The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes goes again in time to comply with the tenth annual Hunger Games the place a very completely different District 12 tribute from Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen takes to the sector. Rachel Zegler’s Lucy Gray Baird is a pure performer who has a expertise for singing. It’s secure to say she’s the “songbird” within the title, however how was the singing completed on the set of certainly one of this weekend’s 2023 new film releases?
When CinemaBlend attended The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes press convention in Los Angeles, Rachel Zegler mentioned how singing labored on set. In her phrases:
It was form of my option to sing reside on set. I had executed it earlier than on my first movie and I really feel actually assured in that sphere of efficiency, typically. That was what I form of got here out of the womb doing on stage. So, getting to do this for my friends and on set for my crew and the artistic staff was one thing actually particular that I felt like I might deliver to the desk. When you’re engaged on units like that, or whenever you’re even watching films, it form of takes you out of the world when the entire sudden any person begins lip-syncing and also you it simply form of takes you out of it.
In a whole lot of films the place actors sing, they report the music in studios the place it is blended and so they then lip-sync on set. (Like a music video!) However, in Rachel Zegler’s case, the actress made the choice to sing for each tackle set as an alternative. The actress felt performing reside would assist the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ forged and crew stay immersed on the planet on set. Plus, coming from a musical theatre background herself, she knew she might achieve this. Zegler sang reside in her first film main Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story forged as Maria too. As she continued:
So, I felt actually blessed that Francis and Nina trusted me to do this and attending to deliver that into the acoustics of the Hob or the stage on the Reaping, and the entire different locations, I don’t wanna spoil, that Lucy Gray will get to sing. It simply provides a totally completely different tone to the scenes. And I felt prefer it was actually, actually essential, not solely to me, but additionally to the character, that I might be doing a disservice if I didn’t carry out reside each take. And, it was quite a bit and it was very strenuous, however I educated to do it and I felt actually, actually assured with the result. And I hope audiences do, too.
Rachel Zegler additionally spoke in regards to the alternative on Instagram together with a behind-the-scenes video of herself singing on the set of the film. Check it out:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes relies on the e book of the identical title the place creator Suzanne Collins wrote and detailed quite a few unique songs carried out by Lucy Gray Baird all through the tenth annual Hunger Games. The film adaptation provides followers a possibility to see these moments within the e book come to life and for Rachel Zegler to as soon as once more deliver her musical skills to the large display screen.
Zegler sings seven songs on The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes soundtrack, now available to stream on Spotify. This features a model new rendition of “The Hanging Tree,” which Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen sang in Mockingjay Part 1. As the film reveals, it’s Lucy Gray Baird who truly originates “The Hanging Tree” based mostly on the occasions of this prequel.
With the latest The Hunger Games film now in theaters, you’ll be able to take a look at our The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes evaluation and our breakdown of the film’s ending right here on CinemaBlend.
