Variety: "It's tough to stump legiters, those opinionated theater types with opinions about everything. But ask them what Julie Taymor should do next, and suggestions run dry.
Nobody will deny she has a real genius for visual spectacle, and many point out that the turbulence of 'Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark' can't be entirely her fault.
4 comments:
Putting aside the inane aspect of this article actually being published (it virtually provided a common "insight" about Taymor's future), I'd like to think that Julie Taymor will be working on a different production. More than two decades ago, the horrible musical Carrie closed after only several performances on Broadway after being panned by the critics on the level that Spider-Man was bashed recently. And despite his involvement, Terry Hands is still directing numerous productions across the Atlantic. Julie Taymor's marquee value has indeed bizarrely increased since The Lion King and her fame may create hesitancy for some producers. Although Spider-Man was an absolute piece of crap in my opinion, I hope that Julie Taymor learned significantly from her experience and continue to direct and design in the future.
I agree with Hiro...even people as famous as Julie Taymor have been given a second chance. She has proved that she can do incredible work and that her unique visions can be successful and well-received. As the article states, a small-budget show might be good for her now so that she can get back to her more creative side and focus less on expensive spectacle. I think that working on a tight budget actually requires designers to be more creative. Whether Taymor ends up on a smaller budget show or not, I think her career will be fine. It seems as though Spider-Man would have hopefully given her a wake up call when it comes to staying within a budget, and it has hopefully given those that will work with her in the future a glimpse as to how closely they will need to keep an eye on expenses as Taymor develops the show.
It had felt to me that Taymor was trying to move more in the film direction, and this article only breezes over the fact that her last film, The Tempest, opened with barely a whimper. This movie was expected to be an awards show contender, and early screenings disappointed to the point where the movie received a very small release in December. This, being coupled with the "Spider-Man" debacle and the fact that her previous film, Across the Universe", bombed as well, is going to be quite difficult for her to come back from. At the same time, though, she is now more famous than she's ever been, so she's going to get more work. The question is if she can rebound from this stretch of disappointments.
I agree with the article--I would like to see Taymor do a production with a low or limited budget. She has visual strengths, and she seems to be able to tell a story. Maybe she needs less spectacle and more story.
I do not agree, however, when the author suggests that becoming a designer takes the storytelling element out of his/her work. Designers tell a story the same as everybody else because it's a communal effort. While a director may take the reigns (which is what I'm assuming the author is suggesting) this does not mean that designers simply facilitate the directors needs. The production has one need: a story, and every member of a production has the ultimate goal to tell a story, whether or not they hold more artistic control.
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