'Kiss of the Spider Woman' | Anatomy of a scene

Hi, I'm Bill Condon. I directed “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” I also wrote the adaptation of the script. This is a scene from the movie within the movie. Jennifer López plays a great fashion editor who has arrived in this small town with Diego Luna, who is a great photographer, and her partner and best friend, played by Tonatiuh. Then the gangster who owns this club appears and controls the village. He is played by Tony Dovolani. Tony, a legendary ballroom dancer, is someone who was on “Shall We Dance” with Jennifer years ago. So this is also a reunion between these two great dancers. When we were building the number, Jennifer's credo was not to make it easy for me. I want to do things that are difficult. So ultimately she grabbed that glass, dropped to the ground, spun around and then got up, all of that was at his instigation. And I think you'll notice that we filmed this number when they dance in a single pattern like they used to make it very wide so you can see a full figure. The shot I chose to put in the film is the one in which Diego Luna, watching Jennifer perform this incredible number, sees that Colleen Atwood's incredible bangs are about to crash into the champagne glass and grabs it. I just thought it was a wonderful moment. It was choreographed by all of our choreographers led by Sergio Trujillo, Christopher Scott and Brandon Bieber because we prepared this film in three locations. Diego Luna was working in Madrid, Jennifer was in Los Angeles and we were preparing in New York. So it was kind of a constant exchange of ideas. “Will I meet you in the lobby in the morning?” This scene also introduces a romantic triangle within the film. Diego Luna is still in love with a woman from the town named Paulina Paz, who is dating this gangster. And Jennifer being his new love. So this triangle is reflected in the prison drama itself. “And with that I say Ciao, good night Valentine.” “No, don't stop now.” “There are a lot of silly clichés, but at least these new characters inject some dramatic conflict.” “It's better to leave the audience wanting more. Sleep well.”