Difference between revisions of "Film: Purple Rain"
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<b>First Steps</b> | <b>First Steps</b> | ||
− | During the [[1999 Tour]], [[Prince]] gathered ideas for a semi-autobiographical film script and discussed the project with manager [[Steve Fargnoli]]. After [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros. Warner Bros.].' film division expressed a slight interest in the film, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros. Records] chairman Mo' Ostin allowed it a substantial budget to start the production, [[Prince]]'s managers approached William Blinn to write a viable screenplay | + | During the [[1999 Tour]], [[Prince]] gathered ideas for a semi-autobiographical film script and discussed the project with manager [[Steve Fargnoli]]. After [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros. Warner Bros.].' film division expressed a slight interest in the film, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros._Records Warner Bros. Records] chairman Mo' Ostin allowed it a substantial budget to start the production, [[Prince]]'s managers approached William Blinn to write a viable screenplay. |
− | Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, [[Prince]], [[The Revolution]], [[The Time]] and [[Vanity 6]] began preparations for the film project. A warehouse in St. Louis Park was rented for band rehearsals and dancing and acting classes. Actor and Director Don Amendolia was recruited by Blinn to conduct improvisational exercises and theater games. Dance workouts were conducted by John Command at the Minnesota Dance Theater in a downtown dance studio, two block away from the [[First Avenue]]. [[Alan Leeds]], then [[Prince]]'s road manager, was hired on a full time basis to organize activities in the warehouse and coordinate some of [[Prince]]'s business affairs. | + | In May 1983, Blinn relocated to Minneapolis with the intention of developing more ideas for the screenplay, but collaborating with [[Prince]] appeared difficult and Blinn returned to Los Angeles where he resumed work for a script now called "Dreams". |
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+ | Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, [[Prince]], [[The Revolution]], [[The Time]] and [[Vanity 6]] began preparations for the film project. A warehouse in St. Louis Park was rented for band rehearsals and dancing and acting classes. Actor and Director Don Amendolia was recruited by Blinn to conduct improvisational exercises and theater games. Dance workouts were conducted by John Command at the Minnesota Dance Theater in a downtown dance studio, two block away from the [[First Avenue]]. | ||
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+ | [[Alan Leeds]], then [[Prince]]'s road manager, was hired on a full time basis to organize activities in the warehouse and coordinate some of [[Prince]]'s business affairs. | ||
After finishing a first script, William Blinn was informed that the television series "Fame", on which he was working as executive producer, was renewed for another season. | After finishing a first script, William Blinn was informed that the television series "Fame", on which he was working as executive producer, was renewed for another season. |
Revision as of 18:58, 24 October 2015
None: See Films & videos ◄ | Movies | Television Films And Specials | ► 1986: Under The Cherry Moon |
Purple Rain |
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Synopsis
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"The Kid" (Prince) is a troubled Minneapolis musician. He and his band, The Revolution are one of three acts playing at a local nightclub, the First Avenue. The other acts are The Time, a funk band, lead by Morris Day and The Modernaires, a new wave band, lead by Dez Dickerson. Aspiring singer Apollonia, comes to town to try her luck hoping to get hired as singer at the First Avenue. Both "The Kid" and Morris Day are attracted to her and vie for her attention. While a romance starts to develop between "The Kid" and Apollonia, she accepts a position in Morris Day's new all female group, Apollonia 6, to the obvious dismay of "The Kid". Having recruited Apollonia, Morris Day convinces nightclub owner Billy Sparks, to give a slot to his new protege band. They make a deal to evict The Revolution from the nightly program if the girl group is commercial and appealing enough. Meanwhile, tensions appear in The Revolution due to growing frustration of guitarist Wendy and keyboardist Lisa about "The Kid" rejecting their compositions. The dispute revolves around an instrumental demo, dubbed "Slow Groove", which they pass on Jill, a waitress at First Avenue who has a crush on "The Kid", in hope that he will listen if that comes through her. One night when "The Kid" comes home, he finds out his mother had been beaten again and confronts his father. After his father warns him to never get married "The Kid" gets back to the club to face more internal band strife and pressure. After an edgy performance of "Computer Blue", Billy Sparks warns him that his slot at the club is in jeopardy, and that he might lose it if he follows the same unsuccessful path that ruined his father's career as a musician. The night after, Apollonia 6 successfully opens at The Taste, another nightclub in town. While Morris Day and Apollonia, celebrate their success in a side street, "The Kid" hits Morris with his motorcycle and takes away Apollonia. Subsequently she breaks up with him when he fails to refrain from being violent. When "The Kid" returns home, the situation has escalated to a dramatic level. His father shoots himself in the head. After a night of torment and despair, "The Kid" wakes up in a new spirit and decides to give the instrumental "Slow Groove" by the girls in his band another try. The following night at the club "The Kid" announces the band will play a new song by Wendy & Lisa and perform Purple Rain while audience almost religiously listen. As the Kid exits the stage, convinced that he blew the gig, he realizes the crowd is cheering and calling him back for an encore. On his way back to the stage, Apollonia waits for him in tears. The film ends with a series of scenes interspersed with the concert performance showing how the story happily ends. Now at peace, "The Kid" sort out the destroyed home basement, helped by Appolonia and visits his father at the hospital. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Making of
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Shooting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shooting started on 1 November, 1983 with a week (from 1 to 5 Nov.) of exterior scenes shots in and around Minneapolis, Henderson, Eagan, Cedar Lake and Coon Rapids. Amongst other was shot the infamous scene (#29) with Apollonia jumping in the water on 2 November, 1983 near Henderson. Of note the initial script had Apollonia picked up by a trucker, instead of "The Kid" coming back to pick her up after he had rode away. Second week (from 7 to 12 Nov.) was dedicated to a few motorcycle takes with Prince and a stunt double, as well as scenes in Minneapolis and around the 1st Avenue club, including the infamous scene (#25) when Jerome puts 'Beautiful Babe' in a dumpster. The scene at Mall of America when "The Kid" and Apollonia meet and engage conversation (#27) was also shot. Third week (from 14 to 19 Nov.) mostly focused on exterior scenes with Morris, Jerome, Prince & Apollonia, except for the two days dedicated to the rehearsal warehouse where The Time and the Girls group rehearse, including a deleted scene of "The Kid" riding to the warehouse, entering and fighting with The Time members. 2 days were allocated to exteriors outside of "The Kid"'s house, on Snelling Avenue, while the last day of the week (day #17) was dedicated to the fight between "The Kid" and Apollonia near the embankment (#97 & 98). section under construction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shooting Schedule & Locations
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Additional Information
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None See Films & videos |
Movies | Television Films And Specials | 1986 Under The Cherry Moon |