"I told her it was a bigger than life musical, that all the actors were going to be about the same age, late twenties into thirties. It would be a style; a kind of surreal high school"
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In this quote, Randal Kleiser is most likely referring to the conceptual vision behind a theatrical or cinematic production, potentially the motion picture "Grease", which he directed. This quote exposes insights into how Kleiser approached the creative and narrative design of the task. Let's break down the aspects of this quote to get a deeper understanding.
When Kleiser states, "it was a larger than life musical", he is suggesting that the production aims to magnify truth, developing an experience that is grander and more flamboyant than everyday life. This recommends an emphasis on dramatic, attention-catching aspects, perhaps through fancy song and dance numbers, strong settings, and dynamic costumes. Such an approach is typical for musicals, which typically focus on spectacle and home entertainment.
The expression "all the stars were going to be about the very same age, late twenties into thirties", further describes a deliberate casting option. By choosing actors within a particular age range, Kleiser recommends a level of maturity and experience in efficiency that the audience can connect with, while simultaneously stylizing the portrayal of characters who are normally much younger. This choice provides a particular visual and maybe a layer of irony or satire, offered the disparity between the actual age of the actors and the age of the characters they are playing.
Finally, when Kleiser points out "a style; a sort of surreal high school", he implies an intentional departure from rigorous realism. This visualized "surreal high school" ends up being a setting where overstated emotions, circumstances, and music explore more universal styles of youth, identity, and coming-of-age. By choosing a surreal design, Kleiser permits the audience to suspend disbelief and engage with the underlying messages and emotional realities in a more imaginative and mentally resonant way.
Overall, Kleiser's description catches an artistic objective to produce an engaging, heightened truth that resonates through music, performance, and story, encapsulating both fond memories and dream.
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