I make a point to refer to ‘Fame’ as a ‘performance’ film, not a musical. Despite having a successful stage run on the West End in 1995, the film version ‘Fame’ contains nine songs, the majority of which are instrumental. The ‘musical’ aspect of the film comes from the classes the students undertake – dance, singing, music and drama.
2 comments:
Though I agree that the original Fame movie was WAY better than the 2009 remake, I still have an appreciation for the newest version. It brought a film and story that most kids my age did not know to the forefront. If it had not been for the 2009 remake I would have never been interested in viewing the original version of Fame released in the 80's.
This article touches on why Fame was and STILL IS such an important story to tell about the performing and the arts in general.
I believe that the story is more important now than ever before. We live in a time where we have access to everything at the push of a button. Generations, old and young, are becoming more needy and demanding. We truly do not have to work as hard as though who came before us due to technological advances. Fame tells a story of students who struggled. They worked hard to achieve their goals. The fact that they were in the arts and pursuing goals that may or may not have come to fruition is even more commendable. The students who's life this film followed showed us all what it really meant to be devoted to your craft. To love what you do. And to work hard for what you want. Like the article said, "We were all routing for their success!" Fame taught me and many others that the path to achieving your goals is longer than what you think when you start out. But finding the strength to strive towards them is more impressive.
Fame is one of my all-time favorite movies. I remember watching it for the first time when I was 12 on a plane. I couldn't stop crying because it definitely touched a chord in my heart, and it still does. As the author said, "what makes ‘Fame’ so enduring is its reassurance that, though one might not always achieve their goals, there is no shame in trying." I think this is a core value shared by all those striving or struggling in the creative field. They don't know where they will end up eventually, but the destination is not really the point here. The point is the process of trying, the endless cycle of self-criticism and improvement, the trial for creativity. People in the art field are driven by fame, desire, all kinds of things, but most importantly they are driven by passion. I think that's what moved me the most in Fame. I come from the technical field, and most of the engineers and computer scientists around me are all generally interested in getting a stable income, and then a stable life where they can do fun things outside of their careers. (Of course there are super passionate engineers, but based on personally experience, they don't really represent the norm.) This lifestyle is in sharp contrast with the lifestyle of artists, who choose passion over stability. All lifestyles are respectable, but being a creative person means more risks and a more trying journey. Fame is a great movie that speaks the heart of young people who want to find their place in the creative field, and it should also be a window for those outside to understand this particular lifestyle and the beauty of it.
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