The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast Wicked: For Good with Jon M. Chu and Rob Marshall (Ep. 588)
Dec 8, 2025
Join film director Jon M. Chu, renowned for his vibrant musicals like In the Heights and Crazy Rich Asians, as he chats with fellow director Rob Marshall. They dive into the creative process behind Wicked: For Good, emphasizing the significance of performance over spectacle. Chu shares insights on tackling complex themes of power and friendship, reveals the unique challenges of filming both Wicked installments back-to-back, and discusses the collaborative magic of crafting new songs with Stephen Schwartz.
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Fairy Tales As Contemporary Mirrors
- Jon M. Chu framed Wicked as a reflection of our adult selves re-examining fairy tales amid shifting American dreams.
- He connected making the films to his immigrant family story and the responsibility of telling stories that question possibility and home.
Use Musical Elements To Reveal Inner Life
- Use musical tools (melody, lyrics, movement) to access inner emotion that dialogue cannot reach.
- Coordinate score, song rhythm, visuals, and performance tightly so music feels inevitable, not tacked-on.
Harness Failure Became A Vital Take
- During a live spell sequence Cynthia's harness failed and she was stuck, creating an unexpectedly raw performance the crew kept.
- Chu used that imperfect take, jump-cutting to planned shots to preserve the emotional core.
