Peter Freestone on Bohemian Rhapsody at Dutch Queen Day
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Wiley · Member since
Somebody else had posted this vídeo elsewhere and I found it very interesting. Phoebe talks extensively about his involvement in the Bohemian Rhapsody movie.
This has gotten me super excited, I just say, although I'm sure someone will find something to bitch about.
http://youtu.be/f9Gfk_1hmkM
Some highlights:
- We should not expect a documentary or a docudrama. Artistic license was taken but the movie should please dirhard and casual fans alike and general public too.
- He was consulting on the movie for over 5 months or so. Visited the set during filming 3-4 time's. During his visits he was constantly asked whether freddie would have done something a given way.
- He was supposed to join Bryan Singer to consult for 3 days and he stayed 5 months. Bryan wanted to ensure authenticity of character.
- The production company was meticulous and exhaustive. He gives an example on them asking him what Freddie used to keep on a bag he used to carry around and the recreated it all (hairbrush, mirror, cigarettes, etc.) even if the contents will never be seen on the screen.
- He describes eerie moments in filming when he felt Rami, Gwylim and Joe looked just like tiger original guys. For Joe Mazzello he said he saw him sitting on a couch and when talking to him he had to ask him if he was talking to Joe or John. He thought Joe was rehearsing John's lines in character but he was just Joe being Joe.
- He suggested Fat bottomed girls may feature earlier in the movie than it was written in real life because it fit with the story arc.
- Another major artistic liberty was that the movie shows Freddie knowing he was HIV positive by 1985, as opposed to 1987.
- Bryan Singer filmed 85% of the movie and will retain sole directing credit (movie says "A Bryan Singer film"). Dexter Fletcher finished the remaining 15% and did NO RESHOOTS, so none of Singer's stuff was changed.
- Bryan Singer had asked for a few days to visit his elder, sick mother over the holidays but was denied. He said he did not know how much time she had with her.
- The movie is filmed a lot in real locations, rather than studio sets. They were not allowed to film inside of Garden Lodge but they got another house in the area, built around the same time and recorded it with Phoebe's input. He said he was particularly amazed by how they got the Japanese room right.
- The Live Aid stage/set was built by the same company that built the original in 1985 from the original plans.
- Choreography and continuity was verified exhaustively. For example, on the Live Aid set they were comparing the daily shots with the Live Aid video as they were shooting, looking into details like how the cameramen in the concert moved.
Wiley · Member since
Oh, so now we can't edit posts on this forum? Apologies for a few autocorrect typos in there, courtesy of my phone.
Holly2003 · Member since
Sorry, there can't be claims of historical accuracy AND wild liberties taken with when songs were written and released, or when Fred knew he had Aids.
emrabt · Member since
So.... it's historically accurate while at the same time making massive changes to the timeline for both the song writing and personal storylines?
Star* · Member since
Well i say this film is bringing back the magic of Freddie to the public as he has been very ignored as of late
Lets hope people start respecting Freddie even more and get in back into vogue where he belongs.
Wiley · Member since
The HIV diagnosis bit will be annoying, I guess, but they kinda painted themselves into a corner by wanting to end the movie on a high point with Live Aid. I see how it works better on the screen, though.
It's more dramatic to have him KNOW he's sick and he won't be able to play much longer as one of the reasons for him to play the best damn show ever. The same could be said for Knebworth. Did he know it was the band's last concert?
Wasn't part of the reason for Freddie not wanting to tour the U.S. in 1986 that he feared he might be sick and that the insurance company would require medical tests or something? (It was probably fan speculation).
Lastly, on the Fat Bottomed Girls bit, I wouldn't think I mind if Queen's studio recording of the song plays in the background at an earlier point in the movie (i.e. some crazy party in '74 or '75) but it will bother me quite a bit if I see 1974 Freddie (angel gown and all) singing the song at the Rainbow or something during the movie. The former I could stand, like I could stand the presence of any Queen music in any pre-1971 scene in the movie, for example, something like the instrumental It's a Beautiful Day playing during a sunrise scene in Zanzibar or Bombay.
Star* · Member since
I think it is very annoying if the film spends too much time on Freddie's illness because we all know Freddie was better known for his mega vocals and flamboyant performances than some
pathetic relentless illness that some scum bag gave Freddie.
The film should celebrate the brilliance of Mercury and how he made Queen look flash and a knockout.
Kamenliter · Member since
As stated, all that attention to accuracy is kind of pointless if they're going to have FBG being performed live pre 1978...ugh...UGH...what plot line could possibly be that important to have that song being preformed so much earlier than it actually was? It just does not fit their image at all pre-1978 (or at least pre 1977).
Blech.
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Wiley wrote:[/b]
Wasn't part of the reason for Freddie not wanting to tour the U.S. in 1986 that he feared he might be sick and that the insurance company would require medical tests or something? [/QUOTE]
We know he knew in 1986, as Mary Austin confirmed in an interview a few years ago. But 1985? We'll probably never know.
But Hollywood knows (hell, even Brian knows) the average person won't be squabbling over such minute details.
Good music doth not a good film make. Drama does. So they'll take some liberties, and probably focus on sex and drugs to some extent. Talking about how someone was a great songwriter or performer is not going to put asses in seats, I'm afraid.
stevendabudgie · Member since
@Wiley
Peter Freestone:
"Another topic raised quite often is if Freddie knew he was sick during the Magic Tour.
I wouldn’t go as far as to say he knew he was sick, but I have an idea that he knew something was wrong and he suspected the reason. It was a massive tour by any standards, only playing big stadiums all around Europe, but he was feeling much more tired than usual and for him, shows were what he did and he knew how to pace himself. At the end of the tour, he was exhausted and that was when he said he wouldn’t tour again for quite a while. When he was at home he really had the time to ponder on the realities of his life and accept what might be really wrong. He didn’t have confirmation of this until Easter 1987."
