan was considered for the role of Ali. The idea for "Express," when the girls are crawling through the vanities, we came up with that there, and the idea for the "Burlesque" letters lighting up at the end, we came up with that and using the 360 degrees of the space because it was so gigantic there. ANTIN: For the role of Ali, we wanted an actress with a very big voice. It wasnt a good film, the Moonstruck star told the Los Angeles Times. Movies. says the actress. Although Cher enjoyed her time working on the movie, she admitted in 2013 that she wasn't proud of the project. Meanwhile, Ali and Jack become romantically attracted. One night, Ali comes across a burlesque club where Tess Scali (Cher), the club's owner, and an entourage of dancers perform an opening number. Welcome to the Quantum Realm. [It's all a] normal process of making a movie. Despite rumors, Aguilera and Cher got along well on the set and became friends. Keep your legs straight while you bend and then bring your body back up, running your hands up your legs. She was adorable, reading off her iPhone kind of scared with something prepared, and the songs blew us away. Burlesque. The film tells the story of Ali (Aguilera), an aspiring singer who leaves her small hometown for Los Angeles, where she becomes a dancer at a struggling burlesque lounge owned by Tess (Cher). It was a long process. -M-NUva. Its story is earnest and timeless: A vocally gifted, small-town waitress, Ali (Aguilera), leaves Iowa for Los. She gave me some good advice, shared some personal insight and stories on love, and also encouragement along the way when I needed to hear it! AGUILERA: In preparation of shooting, I worked with an acting coach. AGUILERA: I wanted to make sure Burlesque felt right before confirming, so it was important to meet Steven in person. ANTIN: [I didn't direct another film because] I guess I needed time to lick my wounds, and I was suddenly getting jobs directing commercials mostly musical commercials at first, but it opened up to all kinds. Ali breaks things off with Marcus after she sees his plans to build a skyscraper on the property the club is on. I might've seen him at the party after, and I didn't thank him in the thank you speech [at the Globes]. ANTIN: The day we shot "Welcome to Burlesque," I'd never seen Cher do the number. When Georgia (Julianne Hough), one of the leading dancers, becomes pregnant, auditions are held in search of a replacement to fill her role. Many fans have wondered if Burlesque used an original screenplay. The Golden Globes drew a lot of adverse criticism when they announced their 2010 nominations as two of the year's most critically derided films - Burlesque and The Tourist (2010) - both were nominated for Best Film Musical or Comedy. More than just a pretty face, Gypsy Rose Lee was an author and playwright in addition to being a dancer and burlesque . Instead of leaving, Ali begins serving customers at the club as awaitress, while Tess and Sean observe with Jack asking Tess to give Ali a chance. Lisa Kudrow was considered for the role of Ali. She asked really smart questions. I tried to put her at ease. The performer had in fact, been a collector of burlesque archive and had researched burlesque and drag culture vividly, specifically for one of her albums. RELATED:5 Best (& 5 Worst) Movie Musicals. This, however, infuriates Nikki (Kristen Bell), a lead performer struggling with alcoholism. Its been more than a decade since Burlesque released and Steve Antins passion project is still considered one of the most memorable musicals Hollywood has produced. I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive, she explained. Plagued by stories of on-set clashes that overshadowed the production's aesthetic merits, Christina Aguilera's first feature film (and Cher's debut screen musical) had to find its audience after a middling theatrical curtain call, eventually blossoming into an enduring cult phenomenon that's still inspiring everything from drag queen revues to viral internet moments, 10 years later. Cher started laughing hysterically and said, "Well, I hope that doesn't become necessary!". CLINT CULPEPPER (Screen Gems studio president): One day I was on the set of a movie [and] Christina's agent called, saying they'd had a big meeting with her and that she wanted to do a movie. [29] Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter called Burlesque "a refreshing throwback to movie musicals that celebrates its stars while indulging in sexy fun" and also praised Aguilera's acting and singing. But it was the right song for her and the movie. Tess then angrily smashes the passenger side window on Nikki's convertible with a crowbar after she leaves. Overall, it has grossed over $30,053,366 on video sales (DVD and Blu-ray sales) in United States alone. ANTIN: I'd talked to a few different studios and networks about the project with my ex-producing partner, Joe Voci. It came up so much, more than anything else. Musically, everyone anticipated Aguilera delivering natural talent. A few years later Antin sent her the script for the movie. She smiled and said, "Oh my God, this is going to be fun!" It's been a decade since Burlesque premiered, but the trivia surrounding the Christina Aguilera and Cher helmed movie is still just as interesting. Loft Assistant: Katerina Kopel . It wasn't about Cher's performance. RELATED:10 Movies/Television Shows You Didn't Know Had Been Adapted Into Musicals. Burlesque (2010) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. [43] In a 2020 interview Antin revealed a "hybrid television event/series", based on the movie, was under development. Both Diablo Cody and Susannah Grant did rewrites of Steve Antin's script. CULPEPPER: She had these little '70s glasses on, and she looked up, stopped, and said, "What are you two doing here?" CULPEPPER: We [later] went out to dinner with Christina and her [then-husband Jordan Bratman], we went to her house and listened to a bunch of music and got to know each other. I've got this." When Georgia (Hough) becomespregnant, auditions are held to replace her. Jessica Biel and Lindsay Lohan were considered for the role of Nikki. I put that energy into how I really was feeling, approaching acting in the first place, which was wide-eyed and as a newcomer, who was open and vulnerable to everyones opinions and ideas, and ready to learn.. So, Clint and I wrote an outline together, then started writing the script. so she texted Cher right then, and Cher goes, "Is this an old f---in' song of hers?" In the scene where Nikki is singing about a dentist, the song is "Long John Blues" sung by Megan Mullally. Natalie angrily insists she and Jack never broke up though the latter denies this but asks Ali to leave. There's not a world where Christina is going to be out-danced or out-sung. But, I'm happy the gay community embraced it and I'm happy that people still enjoy watching it. Honestly, I didn't do a very good job. I didn't like the way it was written, and I didn't like the set. That's what I was aiming for. [41] The Burlesque stage musical was supposed to open at the Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey, in Autumn 2020, followed by a Broadway theatre adaptation, but the plans were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There's not that separation of civility because it's like you're dealing with your husband or wife [but] you compromise. Now that it's taken on this cult following, Cher has a whole new audience of young girls. They just looked at it and went, "That's charming as s---." Steven and Christina were, creatively, on the same page. Essentially, spend money (the film was Screen Gems' most expensive picture to date) to look worn. Then there are the custom shoes and the blisters. One of Christina's costumes was made completely of pearls wired together. The soundtrack album features ten tracks: eight performed by Aguilera, including "Express"; and two performed by Cher, which are her first original recordings in 7 years. Hoda Kotb Makes Pre-Taped Appearance on 'Today' Amid Continued Absence, Formula 1 Driver Max Verstappen and GF Kelly Piquet's Relationship Timeline, PDA in the Rink! Second, similar choreography. Ali's Hotel Manager: Michael Landes . It was the most challenging to everybody. Part of the a360media Entertainment Group. She doesnt have enough meat. It was a lifetime of lessons compacted into a short period of time, in so many ways. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. She finally read it and agreed to a meeting with Clint and [then-Sony Motion Picture Chairperson] Amy Pascal. A few years after, we sent her the script for Burlesque. I was like, "No, tell her it's a new f---in' song!" Steven Antin's sister Robin was a member of the girl band the Pussycat Dolls. I'd told Cher that Christina loved her so much: "You don't understand, this chick would drink your bathwater!" Once in L.A., she tries and fails at every audition she does until one night, she finds herself unknowingly in a burlesque club when she hears the music on the street. [26], Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune said, "The choicest dialogue in Burlesque provokes the sort of laughter that other, intentionally funny films only dream of generating. In retaliation, a furious Nikki quits after she reveals to have slept with Tess' ex-husband Vince (Peter Gallagher). CULPEPPER: There weren't creative differences. The soundtrack album features ten tracks: eight performed by Aguilera including "Express"; and two performed by Cher which are her first original recordings in 7 years. Erin Gray was considered for the role of Ali. Most of the flamboyant costumes worn by Cher were her own clothes, some of which were designed by her longtime friend Bob Mackie (interview on The Graham Norton Show (2007) / 18 Dec. 2010). I can do it." "Express" is the fruit of actually having them explain their vision, then the vision [for that song] came out through the music. [40], According to Joey Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly, since its release the movie "inspired everything, from drag queen revues to viral internet moments". If you look at that number, the amount of coverage that he was able to get, when we took it into the cutting room, it gave him so much to work with. Let's humor them!". But a campy, niche classic isn't exactly what the Burlesque crew set out to make. During the 202021 season they danced to a medley of Aguilera's Burlesque songs, which included "Express". She will make friends and enemies, and by dint of perseverance, will manage to get closer to her dream. But, I think she'll outlive the cockroaches. In the [concepting] days of "forget money," actually, either "But I'm a Good Girl" or "Tough Lover" was supposed to have a conveyor belt that people were supposed to run on while it was moving. The audience loves it. They had to rewrite the character because I was just like, This girl doesnt have a lot of drive,' she said at the time. Glitter and shine might be the hallmarks of Burlesque's visual appeal, but the inspiration for the film's dance numbers required scaling back. The Believe singer told Collider in November 2010 that she felt an immediate connection to Aguilera, whom she tried to mentor during filming. ANTIN: Christina had to become familiar with the entire process of acting. The brand also featured in classic Dirty Love (2005), starring Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Carmen Electra. "I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive," she explained. It's important to have a communication and a special understanding of each other. Kelsea Ballerini, Chase Stokes Get Cozy at Rangers Game. An interview with Christina Aguilera, who is making her feature film debut in the big screen musical BURLESQUE, starring opposite musical icon Cher. Director: Steven Antin. It was still the early days of the Pussycat Dolls, before they were a pop group. The film earned a nomination for Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 66th Golden Globe Awards, where Cher's performance of "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me", written by Diane Warren won the for Best Original Song. CULPEPPER: With all the coverage, "Show Me How Your Burlesque" took the most days multiple long days. She didn't use any doubles. It was so cute. . Wanda Sykes was considered for the role of Tess. We wanted her to come to my office to see all the renderings of the set and my references plastered all over the walls, storyboards, and the endless preparation. Amazed by the flamboyant costumes and the breathtaking choreography, Ali swears to herself that one day she too will be on the stage. Patron Tequila product placement in several scenes. The website's critical consensus reads, "Campy and clichd, Burlesque wastes its talented cast (including a better-than-expected Christina Aguilera) on a movie that wavers uncertainly between 'bad' and 'so bad it's good. Paula van Oppen, who plays Anna, one of the burlesque dancers, turned down a spot in the top 20 of Season 6 of So You Think You Can Dance to do this film. The soundtrack includes a mix of original and cover songs. WARREN: I was trying every way [to keep the song in the film]. She was sweet and said she knew about the script, but hadnt read it yet. [When Cher arrived] I'd play stuff that I'd cut together. That was the genesis, Antin said. I tried to put her at ease. But, the meat of the narrative was there, and the pair were ready to dot their call sheet with glistening stars beginning with courting Aguilera to play their budding ingenue. A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer.A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer.A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer. The role of Tess could've gone several ways. AGUILERA: I had always been inspired by throwback classic pin-up art and burlesque style, essentially all things celebrating the female body and sexuality, so I was already versed in the history and appeal of this world, conceptually. WARREN: I was blown away. There was me saying "Hey, you've got to move on," and him saying, "I don't have it, I'm not going to move on." At Georgia's wedding, Jack appears to call off his engagement, getting drunk. Cher was reportedly at a soundstage recording for Zootopia and when Culpepper found out she was there, he and Antin camped outside for quite a while, waiting for her exit, and eventually introduced themselves. Ali replaces Nikki one night to host a performance after the latter is too intoxicated to perform. STEVEN ANTIN (writer-director): My sister, Robin Antin, had a show that she created at the Viper Room [for] the Pussycat Dolls. "The truth was that I didnt have any idea where to stand, not that I know where to stand now. I always did," he says). Jack refers her to Tess for an audition, but is rejected instantly and ushered out by Sean (Tucci). See production, box office & company info. Tess asks Sean what happened to all the good dancers in LA, to which he responds Dancing with the Stars (2005). One decade after the film's Nov. 24, 2010 release, those who took writer-director Steven Antin's vision from far-off fantasy to a dream come true all attest: The memories of the magic they experienced on set are still as vivid as they were all those years ago. Christina realized this was new to her and she took it all very seriously, and was committed to working hard on getting it right. The Easy A actor played snarky stage manager Sean, who is best friends with Tess. [9], Cher accepted the supporting role of Tess Scali because she wanted to sing in a movie and thought this would be her last opportunity to do so. In a fit of rage, Nikki sabotages the performance by turning off the music that the dancers usually lip sync to until Ali impresses everyone with her singing skills. Starring: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Alan Cumming Watch all you want. We won't post to any of your accounts without asking first. That was one of the things where Steve rolled up his sleeves and got in there for two or three days of [angles]. She really had my back on that song. CHER: It's not a surprise to me that it has been deeply embraced by the gay community. I hate that device. It was all very spontaneous. Well, welcome to Wonderland. Its story is earnest and timeless: A vocally gifted, small-town waitress, Ali (Aguilera), leaves Iowa for Los Angeles with nothing but a bus ticket and raw talent in tow. 64-year-old For the first time in a decade, she's starring in a feature film, "Burlesque". Patrick Dempsey, Sam Worthington, Casey Affleck, and Jamie Foxx were considered to play Marcus. Despite its mixed reception, the film did modestly at the box office, grossing $91 million worldwide and earning an additional $42 million in domestic video sales. Im old but Im still pretty on top of everything.. Whats happening in this Burlesque movie clip?Ali auditions to be one of the club's dancers and when she's done, she persuades Tess to take her much to the lead dancer Nikki's (Kristen Bell from Veronica Mars and Forgetting Sarah Marshall) annoyance.Click to Buy/Rent Burlesque on iTunes: https://apple.co/2BNHE2nWhats the Burlesque movie about? But they never got to fully share that excitement at the time of release. Alice "Ali" Marilyn Rose (Christina Aguilera) is a young waitress from Iowa who dreams of becoming a professional dancer following her mother's death during childhood. It had that feel to it. His warm and genuine nature encouraged me to confirm, along with him interweaving so many pieces of my love for Etta James [into the script], knowing my personal passion for Burlesque [on] my Back to Basics album, and also [with me having] performed in the original Pussycat Dolls stage show at the Roxy. Effeuilleuse legends in the height of their fame, up and coming burly-Q beauties and the new bad girls of burlesque. I said, "Ok, let's see it!" Little by little, the young woman discovered the life of this small world. Cher grabbed her and gave her a big hug and a kiss. But it takes luck and extraordinary talent for a star to shine to the point of dazzling the public. Cher. She reminded me of the relationship that I had with Meryl Streep [on Silkwood], when Meryl took me under her wing, she said at the time. She'd never really done it before, and suddenly she was the lead, carrying a movie. But Christina quietly kept rehearsing it and trying it and working on it, and one day she said to me, "I don't need a dance double. This was then followed by the track "But I Am a Good Girl" which was released in November 2010. He revealed that he wanted Cher to wear black in the film but Cher bought her own styling prowess on set. I want someone with more bite and more passion for what she wants in life.' It was insane. She finds Tess (played by Cher) and the dancers performing Welcome to Burlesque and decides to pursue a career on stage once she meets Jack (Gigandet). Loree said if I got her the CD, she'd get it to Cher. I'm a perfectionist, and Steven is even more so, and that's the challenge: Wanting every second to be delicious or finessed and powerful, and that specificity takes time. I gave her the song thinking nothing was going to happen. The films script was written by Antin but it was revised by names like Diablo Cody and Susannah Grant uncredited. In fact, Cody even opened up about how people ask her about projects she was only briefly involved with. "It was always sad that it was not a good film." Rose McGowan was considered for the role of Ali. What's happening in this Burlesque movie clip?Ali auditions to be one of the club's dancers and when she's done, she persuades Tess to take her much to the l. Her performance is an instant success to which Tess casts her in an upcoming show. There's a bit of the Crazy Horse Saloon in Paris, the musical Cabaret, as well as the '60s TV show Hullabaloo as well as the Follies Bergre. Cher [saw us] and went, "Ok, everybody, take five!" Aguilera and Cher developed a close bond behind-the-scenes of the film that emulated their characters' budding mother-daughter relationship in the movie. Marla (as Wendy Benson) Tisha French . ANTIN: Especially on a movie like this, it's anegotiation with theactors, all thedifferent departments, production design, makeup, hair, the executives, the agents, managers To be clear, the studio wasn't trying to change anything in particular.