AceShowbiz - One of the most distinctive elements of "Joker: Folie a Deux" is its approach to musical performance. In an interview with Variety, the film's stars, Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix, and filmmaker Todd Phillips revealed their unique method of capturing the musical sequences.

Both actors decided to sing live on set rather than using pre-recorded tracks, a decision that Phillips described as a "nightmare" to edit, yet essential to the film's authenticity. According to Phoenix, "It was important to me that we never perform the songs as one typically does in a musical. We didn't want vibrato and perfect notes."

The live performance approach required several takes to be mashed together into cohesive songs. This technique was crucial for Phoenix, who thrives on the in-the-moment emotional resonance rather than pre-planned studio recordings. "Particularly for Joaquin, so much of it is about feeling the moment as you do it," Phillips explained.

Gaga added that the film intentionally breaks the usual mold of musicals, with the majority of the ballads existing purely in the minds of the Joker and Harley Quinn, bringing an extra layer of complexity to the narrative.

She notes, "We asked ourselves what would need to be true for two people to just break into song in the middle of a conversation? Where does the music come from when no one can hear it but the characters? Neither Arthur nor Lee are professional singers, and they shouldn't sound like they are (unless perhaps a fantasy). We wanted to help tell the story of their shared madness in a way that felt real." This method aims to reflect the intimate, often unheard score of our inner emotional lives.

The live singing performances were accompanied by an off-camera piano player, requiring the actors to later re-record parts of the songs in the studio. The seamless integration of these elements in post-production was an arduous yet critically important process.

Both Phoenix and Gaga praised Phillips' willingness to take risks and his collaborative approach. Phoenix particularly appreciated Phillips' ability to solve problems spontaneously, while Gaga valued his exploratory nature, stating, "As a filmmaker, I don't think he would ever land in one particular spot and say, 'This is exactly what I want you to feel.' I think he just is exploring these two people."

"Joker: Folie a Deux" takes place two years after the original film, featuring Phoenix's Arthur Fleck in a psych ward awaiting the death penalty, where he encounters fellow patient Harleen "Lee" Quinzel, portrayed by Gaga.

The film is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival before hitting theaters on October 4. With its innovative approach to both music and narrative, the sequel promises to be as groundbreaking as its predecessor.