Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect
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Name	Pitch Perfect
Director	Jason Moore
Producer	Elizabeth Banks, Paul Brooks, Max Handelman

Pitch Perfect is a musical comedy film that was released in 2012, starring Anna Kendrick as Beca Mitchell, a rebellious and aspiring DJ, who joins The Bellas, an all-girl a cappella group at Barden University, led by Aubrey Posen, played by Anna Camp. The film also features Skylar Astin as Jesse Swanson, a member of The Treblemakers, a rival a cappella group, and Rebel Wilson as Fat Amy, a quirky and charismatic member of The Bellas. The movie was produced by Gold Circle Films and distributed by Universal Pictures, with Kay Cannon writing the screenplay, based on the book Mickey Rapkin's Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory.

Pitch Perfect

The film's success can be attributed to its talented cast, including Brittany Snow as Chloe Beale, Alexis Knapp as Stacie Conrad, and Ester Dean as Cynthia-Rose Adams, all of whom brought their unique energy to the movie. The film's director, Jason Moore, worked closely with the cast to create a fun and lively atmosphere, which is evident in the film's many musical performances, including renditions of Kelly Clarkson's Since U Been Gone and The Bangles' Eternal Flame. The movie's success also spawned a series of Pitch Perfect-themed events, including a performance by The Bellas at the 2013 MTV Movie Awards, which featured Selena Gomez, Shirley Manson, and Iggy Azalea. The film's popularity also led to the creation of a Pitch Perfect-inspired a cappella group, Pentatonix, which has performed with Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Sam Smith.

Production

The production of the film involved a team of experienced professionals, including Julianne Jordan and Julia Michels as casting directors, and Leslie Bloom and Janet Ingram as production designers. The film was shot on location at Louisiana State University and Tulane University, with additional scenes filmed at The University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The movie's soundtrack was produced by Christophe Beck and Mark Kilian, with contributions from The Lumineers, Fun., and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. The film's choreographer, Aakomon Jones, worked closely with the cast to create the movie's high-energy musical performances, which featured Anna Kendrick and Skylar Astin performing a duet of Jessie J's Do It Like a Dude.

Plot

The plot of the film follows Beca Mitchell as she navigates her freshman year at Barden University, where she joins The Bellas and becomes embroiled in a rivalry with The Treblemakers. Along the way, she meets Jesse Swanson and the two begin a romantic relationship, despite their initial differences. The film also explores the complexities of female friendships, particularly between Beca and Fat Amy, who become close friends despite their initial clashes. The movie features a range of musical performances, including a rendition of Simple Minds' Don't You (Forget About Me) and a mashup of David Guetta's Titanium and Sia's Flashlight. The film's climax features a performance by The Bellas at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella, where they compete against The Treblemakers and other top a cappella groups from around the world, including The Whiffenpoofs and The Wailin' Jennys.

Reception

The film received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the performances of the cast, particularly Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. The movie was also a commercial success, grossing over $115 million worldwide and becoming the second-highest grossing musical comedy of 2012, behind Les Misérables. The film's success led to the creation of a franchise, with two sequels, Pitch Perfect 2 and Pitch Perfect 3, which starred Hailee Steinfeld, Shelley Regner, and Chrissie Fit. The film's success also spawned a range of merchandise, including Pitch Perfect-themed clothing and accessories, which were sold at Hot Topic and other retailers. The movie's popularity also led to the creation of a Pitch Perfect-inspired a cappella competition, The Sing-Off, which was hosted by Nick Lachey and featured performances by Ben Folds and Shawn Stockman.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for the film features a range of popular songs, including Miley Cyrus' Party in the U.S.A., The Pussycat Dolls' Don't Cha, and Ace of Base's The Sign. The soundtrack was a commercial success, reaching number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and being certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The soundtrack also features original songs, including Cups (When I'm Gone), which was performed by Anna Kendrick and became a hit single, reaching the top 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The soundtrack was produced by Julianne Jordan and Julia Michels, with contributions from The Lumineers, Fun., and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. The soundtrack also features a range of a cappella groups, including Pentatonix and The Whiffenpoofs, who performed at the 2013 Grammy Awards.

Sequels

The success of the film led to the creation of two sequels, Pitch Perfect 2 and Pitch Perfect 3, which were released in 2015 and 2017, respectively. The sequels starred Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and Hailee Steinfeld, and followed the further adventures of The Bellas as they competed in international a cappella competitions and navigated their personal relationships. The sequels were also commercial successes, with Pitch Perfect 2 grossing over $287 million worldwide and Pitch Perfect 3 grossing over $185 million worldwide. The sequels featured a range of new characters, including Emily Junk, played by Hailee Steinfeld, and DJ Khaled, who made a cameo appearance in Pitch Perfect 3. The sequels also featured a range of musical performances, including renditions of Britney Spears' Toxic and Iggy Azalea's Fancy. The franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, with Pitch Perfect-themed events and merchandise becoming increasingly popular, and the films being screened at film festivals such as Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. Category:Musical comedy films