“Wicked” director Jon M. Chu on his road that led to Oz
For more than 50 years, the kitchen at Chef Chu’s, in Los Altos, California, has produced one crowd-pleaser after another … including a certain Hollywood director. Before he’d bring “Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights” to the big screen, Jon M. Chu was the kid folding napkins in the corner of his dad’s Silicon Valley restaurant.
His immigrant parents, from China and Taiwan, immersed him in American culture, such as the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz.” Chu said they would sing “Over the Rainbow” all the time: “This idea of dreaming of some other place beyond the walls of my bedroom was instilled in us, ’cause that’s what my parents thought when they came to America,” he said. “It’s the promise of something more. My mom would call us the Asian Kennedys, and she would dress us the same. So, we have these, like, epic family photos!”
His mom, Ruth, said her son didn’t want to be a director: “He wanted to be an actor. But realized he’s not tall and not handsome enough!”
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Chu followed with the film version of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical “In the Heights.”
Translating struggle and ambition to the silver screen with sumptuous visuals and elaborate numbers seemed to be Chu’s calling.
He’s now landed in Oz, directing the film adaptation of the Broadway mega-hit “Wicked.” Part one, out this fall, stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo.
Kent said, “‘Wicked’ has this line, ‘It’s time to trust my instincts, close my eyes and leap.’ When I heard that, it sounded a bit like you.”
“It was the whole reason I did the movie,” Chu said. “It’s all about striving for that dream and being able to fight through the uncomfortable things to get there.”
The son of immigrants with big dreams is a familiar story; but Jon M. Chu knows the path to a Hollywood ending is not always what it seems.
For example, his view of “The Wizard of Oz” has changed since he was a kid. “I think that that Yellow Brick Road is no longer the path that you just keep following, because there is no wizard there that’s gonna give you your heart’s desire,” he said. “Life is a series of walking adventures. And as you’re walking, smell the flowers and feel the air. And maybe you’ll realize you’re actually flying.”
To watch a trailer for “Wicked: Part 1” click on the video player below:
Story produced by Dustin Stephens. Editor: Emanuele Secci.
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“Wicked”: The making of the musical hit
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Source: cbsnews.com