[Dreamettes](x3) Steppin to the bad side, steppin to the bad side [James Thunder Early] I had to take myself a mean ride [Dreamettes] Ooh, ooh, ooh
Steppin to the bad side, ooh, ooh, ooh Gonna take a mean ride, ooh, ooh, ooh Vocal breakdown [Radio DJ intros, overlapping] [Dreamettes](x2) Steppin to the bad side, steppin to the bad side [Announcer] Singing their big new hit, here\\'s James Thunder Early and the Dreamettes!
Below, Condon describes how he shot the scene as it finally explodes on the stage of the Apollo Theater, performedComing about 30 minutes into the story, “Steppin’ to the Bad Side” is one of the film’s most elaborate productions and key transitional points. There’s something about providing a performer’s perspective that makes you feel more connected to the ‘liveness’ of the moment. Jamie Foxx plays Curtis Taylor Jr., a Berry Gordy-type entrepreneur who discovers, nurtures and ultimately dominates their career.On the way up, Curtis decides the only hope for getting his music on the radio is to pay off disc jockeys. Tempo: variable (around 106 BPM) In the same key as the original: Gm. This shot is held longer than any other in the sequence, to allow the audience to stand back for just a few moments to take in the entire stage.The song, which started with Curtis laying out his plan for success, now returns to him as it ends. The heat lamps, which in an earlier scene were used to bake a paint job dry, are now lighting a dance rehearsal.The mirrors are a gentle nod to another Michael Bennett creation, The rehearsal is intercut with aerial shots of cities where the record is getting radio airplay. The Dreamettes make their entrance—in red of course—and move toward the light. Whoo, whoo, whoo Gonna take a mean ride. In this shot, Curtis’ garage completes its transformation from car dealership to performance space.
Steppin to the bad side, ooh, ooh, ooh Gonna take a mean ride, ooh, ooh, ooh. Steadicam turned out to be an incredible tool for shooting the numbers. The first part of the scene, as Curtis gambles to raise capital, is intercut with dance rehearsals for the “Steppin’ to the Bad Side” number. Because the dancers were moving so fast, what was right for one setup would fall apart in another.
On stage, We built the entire car dealership, including this garage, on a vacant lot in South Central Los Angeles.
Steppin to the bad side, ooh, ooh, ooh Gonna take a mean ride, ooh, ooh, ooh Vocal breakdown [Radio DJ intros, overlapping] [Dreamettes](x2) Steppin to the bad side, steppin to the bad side [Announcer] Singing their big new hit, here's James Thunder Early and the Dreamettes!
All files available for download are reproduced tracks, they're not the original music. Whoo, whoo, whoo The smile I had has gone away those that steal are gonna pay Steppin' to the bad side today I tell ya now, it's got to end
Here we catch a dancer defying gravity, which matches into a wider shot as he literally comes back to Earth. Curtis drives the story of For the final shot of the sequence we move behind the performers and look straight into the spotlights.
So we covered the number with four cameras, gradually moving from left to right across the stage.This is a Steadicam shot.