Speaker:
Welcome back to House of Style.
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I'm your host, Grant Alexander,
and today we're diving into a phenomenon
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that's not just breaking records.
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It's redefining what it means to combine
artistry and strategy in cinema.
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Yes, we are talking about Wicked: Part 1,
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the movie that has critics singing, fans
raving and social media buzzing.
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Here's the twist.
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Wicked’s success is a perfect
blend of two kinds of style.
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The artistic style
that made every frame a masterpiece,
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and the business style
that turned it into a global event.
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In this episode,
we're exploring the artistic style
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the bold choices in cinematography,
acting, costumes,
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music, and set design
that didn't just bring us to life.
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They made it unforgettable.
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And be sure to subscribe to the channel
so you catch the next episode where
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we'll uncover the equally genius business
side of this success story.
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Oh, and here's a fun goal.
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By the time the next viral press tour
begins, I hope the show is doing so well
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that these videos provided enough
clout that Ariana, Cynthia, Jonathan,
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Ethan, Bowen, Michelle, Jeff,
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Keala, and Marissa and the rest of this
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incredible cast come on the podcast
for a wicked spectacle.
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Putting it out there.
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Let's make it happen in about eight,
nine, ten months time.
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Let's get into it and talk visuals.
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Wicked’s
cinematography is an art form in itself.
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Cinematographer Alice Brooks described it
as creating a:
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version of Technicolor, a style
that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
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The use of real sets over
CGI sets this movie apart.
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They didn't just simulate Oz,
they built it.
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If you stuck around to watch the credits,
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there had to be at least 100 carpenters
on that list.
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From the vibrant tulip fields
of Munchkinland, where 9 million tulips
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were actually planted, to the iconic
yellow brick road that was actually laid.
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Every detail feels tactical,
immersive and alive.
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Even the lighting was groundbreaking.
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Brooks used enormous SoftSun
lights, the kind you rarely see outside
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the biggest blockbusters to simulate Ozian
sunlight on gray London days.
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The result?
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A world that feels magical yet grounded.
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This is where style shines.
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These choices aren't
just about creating a pretty backdrop.
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They're about creating an experience by
prioritizing practicality over shortcuts.
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Wicked invites audiences
to step into a world that feels authentic.
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That's style, making something so seamless
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that it feels real
even when it's fantastical.
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That's incredible to me.
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Onto the performances.
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Cynthia Erivo and Ariana
Grande redefined style and redefined
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acting and musical cinema
by their performances and choices,
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like how they paid respect to Broadway
and wanted to sing live on set.
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No pre-recording, no lip syncing. Why?
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Because live
singing added a layer of authenticity
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and emotional connection
that prerecorded tracks couldn't achieve.
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Picture this Cynthia Erivo singing
Defying Gravity
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while flying through the air
in a harness and corset.
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She had to adjust her breathing
to belt those high notes, all while
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performing stunts.
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I get dizzy from spinning my older
daughter, Aspen, around in a single circle
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and need five minutes of recovery.
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If I chase our adorable mini poodle
Paddington, around the couch
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a couple times.
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I tried singing while chasing him
this morning and it didn't sound good.
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So the level of talent Cynthia
displays is extraordinary.
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And consider Ariana.
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She knew she wanted to play Glinda
since she was ten years old.
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So when she heard
auditions were happening,
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she went to voice and acting lessons
every day for months to prepare.
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But let's be real.
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Love you Renee Rapp and Amanda Seyfried.
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But auditions weren't really open.
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And so she gets the part and is perfect.
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And you know that because when Stephen
Schwartz said he was considering
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making popular cooler
or adding a little hip and hop to it,
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Ariana told the legend himself,
no saying, quote, “Absolutely not.
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Don't do it.
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I want to be Glinda,
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not Ariana Grande playing Glinda.”
That is dedication to style.
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And so was her singing live
while spinning on a chandelier.
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Live performances are rare
in big budget films,
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but they reflect a dedication
to the style of storytelling and realness.
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This wasn't about shortcuts.
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It was about elevating the audience's
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connection to the characters
and their emotions.
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Okay, onto what most believe to be style.
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The costumes and the costume design.
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Another pillar of Wicked’s awesomeness.
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Paul Tazewell’s work is a masterclass
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in balancing functionality and artistry.
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Consider Glinda's gown
during the iconic bubble entrance.
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It required 137 pattern pieces
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and 225 hours of hand beading,
not for extravagance
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but to make her radiate
the magic of her character.
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And then there's Elphaba’s green skin.
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To prevent her makeup
from staining every costume.
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Tazewell developed a colored skin suit
that gave the illusion
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of fully painted skin
while protecting the wardrobe.
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This isn't just innovative, it's style.
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Every detail, down to the fabric
lining, was designed to enhance
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the experience
without breaking the illusion.
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What sets Wicked apart is
the intentionality behind these decisions.
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Style isn't just what's seen on screen,
it's the unseen effort
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that makes everything seamless.
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And how about the set?
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In an era dominated by CGI,
Wicked boldly went practical.
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The train to Emerald City.
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It's not CGI, it's a 16-ton, custom
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built marvel that took two days to move.
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The sets were handcrafted
with obsessive attention to detail.
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This commitment to practical effects is a
stylistic choice that enhances immersion.
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And when you watch Wicked,
you're not just seeing us, you're in us.
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Compare
that to movies overloaded with CGI,
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where everything feels too polished
and disconnected.
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This grounded approach creates a style
that is tangible,
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it's relatable,
and it's emotionally impactful.
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And speaking of being relatable
adapting Broadway to film, it's tricky.
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But Wicked managed to expand on its stage
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origins in ways that felt so
natural and exciting.
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You feel the vastness of Oz,
the tension in the characters journeys,
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and the layers of the relationships
like never before.
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One standout moment me,
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Glinda and Elphaba’s
suite during “Popular.”
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The choreography and practical effects,
okay, and Ariana's hilarity,
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make it feel like a theater performance
with director Jon Chu literally
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hiding and giggling
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under Glinda's bed to help operate
practical effects and oversee the scene.
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This blend of theater
and cinema is a stylistic triumph.
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It honors the source material
and the show, and on Broadway,
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while leveraging the unique strengths
of film to deepen the story.
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That's a testament to Wicked’s vision
creating style
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that respects its roots
while branching into new territory.
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Well, I hope you're happy.
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Wicked
isn't just a movie, it's an experience.
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Everything about its artistic style isn't
about looking good for the sake of it.
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It's about immersing audiences,
connecting emotionally,
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and delivering a story
in the most impactful way possible
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that respected
what has been and will continue to be.
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But here's the kicker
this is only half the story,
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and the next episode will break down
the business style.
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The genius marketing,
PR campaigns and social media strategies
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that turned Wicked
into a cultural phenomenon.
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If you love this episode,
hit like, subscribe and share it
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with your fellow Asians
or a wicked, obsessed friends and family.
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And who knows,
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maybe Ariana and Cynthia will see this
and decide to join the podcast
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before Wicked: Part 2, or invite my wife,
Corey and I to the premiere.
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In the meantime, we'll keep
redefining style, because style isn't
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just what you see, it's what you feel,
and it's one of your greatest assets.
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I want you to use it.
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Until next time, I'm Grant
Alexander on House of Style, reminding you
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that style
isn't in your wardrobe. It's in you.
