The official filming of the movie began three days later. Laila had brought Rob with her and gave him significant authority. He had done an excellent job in the original version of the film in her previous life, despite a few mistakes due to his limited experience, but his grasp of the overall direction was good.
This time, Laila delegated most of the responsibilities to him, especially when it came to the dance sequences. She focused on the overall direction of the filming. In simpler terms, Rob gathered the threads, and she wove the fabric.
Laila knew her strengths and weaknesses. She didn't have extensive knowledge of musicals herself, apart from the in-depth analysis she had done while researching movies in her previous life. Organizing rehearsals was not her forte, and she believed it would be a mistake to try to take full control of the dance sequences. That's why she brought Rob back to handle the dance part, and she would use the camera to tell the story as she envisioned it.
It was at this point that Rob Marshall's talent truly shone. His years on Broadway had not drained his creativity, and it became evident in the dance sequences he choreographed. However, he had his limitations as well. He saw the stage in his mind, not the big screen where the movie would be seen. In other words, he was filming it as if he were broadcasting a Broadway musical to the audience, rather than telling the story cinematically.
Laila couldn't deny that the way he was filming was indeed engaging, but it lacked the cinematic quality that she believed was necessary for this project. When she watched the first few dance sequences, it became apparent that his approach might have been one of the reasons why the original "Chicago" received ten Oscar nominations but only won three awards. The most significant award was Best Supporting Actress. This indicated a problem with the film, right?
The production company aimed to elevate "Chicago" above "Moulin Rouge," but if it was filmed in Rob's style, the result would likely be just a few extra awards, maybe one more than "Moulin Rouge." However, if she got involved and reshaped it according to her vision, it could potentially produce a better outcome or cause the entire film to crash.
For the first few days, Laila refrained from expressing her views. She feared that her intervention might disrupt the film and prevent it from winning any awards. However, after several days of shooting, she realized that this path was unsustainable. She couldn't ignore aspects of the film she didn't like and still call it her work. Yes, she had taken advantage of her knowledge from her previous life to make improvements. In return, she had learned many things about the filmmaking process that she couldn't have accessed otherwise. After reviewing some of the movies she had made in her previous life, she was confident that her versions were more beautiful and perfect than the originals. So, why not strive to incorporate her unique characteristics into this film?
Now, as a director, this was her movie! She had been given this opportunity, and she didn't want to throw it away due to unconfirmed concerns. After several days of internal struggle, she made a choice, one that carried significant risks, but she viewed it as a learning experience and a chance to elevate her abilities.
So, she brought Rob back and allowed him to see her viewpoint and make changes accordingly. Without Laila's intervention, it might have taken Rob a long time to recognize his shortcomings. While he possessed a solid foundation in Broadway, his way of thinking had been confined to the stage. He would instinctively focus on a specific area of the stage, rather than the vast cinematic canvas.
After reviewing some of the footage, Rob seemed reluctant to accept it. He commented, "Yes, you're right. It doesn't look like a movie. It's more like a live broadcast of a Broadway musical." Perhaps he wasn't suited to be a director, or maybe he had overestimated himself.
Knowing his limitations was a good thing, and Laila felt relieved. She had initially worried that he might not recognize his shortcomings or, even if he did, not think there was a problem, viewing her as merely creating issues where there were none. Now that he saw the situation, he had the potential to change.
"I'm not saying that the stage presentation is terrible," Laila explained. "It's essential, but you should remember that the Broadway audience has a fixed perspective, while a camera can move. You should showcase your proudest elements, but there's no need to focus on a single point. My camera will capture everything. Do you understand what I mean?"
Rob had something to ponder, and he nodded thoughtfully, "I'll think about it."
Laila also understood that he wouldn't change his habits overnight. It would take some time for him to transition. She wasn't in a hurry, so she decided to film scenes without dance sequences for the time being.
As she had mentioned earlier, "Chicago" had a stronger narrative compared to "Moulin Rouge." It contained satirical elements and conflicts that delved deeper into various injustices, giving the story more depth. To tell a story through dance, the choreography had to be well-integrated with the plot. Rob had written the script, and Laila had incorporated some of her ideas. She had a future memory of the film's impact after it was released and knew its flaws and weaknesses. She aimed to mend the flaws before it was too late.
Rob disappeared for a week after Laila's reminder. When he reappeared early one morning, he had disheveled hair and a scruffy face.
"I have some ideas," he said, presenting a few simple sketches.
His sketches revealed that he belonged to the category of soulful artists, but that was sufficient as long as Laila could understand the images.
Laila took the sketches and listened to his explanation while examining them.
"...So, I plan to create a larger framework, and we'll utilize more space during dance rehearsals," Rob explained briefly.
Laila had initially mentioned that she wasn't well-versed in musicals, just an outsider enjoying the show. Therefore, Rob didn't go into more professional jargon; he shared his ideas, and she would fill in the details.