Directing movies requires passion for cinematic technique, willingness to pour your soul into the movie, and 100 percent commitment to the project. Directors of modern musicals are often overlooked when the awards go to the actors, the music, or the set designs, even though they are at the heart of all of creative decisions.
In recognition of the best behind-the-scenes, sing-your-heart-out filmmakers, here are four standout modern musicals directors:
1. Tom Hooper, "Les Misérables" (2012)
A British filmmaker who began his movie-making career with short films when he was just 13, Tom Hooper earns his spot as a stand-out modern musicals director for his 2012 adaptation of "Les Misérables."
The film earned eight Academy Award nominations in 2013, winning three Oscars including Best Supporting Actress for Anne Hathaway.
The beloved stage-turned-movie musical also earned four British Academy Film Awards. Hooper’s ability to choose the best actors, set design, and depiction of classic storylines will continue to take him far in any genre he chooses to direct, especially musicals.
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2. Rob Marshall, "Chicago" (2002), "Into the Woods" (2014)
According to the New York Times, Rob Marshall’s skill as a director of modern musicals stems from his early success in musical theater and as a dancer and choreographer. Marshall’s saucy, dance-focused style comes to life in his most recent film Into the Woods, which earned three Academy Award nominations in 2015, including Best Supporting Actress for Meryl Streep.
The movie also appealed to a younger audience, proven by its accomplishment at the MTV Movie Awards, where the musical earned the Best Villain Award (Streep).
3. Tate Taylor: "Get on Up" (2014)
Born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, Tate Taylor has focused his career on making movies that stimulate productive discussions on race relations and feature powerful African-American characters, including "The Help" (2011). Delving into the musical world with "Get on Up," Taylor has expanded his fan base with the biopic on James Brown, the founder of American funk music.
Although the movie was not considered a commercial success, critical commentary spoke highly of the film.
The New York Times cited it as “musical genius,” proving Taylor as an incredible director of modern musicals; lending to the hope that he will continue to make such films in the future.
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4. Jason Moore, "Pitch Perfect" (2012)
Jason Moore began his career as resident director on Broadway, directing a diverse range of musicals,
from "Shrek the Musical" to "Les Misérables," according to the Internet Broadway Database. Moore’s first endeavor as a film director was with the music-themed movie "Pitch Perfect," which was a hit at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards, earning four nominations, and winning the Best Musical Moment Award, and Breakthrough Performance Award (Rebel Wilson).
Moore is passing the torch on to actress/director Elizabeth Banks for "Pitch Perfect 2," but critics expect more modern musical successes from Moore in the future.
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