Lee Hall

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Borrobil
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Re: Lee Hall

Post by Borrobil »

joninfinity wrote: What's that all about? Do they not sing 'The Letter'?
It's from the film soundtrack. Strange how different the two scenes are considering the dialog is almost the same. In the film Billy just gives a Newcastle football shirt, a tape of Born to boogy and the letter to Mrs W, with no drama or misunderstanding of the meaning of the objects at all.
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ERinVA
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Re: Lee Hall

Post by ERinVA »

joninfinity wrote:
porschesrule wrote:As part of Radio 4's Character Invasion Day, Lee talks about why Billy Elliot is his favourite character. The segment with Lee begins at about :49 --

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03yqyzf
Question. So in that sound clip, they play a 'soundbite' of Billy and Mrs. Wilkenson doing 'The Letter'. But it was all in 'spoken word', and not being sung. What's that all about? Do they not sing 'The Letter'?
If you haven't seen the film lately, be sure to watch it. You'll be amazed at how closely the dialogue matches with the script and lyrics of the show in places. I have always been a huge fan of the film, but there were parts I couldn't understand very well, especially the dialogue in the argument between Mrs. W and Tony in the kitchen when she shows up to take Billy to his audition. It was only after I saw that scene performed in the show that I was able to figure out what she was saying in the scene in the film, and it turned out to be almost word for word.
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Borrobil
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Re: Lee Hall

Post by Borrobil »

ERinVA, as someone who didn't even notice they were speaking geordie until about half an hour into the musical, the first time I saw it: I still find some confrontational scenes hard to understand. May be Lee Hall wrote it like that, because the protagonists are from different classes/generations and don't understand each other either. I am sure Lee Hall makes every scene so it can be read at least two or three ways depending who you are rooting for. Like, when Billy hits Posh boy every character applies a different reasons why he did it, but none of the reasons are a good explanation to me.
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ERinVA
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Re: Lee Hall

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That's true, Borrobil. But what I actually meant was that I couldn't catch the words that were being said in the kitchen confrontation in the film because they are spoken very rapidly, especially Mrs. W's lines. Add the Geordie accent to it, which is difficult for American ears to register, and I had no idea what she was saying. But once I saw the show in London, I understood the words. Then it took me a while after that to learn what some of the dialect meant. Now, of course, I understand it perfectly. :D
Ellen



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-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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angelenroute
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Re: Lee Hall

Post by angelenroute »

If you buy the Europe blu-ray (multi-region, works for those of us who have bought it), the special features shine some light on some scenes not in the movie that were worked into the musical.

And I've sometimes watched the film with subtitles to understand it better. Has definitely helped!

Sean
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Borrobil
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Re: Lee Hall

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ERinVA wrote: I couldn't catch the words, but once I saw the show in London, I understood the words. Then it took me a while after that to learn what some of the dialect meant. Now, of course, I understand it perfectly. :D
The funniest thing is sitting next to an american who doesn't catch what small boy says, then trying to explain the difference between that and a T***ser. :oops:
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ERinVA
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Re: Lee Hall

Post by ERinVA »

Lee Hall is lending his support to the People's Assembly Against Austerity's June 21st demonstration:

http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/demo_leehall

Here is more information about the event:

http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/na ... mo_21_june

And the organization's mission:

http://www.thepeoplesassembly.org.uk/draft-statement
Ellen



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-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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Re: Lee Hall

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Lee Hall has been honored by inclusion as part of a new mural in the Byker Metro Station in Newcastle. The mural is entitled "Heroes of Byker":

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor ... on-7259573
Ellen



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-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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ERinVA
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Re: Lee Hall

Post by ERinVA »

Here's a new article from The Telegraph about Lee Hall and his adaptation of "Shakespeare In Love" for the stage:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/thea ... s-now.html
Ellen



"I don't want people who want to dance; I want people who have to dance.”
-George Balanchine 1904 -1983


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porschesrule
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Re: Lee Hall

Post by porschesrule »

Here's an update on the upcoming bio film about Elton John called Rocketman, with a screenplay by Lee Hall:

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-28459420
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