December 9, 2025
Shot Talk – Wicked: For Good with DP Alice Brooks, ASC
Summary
In this episode of Shot Talk, Patrick Cady, ASC sits down with Alice Brooks, ASC for an in-depth conversation about Wicked: For Good.
From the inspirations behind the film’s most ambitious set pieces, to the two-year prep required to shoot both movies side-by-side, to the live lighting cues and practical effects that shaped its musical numbers, Brooks breaks down her creative process as well as her long-standing collaboration with director Jon M. Chu on this epic two-part adaptation.
Key moments
- 00:01:48 How Alice Brook & John M. Chu’s Relationship Developed
- 00:03:32 Following the Intermission: The Visual Split of The Two Movies
- 00:05:09 Building the Camera Language of Two Worlds
- 00:08:18 Staying Connected with Audiences at a Massive Scale
- 00:11:32 Pre-Light Ritual: Walking the Set as the Characters
- 00:16:19 Live Lighting Cues & the Live Stage Approach
- 00:18:30 Scene Breakdown: The Broomstick Ride
- 00:21:54 Why Programming the Rainbow Room took 2 Weeks
- 00:23:41 Exposure Philosophy & Working with Practicals
- 00:25:37 Friendship Motif: The Holding Hands Shots
- 00:28:50 Scene Breakdown: “For Good” Musical Number
- 00:36:30 No Room for Ego on The Yellow Brick Road
- 00:40:20 The Key to a Happy Crew: Building a Movie Club
- 00:44:40 Keeping the Excitement of Being on Set
- 00:48:10 Scene Breakdown: The 7-Shot Mirror One-er
- 00:56:09 Scene Breakdown: The Wedding
- 01:00:22 Closing Reflections: Human Connection of Watching Movies Together
