The Questlove Show Baz Luhrmann
Mar 9, 2026
Baz Luhrmann, filmmaker known for music-forward films like Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby, shares his creative method and love of fusing modern music with classic stories. He discusses sourcing and restoring lost Elvis rehearsal footage for his concert film EPIC. Conversations span casting, vibe tapes, cross-genre collaborations, and building immersive, music-driven worlds.
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Music Is A Script Element Not An Afterthought
- Baz Luhrmann treats music as equal to words and image, developing playlists and musical language in parallel with scripts.
- For Romeo and Juliet he wrote specific musical cues into the screenplay, e.g., “a boy with the voice of Stevie Wonder sings…” to shape tone and casting choices.
How A Vibe Tape Won Romeo + Juliet
- Baz describes pitching Romeo + Juliet badly until a vibe tape convinced studio executives to back his modern-Shakespeare idea.
- He brought Leonardo DiCaprio to Australia for workshops and test shoots, proving casting and tone before full production started.
Get The Artist's Blessing First
- Go directly to artists when you need permissions; their buy-in can unlock reluctant publishers.
- Elton John endorsed Moulin Rouge and then championed the idea to other artists, opening doors Baz couldn't with publishers alone.