Dreamgirls in People Magazine

Hey everyone, I have some new pics from People Magazine. Make sure you got pick up your copy at newsstands. Pic says: Murphey (left) plays the star who gives the girls their big break. Beyonce(center) says making movies "is fun. I'm able to be in a stable place for a couple of months and have weekends off." Pic says:Left to Right: Beyonce and Hudson as the Dreamgirls. Like her character, Beyonce is a former girl-group member who became a major solo star. The similarities between the role and her own life are "amazong," she says. For Hudson, the movie eases the pain of getting voted off Idol. "That was not my dream," says Hudson, but "I know I'm Effie. I was born for this." Big Thanks to latortura of D-C Connection for scanning.

Access Dreamgirls

Access Hollywood has done the best job putting together a first look at the movie. I was able to get the clip and you can download it. Just copy and paste into your browser. Enjoy! Download: Dreamgirls-Access Hollywood Source: CurtisTayloyJr and Access Hollywood

Any Questions?

Hey everyone, things have been kind of slow in the news department. However, I came across something interesting that you all might want to try out. Tom O'Neil who has a site called Gold Derby which is hosted by theenevelope.com is going to the Dreamgirls set next thursday. Since it will be the last week of principal shooting he will most likely get to see parts of the showstopper "And I am Telling You". As you may recall in one of the press set reviews it was mentioned that Condon was saving that number for last. Anyway, Tom will be asking the cast questions and he's asking the fans to submit any questions they might have so that he can ask Condon and the rest of the cast. So click on the link I provided and post a question. It can't hurt. Be sure to check back bceause Tom will be making the transcript and audio from that interview available on his site. So check back here next week, as I will post a link to the audio and transcript. Leave questions for Tom O'Neil

Interview Clip

Fox 29 in Philly interviewed Jennifer Hudson last night and I was able to get my hands on the clip. It's better then the ET clip because we can actually hear some of the spoken dialogue. If your interested in downloading just click on the link below. Download: FOX 29 Interview with Jennifer Hudson (via megaupload) Watch it :FOX 29 Interview with Jennifer Hudson (via youtube.com) Source: Thanks Jensback4ever

A Message from JHUD

Jennifer Hudson recently posted a message on her myspace page. Since Dreamgirls news is a little slow, I figured I would share this with all the people who don't have myspace or know about Jennifer's myspace. OK SO I KNOW ITS BEEN A WHILE BUT I BEEN BUSY. SO THE MOVIE IS GOING EXTREMELY WELL AND FAST. WE'RE ALMOST DONE. I DON'T WANT TO GIVE TO MANY DETAILS. LETS SEE WHAT CAN I TELL U. WELL , I'VE BEEN ADDED TO THE NEW MOVIE TRAILER WITH ALL THE SUPER STARSI'VE BEEN BLESSED TO WORK WITH. ALSO, I JUST RECEIVED THE SHOWEST FEMALE STAR OF TOMORROW AWARD IN VEGAS ON THIS PAST THURSDAY . IT SEEMS THE CLOSER WE GET TO THE END OF SHOOTING THE MORE BUSY WE GET WITH PRESS. I'M NOT COMPLAINING JUST TRYING TO FILL U IN. IT HAS BEEN AN EXPERIENCE OF A LIFE TIME . I WILL DEFINITELY BE BALANCING BOTH MOVIES AND MUSIC.CAUSE I CAN GET USE TO THIS MOVIE MAKING THING.LOL.CAN'T SAY TO MUCH, SO UNTIL NEXT TIME, BE BLESSED -JHUD For people that are interested in joining Jennifer's myspace just click here. Source: Thanks for the heads up Maximusprime.

A Deena Doll?

According to sky.com's Neil Sean, there is a hi-tech doll in the works for Beyonce's character Deena. "Beyonce is currently filming Dream Girls, loosely based on the life of Diana Ross and the Supremes and has agreed to a most unusual way to promote the movie. There's going to be a hi-tech Beyonce doll dressed up in costumes from Dream Girls. Not only will it sing, talk and dance, but will also cry on demand. Beyonce, I'm told, was freaked out at first but now likes the idea of it. Look out for that movie - and doll - this December." I don't know about all this. I'm going to have to try and confirm this information before I believe it. I wonder if Jennifer, Anika and other members of the cast will get a doll? By the way, is it all too soon to be talking about dolls? Well, we will have to wait for official word. Source: Sky.com UPDATE: A little birdie told me that this rumor is just that...A RUMOR. So for right now there are no plans for a doll although it is possible in the future. What do you all think about a Dreamgirls edition Barbie?

ET and Dreamgirls Clip

On last nights ET, they showed a clip of Jennifer Hudson accepting her award for "The Female Star of Tomorrow" from the Showest Convention. Also, they showed (quickly) some scenes from the movie. There is a clip of Curtis and the girls. There is also a clip of our Dreamgirls singing the title song. It looks good so far. Check it out for yourself. Click link to watch : Dreamgirls on ET (via youtube) Click link to download: Dreamgirls on ET (via megaupload) Source: Big Thanks to Will and ET.

The Star of Tomorrow

Look at Ms. Hudson, looking beautiful and dare I say "bootyliscious". Go ahead girl. Ms.Hudson was at the Showest convetion last night to accept her award for "The Female Star of Tommorrow". I am very proud of her and I pray that this is just the beginning of all the wonderful awards and accolades she will receive. The reason why JHUD is being picked for this award: "In her motion picture debut, Hudson is sure to delight audiences with her portrayal of Effie in the upcoming big-screen version of the Tony Award-winning musical 'Dreamgirls,'" Mitch Neuhauser, co-managing director of the event, tells The Hollywood Reporter. "With her combination of acting and singing talent, Jennifer has the star qualities that promise her a bright future in Hollywood." What a way to begin your acting career. I can not wait until December so I can see for myself all this wonderful talent Jennifer has to share. Here are some more pictures of Jennifer at the event. For more just head over to gettyimages.com link at the bottom of this post. Hudson you are working that dress. Start collecting those awards babygirl. Source: gettyimages.com and Showest

The Next Big Thing

Dreamgirls is listed on TheEnvelope.com's top twelve list of "The Next Big Thing?" The list of films are predicted to be in the running for next years best picture at the Academy Awards. "Now that the 78th Academy Awards are in the can, it's time to relax, take a deep breath — and start looking ahead to next year's crop of best picture candidates.Too early, you say? Not in Hollywood, where the Oscar clock never seems to unwind.Granted, most of these films won't unspool for at least six months, and there's plenty of time for the field to shift at festivals ranging from Cannes to Toronto, but this provides a framework for the conversations to come.One word of caution: The dozen films on this list are not necessarily the ones you might expect among the 2006 releases." To read the rest of the article head over to: TheEnvelope.com

Dreamgirls Teaser Poster

Here is the teaser poster that was displayed at the recent Showest Convention. Jennifer Hudson is being recognized as the "Female Star of Tomorrow" at this years convention. Source: Thanks Andrew. Showest via moviemusicals.net

Dreamgirls in Essence

Here is a picture of our Dreamgirls in Essence Magazine. As usual, the girls look amazing. Source: Essence Magazine via Bella

Fake Your Way to The Top!

Here are a couple of pictures that just surfaced from the movie and of Beyonce at the recent press review. Can I just say that Eddie looks so wonderful. He is perfect for this role. Eddie is James "Thunder" Early. I am so excited for him and the whole cast. The outfits look great, the scene from the picture looks like its when the girls start singing backup for Early. Most likely they are singing "Fake Your Way to The Top". Source: Allocine via Narimane

Press Kit Picture

STUNNING. Source: RottenTomatoes.com

One Night Only!

On Monday, the press was invited to the set of Dreamgirls for a quick sneek peak of the film. Movie Report.com has nicely put up a review on their site. The article is below and is accompanied with a new photo that was included in the press kit. Heavy, steady rain couldn't dampen the spirits of DreamWorks and Paramount as they held their first (and most certainly not the last) official press event for Bill Condon's eagerly anticipated screen adaptation of the '80s Broadway sensation Dreamgirls. In the past year the SKG held a number of hype events for major releases well in advance of their release date: roughly half of Madagascar was screened two months prior to its official launch, and the first third of The Island was shown with unfinished effects (much to Michael Bay's vocal chagrin) at a red carpet premiere-like event a couple of months before the open. Considering a teaser for Dreamgirls hit screens in December a full month before a frame of film was even shot, it would figure that its corresponding event would be just as insanely in advance--a mere seven weeks into the shoot. So much mystery surrounded this set visit, as publicists instructed attendees to leave any plus-ones, cameras, and recording devices behind for this "non-coverage" event. Although the invitation listed the location as the Orpheum Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, the main venue was a tent adjacent to the theatre. In the large (but slightly leaky) quarters were, in addition to food stations and a full-service bar, five exhibits/displays, each focusing on a different aspect of the production. Greeting guests upon entry was one devoted to the original Broadway production. On a monitor (with the sound turned to mute, which kind of defeated the purpose) played an electronic press kit featurette on the show and its legacy; the big highlight of this segment were clips from the 1982 Tony Awards, including excerpts of Jennifer Holliday's legendary recreation of the show-stopper "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" during the ceremony. That Holliday's performance as Effie White still resonates with the sound turned off resoundingly debunks arguments that Holliday's acting was all in her rafter-quaking voice. A second station was devoted to Sharen Davis's sure-to-be-Oscar-nominated costume designs. A few of the selections, from a suit worn by Curtis Taylor Jr. (played by Jamie Foxx in the film) and elaborate gowns donned by Effie (Jennifer Hudson), Deena Jones (Beyoncé Knowles) and Lorrell Robinson (Anika Noni Rose) to various wigs were on display, along with their respective design sketches and production photos (whatever ones were available, that is; given that principal photography is still ongoing, some outfits had yet to see action on the set). Also at this display was a comprehensive design sketch book detailing the multitude of costume changes in the film; I counted over 40 for the character of Deena alone. A less elaborate exhibit was devoted to the choreography by Fatima Robinson; storyboard sketches were on display, and one of those muted plasma screens showed an EPK segment that included bits from James "Thunder" Early's (Eddie Murphy) "I Meant You No Harm" and Deena, Lorrell, and Effie replacement Michelle Morris's (Sharon Leal) performance of "Hard to Say Goodbye, My Love"; as well as footage of Knowles, Hudson, and Rose in the rehearsal hall. More imagination went into the display devoted to the enduring music score by Henry Krieger. Another plasma screen and another EPK featurette--the muted sound here being especially frustrating as there was a lot of footage of the cast in the recording studio with production team The Underdogs--but it was accompanied with a number of actual props from the film: a poster for the Dreams' farewell concert tour, an album cover for Deena's "One Night Only" 12-inch single, and a drum set bearing James "Thunder" Early's name. The largest exhibit centered on John Myhre's elaborate set designs. Large scale dioramas for were on display, from large locations such as the service station setting of "Cadillac Car" to stage-set performance number designs, such as the one for "Steppin' to the Bad Side." These exhibits alone were impressive, but leave it to the SKG to go the extra mile, as at each display (save the one on the original show) were the creative people involved: Davis at the costume display, Robinson at the choreography display, Krieger at the music display, Myhre at the set design display. Krieger composed four new songs for the film, with a handful of new lyricists, most notably Siedah Garrett (perhaps best known for "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" by Michael Jackson), taking the place of the late Tom Eyen. Purists take heart--he said that these new songs, while woven into the story proper, are in addition to the existing stage score, not supplanting any of the original numbers. He also noted that while Condon has added more spoken dialogue, there is still a lot of sung-through recitative (though not as much). This was confirmed by Robinson, who in addition to choreographing the elaborate set pieces and performances (with little to no reference to Michael Bennett's original stage work) also consulted on movement and blocking on the book numbers. Working on a movie musical is a dream come true for Robinson, a familiar name to MTV viewers since her auspicious debut with the John Singleton-directed video for Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time." She won the coveted Dreamgirls gig through a long audition process that culminated in creating a routine for the song "Steppin' to the Bad Side." That number was actually the centerpiece for the entire event. After an hour of informal mingling between guests and crew, Condon took to a small stage at the head of the tent to give official on-stage introductions of Robinson; Krieger; Davis; Myhre; producer Laurence Mark; executive producer Patricia Whitcher; cinematographer Tobias Schliessler; editor Virginia Katz; and co-star Keith Robinson, who plays Effie's songwriter brother C.C. He then went on to set up what would be the only taste of actual cut together footage the entire night: a minute or so from the beginning of "Steppin' to the Bad Side," featuring Foxx, Robinson, and Hinton Battle (who plays Wayne). The insanely premature verdict based on this little snippet, which cuts off right when the song starts taking off (it only covered the first chorus and verse, ending at "make the songs we sing our own")? Foxx, Robinson, and Battle are in fine vocal and dance form, and The Underdogs have done a good job of giving Kreiger's music a more contemporary and "bigger for the movies" slant while staying true to the soulful, melodic vibe of what's on the page. The latter came into clear view--or, rather, listen--as action finally shifted to the Orpheum Theatre proper, where guests were treated to a live take of the climax of the "Steppin'" number, in which the song is a stage performance by Jimmy and the Dreamettes. Murphy was not on hand for this take--doing the moves and lipsynching in his place was co-choreographer Aakomon "A.J." Jones--but all three Dreamettes were on hand. If this take is any indication, there will be many standout production numbers in the film. It's no exaggeration to call this teasing taste spectacular: from the red-and-white color scheme (the red mostly coming courtesy of the Dreamettes' lavishly sequined gowns and the white from the large troupe of backup dancers) to the light-tower-and-bridge set that vaguely echoes the original Broadway design to Robinson's creative moves, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric even with Murphy in absentia; one can only hope all of that energy is captured on celluloid. But all of the spectacle would mean nothing if the music were not up to snuff, and this fresh take on Krieger's tune is every bit as rousing and grandiose as the visual; Murphy upholds the legacy original Jimmy portrayer Cleavant Derricks well, and The Underdogs' new arrangement is classic, contemporary, and very cinematic. After that all-too-brief shot of adrenaline, Mark took to the stage and gave formal introductions to Knowles, Hudson, Rose, and Jones and brought out Foxx, who shared his enthusiasm and excitement over the project and mentioned that Murphy felt the same way, which is a rare thing these days--a nice, cheeky jab at Murphy's less-than-thrilling recent output. It was then back to the tent for more drinks and food, and this time the cast followed. Knowles stuck around for a fairly short time, but she graciously exchanged greetings and pleasantries with guests. Her fellow Dreamettes were also rather cordial and gracious. Tony winner Rose deserves special credit for not blanching at my indirect reference to the infamous From Justin to Kelly ("Working with two former American Idol contestants, Jennifer Hudson and Kelly Clarkson--how do they compare?"); beyond that though, her down-to-earth likability and honesty should ensure her even more stage and screen success, and she is currently looking for a project that will showcase her acting chops without singing. As overwhelming as the project appeared to the invited guests, it appears no one is more overwhelmed than the sweet and personable Hudson, who is about the direct opposite of her high-strung character of Effie. In talking briefly about her path toward winning the role (three auditions, the first of which did not involve singing) and the experience of filming thus far (mostly group numbers plus Effie's solo single "One Night Only"; Condon has wisely saved the iconic and demanding "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" until the end of the shoot), Hudson appeared no less than humbled and grateful but at the same time excited over and eager to deliver on this huge opportunity, which few doubt will send her rising star into supernova. Keith Robinson also hung out for a while, and like his on-screen sister the hard-working up-and-comer was also rather gracious and obviously grateful to be part of such a high-profile production. Following his work on the film, Robinson will resume work on his long-shelved (due to various acting commitments) debut album, which he hopes to have completed and in stores around the time Dreamgirls opens on December 22. The good sport award of the night, however, goes to Foxx. That proviso that no recording devices were to be brought to the event? Ignored by just about the majority of everyone in attendance, save for goody-two-shoes sorts such as myself, and with the surprising lack of a security check, there was no stopping those armed with recorders from using them--and did they ever get a workout with Foxx, who scarcely had a moment in the tent without some sort of device shoved in front of his face. While this went against the whole casual mixer intent of the event, Foxx handled it like a pro, offering the asked-for soundbites, even if he often had to repeat some answers (namely, the bit about Murphy's excitement about the film, and how the film blends music and dramatic content in a powerful way). He was congratulated for his patience and professionalism with a special encore of that brief "Steppin'" snippet, which he loudly cheered, joking that he's the next Michael Jackson. Upon exit of the tent, guests were given a numbered, limited edition black and white print of a stunning still of the three Dreamgirls, taken from behind as they gaze upon a stage from the backstage wings; this image was also on the front cover of the press kit distributed upon check-in. My guess is that the image is taken from the beginning from the film, right before they perform "Move (You're Stepping on My Heart)" at an Apollo Theatre talent contest. For more information please visit The Movie Report : Dreamgirls. Source: The Movie Report