In the sequence, Elvis (Austin Butler) will perform one of his first performances in front of the audience, and Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) will be watching over the man who will be his manager.
Historically, the first major introduction to Elvis was said to have taken place at Sun Records, but played for its owner, Sam Phillips, but the film follows a different route.
Director Baz Luhrmann wanted the moment to take place in front of the crowd and introduced all the work that Rocker gathered when he played.
“Elvis wasn’t just what he sang,” Luhrmann said as he spoke about the scene. “It was just as important as how he looked and worked, but most importantly it was his influence on the audience.
And boy, what an effect here. As Elvis sings and moves her hips, she seems to scream almost uncontrollable from the women in the audience. It becomes a kind of infectious hysteria that feels as shocking as organic.
Rahman worked with Butler (and some very airy trousers) to get the movement right. But the key to the scene was extras. The moment may seem chaotic, but it’s heavily designed. Movement coach and choreographer Polly Bennett worked with a team of performers called Scream Queens. These women were trained in high-pitched keening to create hysterical movements and solidify the action of the sequence.
