AGUILERA: I wanted to make sure Burlesque felt right before confirming, so it was important to meet Steven in person. At Georgia's wedding, Jack appears to call off his engagement, getting drunk. Christina was on the other side of the lot rehearsing. Christina Aguilera made her big-screen debut alongside Cher in the 2010 musical Burlesque, and the film's cast was rounded out with a few forgotten stars. I started to sweat and panic. Some battles I won. Despite the club's growing popularity, Tess struggles with a bank loan indicted to her owning the rights of the building. When he stumbles over words, she says "Jack, we're friends for Christ's sake. I didn't think it was right the first time Diane played it for me. Jack refers her to Tess for an audition, but is rejected instantly and ushered out by Sean (Tucci). Julieth Restrepo 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). Tess: [upon seeing a nauseous Georgia emerge from the bathroom stall] Oh, God, Georgia. Amy really wanted Cher, and so did Clint. I mean, hello. She really had my back on that song. At some point in everyone's life, you feel that need to remind the world who you are. 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). Shawn Roberts was briefly considered for the role of Jack Miller. Tell me you don't have the flu. The most influential 50s burlesque dancers, who were successful in their decade and the genre. Loft Assistant: Katerina Kopel . I've got this." 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! The Grey's Anatomy alum's character, Marcus, attempts to seduce Ali while also making plans to build a skyscraper on the club's property. We had a detailed outline, but it was really broad, and more of a comedy, like the old Beatles movies. She also performed "Express" on the final of the seventh series of The X Factor which received criticism and complaints for the raunchy content. Steven and I are deep into this. After her selfish boss refuses salary, Ali steals from him and moves to Los Angeles. CULPEPPER: With all the coverage, "Show Me How Your Burlesque" took the most days multiple long days. It's been a decade since Burlesque premiered, but the trivia surrounding the Christina Aguilera and Cher helmed movie is still just as interesting. Marylin Alice "Ali" Rose, known by her nickname Ali, is the protagonist in the film, Burlesque. It had Cam Gigandets Jack getting into a taxi as Aguilera's Ali climbed down a fire escape and called out his name before the couple reunited. It was all very spontaneous. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! That's what I was aiming for. I think you should give it to someone else.' And really terrible script. In my experience of meeting and working with some of the greatest legends, the best ones usually are that way. While spending time with Marcus, Ali finds out about "air rights", which refers to the empty space above a building and what can be done with it. 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. She unknowingly walks into a burlesque club run by Tess (Cher), which is facing financial hardship despite its talented group of dancers. I just learned what downstage and upstage is. Once I hit a kick pattern, she loved it, and she started rapping. Naughtiness without being crass! AGUILERA: She's truly an incredible woman and a force of nature. . Christina realized this was new to her and she took it all very seriously, and was committed to working hard on getting it right. TV series. At lunch, I went to Cher's trailer to say hi and check in. The "Believe" singer told Collider in November 2010 that she felt an immediate connection to Aguilera, whom she tried to mentor during filming. Loree said if I got her the CD, she'd get it to Cher. The disagreements came from, we didnt have time, we have to move on, Culpepper said. "They had to rewrite the character because I was just like, 'This girl doesnt have a lot of drive,'" she said at the time. AGUILERA: Every dancer moved their body in a different unique way, and it's a beautiful thing to appreciate and fall in love with dance on the personal level that this movie provided for me. and then came Cher. Antin filmed Aguileras performance too. She and Steven sat and played ideas for music, [later] she went into his office and saw all the books he'd collected on production design and photography all stuff that appealed to her. Ali learns that Marcus is interested in the "air rights" above the club; he hopes to build a skyscraper on the property. Ali breaks things off with Marcus after she sees his plans to build a skyscraper on the property the club is on. By the Christmas weekend, it was number 15 at the box office. So, I was a bit disappointed by the opening weekend numbers. I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive, she explained. CHER: One of my favorite scenes is when I was helping Christina with her makeup. 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. When she came to set, we needed to have a melting time to coalesce the whole thing into what it ultimately became. With a budget of $55 million, Burlesque is one of Screen Gems' most expensive films outside of the Resident Evil franchise. "I also had to have a balance of starting out very vulnerable and wide-eyed and naive," she explained. Steve Antin got the idea for this film after watching Christina Aguilera perform as a featured vocalist for The Pussycat Dolls in 2002. Aguilera performed "Bound to You" on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and gave an interview and performance on Conan. But it was the right song for her and the movie. He revealed that he wanted Cher to wear black in the film but Cher bought her own styling prowess on set. The first movie is The Devil Wears Prada (2006), when Tucci's character Nigel gives Anne Hathaway' a makeover, followed by a montage set to "Vogue.". When Jack first plays his piano in his apartment, he is playing an instrumental of 'Bound to You' - a song which Ali later sings in the show. "[35] Variety observed that the film "wants to be Cabaret, but lacks the edge and historical context to pull it off. It's unbelievable. Antin, along with Culpepper and the couples producer pal Donald De Line met Cher at her Malibu mansion and after quite a bit of convincing, Cher agreed to be a part of a twenty-day filming schedule, although the production lasted about four months. These girls were watching it time and time again on TV, they'd watch it with their friends or their mothers or buy the DVD. Erin Gray was considered for the role of Ali. Try a leg crossover for a fun move to perform with a chair. The Believe singer told Collider in November 2010 that she felt an immediate connection to Aguilera, whom she tried to mentor during filming. Steven got it and achieved his vision. But I don't have one number in that movie that I wish was a different number. I liked the idea, too. Judy Greer was considered for the role of Ali. 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. You can not create feedback by disconnecting the inputs. This is the second movie with Stanley Tucci where he provides the lead character with new clothing and a makeover which leads to a montage backed by Madonna music. The theatrical trailer was attached to screenings of Step Up 3D and Easy A. When we met Cher, Christina was holding her kid on her hip, and we walked over. But, I'm happy the gay community embraced it and I'm happy that people still enjoy watching it. First, Alan Cumming (plays the money taker at Burlesque) famously starred as the Emcee in the 1991 stage version of Cabaret. These were extremely challenging to produce, with a very effective result, if I do say so myself! 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. I gave her the song thinking nothing was going to happen. As a result, she manages to get a job as a waitress at the club. I'd basically given up, and I ended up going out to dinner the next week, where I ran into Loree Rodkin, Cher's best friend. I never saw [Steven] after that. There's not a world where Christina is going to be out-danced or out-sung. It can only be 50s burlesque. Gabriela Spanic was considered for the role of Tess. NEXT:The 10 Greatest Movies About Music, Ranked (According To IMDb), JJ Rankin is a culture and entertainment writer. 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. And that's what everyone says about the movie: It's charming, it makes you smile. The Dirrty singer added that she channeled her lack of acting experience into the character. These lines are modern inspired by Jane Austen's novel "Emma," when Mr. Knightley asks Emma to dance and she says "Indeed, I will. It came up so much, more than anything else. It had boys, then the boys were gone, then it had boys and girls, but it ended up being pretty simple and beautiful. CULPEPPER: Christina kept saying, "Please, Clint, get Cher! Figure Skating Championships. The soundtrack received a nomination at the 54th Grammy Awards for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. This tune was replaced in the DVD version. FAYE: "Tough Lover" went through an awful lot of changes. Aguilera was also one of the celebrities Antins sister Robin directed for a cameo at The Pussycat Dollss Viper Room show. A couple of weeks later I heard from Cher's manager, who loved the song, and she ended up recording it. [9] The first outline of the screenplay was written by Antin and Clint Culpepper, the Screen Gems' president. She was sweet, cool, and very casual, and she somehow made it all seem normal. The DVD and Blu-ray sales exceed one million units and have grossed $20,563,918 in the United States alone. Antin switched the big romantic gesture-driven conclusion to a more grounded ending; the original ending was designed as an homage to Pretty Woman and the test audience reportedly found it quite derivative. I got some cameras and shot the show over a few nights and edited together a little movie. I have to hear everything!". This is the last sound heard as the screen blacks out and the film ends. ANTIN: She came and met me in my office. They thought I might have something, and I smiled and told them I might. Director: Steven Antin. It wasnt a good film, the Moonstruck star told the Los Angeles Times. She unknowingly walks. What, I dont have a brain? Ali begins her audition when everyone leaves, and after performing "Wagon Wheel Watusi", persuades Tess to allow her to become one of the club's dancers, much to the annoyance of Nikki (Bell), a performer who is always late and caught drinking before numbers. This movie was on the very first episode of the How Did This Get Made podcast with guest Nick Kroll and was then revisited on the 10 year Anniversary episode number 256. Burlesque is an exotic dance style that draws on theatrical and often comedic performance elements. 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. 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? I mean, it was, like, she was really up there. The brand also featured in classic Dirty Love (2005), starring Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg and Carmen Electra. ANTIN: Besides David [Geffen], her manager was also talking to her about the script, so she was very aware of it. She didn't use any doubles. Paula van Oppen, former member of the girl group G.R.L, plays one of the burlesque dancers, Anna. I can do it." Watch Burlesque: Christina Aguilera as Ali Rose, Watch Burlesque: He Bats For The Other Team, The photo of seven-year-old Ali with her mother is actually a photo of a much younger. What, I don't have a brain? 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. So, he introduced Aguilera to her idol on the Sony lot after Cher committed to the project. [17][18] In the United States, the soundtrack was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies in October 2011.[19]. Why did Cher regret Burlesque? Burlesque is now available on disc and digital. Despite Nikki's (Kristen Bell) attempt to thwart Ali's (Christina Aguilera) performance, Ali's live vocals save the show.#hdclips #moviescenes #musical #burlesque #Cher #EricDane #ChristinaAguileraWatch the full movie! There wasn't anything Steven wanted, creatively, that anybody disagreed with. I want someone with more bite and more passion for what she wants in life.' [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. She was like, "This is so great!" I want someone with more bite and more passion for what she wants in life. And so, they rewrote it., In order to view the video, please allow Manage Cookies. -Welcome to the Hero/Protagonist wiki! It wasn't about Cher's performance. She was actually really funny about it, and I was surprised that she agreed to join us! Sean encourages Jack to end the engagement, as Ali is a better person than his shallow fiance. [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]. However, Jack is already engaged to Natalie (Dianna Agron), an actress working in New York City. In conjunction with the image of the modern, independent woman, these women were exploring their sexuality and flaunting their agency, although often in a manner directly dictated by the male gaze. 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. It was a very time-consuming number, but well worth it! Sony Pictures Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA. 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. I hate that device. She overcame a lot. See production, box office & company info. She killed herself [making it], what she put into this movie, energy-wise, rehearsal time, time away from her family, her son, she gave everything. Aguilera told Collider in November 2010 that she wanted Ali's character to be rewritten before she agreed to sign on to the project. She later tells Tess about his plan, and they inform the owner (James Brolin) of new million-dollar condos being sold across the street. [43] In a 2020 interview Antin revealed a "hybrid television event/series", based on the movie, was under development. The difference is, in every movie, the director isn't in a relationship with the studio. So did Christina. I should've. But, Christina worked so hard. I feel like this was pre-judged before everyone saw it. 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! During the 202021 season they danced to a medley of Aguilera's Burlesque songs, which included "Express". She unknowingly walks into a burlesque club run by Tess (Cher), which is facing financial hardship despite its talented group of dancers. I think it was my 19th song I'd done with Cher, and I knew what it would sound like in my head, but it sounded better, if that's possible. Now that it's taken on this cult following, Cher has a whole new audience of young girls. Starring: Cher, Christina Aguilera, Alan Cumming Watch all you want. Betty Grable, all those big, dance-y studio movies about putting on a show. 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. A press freebie to Las Vegas to watch Cher perform organized by Screen Gems was generally credited with the film's erroneous nomination. [40], According to Joey Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly, since its release the movie "inspired everything, from drag queen revues to viral internet moments". They were beyond genius. Don't come back to me without Cher!" It had that feel to it. But leaving her star persona behind to disappear into a character was new to her, and she committed to a grueling rehearsal schedule atop heavy contributions to the soundtrack. Both Electra Avellan and Rose McGowan was considered for the role of Ali. From rehearsing with other actors to learning lines to embracing the moment and the realness of it all. As time went by, she felt a lot more comfortable." One thing Antin initially wanted to remove from the film, however, has since grown into one of its most iconic moments: Cher's solo number, "You Haven't Seen the Last of Me," which sees her singing a meta tune (penned by longtime collaborator Diane Warren) about resilience. I am more attracted to slow artsy fartsy movies that try make grand points about society or existence. I think you should give it to someone else. I had an initial meeting with Amy Pascal and Clint Culpepper, and I said, I just dont think shes for me. However, not all movies are to meant to challenge social structures or deliver underlying meanings and here there certainly is none of that. and I liked it! Many fans have wondered if Burlesque used an original screenplay. I remember him saying to me, I don't care about what you say, I just want to shoot the dance numbers." 1. It was in the high-90s, and that's rare. Cher grabbed her and gave her a big hug and a kiss. Peter played Hank, Amy's (Mila Kunis') father. As the scope for Burlesque grew, the script underwent tweaks with help from writers John Patrick Shanley (Moonstruck), Diablo Cody (Juno), and Susannah Grant (Erin Brockovich). Im like, That was a week of my life, she remarked once. FAYE: The dancers were exhausted, the costumes were gorgeous, but I think some of the girls got scratches on their underarms from the jewels! First introduced by a visiting British dance troupe in the 1860s, burlesque took off in America even as its popularity dwindled in England. [7] Keep your back straight while you bend forward. The disagreements came from, we didn't have time, we have to move on. A small-town girl ventures to Los Angeles and finds her place in a neo-burlesque club run by a former dancer. A third TV spot also aired the following day during Dancing with the Stars, later followed by another during MTV's Jersey Shore. The films script was written by Antin but it was revised by names like Diablo Cody and Susannah Grant uncredited.