A colorful, high-energy musical inspired by the life of P.T. Barnum, celebrating show business spectacle.
Musical & Techniques
- Spectacle-Driven Musical: Focuses on grand visuals and uplifting themes.
- Techniques: Bright, exaggerated color palette; dynamic choreography; sweeping camera movements.
Discussion Questions
- How does the film use music to shape character arcs?
- How does the spectacle of the film reflect Barnum’s real-life philosophy?
- How does The Greatest Showman balance historical accuracy with entertainment?
- Did you like the film? Why or why not?
1.In the Film The Greatest Showman the opulent set design and vibrant lighting with a variety of bright colors really help bring out P.T. Barnum’s ambition and the overall magical atmosphere of the circus. The very lavishing sets and the dazzling lights create a beautiful world full of wonder and excitement which reflects Barnum’s dream world he has in his head that is no longer just a fantasy. Lighting used makes the audience feel like they are a part of the show. The grandeur of the sets adds to the film's themes of dreams, Imagination, and the great power of believing in yourself and being confident in who you are. By adding depth, and contrast, with the lighting creates a magical and enchanting atmosphere.
ReplyDelete2. The costumes in The Greatest Showman play a significant role in symbolizing the character's personal journeys and growth. An example of this is P.T. Barnum's wardrobe evolves as he does. When he is struggling to reach his goals his wardrobe is more dull but as he evolves into a more confident showman his costumes become more extravagant and bold reflecting his newfound confidence.
3.The energetic dance sequences and fluid camera work create a dynamic and immersive experience for the audience. By blending the movements of the performers with the camera, it enhances the emotional resonance of the musical numbers. It helps the audience feel the passion, happiness, and struggles that the characters are going through as they express themselves through dance and song. The camera movement and the choreography are major storytelling tools to show the emotions of the characters.
4.Yes, I enjoyed this film very much it has been one of my favorite musicals for a while. I enjoyed ut because of the amazing visuals, songs, and choreography.
1. The opulent set design and use of lighting contribute to the portrayal of P.T. Barnum’s ambition and the fantastical world of the circus. Vibrant colors like yellow and red portray confidence, ambition, and joy. The bright artificial lighting highlights these colors and makes being in the circus feel like a dream where everything is so bright and colorful, which enhances the film’s themes of dreams and imagination.
ReplyDelete2. The costumes worn by the characters symbolize their personal journeys and growth. In particular, Phillip Carlyle. When P.T. Barnum first meets him he is in a plain black and white suit. There is nothing that really stands out about him in comparison to P.T. Barnum in his colorful outfits. At the end of the film when Barnum passes over his role as ringmaster to Carlyle he is dressed in a bright red ringmaster's outfit and his movements are fluid with pure confidence and joy. He has finally found something he loves and enjoys being a part of and his costume draws attention to this. He is no longer worried about being a misfit and will not rely on his parents or others. Costume design aligns with the film’s message of self-acceptance and empowerment by showing how much more confident the characters have gotten with the change from drab, darker colors to brighter, bolder ones.
3. The choreography and camera movements enhance the emotional resonance of the musical numbers and contribute to the overall storytelling by creating a more immersive environment for the audience. Around 00:36:55, Barnum begins to sing and express his want for Carlyle to become his protégé while Carlyle insistently refuses until they get towards the end of the song when he finally agrees. The choreography and camera movements during this scene highlight how the characters feel because close-ups and tracking shots are utilized to show their body language and emotions. Carlyle is often seen attempting to run away from Barnum as he seemingly chases him trying to convince him. Once they both finally agree they begin to dance in unison with complementary movements.
4. I loved this film because I love musicals and I love the music, choreography, and story.
1. The Greatest Showman" takes audiences to the flashy world of P.T. Barnum's circus during the 19th century. The film's set design is an incredible fusion of creativity and historical accuracy. The circus tent, filled with shimmering lights and vibrant colors, creates an atmosphere full of excitement and wonder. The in depth details of the circus grounds, complete with animals, various attractions and lively performances, immerse viewers in the magical universe of the movie. The use of dynamic lighting techniques plays along with the wild imagination, adding depth and emotion to each scene. The contrast between the dazzling spectacle of the circus and the more softened, depressing settings p enhances the dream effect of lighting, it looks like the place to be.
ReplyDelete2. Charity’s outfits were always soft and delicate wearing nothing but light outfits; she was made to have the classic romantic look as we see her deeply in love with Barnum only to later have her heart broken. The goal was to not have her stand out as much and was seen as less impressive. Then there was Anne who had a more unique look with the colors turquoise , purple, silver and gold with expensive Swarovski crystals. Most intriguing feature being her pink hair. With her looks she can shift and be whoever she wants to be. This allows the audience to identify with her in an aspirational way and not held down to specific time and place. The hat that Barnum wears is significant especially in the last song “The greatest showman” the hat gets passed to all the major characters in the show just to give it to his young business partner so he can “watch his girls grow up”. Although his dreams and ambitions of being successful are nice, family is more important.
3. The choreography and camera movements play a significant role in “The Greatest Showman”. The choreography consisted of many different genres. This movie took Broadway and Hollywood classics and mixed it with contemporary to really surprise and engage the audience with something different. For example when “Rewrite the Stars'' is being sung it's more of an airborne ballet. With the trapeze act. This helps put into perspective Anne and Phillips' relationship using a metaphor. It shows that there were two separate feelings into their relationship. Following their movements as Anne typically stayed in the dark far away from him while Philip just watched. During the song “This is Me” a consistent move I kept seeing was the arms being up and out with heads up and chests puffed up. It really plays into the theme of expressing who you are as a person and being proud of it.
4. Yes I thought the film was great. Didn’t realize how significant the outfits and set design impact the film as a whole. It was truly interesting to look into. Although I’ve never been into musicals, the songs in this movie were too good.
The comment above is Genesis
Delete1. The lavish sets, help with intricate details and pretty colors, capture Barnum's vision. These opulent surroundings symbolize his larger-than-life dreams and his determination to create a spectacle that wow’s audiences. The sheer scale and extravagance of the sets reflect Barnum's ambition to push boundaries and achieve greatness. Then there's the Magical Atmosphere through the clever lighting techniques, the film creates a fantastical ambiance that takes viewers into the world of the circus. Soft, warm lighting enhancing the magical quality of the acts and drawing audiences into the wonder of the show. This lighting contributes to the portrayal of Barnum as a master showman through his productions. The elaborate set designs and lighting schemes also serve as symbolic elements within the narrative. They represent not only Barnum's ambition but also themes of creativity, imagination, and the transformative power of entertainment. By immersing audiences in a visually stunning environment, the film reinforces its central message of embracing individuality and celebrating the extraordinary. This enhance the film's themes of dreams and imagination by visually capturing the magic and wonder of pursuing one's dreams. Through the mesmerizing visuals of the circus, audiences are invited to embrace their own dreams and embark on a journey of self-discovery, creativity, and transformation.
ReplyDelete2. In "The Greatest Showman," costume design plays a significant role in symbolizing the personal journeys and growth of the characters while aligning with the film's message of self-acceptance and empowerment. One way is the costumes worn by the characters evolve throughout the film, reflecting their individually and expressions of self. For example , P.T. Barnum's costumes evolve from a more modest outfit to extravagant, show-stopping outfits as he gains confidence and success in his journey. This transformation symbolizes his journey from insecurity to self-confidence, as well as his growing embrace of his own uniqueness and creativity. now for the Empowerment part. Through appearance The elaborate costumes worn by the characters not only reflect their personal journeys but also empower them to fully embody their roles within the circus. The performers' lovey outfits and complex makeup serve as tools of self-expression. Allowing them to embrace their identities and showcase their talents without fear of judgment or discrimination. In this way, the costume design aligns with the film's message of self-acceptance and empowerment, helping viwers to embrace their own uniqueness and pursue their dreams with confidence and authenticity.
3.the choreography and camera movements in "The Greatest Showman" use film elements to enhance the emotional resonance of the musical numbers Through the advance movements and expressive gestures, the choreography adds layers of meaning to the lyrics, allowing characters to show their innermost feelings without words. The camera movements in "The Greatest Showman" are carefully used to capture the energy and emotion of the musical numbers while keeping viewers in the performances. Through sweeping camera pans, dynamic tracking shots, and fluid transitions, the film moves the viwers into the heart of the action, allowing them to experience the excitement and magic of the circus firsthand.
4. did i like the movie short answer no that is only because I've never really been the type to care for musicals but i sure, did like the songs in the movie but overall 7.5 out of 10 if your into musicals this is a must watch
1. The lavish set design and lighting help contribute to the portrayal of P.T. Barnum’s ambition and the fantastical world of the circus. The set design and lighting of the main circus are extremely grand, decorated with bright colors of red and gold. There are many tapestries along with other strings of lights. The set and lighting give the circus a larger-than-life feeling to the circus, making it feel spectacular, relating to P.T. Barnum’s ideals for the perfect circus. The extravagant circus helps contribute to the ideas of dreams and imagination because it was P.T. Barnum's dream to have a spectacular, never-before-seen circus. The extravagance of the circus through character and audience reactions proves the idea that dreams can come true.
ReplyDelete2. The costumes worn by the characters symbolize their personal self-growth journeys. For example, Zac Efron’s character of Phillip Carlyle has a very noticeable costume change throughout the film. At the film's beginning, he is seen wearing many simple black and white outfits. This was when the character was skeptical of working with Barnum in the circus. By the end of the movie, Carlyle is wearing a red jacket and is given a hat by Barnum. This change in clothing shows his transformation as a character. By the film's end, Carlyle has finally accepted his choice to help the circus.
3. The choreography and camera movements in "The Greatest Showman" enhance the emotional resonance and contribute to the overall storytelling by including the audience, both in the film and outside. Specifically in the last musical number “The Greatest Show” the choreography is extremely open and inviting to the real audience. This makes it feel like the songs are meant to include the audience's personal connections and feelings, especially when it is about following one’s dreams. The cameras tend to move with the dancing or athletic motions also bring the physical connection to the music ensembles.
4. Yes, I did enjoy the movie. I haven’t seen The Greatest Showman since middle school. I was excited to get to rewatch it. Honestly, my favorite thing about the film is the music, I think every song fits perfectly into the film and story.
1. The opulent set design and use of lighting are used to portray P.T. Barnum’s ambition and create the fantasy-like world of the circus. The lavish and extravagant set design reflects P.T. Barnum’s personality and his constant pursuit of success. The sets, especially in the circus, are often visually striking and grand which immerse the audience in the world of the circus and create the feeling of a spectacle. Lighting is also used to enhance the mood and atmosphere of the movie. During the circus scenes, bright colorful lights are used adding to the sense of excitement and the fantastical atmosphere. But at the same time, the film uses dimmer lighting to more emotional moments to give the scene and the characters emotional depth. The uses of lighting and setting work to immerse the viewer into the movie, especially as it changes with the scene/based on what's happening.
ReplyDelete2. The costumes in The Greatest Showman play a significant role in showing the characters' personal journeys and growth. Throughout the movie, the characters’ costumes evolve along with their journey of embracing themselves. In the beginning of the film all of the characters’ often wear dull and ordinary clothes, reflecting how at the beginning both society and themselves see them as outcasts. But as they embrace their identities and begin to pursue their dreams by performing their talents their costumes become more colorful and extravagant. Through these colorful and extravagant costumes worn later in the film, the characters are unapologetically embracing what made them seen as outcasts at the beginning of the film and celebrating those differences.
3. Choreography and camera movements in the film are important to creating a dynamic and immersive experience for the audience because they enhance the emotional resonance and add to the overall storytelling of the film. The choreography in the film is produced to express the emotions and themes of the different musical numbers. For example in “Rewrite the Stars” the choreography enhances the connection between Phillip and Anne, as when Phillip and Anne sing about them belonging together and wanting to run to each other they are often close together but when Anne sings about everyone telling them what they can be she is suddenly ripped from his grasp into the air. The choreography quite literally reflects what they feel, they want to be together but people like Phillip's parents don't want them to be together because of their different social classes and different races. Immersive camera movements are also used to complement the choreography and enhance emotion. Again during “Rewrite The Stars” arc shots and close-ups are used to capture the characters dancing together and capture emotions on their faces making the viewer feel like they are there witnessing the romantic moment.
4. I really enjoyed the movie, I think what made it even more interesting than other musical movies was the large and extravagant sets and the costumes. Also, the dancing was fun to watch in the scene that had musical numbers.
1.The opulent set design and lighting contribute to P.T Barnums ambition and the fantastical world of circus by using bright, vibrant colors and spot lighting. In the beginning of The Greatest Showman (around 1:36) A spotlight is used to follow and highlight Barnum and the actors in the circus. The lighting shows off Barnums ambition because it calls attention to Barnums excitement and motivation to be apart of the circus. His energy throughout the scene, showcased through the lighting showcases his love for the circus and how proud of he is of it. Although around 2:37 this same spotlight is used to highlight Barnums realization that hes alone because his ambition hurt those around him. Barnum frantically looks around confused and finds no one. The darkness behind Barnum and the light above bring out his emotions and actions driven by his aspirations.
ReplyDelete2.Specifically costumes worn by Barnum and the circus actor show their personal journeys and growth. In the beginning of the play all these characters were poor and cast off to the side by everyone, their clothes reflected that, as they were beige, brown, very muted colors. But when the circus opened up, they started to make money and wear very bright clothes. An example of this would be Barnums suit he uses during the circus. He wear a red coat with gold buttons, a white, seemingly silk button up and top hat. The top how symbolizes how Barnum has come up in the world, and the bright colors and fabric of his clothes reflects his wealth and growth from the beginning of the play when he had almost nothing.
3.The choreography and camera movements in “The Greatest Showman” create a dynamic and immersive experience by enhancing the emotional resonance and by contributing to the story. The camera movements make it seem as if the viewers are witnessing the show, it makes you feel apart of that world.
4.Besides when I was in the 5th grade, this was my first time actually watching The Greatest Showman. I had heard a lot of things about it but never decided to watch but when I did I loved it. I loved all the songs in movie and the storyline was so engaging, I felt many emotions watching it and I will defenitly be watching it again.
1. The elaborate set design and the strategic use of lighting in this film contributes significantly to the portrayal of P.T. Barnum’s ambition and the magical world of the circus. These elements create a sense of grandeur and spectacle, reflecting Barnum’s desire to captivate and awe his audience. They also enhance the films themes of dreams and imagination by immersing viewers in a visually stunning and enchanting environment.
ReplyDelete2. The costumes worn by the characters in this film served as a symbol of their personal growth and growth. Each characters costume reflects their individuality and development, illustrating their struggles, triumphs, and transformations throughout the film. This aligns with the films message of self- acceptance and empowerment by emphasizing the importance of embracing one’s unique identity and celebrating differences.
3. The choreography and camera work in this film play a vital role in enhancing the emotional impact of the musical numbers and enriching to overall storytelling. The Dynamic and visually captivating choreography brings the musical numbers to life , infusing them with depth and emotion. Additionally, the innovative camera movements , such as sweeping shots and dynamic angles, create a sense of immersion and excitement, drawing viewers into the films world and enhancing its storytelling.
4. I did like this film however it wouldn’t be something I would just randomly watch however I wouldn’t mind watching again.
The film uses varying songs to define and advance the emotional connection of the characters in the movie. For example, P.T. Barnum’s ambition and determination are captured in the songs “A Million Dreams” and “The Greatest Show”. These songs represent his rise from poverty and his pursuit of a rich/adventurous life. As the film progresses, he becomes consumed by the fame he’s accumulated, reflected in the song “Never Enough”. This song represents his development of character as it highlights that external achievements and fame aren’t satisfying without personal fulfillment. The ultimate moment of his recognizing the true value of his family and his crew is shown in the song “From Now On”, which symbolizes his repentance and commitment to the foundation he built.
ReplyDeleteThe rich and diverse spectacle of the film reflects Barnum’s real-life philosophy as the elaborate choreography, energetic songs, vibrant costumes, and high-energy performance reflect his idea of true showmanship. Barnum believed that sensation and illusion were powerful tools to attract and please the public, which was initially his first goal when starting his circus. The movie effectively reflects his idea to please the public as it prioritizes dazzling, over-the-top entertainment over more realistic standpoints. For example, the duet in “The Other Side” delivers a high-energy emotional performance, mirroring the nature of Barnum’s original shows.
The film sacrifices historical accuracy for entertainment as it aims for a more sensationalist approach to draw emotions from the audience, as it uses the real P.T. Barnum’s life as a guide to create a feel-good musical. The film overlooks some of the historical controversies to create a more positive atmosphere, such as the exhibition of an ensalved woman, instead portraying him as a hero among the lower class. Relationships as also exaggerated within the movie as they are entirely fictional to add a modern romantic dilemma to enhance the film’s theme of acceptance. The standards of romance were far different in this period of time, so trading this for a greater emotional impact overwrites the actuality of history.
In the end, I enjoyed the film as I grew up watching it, so seeing it once again was both heart-warming and enjoyable. Now looking back, deciphering some deeper meanings of the film truly helped me understand and appreciate the movie even more.
(Aiden Castillo)
1. Each time a major song comes on, it seems to reflect emotional turning points in this movie. Looking at Barnum specifically, "A Million Dreams” is his beginning ambitions and idealism, though as it costs him, the song "Never Enough” plays, representing the cost of his obsession with his success in the circus. Though when he realizes this to the very end, "from now on” plays, which again represents Barnum and him moving forward with his life, returning to his original true values in family. Each song reflects different character emotional turning points, not just for Barnum.
ReplyDelete2. This film reflects Barnum's real-life philosophy that "the noblest art is that of making others happy” with its very bright visuals and musical numbers. The movie shows showmanship, extravagant celebrations, imagination, and inclusive, showing that his art is there for everyone within and outside the movie.
3. It balances historical accuracy with entertainment by keeping the timeline, character design, and character relationships as they would have been back then. Whilst also keeping it entertaining by its musical score and focus on optimism, acceptance, and dreams rather than controversial practices in the circus.
4. I like this film for its music; I really enjoy a lot of music within the movie, specifically "Never Enough". I do like the characters and the idea of the movie, but I think it's a movie Ide only want to watch one time and listen to the music from it.
How does the film use music to shape character arcs?
ReplyDeleteThe film uses music to its advantage by having the score represent a growth in a person's own character or a turning point in their lives. For example, the song “A Million Dreams” represents Barnum's inspirations and his ambitions in his life. It is the start of his path towards success and his struggle to get out of poverty. It shows his wistful optimism at such a young age carried on into adulthood to solidify his ambition for success. Eventually, he sees the cost of his fame and his naive optimism when the song “Never Enough” plays. In this song he sees the very real consequences of his selfishness and inflated ego from his fame and success. He realizes that fame and success is not worth losing his family and reflects on the value of his family vs. the cost of fame.
How does the spectacle of the film reflect Barnum’s real-life philosophy?
This film heavily reflects Barnum's real-life philosophy and ideas through the usage of whimsical music and bright, vibrant colors that seem to explode in the audience's face. His philosophy is almost reminiscent of the extravagant parties thrown in the Great Gatsby to attract Daisy, yet this time it’s attracting the public. He believed that illusion was the most effective way to make audiences happy and the movie directly reflects that by showing the nature of his art and philosophy in its purest form– through his showmanship.
How does The Greatest Showman balance historical accuracy with entertainment?
The movie keeps some of its key details like the set and costume design and timeline accurate. Yet, it sacrifices the more on the nose controversies it faced in favor of a more kid-friendly tale of striving for what you want in life. It does this in order to paint positive messages for children to grow up with and follow. If they kept some of the controversies, the movie wouldn't have the same feel-good hero’s journey feel to it. Rather, it would be more of a dark-comedy-musical cluster that focuses on the dark parts of the circus the audience doesn't see. Thus, it had to sacrifice its historical accuracy to make an upbeat, happy tale that families could sit down and watch together.
Did you like the film? Why or why not?
I really like the message of this film and the score is amazing as well. It was emotional and sad at times while still being heartwarming towards the end. The costume designing was good as well and really captivating at times.
The film uses music to shape character arcs and bring back the songs when their lives have changed. Such as the movie’s first song, A Million Dreams, is also brought back at the end of the movie after their life has passed, and when P.T. Barnum makes a mistake and apologizes to Charity, and she sings the song back to him. The song begins with them being just kids and then fades to when they are adults and ends with her being pregnant with his kids, showing their love story growing from simply knowing each other as kids to then getting married later on and having children together. Their young daughters sing the same song, showing how the circle repeats and the growth of the characters. P.T. Barnum and Charity bring new life to the world. The use of film expresses how the characters are feeling, and as the movie progresses, they have different emotions. The movie begins with A Million Dreams with Charity and Barnum's story together and say that “a million dreams for the world we're gonna make,” and then later, when Barnum leaves on his tour with Jenny Lin, Charity sings another song Tightrope about Barnum leaving her behind in the song she sings “And you promised to never let go” and “Never sure, will you catch me if I should fall?” The character goes through a journey of watching her husband's life and accomplishing his goals and dreams, while she gets left behind with their daughters and feels lonely.
ReplyDeleteThe Greatest Showman mirrors Barnum’s real-life philosophy of how entertainment should attract audiences and inspire wonder through imagination and illusion. Which in the movie P.T. Barnum gets called out by the critic for selling something fake but Barnum argues back that the smiles that are on the people's faces aren't fake. In both the film and real life, Barnum focuses on creating a show for the people that celebrates uniqueness and to make those ordinary people feel extraordinary. The film’s characteristics such as the bright music, choreography, and glowing visuals emphasizes his philosophy that showmanship and spectacle can transform reality into something mystical and magical.
The greatest showman uses creative techniques with the historical facts to make the story more inspiring, interesting, and to have more emotional connection. While the real P.T. Barnum was a controversial figure who sometimes exploited his performers, the film portrays him to be as a visionary who celebrates diversity and acceptance. By focusing on themes of self-expression, equality, and following your dreams. The movie prioritizes entertainment and positive messages instead of being strictly following historical accuracy.
I love The Greatest Showman, because it is a movie that I have seen numerous times as a child, and I love the music in the movie as well as one of the messages it sends. The message of being true to yourself and embracing one’s own uniqueness is a message that I think is highly important the people should know, especially nowadays when people tend to be followers and hide and be ashamed of their uniqueness. The Greatest Showman is also a movie that is entertaining with a dramatic twist and has romance in the story as well, so that was another reason why I enjoyed the movie. In the film, the characters deal with bullies and racism, but they fight back by singing This is Me which is them singing about being not ashamed of who they are and being proud of their uniqueness. Teaching the viewer not to be ashamed of what makes them different and instead be brave and proud to have the uniqueness that makes them special.
In The Greatest Showman, music is used to show how the characters grow. in the song “A million dreams” it’s used to portray the strong imagination and passion he had when he was a young boy. This section of the song “Cause every night I lie in bed The brightest colors fill my head A million dreams are keeping me awake I think of what the world could be” is a perfect example of the imagination he had. Then this section of the song “They can say, they can say it all sounds crazy They can say, they can say I've lost my mind I don't care, I don't care, so call me crazy We can live in a world that we design” is used to show that even though people don't believe in his dreams of being successful, he isn't going to let that stop him due to his strong passion and desire of being seen. In the sing “From now on” Barnum’s realizes that his family and friends are far more important than fame and success, he can always strive to be successful, but he will never have the same family. While the song “This is me” is about the performers learning to accept who they are. Each song fits a big moment in the story, showing what the characters are feeling and how they change over time.
ReplyDeleteBarnum holds a lot of love for creativity, this is represented through the flashy costumes,dancing, and big dramatic performances. He believed that people needed something magical to escape their everyday lives, and the circus was his way of giving them that. The film shows this through “The Greatest Show,” where the camera swoops across the stage as the crowd cheers, this excites the audience and gives us a feel of how Barnum’s audience might’ve felt.
The Greatest Showman is able to balance historical accuracy with entertainment by taking real events from Barnum’s life but changing some details to make the story more fun and inspiring for the audience. The film focuses more on his creativity, imagination, and passion for following dreams, rather than showing the hardships he faced while trying to pursue the dream because that might discourage viewers. It still gives a sense of who Barnum was while keeping the story entertaining with uplifting music, dramatic performances, and colorful settings.
Yes I really like this film!! The songs from this film always get stuck in my head. And it’s a well directed film.