Movie Musicals

Dear Mr Vernon,

We were the four students from MDIS who did the street interview with you and Mr Rohaizat and Mr Dan Myer in the Esplanade Mall last Sunday (6th Jan 2008).

We would like to thank you for your time and assistance in helping us with the brief interview. Due to your relevant expertise for our assignment, would it be possible if you could further help us with a few more in-depth questions?

If you could assist us, we have attached the questions to this email for your kind perusal. We hope to get in touch with Mr Rohaizat and Mr Myer as well, and were hoping if you could pass along their contacts to us.

Sincere appreciation for your kind help and inputs. We eagerly await for your reply.

Best Regards,

Charlene Poo
Ivan Wee
Xiao Shuyun
Julianatasha Salleh



V A Emuang to charlene, Ivan, j_natasha88, jerlaine2505, Xiao

show details 01:50 (8 minutes ago)

Gosh why did just four simple questions have to be appended via a MS-WORD document?
If I had known I would have answered them earlier. :-)

Does that sound like a great excuse for handing this in two days late?

Sorry for the delay.

Peace - V

Questionnaire

1. How long have you been in the Arts industry?

Forever. I graduated with an BA (English) degree and my major was Theatre Arts - in 1984. So - you do the math. :-)


2. What do you think about the evolution of musical films over the years?

Musical films? Presume you mean 'movie musicals' as per the genre you asked us about two Sundays ago. Well it has evolved with movie-making technology. And so special effects is as much a part of the narrative, or influences narrative. Music has become, even more so,dramatic atmosphere and emotional soundscape, in addition to just melodies upon which a lyricist may hang plot and character, a la traditional stage musicals.


3. What are the driving forces behind a successful/effective musical film?

Always - plot and character. The story. What is t'he story'. Always. Of course the things that make a movie a movie musical such as the music, choreography, singing, singers, etc ... that's a given. But eventually, it's the story. How it makes great people look humble - or humble people look great.


4. Do you think that musical films contribute to social values?

Behind every story is a moral. All art is contributive, constructive ... but only to a mind that allows it to do as such. That is a call made by the reader/viewer, but would be influenced by other external factors. Art education, media, marketing and promotion. The movie musical, like any artform, which encourages empathy, contributes to the social value of 'empathy' - perhaps the most fundamental and under-rated of all social values.