BROADWAY-ISH

THEY SAY IT’S WONDERFUl

“They Say It’s Wonderful” tells the story of a wayward individual, Henry, caught in a love triangle involving his deceased ex-lover, Ghost, and a new partner, Rose. Through song, Henry explores the inescapable collision of past and present as he attempts to free himself from the haunting memories of lost love. The soundtrack of “They Say It's Wonderful” combines a musical reimagination of Golden Age Broadway with an original, electro-symphonic score. In a six-month period from November 2018 to April 2019, the film was screened in three cities on three separate continents: New York (Soho House), Cape Town (The Labia Theatre), and Seoul (Film Forum).

A musical film

THE Music

Arranged, produced, and performed by: Henry Bloomfield
Mixed by: Matthew Sim and Henry Bloomfield
Mastered by: Alex Psaroudakis

THE FILM

Directed by: Daniel Smukalla, Henry Bloomfield, and Nicki Priem
Produced by: Nicki Priem of Mad Little Badger
Starring: Henry Bloomfield, Suraya Santos, and Melissa Haiden
Director of Photography: Daniel Smukalla
Editor: Matthew "Wakanda" Daniels
Casting by: Liesel Priem of Mad Little Badger
Art Direction, Costume Design, and Makeup: Cleo LeFlos

Select Scenes

Guys & Dolls / I’ve Never Been in Love Before (Medley)

Interlude (Symphomanic)

Getting to Know You

Goodnight My Someone / More I Cannot Wish You (Medley)

the music

SONG CREDITS

"Overture" [Opening Titles]
Written, arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield

"Getting To Know You"
Written by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rodgers
Published by Williamson Music Co
Rendition arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield
Violin performed by Amanda Lo
Cello performed by Colin Stokes

"Lida Rose"
Written by Meredith Willson
Published by Frank Music Corp and Meredith Willson Music
Rendition arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield
Violin performed by Amanda Lo
Cello performed by Colin Stokes

"Goodnight My Someone/More I Cannot Wish You" (Medley)
Written by Meredith Willson and Frank Loesser
Published by Frank Music Corp and Meredith Willson Music
Rendition arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield
Violin performed by Amanda Lo
Cello performed by Colin Stokes

"Interlude [Symphomanic]"
Written, arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield
Violin performed by Amanda Lo
Cello performed by Colin Stokes

"Something's Coming"
Written by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim
Published by The Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Co LLC and Chappell-Co Inc
Rendition arranged, produced and performed by Henry Bloomfield
Violin performed by Amanda Lo
Cello performed by Colin Stokes

"The Surrey With the Fringe on Top"
Written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II
Published by Williamson Music
Rendition arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield

"Guys and Dolls/I've Never Been in Love Before" (Medley)
Written by Frank Loesser
Published by Frank Music Corp
Rendition arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield
Violin performed by Amanda Lo
Cello performed by Colin Stokes

"Finale [Curtains]"
Written, arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield

"End Credits"
Written, arranged, produced, and performed by Henry Bloomfield

The shoot

Cape town, South Africa

In December of 2017, the western cape provided a dynamic and rich diversity of climate, cast, and crew. Henry and longtime collaborator Daniel Smukalla (cinematographer) traveled to Cape Town, having been previously connected with Nicki Priem of Mad Little Badger productions, to form a director-by-committee partnership. Priem, along with his business partner and wife Liesel (casting) and Cleo LeFlos (art direction, costume design, make up) anchored the rapidly efficient shoot, starring Suraya Santos and Melissa Haiden, over the course of six days.

Additional credits

Dance Team: Afrika Ablaze
Choreographers: Danielle-Marie Jones and Glenda Jones
Dancers: Danielle Marie-Jones, Quisha Dawood, Lauren Jacobs, Tamia Samuels, Kim-Lee Schuller, Shanray Floris, Lindiwe Le Brasseur, Justine Samson, Achaia Beukes, Stacey-Leigh Williams, Isaac Efomi, Robinson Hezagira, David Mwamba, Callyn Jacobs, Deborah Susan Mbwambu, and Lyle Van Niekerk
Extras: Kirscha Jacobs, Bertus Swart, Shane Kleynhans, Cyndie Dennis, Marco Goss, Skye Rae, Nakita Levendal, Leroy Samuels, Jade Philander, Morena Tsotsetsi, Philip T. Makwanya, Andrea Miller, Kylie Jansen, Sherwin Pretorius, Skye Simpson, Craig Mentor, Lee-Anne Drake, Ohis Abdulrahman Yakubu, Maxine Gibson, Junior Mutuale, Bouka John Baptiste, Lamlani Soga, Nasreen Davids, Tevin Goliath, Cameron Samuels, and Cleo LeFlos

1st Assistant Camera: Jason Aldridge, Peter Smuts, and Tannan Woods
2nd Assistant Camera: Liam J. Dobeyn-Bartels
Art Department Assistant: Jacques Roos
Art Trainee: Ross Poyo
SFX: Paradigm Shift FX
SFX Supervisor: Kevin Bitters
SFX Techs: Warren "Squirrel" Elrick and Wessel Beukes
Gaffer: Tannan Woods
Sparks: Thandi Blakfesi and Mzingisi "Ziggy" Nhinhi
Security: Nizaam Adams
Production Assistants: Trent Sam and Lindi Mhlanga
Still Photographer: Ryan Van Der Merwe

Offline Editor: Alasdair McCulloch
Visual Effects Compositors: Dylan Scullard, Matthew "Wakanda" Daniels, and Alasdair McCulloch
Colour and Finishing: Refinery
Colourist: Kyle Stroebel
Additional Colour: Matthew "Wakanda" Daniels
Finishing Producers: Dylan Scullard, David Franciscus, and Jade Kohler
Additional Post: Mad Little Badger
Additional Editing: Liam J. Dobeyn-Bartels
Camera, Lighting, and Grip Equipment: Photohire