La La Land References and Inspirations

Week 29 ISP

La La Land: Wider references, Inspirations and viewing- notes 

1. Film References and their similarities 

• Opening sequence song (Another day of sun) – Les Demoiselles Rochefort 1967
  • Set on a bridge surrounded by cars
  • Colourful costumes

• Mia’s apartment song (Someone in the crowd) – Grease (1978)
  • Colour pallet- pinks, purples, reds 

• Mia’s apartment (Someone in the crowd) trying on clothes – West Side Story (1961)

• Dancing in street (Someone in the crowd) – Sweet Charity (1969)
  • Colourful dresses
  • Dancing at night on empty roads 
  • In terms of choreography- iconic flick of the dress

• LA neon sign crossfade montage- Singing in the Rain (1952)
  • Montage of neon signs such as hotel and casino signs 

• 360 degree pool shot- Boogie Nights (1997)
  • Camera submerged in pool/ half under water to filming people under water 

• Sebastian dancing round street lamp- Singing in the Rain (1952)
  • Low key lighting- noir 

• Tap dance bench song (A lovely night)- Shall we dance (1937)

• Choreography (A lovely night)- The band Wagon (1953)

• Sebastian walking down promenade- West Side Story (1961)
  •  Low key light from sun set/ warm pink and red colour pallet 
  • Street lamps in the background 

• Floating in the stars (Planetarium) – Moulin Rouge (2001)
  • Smoke atmosphere 
  • Floating above the city in the stars 
  • Low key light-night 

• Fantasy LA ending sequence (Epilogue)- Singing in the Rain (1952)
  • Clearly shot on a set 
  • Miniature scale of LA
  • Vivid bold colours and neon signs 
  • Colourful costumes for characters and dancers 
  • Studio lighting 

• Ending sequence Arch de triumph in Paris and balloons (Epilogue)- Funny Face (1957)
  • Refers how in Funny face this picture made the character famous, just like how the film made Mia famous in Paris.

• Ending sequence view of street (epilogue) An American in Paris (1951)
  • Painted studio set 

• Ending sequence boy with red balloon on street (epilogue)- Le Balloon Rouge (1956)

• Ending sequence couple hugging on bench (epilogue)- Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964)

• Ending sequence still sailor on street (epilogue)- On the Town (1949)

• Ending sequence Mia and Seb dancing in blackout room with stars (Epilogue)-  ‘Broadway Melody of 1940’ and ‘Swing Time (1936)
  • White dress- based on Ginger’s dress from the scene 
  • Low key light- black background with functional light (stars) – noir 
  • Motivated lighting to create reflection on floor- mirrored/water effect 

• Explaining the References, Homages, and Inspirations in La La Land 

• La La Land borrowed from the golden age musicals of the 30’s 40’s 50’s 
• 1940/1950’s style of film making 
• Soundtrack- Orchestra and recorded in the same sound booth as musicals like singing in the rain 
• Shot on real locations and real time 
• Minimal edits and long shots- styles his movies were based on 
• ‘A lovely night’- one single 6 minuet take- filmed on real location meaning they only had one 30 minuet window to perform the dance and song 
• ‘Fred and Ginger movies- Top Hat’- characters not liking one another at first then after singing and dancing discover a new sense of chemistry 
• Refers Jean Kelly and Stanley Donen’s ‘On the Town’- uses real locations and makes the dance specific to their film. Epilogue- sailor’s buying bread imitate
• Jean Kelly- swings on lamppost- like in ‘Singing in the Rain’
• Revolutionary use of camera movement- dance is specific to the camera 
• Season ‘Spring’ title cards- reminiscent of Vincente Minnelli’s meet me in Saint Louis. 
• Minnelli’s use of pictures to create transitions from one place to another or in time- last title card of ‘winter’ of a palm tree/ studio backdrop  
• Minnelli’s use of bold colour- technicolour experience (ending sequence)
• Minnelli’s ‘An American in Paris’ 17 minuet dream ballet ending- La La Land gives us a sense of what could’ve been creates an emotional musical experience- 10 minuet dream ballet ending 

• La La Land’s Choreographer ‘Mandy Moore’ Explains the Freeway Dance Scene: ‘Another Day of Sun’

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIsbLox_y9dCIMLd8tdC6qg

• Important that the first girl that steps out of the car doesn’t look like she’s dancing- normal people doing everyday gestures into dance 
• Girl putting her arms up in a stretch position
• As camera spins across bridge- hidden cut- creates movement that informs an edit – only 2 hidden cuts to look like 1 single take 
• Using a jib arm to film while parallel to the actors- shooting chest level 
• Woman in red dress appear- introducing something less normal/ not an everyday thing
• To create a build behind the actors/dancers- only the right hand side of people are out their cars at first 
• Speakers feeding the music through hidden speakers- dancers are in sync 
• Only foreground is real- background is postproduction-edit 
• Different dance genres of all ages and cultures- different mix of cultures all having one thing in common that’s exciting/ beautiful
• Camera followed BMX guy, and parkour guy towards conductor girl- steady camera operator gets onto a crane to a high eyeline angle 
• 47 takes
• Lens flare 
• Everyone gets into the cars they come out of- continuity 
• Sing towards the camera and shut the doors at the same time in unison 
• Feet together- reminiscent of the joy you feel when you stand outside and feel the sun on your face