Dreamgirls Footage Screened at Cannes Film Festival

Press attending this year's Cannes Film Festival were given an opportunity to see 20 minutes of never-before-seen footage from the film, which opens in the United States this Holiday season. In addition, guests were invited to go "behind the scenes" and meet some of the talents involved in the making of DreamWorks Pictures' and Paramount Pictures' upcoming film version of DREAMGIRLS. Amongst other media, Extra was there to report on the event.

This evening, members of the media were invited to a cocktail reception at the Martinez Hotel Ballroom, which had been transformed to showcase the sets, costumes, music and dancing in DREAMGIRLS. Guests mingled with director/screenwriter Bill Condon and producer Laurence Mark to learn more about bringing DREAMGIRLS to the big screen. Also on hand to offer insights into their respective fields were: two-time Oscar(R)-winning production designer John Myhre ("Memoirs of a Geisha," "Chicago"), who brought along scale models of different sets from the film; Oscar(R)-nominated costume designer Sharen Davis ("Ray"), with mannequins displaying a few of the film's wide-ranging costumes; award-winning choreographer Fatima Robinson, backed up by a video monitor showing her working out dance moves with the cast; and twice Tony-nominated composer Henry Krieger, who composed the original Broadway musical "Dreamgirls," and returned to write new music for the film version.

Following the cocktail hour in the Ballroom, guests were invited into the theatre, where Bill Condon introduced select footage from DREAMGIRLS. The director then introduced the cast members in attendance: Jamie Foxx, along with Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Hudson and Anika Noni Rose, who play the film's title roles. Returning to the Ballroom, the press had an opportunity to meet and greet the stars and filmmakers over the course of the rest of the evening.

In December 2006, 25 years after first bringing Broadway audiences to their feet, the Tony Award-winning show "Dreamgirls" will come to the big screen, under the direction of Bill Condon. DREAMGIRLS brings together an ensemble of award-winning stars from the worlds of film, television, Broadway, and the recording industry, including Academy Award(R) winner Jamie Foxx ("Ray"), recording superstar and actress Beyonce Knowles ("The Pink Panther") and box office favorite Eddie Murphy ("The Nutty Professor," "Dr. Dolittle"). The film also introduces Jennifer Hudson, making her feature film debut. Rounding out the main cast are veteran actor Danny Glover ("Lethal Weapon"), Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (Broadway's "Caroline or Change"), Keith Robinson ("Fat Albert"), Sharon Leal (TV's "Boston Public"), and three-time Tony Award winner Hinton Battle ("The Tap Dance Kid," "Miss Saigon," "Sophisticated Ladies").

Set in the turbulent early 1960s to mid-70s, DREAMGIRLS follows the rise of a trio of women -- Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Deena (Beyonce Knowles) and Lorrell (Anika Noni Rose) -- who have formed a promising singing group called The Dreamettes. At a talent competition, they are discovered by an ambitious manager named Curtis Taylor, Jr. (Jamie Foxx). Although the Dreams go on to become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined.

Bill Condon, who won an Oscar for his screenplay for "Gods and Monsters" and gained a second Oscar nomination for his screenplay adaptation of "Chicago," wrote the screenplay for DREAMGIRLS, based on the stage musical's original book by Tom Eyen. Academy Award(R)-nominated producer Laurence Mark ("Jerry Maguire," "As Good As It Gets," "I, Robot") produced DREAMGIRLS, with Patricia Whitcher ("Memoirs of a Geisha") serving as executive producer. The lyrics are by Tom Eyen, with music by Henry Krieger.

DREAMGIRLS is a co-production of DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and will be distributed by Paramount.