Jennifer Hudson’s portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the upcoming biopic, “Respect,” would’ve made the Queen of Soul proud — since Hudson and the other stars in the film are singing live on set — director Liesl Tommy told Page Six.
“I have done a lot of musicals for Broadway, and I knew the songs needed to be sung live,” Liesl said.
“Jennifer Hudson, Audra MacDonald, Titus Burgess – everybody on-set have been on Broadway and are Tony nominated. I know the power of singing live, so it was important. This is a movie that the songs [were] made — not in the studio — but on set,” she said.
Tommy told us she knew Hudson had nailed the role of Franklin — who handpicked her for the role before she passed away in 2018 — when she recreated the singer’s famous entrance for the 1972 “Amazing Grace” film.
“She was really working hard on Aretha’s walk and we were looking at the video of ‘Amazing Grace,’ when Aretha was walking up the aisle, and I just said, ‘Look at her. She looks like a bride,'” she said. “Jennifer just looked at it and started moving around the stage, and she clicked into something primal, and from that moment — we all started screaming… from that moment on, she just had her in her body and in her voice.”
Hudson’s Epic Records label boss Sylvia Rhone, and Bon Appetit editor Dawn Davis, hosted a screening of the film for the 19th anniversary of Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival last weekend, and insiders described the bash as “the opening act” for Barack Obama’s upcoming 60th birthday bash.
“It was very special, and the most sought after-party of the summer, apart from the Obama party,” one source said.
Publicist-turned-author James Hester produced the event, which was held at a 15,000-square-foot Edgartown Harbor estate, dubbed “the Llama house” because of two Llamas who live on the property.
Franklin’s favorite soul food was served, and her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame dress was even flown in. “Aretha’s spirit was felt all over the party,” one partygoer told us.
Hudson made a grand entrance arriving to the bash by speed boat. “It was hilarious that Jen arrived from boat. Aretha would never have done that! Jen did a great job in the film, just channeling her mannerisms. She nailed it,” a source who was close to Franklin told us.
Lynn Whitfield, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Bottoms, D-Nice, developer Richard L. Friedman, brand strategist Marvet Britto and the festival’s founders Stephanie and Floyd Rance all came out to celebrate the film.