Dramatic Perspective
The whole process of casting a film is based off of perspective. The director's perspective, the producer's perspective, and anyone who has a role in creating the movie. It all depends on how these people view the actors they cast and how they view the characters the actors will be portraying. The cast list I created ties in with the theme of perspective by showing how we view what Gatsby and the characters look like and who we believe them to be.
For the second part of my project I chose to talk about the different aspects of the entertainment industry because I felt that it went well with our theme of perspective. In the 1920's everything in the entertainment world was changing. Gatsby era music changed how we today perceive music. Entertainment in that era changed how we view everything.
For the second part of my project I chose to talk about the different aspects of the entertainment industry because I felt that it went well with our theme of perspective. In the 1920's everything in the entertainment world was changing. Gatsby era music changed how we today perceive music. Entertainment in that era changed how we view everything.
The Great Gatsby Cast List
Jay Gatsby: Brad Pitt. There is no better choice for the rich and extravagant Gatsby than the equally rich and extravagant Brad Pitt. Both Gatsby and Brad grew up in the Midwest which would allow Brad to centonnect with Gatsby on some level, something that all actors do with the characters they play in order to portray them effectively. Blonde and handsome, casting Brad would stay true to the description of Gatsby in the book. Brad’s credibility combined with his stardom makes him the perfect choice for the main character of this film.
Daisy
Daisy Buchannan: Cate Blanchett. The ideal Daisy is someone blonde and waifish, able to communicate the facets of her capricious personality to the audience. She and Brad Pitt have played lovers before, proving that they would have the chemistry needed to believably play Daisy and Gatsby. Cate is known for playing characters with many-sided personalities.
Tom
Tom Buchannan: Daniel Craig. Tom is blonde with brute strength and arrogance. Daniel has the physical traits to play the athletic and strong Tom, and has played a wide range of characters from James Bond to a police man in the Broadway production of A Steady Rain. He has proved himself capable of playing any role.
Nick
Nick Carraway: Matt Damon. Though not as glamorous as his costars, he is just as important of an actor. Just like Nick isn’t as rich and glamorous as Gatsby and Tom, he is just as important to the story. He would give the movie that touch of real life that films and the characters in them need. The audience would be able to connect with Matt Damon.
Jordan
Jordan Baker: Michelle Williams. Boyish but beautiful, Michelle Williams is a perfect choice to play the modern, golf-playing Jordan. A strong supporting actress and great in any role Michelle has acted in teenage dramas, thrillers, and westerns proving her versatility. She would do a great job of enhancing this already star-studded cast.
Myrtle
Myrtle Wilson: Kate Winslet. Familiar with gutsy characters and classic stories, Kate Winslet would bring a life to Myrtle Wilson like no one has ever seen. She has done everything from period dramas to contemporary films and has the ability to play any character. Like Myrtle, she is not as dainty and waifish as her co-stars. Her six Academy Award nominations prove that she would not be afraid to dig into her character.
George
George Wilson: Sam Worthington. As a star of the highest grossing movie of all time, Sam Worthington would bring even more star power to this cast as the blonde and faintly handsome George. Although he is not as famous as his co-stars, his career has been diverse enough that he could handle playing George Wilson. He would have an interesting chemistry with Kate Winslet which would work perfectly with the dynamic between their characters.
Stage and Screen Adaptations
1926- A silent film version of The Great Gatsby. A "lost" movie made by Paramount. This was the first filmed version of the book.
1949- Another film version of The Great Gatsby, also made by Paramount.
1974- The most famous film version of the novel. It won two Academy Awards, three BAFTA awards, and was nominated for three Golden Globe awards with one win.
1999- An operatic version of the novel premiered at the New York Metropolitan Opera.
2000- A made for TV movie version.
2002- This adaptation entitled G, is a loosely based adaptation.
2006- A stage version of The Great Gatsby was produced at the Guthrie Theater.
2007- A Korean drama series.
2011- A revised version of the 2006 stage play is in pre-production for a London opening.
TBA- Director Baz Lurhmann is remaking The Great Gatsby with Leonardo Dicaprio (in negotiations), Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire.
1949- Another film version of The Great Gatsby, also made by Paramount.
1974- The most famous film version of the novel. It won two Academy Awards, three BAFTA awards, and was nominated for three Golden Globe awards with one win.
1999- An operatic version of the novel premiered at the New York Metropolitan Opera.
2000- A made for TV movie version.
2002- This adaptation entitled G, is a loosely based adaptation.
2006- A stage version of The Great Gatsby was produced at the Guthrie Theater.
2007- A Korean drama series.
2011- A revised version of the 2006 stage play is in pre-production for a London opening.
TBA- Director Baz Lurhmann is remaking The Great Gatsby with Leonardo Dicaprio (in negotiations), Carey Mulligan, and Tobey Maguire.
20's Culture, Gatsby's Culture
The twenties was a revolutionary decade in the world of entertainment. Professional and otherwise. The twenties changed how people perceived music, movies, and dance. One of the first major changes in the entertainment world was the arrival of the first talking picture.
A new era was arriving in the glamorous world of move-making. The first talking picture or "talkie" was made in 1927. Even though The Jazz Singer was the way all movies were soon to be made (the way we make movies with sound today) there were critics who didn't believe there were going to be many more "talkies" created. That silent films would go on being the main attraction. Boy, were they wrong. Just like the process they used to film movies back in the twenties is the way we make and see movies today (talking films) the way artists created music in the twenties is still done today. Even though today we have technical and electronic devices to help create the music, the lyrics, instruments and the sound that was used in Gatsby's era is still used today.
The style of music that most people associate with the 20's is Jazz. Jazz was in its earliest stage with musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington coming to prominence. One technique that performers used in that time was improvisation. This effected how people saw music; this type of exuberant music and singers were now playing and performing in dance halls and clubs. Improvisation is still a performance technique used by performers today. The 1920's were when Broadway was in its prime. Irving Berlin incorporated the popular ragtime music into his compositions. Irving Berlin's music is iconic and renown. Some Gatsby era musicals include No, No Nanette, Sunny, and Dearest enemy.
Many styles of dancing were popular during the 1920's. Older dances such as waltz and foxtrot remained popular, and new dances like the tango the shimmy and the Charleston flourished. Th is changed how we viewed dance, and had a lasting effect. These dances are still done today.
