%20The%20Crown%3A%20Director%20reveals%20the%20importance%20of%20Diana%20dancing%20to%20Elton%20John%20

Directed by  Benjamin Caron and Editor Yan Miles both first began working together on the Season 1 episode of %u201CThe Crown%u201D which was entitled %u201CAssassins.%u201D Benjamin and Yan both immediately hit it off with the first episode itself. 

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%u201CThere was a familiarity,%u201D Caron recalls of their first meeting. And now, %u201Cafter five years together, I spend more time with Yan than I do my wife sometimes. I think there%u2019s a very honest understanding of each other%u2019s lives and that is part of the journey.%u201D

They both share a common understanding of stories and an appreciation for the same films has helped them build a close relationship that has gone on through each season of the Netflix royal family drama, most notably including Season 4%u2019s %u201CFairytale%u201D episode.

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When it came to this episode they both sat down to discuss their approach towards the episode that would show off a new side of soon-to-be Princess Diana, as she faces etiquette lessons and extreme loneliness. While to the outside world the princess’s life appears to be a dream come true after catching the attention of Prince Charles. But everything that meets the eye is not always true, Diana faced many marital struggles. 

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Benjamin%u2019s copy of the script, which included his notes helped Miles hone in on where the most important points of focus would be for the final cut of the episode. Miles explained how the script gave him an insight because it was filled with references next to the ballet sequence and the roller-skating sequence about how he was going to stage the scene, dramatize it, and how important those scenes were. 

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He said, %u201CThe ballet sequence, during which Diana dances alone in the palace, was essential to play into the %u201Csilence and the stillness%u201D of her new world,%u201D Caron says.

Music and expression had previously been shown in the series with Princess Margaret but with Diana, they wanted to show what it would be the scenario if she was in a room alone and finally felt free, in a way that also recalled earlier episodes.

%u201CI wanted this scenario where, %u2018What if the ballet teacher hadn%u2019t shown up and she finds this freedom of all that has been bearing down on her, and she loses herself in youth and music?%u2019%u201D Caron says.

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Miles%u2019 early cuts captured the emotional arc Caron was going for first by trying Cher%u2019s %u201CBelieve%u201D on the sequence, and then trying one that had no music but %u201Ckept the rawness of her breath and her feet on the floor moving,%u201D Caron says. That cut was almost four minutes long, and ultimately they didn%u2019t have time to keep all of it in. Miles shortened it and then laid Martin Phipps%u2019 score over the scene. %u201CThat had more power and was beautiful,%u201D Miles says according to Variety. 

But then the Elton John estate permitted the use of %u201CSong for Guy.%u201D Not only was it fitting given the friendship between the singer and Princess Diana, but it also evoked exactly what Caron was after the young spirit of Diana. Miles brought in an instrumental cue, which segued into the music of %u201CThe Crown.%u201D

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%u201CThat music moment stressed the duty of the crown and that the crown always wins. We had never really done that before and it was powerful,%u201D says Caron.

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