Cinematic Details - Gaffes?

[vardathemessage]

Happy New Year's, Darlings! I hope you all partied like it was 1969.

script:
In the foreground, Brian is revealed watching through the glass, his back to camera. When Curt doesn’t come in on the next verse, Brian twitches angrily.

BRIAN
Shit!
 
DEVINE
Cut it.
 
MIXER
Should I stop it?
 
Brian turns around, facing Devine and the Mixer who sits behind him at the board.
 
Curt continues singing.
 
Brian watches, biting his thumb.
 
He’s gonna hit the bridge a half-verse early.
 
DEVINE
Now you’re simply wasting tape.
 
BRIAN
Alright. Cut it.
 
The music stops.


Well, quite honestly darlings, your faithful reporter is stumped by this scene. We just quoted Ron Asheton about the character of Curt being unable to sing because he was under the influence, (I believe fucked up was the technical term), but that's just Ron's interpretation and it may have more to do with something Todd explained to him in pre-production about the way he was going to use the song than anything in the final film. But under scrutiny the logic of it crumbles. The scene starts with Curt already singing and he continues to sing and yet he supposedly doesn’t come in on the next verse, he missed his cue and he's gonna hit the bridge a half-verse early. Brian and Jerry sigh in exasperation as Curt continues singing, as well, so perhaps you don't have to be strung out on smack to miss that damned elusive cue. Plus, it would seem that he'll hit the bridge a half verse late if he missed his cue.

Comments

It's the drugs, maaaaannn...

[q-spade.livejournal.com]

I've put some thought into this myself. Although I'm not sure if it's at all what Haynes intended, when I watch this scene I consider that everyone in that studio, not just Curt, is fucked up (to use the technical term! ;) ) on something. And different drugs affect one's perspective differently; someone on quaaludes or smack is NOT going to hear/see/feel the same way as someone on coke or speed. The sensations will be different and they won't agree on what's actually happening. My guess is that there are two different highs going on on either side of the studio glass, and Curt isn't dosing on the production team's stash.

Cocaine looms large as a force for Brian to reckon with later in the movie, and we already know that Curt has a weakness for heroin. These two drugs have opposite affects on the body; to greatly simplify, coke's an upper and smack is a downer. Both drugs affect the nervous system & the brain, thereby affecting perspective and sensation. If – as I suspect – Brian is on coke during this scene, he will be more susceptible to Jerry's manipulative needling & snide remarks and more likely to act on them impulsively without thinking. Brian also won't be on Curt's "wavelength", and thereby not picking up on his musical nuances (which is crucial for a producer/musician relationship so as not to "waste tape"). Brian and Jerry are so caught up in sorting out their public-face pecking order, they're not even listening to Curt.

(Note that, as the manager, one of Jerry's manifold responsibilities is to ensure that the "proper creative atmosphere" is provided...in other words, part of his job is to keep the drugs free-flowing. Whatever Brian and Curt are snorting, shooting, licking or smoking, it's almost 100% likely that Jerry procured it for them. So his machinations may run deeper than just bitchy comments. If he feels Curt is a threat to his control of Brian, and he wants Curt out, he can ensure that Curt & Brian don't see eye-to eye by various means, only one of which can be the fostering of completely different drug habits for each artist.)

Just my 2¢, gleaned from past music industry experiences. Like I said, that may not be Haynes' take on it at all.

[keiko-kirin.livejournal.com]

I once had an explanation for the timing in this scene worked out which, sadly, I no longer remember. But q_spade's explanation above sounds pretty plausible to me. I definitely suspect Jerry of making more of the situation than it warrants for his own ends. I've always thought it was poignant and realistic for Curt and Brian to have such a major meltdown over something that's not obvious.