It opens in theaters Dec. 2.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Congratulations on the Venice Film Festival opening night slot.
DAMIEN CHAZELLE:Thank you.
Credit: Dale Robinette
Ive never been to the festival.
Originally,La La Landwas going to open in July.
It would have been in theaters by now.
What to know: One of the fall’s most anticipated releases, La La Land is director Damien Chazelle’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning Whiplash. The musical drama would be atop many must-see lists just for that fact, but then there’s also this: La La Land reunites Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling for a third time, following Crazy Stupid Love. and Gangster Squad. If nothing else, expect enough GIFs to last well into awards season.Black Label Media
What was your reaction to the date change to December?
The film was on track to be finished in time for July.
And then once the date change became official, we made use of the extra time.
It seemed to make a little more sense to have a slower rollout for the movie.
Kind of do the path were doing now, start at festivals and stuff like that.
After the success ofWhiplash, do you feel the added pressure on you?
Its really just in these weeks since that I felt it more.
You dont want to pay attention to outside stuff but I feel the pressure more.
When Venice rolls around, Ill probably be a nervous wreck.
But, then again, I remember feeling terrified before going to Sundance withWhiplash.
Oh, really, even then?
Yeah, the fear thing is nothing new.
Im just a nervous jot down in general.
Thats here and with me to stay, both for better and for worse.
Weve seen the trailers, which seem to show a very vibrant, robust movie.
Theres a scene where Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone float into the stars.
What can you say about weaving fantasy elements into a real world situation?
Thats kind of it in a nutshell.
The idea is that you find magic within that real world setting.
And you wanted them to levitate in the air?
I did want it to go there, yeah.
Thats the promise of the tradition.
I wanted to try push in that direction.
By real people, I mean people who are dealing with everyday things: ambitions, disappointments, relationships.
These are things that wouldnt seem so operatic on paper.
It was that combination that was the whole point for me of making the movie.
Gosling and Stone have now been in three movies together.
How aware were you of that built-in chemistry they have?
Certainly aware of it.
Theyre very old Hollywood?
And that triggers the old movie buff in me.
But theyre also, both together and apart, very contemporary actors.
Their style of acting is not what you would find in those old Hollywood movies.
Its more modern and behavioral and grounded.
Shes a struggling actress in the movie.
Is that a chance for you to comment on the industry?
And some of those literally wound up on screen.
Its like being outside the window, looking in at this dream factory.
Could you relate to that feeling too?
That feeling of being outside the window, looking in, is very palpable in L.A.
There are very few cities where you’ve got the option to feel as lonely.
And its rubbed in your face how outside you are.
Thats exactly how L.A. felt to me as soon as I moved there from the East Coast.
And, in fact, I still kid of feel it.
And I think thats something really important to capture.
