The Director's Chair: Adam Shankman's Hairspray Diary #3

MARC & SCOTT & THE MUSIC

So, nightmare averted.  When I went through all of the music in the show and what was currently included in the script, I realized that I was going to have to make some tough decisions about the music.  It all seems very "lose/lose" to me.  Will Marc & Scott hate me?!?  My decisions are all based on story telling.  The scariest one to approach them all about is "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now".  It's a fan favorite, and one of my favorites too, but I can't get past the idea that it emotionally links Tracy and Penny to Amber, and equally vilifies Edna and Velma.  All this AND I'd have to shoot it like the movie version of "Telephone Hour".  One other thing; it doesn't further the plot!  I'm truly depressed, because I love the song, but honestly it lifts right out of the script.  I wish I could find a way to give Tracy the 11 o'clock number.

Anyways, wonder of wonders, Marc and Scott agreed!!!  The words "Thank God" don't really sum it up.  I'm probably going to get rid of "Big Doll House" too;  it's Cab Calloway and doesn't match into the 60's sound we are living in.  The guys always said they just needed a song like that to open Act II.  I'm still not sure about jail either.  Movie reality wouldn't really allow for Link to get past all of the guards you would have to see and break her out in some realistic way.  That's the spot for a Tracy ballad.  How the hell am I going to shoot "Without Love"?  Here goes…Here goes.

More tomorrow with Entry #4...