Hairspray and Grease!
Musical genre
Musical genre
Hairspray- Hairspray is a film that was made in 2007 but was set in 1962. In the first few scenes you automatically class it as a musical because one of the main characters starts to sing a song about her hometown. As the film kicks in, you learn that Tracy and her best friend Penny want to be on their favourite TV programme. Its a teen dance show which also gives you clues to it being a musical because a musical is all about singing and dancing.
Examples of non diegetic & diegetic sounds in Hairspray-
1) When Tracy sings the opening number as she dances down the Baltimore streets, the passers-by do not appear to notice that Tracy's singing. This suggests that the singing and accompanying music is non-diegetic.
1) When Tracy sings the opening number as she dances down the Baltimore streets, the passers-by do not appear to notice that Tracy's singing. This suggests that the singing and accompanying music is non-diegetic.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjjWJEeVpBw
2) An example of a diegetic sound is when one of the songs called 'The new girl in town' is sung on The Corny Collins Show. They are part of a television broadcast so it can be heard by all of the characters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRi2T6mgH3Y
Grease- Grease is a film which was made in the year 1978 and was set in a 1950's high school. When the opening credits start, a song plays whilst introducing cartoon versions of the main characters. In the first few opening scenes, the T-birds and Pink ladies start singing a song about the Summer they had with a few added dance moves. Its very similar to Hairspray when it comes to the singing and dancing side.
Examples of non diegetic & diegetic sounds in Grease-
1) In the scene where Danny is racing, the background music is non-diegetic. However the diegetic sounds are the cars engines and the characters cheering and talking.
2) In the very last scene which is where they're all singing in the theme park, there is a mixture of both diegetic and non-diegetic sounds. The clapping is pre-recorded, its relevant but you can't see it. You don't see where the music is coming from you can just see the characters singing.
Http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pyA6jAM3_I
Codes and conventions of musical films:
1) Love plays a great theme in musicals. (Happens in both.)
2) Characters break out into songs/dances a lot. (Happens in both.)
3) All the characters have different personalities which adds perspective to the main plot. (Happens in both.)
4)
The main lovers/couples always seem to have obstacles thrown at them
but in the end they presumably get together and we assume they all live
happily ever after. (Happens in both.)
5) - All of the songs they seem to be expressing feelings/emotions. (Happens in both.)
Comparisons between the two films-
1) Both of the films have one main couple.
Grease: Sandy and Danny
2) The two main men and women in both films have their own
song and dance where they are lead.
Grease: Danny Zuko
Grease: Sandy Olsen
Hairspray: Link Larkin
Hairspray: Tracy Turnblad
3) Both of the films star John Travolta.
Grease: Danny Zuko
Hairspray: Edna Turnblad
Hairspray:
3) Both of the films star John Travolta.
Grease: Danny Zuko
Hairspray: Edna Turnblad
4) They have both been successful on Broadway.
Grease:
Beth Adamson.
