It isn't just a joke: Pride

[angelenroute]

Yes, I read the gay friendly bit and immediately thought of McCarthyism! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism) Awful kind of hate, here!

[kport]

Pride , a new film dramatizing the true story of British LGBT activists who raised money to help families of striking miners, may be headed for the stage.

Speaking at a recent London screening, Pride screenwriter Stephen Beresford revealed that he had discussed a possible musical adaptation with Pride director Matthew Warchus during a train ride, according to The Hollywood Reporter .

If they do, and if Sir Elton is otherwise engaged to compose the score, I do hope they consider Gary Barlow (Finding Neverland') to pen the score (he is of that generation that grew up with the miners' strike permeating every aspect of life in the UK at that time). Damon Albarn would also fit the bill.


http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainm ... me-musical

[kport]

The Times of London chips in:

You can’t go wrong with a rousing chorus of miners, as Billy Elliot the musical proved, and now the recent film Pride may be slated for similar West End treatment. Pride has the added joy of gay disco anthems, plus songs from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Culture Club and Bronski Beat.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/film ... 210976.ece

[CJ-Rochester]

I was pleased to learn that "Pride" will be shown on October 12 at the ImageOut Film Festival here in Rochester. This link for the screening includes a very positive review from "Rolling Stone".

http://www.imageout.org/2014/program15.php

[kport]

San Jose's Mercury News posted this glowing review of Pride:

Time to learn from the Brits, Hollywood.

England's the expert at making inspirational, character-driven crowd-pleasers about the working class without using manipulative artificial sweeteners.

The Brits' mastery of this genre is astonishing, especially when you consider how many films become so loved that they're retooled with equal success for the stage. Cases in point: "Billy Elliot," "Kinky Boots" and "The Full Monty."

In that same vein comes "Pride," based on a true story about a group of gays and lesbians who formed an unlikely partnership with striking mine workers in the mid-1980s. The inspiring and courageous historical snippet takes us back to Margaret Thatcher's reign and serves as a reminder of how much has changed for gays since then.

http://www.mercurynews.com/movies-dvd/c ... source=rss

[Billy Whiz]

I went to see Pride recently and it is brilliant. Imelda Staunton and Bill Nighy are excellent - in fact the whole cast are. You will laugh and you will also get a lump in your thoat at times. I did not realise until near the end that it is based on a true story.

[ERinVA]

Here is today's review from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/movie ... 86461&_r=0

[Eltonjohn]

Pride , a new film dramatizing the true story of British LGBT activists who raised money to help families of striking miners, may be headed for the stage.

Speaking at a recent London screening, Pride screenwriter Stephen Beresford revealed that he had discussed a possible musical adaptation with Pride director Matthew Warchus during a train ride, according to The Hollywood Reporter .

If they do, and if Sir Elton is otherwise engaged to compose the score, I do hope they consider Gary Barlow (Finding Neverland') to pen the score (he is of that generation that grew up with the miners' strike permeating every aspect of life in the UK at that time). Damon Albarn would also fit the bill.


http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainm ... me-musical

Working Title is behind this movie.

[kport]

Pride , a new film dramatizing the true story of British LGBT activists who raised money to help families of striking miners, may be headed for the stage.

Speaking at a recent London screening, Pride screenwriter Stephen Beresford revealed that he had discussed a possible musical adaptation with Pride director Matthew Warchus during a train ride, according to The Hollywood Reporter .

If they do, and if Sir Elton is otherwise engaged to compose the score, I do hope they consider Gary Barlow (Finding Neverland') to pen the score (he is of that generation that grew up with the miners' strike permeating every aspect of life in the UK at that time). Damon Albarn would also fit the bill.


http://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainm ... me-musical

Working Title is behind this movie.

Working Titles is a Universal Films company (which owns the BETM/Film franchises). It is a big player in the UK film scene.

The UK film/tv subjects that make serious money abroad are almost always based on the antiquated class system (Downton Abbey) or relative economic/social hardship. (Blame Dickens.) Four Weddings was a sub-set or a diversion; same with About A Boy (both being centered around Hugh Grant, an amiable Old Etonian of the highest order). Billy Elliot is a modern take on the theme made huge by Horatio Alger: a young lad who bucks his background to move on to pursue his dream. The difference is that Billy brings his family along with him, on his journey; Alger's lads ran away.

BE/BETM would not work, if it were about a suburban prep school lad from Esher who wanted to dance, when his parents wanted him to follow his father's career, as a barrister in the Middle Temple. It would not resound with most folk, in that situation.

People abroad, especially those in the former colonies, lap this stuff up, which is why the franchises are so successful.

Billy Elliot never existed, except in the souls of many who saw him on stage or the screen, and saw a bit of themselves they had not seen before. That is why it seems to matter.

And that is why Working Titles/NBCUniversal is interested in promoting it.

[CJ-Rochester]

Actors Ben Schnetzer and Dominic West talk about “Pride” on the Today Show.

http://www.today.com/video/today/56196969#56196969