Beauty And The Beast Movie Behind The Scenes
Beauty and the Beast is a timeless classic, and the 2017 live-action adaptation of the animated movie was an enormous success. The movie grossed over $1 billion worldwide and was praised for its stunning visuals, incredible music, and talented cast. But what goes on behind the scenes of such a blockbuster movie? In this article, we'll take a look at the making of Beauty and the Beast, including the special effects, the costumes, and the casting process.
The Casting Process
One of the most critical aspects of any movie is casting the right actors, and Beauty and the Beast was no exception. Emma Watson was cast as Belle, the intelligent and independent heroine, and Dan Stevens played the Beast. The supporting cast was equally impressive, with Luke Evans as Gaston, Josh Gad as LeFou, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
According to director Bill Condon, Watson was the perfect choice for Belle as she was intelligent, strong, and had a great singing voice. Stevens, on the other hand, had to undergo an intense transformation to become the Beast. He wore a motion capture suit and had to act out all of the Beast's movements and facial expressions so that the special effects team could create the final product.
The Special Effects
One of the most impressive aspects of Beauty and the Beast was the special effects. The Beast was entirely computer-generated, and the team used motion capture technology to create the character's movements and expressions. The team also used CGI to create the enchanted objects in the Beast's castle, including Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Mrs. Potts.
According to Condon, the special effects team spent months perfecting the Beast's look, making sure that he looked both realistic and sympathetic. They also had to create the enchanted rose, which was a crucial element of the story. The rose had to look both beautiful and magical, and the team used a combination of CGI and practical effects to achieve this effect.
The Costumes
The costumes in Beauty and the Beast were stunning and played an essential role in bringing the story to life. The costume designer, Jacqueline Durran, created over 2,000 costumes for the movie, including Belle's iconic yellow dress and the Beast's intricate suit.
According to Durran, the costumes were designed to be both beautiful and functional. Belle's yellow dress, for example, had to be easy to move in so that Watson could dance and perform in it. The Beast's suit was also designed with movement in mind, as Stevens had to wear it while performing motion capture for the character.
The Music
The music in Beauty and the Beast was one of the movie's most memorable aspects, with classic songs such as "Be Our Guest" and "Tale as Old as Time." The music was composed by Alan Menken, who also worked on the original animated movie.
According to Menken, working on the live-action Beauty and the Beast was a unique experience as he was able to revisit and update some of the classic songs. He also wrote new songs for the movie, including "How Does a Moment Last Forever" and "Evermore."
Conclusion
Overall, the making of Beauty and the Beast was a massive undertaking, with countless hours spent on special effects, costumes, music, and casting. But the hard work paid off, and the movie was a huge success, becoming one of the highest-grossing movies of all time. If you're a fan of the movie, it's fascinating to learn about the behind-the-scenes work that went into creating such a beloved classic.