R+J at 20

Did you know that Baz Luhrmann has an instagram account? He's currently using it to celebrate Romeo + Juliet's 20th anniversary with behind the scenes photos and anecdotes (Best LOL: he feels the need to explain what a collage and inspiration boards are for young fans -- ah the days before Photoshop and "mashups".)

This has been a Public Service Announcement.

It was Don McAlpine, the brilliant Director of Photography who came up with the extraordinary solution. I wanted the camera to track around the lovers inside of an elevator, as we do this, a half-dozen grips lift each panel as the camera whirs around. It was an extremely complicated logistical job, but indeed we got the shot. #romeoandjuliet #RJat20

A photo posted by Baz Luhrmann (@bazluhrmann) on Oct 31, 2016 at 8:30am PDT

Comments

[Layla]

This movie hasn't aged at all. I love it so much. Say what you want about Baz, but no one has a vision quite like him.

[Joanne]

Sometimes "behind the scenes" scenes destroy the illusion but here they seem to enhance the magic. McAlpine is a genius! Able to make Baz's dreams a reality and that, as we know, is no small feat. He should have won for Moulin Rogue.

[Steven]

It is a great film. I love John Leguizamo's story of how he landed the part for Tybalt in Ghetto Klown as he had just been sucker-punched by his own best friend over business as he came to the audition with a swollen jaw and was whistling every line during the audition. Luhrmann was upset and grabbed Leguizamo by the balls to get him to say it right and Leguizamo got mad by putting his hands on Luhrmann who realized that he is perfect for Tybalt. That is a great story and he and Harold Perrineau kind of stole the film from the leads which is my 2nd favorite Luhrmann film.

[rick]

I love this version... when I was teaching English, I took a class to see this and then showed them the movie West Side Story... and we could have had discussions for a semester in comparing them.

[Ez]

My fav Baz film.

[Mareko]

Wish I didn't know how much Claire and Leo disdained each other while making this film. But what magic they created together!