London Film Festival 2025 update (Day 3); ‘Wicked’ director Jon M Chu; ‘Moss & Freud’ review
Our coverage in real time today… 1.30pm BST
THE WIZARD OF WICKED – JON M CHU shared new and exclusive clip of ‘Wicked: For Good‘, offered insights into the making of ‘Wicked’, talked briefly about growing up in San Francisco Bay area Chinese restaurant, which his mom and pop ran. Likened the making of ‘Wicked’ to the dishes his dad makes – all about getting the ingredients and prep ready and the filming is the actual cooking. Talked about process before and rehearsals and going through steps with relevant film departments (choreography, costume, sets). Said he always desired to get the perfect dish, in combining art and commerce. Moderator who has seen ‘Wicked : For Good’ concluded session saying, it is even better than the first. Comes out on November 21.
“It is not about being bigger, it’s about being deeper,” Chu stated.
“Movies talk back to me on the shoot.”
“You definitely don’t need to go to film school” but said attending USC helped him make connections in an industry in which he had no connections. His first student film was a musical and said he would not have had the money to do that without help of fellow students and relevant connections. He had a 30 piece orchestra for it. Mentioned ‘In The Heights’ (2021), also made ‘Crazy Rich Asians’. You can watch the whole session on the BFI’s YouTube channel (pending)…
‘Moss & Freud’ – James Lucas feature is hugely impressive and getting Derek Jacobi to star as the slightly eccentric world famous portrait painter Lucien Freud a thing in itself. The film is about Freud and his painting for Kate Moss (an impressive Ellie Bamber) – one of the world’s greatest ever models and cover girls – at the end of the film it says she has done 127 Vogue covers… It is 2002 and Cool Britannia is in full swing, Moss is a little lost inside – the parties, the champagne, the cocaine, the money, the glitz – it is essentially soulless – unitl she meets and sits for Freud. The rest as they say is history…watch it if you’re fascinated by artists and celebrity – it’s a unique dance and Lucas has bottled it. ACV rating: **** (out of five)
See listings – first screening – Cursor Mayfair 6.15pm
Our interview with Lucas
Tonight: George Clooney’s ‘Jay Kelly’ is the gala screening 6pm Royal Festival Hall, Southbank.
