Sia Is All Set To Make Her Directorial Debut
We all know Sia as the international success behind ‘Cheap Thrills’, ‘Bang My Head’, and ‘The Greatest’. Now the singer is ready to make her mark as a filmmaker with her new musical ‘Music’. No guesses for what this musical is about!
The project has been in the works since 2015. Sia wrote the screenplay for ‘Music’ and the project was announced at the 2015 Venice Film Festival along with 10 songs for the official soundtrack – ‘Music: Songs From And Inspired By The Motion Picture.
Here’s all you need to know about the upcoming movie!
A Two-In-One Deal
Sia’s project is going to be a not-so-musical musical with an album releasing alongside the movie. Sia has said before that she actually does not like musicals. Despite making a movie that resembles one all too well, Sia feels that she “really hate(s) musicals,” explaining that it was originally supposed to be a straight narrative film. “I turned it into what I guess was a musical that I could watch or that I could tolerate,” she said. “Because there’s something that feels so cheesy about musicals that I just couldn’t reconcile.”
The trailer for ‘Music’ was released on November 19th 2020.
Sia released the lead single “Together” and it’s colourful accompanying visual on May 20, 2020, followed up by “Courage to Change” on September 24, 2020, which she later performed at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards.
Sia also dropped a teaser of Kate Hudson’s performance on the track ‘1+1’ on December 18, 2020.
A Star-Studded Cast
‘Music’ isn’t so on the nose with the plot. In fact, the story revolves around Music, an autistic non-verbal teen who connects with the world through the power of music. The character is portrayed by Maddie Ziegler, dancer and longtime muse for most of work by Sia. Music is entrusted in the care of her half-sister Zu (played by Kate Hudson), a recently sober drug-dealer and self-saboteur.
The casting of a neurotypical actress in the role of a character on the autism spectrum sparked controversy and backlash that the singer said she wasn’t expecting. “I mean, it is ableism I guess as well, but it’s actually nepotism because I can’t do a project without her (Ziegler),” said Sai. “I don’t want to. I wouldn’t make art if it didn’t include her.” The movie also stars Oscar-nominated Kate Hudson and Hamilton star Leslie Odom Jr.
Sia revealed that ‘Music’ is based on an unnamed friend on the spectrum who “found it too stressful being non-verbal, and I made this movie with nothing but love for him and his mother.” She also said there are 13 people on the spectrum cast in the film and that two people on the spectrum were advising her at all times.
Sia claims the movie is an open love letter to all members of the autism community. Oh, how we love this kind of wholesome content!
By: Aatira Kakroo
