La La Land captured the hearts of audiences with its colorful aesthetic and memorable music. This quiz reviews the production process, iconic dance sequences, and the unexpected moments behind the film’s creation.
You will find questions about the technical challenges of filming on a freeway and the specific musical influences that shaped the movie’s look. Some questions cover casting details while others focus on the infamous awards show mix-up.
Think you know the film well? After this, check out our trivia on musicals, explore more Oscar history, or see our collection of classic soundtracks.
Which film features an iconic opening sequence involving a choreographed dance number on a gridlocked Los Angeles freeway?
Mulholland Drive
Mulholland Drive
Babylon
Babylon
La La Land
La La Land
Birdman
Birdman
In her real auditions for her role in the film, what did Emma Stone primarily focus on to impress the casting directors?
Singing a song from a different musical
Singing a song from a different musical
Monologues about personal struggles
Monologues about personal struggles
Specific lines from the script
Specific lines from the script
Improvisation
Improvisation
What aspect of the film’s ending is famously cited as “breaking” many audience members?
The characters achieving their dreams apart
The characters achieving their dreams apart
A dream sequence
A dream sequence
A tragic car accident
A tragic car accident
A long-term breakup
A long-term breakup
What event is commonly referred to in pop culture as the “Faye/Warren mix-up”?
A miscommunication during the final edit
A miscommunication during the final edit
The Best Picture envelope mix-up at the 2017 Oscars
The Best Picture envelope mix-up at the 2017 Oscars
A scheduling conflict for the lead actors
A scheduling conflict for the lead actors
A script printing error during production
A script printing error during production
What weather condition was intended to be portrayed during the freeway dance sequence in the film?
A blizzard
A blizzard
A light spring drizzle
A light spring drizzle
A thunderstorm
A thunderstorm
A sweltering heat wave
A sweltering heat wave
How was the freeway dance sequence achieved during the production of ‘La La Land’?
It was a combination of stock footage and green screen
It was a combination of stock footage and green screen
It was performed on a closed-off section of a real freeway
It was performed on a closed-off section of a real freeway
It was filmed on a soundstage with forced perspective
It was filmed on a soundstage with forced perspective
It was entirely CGI
It was entirely CGI
Which of these is a true historical detail regarding Emma Stone’s casting journey for ‘La La Land’?
She was the director’s first choice without auditioning
She was the director’s first choice without auditioning
She had to audition multiple times for different characters
She had to audition multiple times for different characters
She was rejected the first time she auditioned
She was rejected the first time she auditioned
She auditioned via a recorded video from another country
She auditioned via a recorded video from another country
In the ending of ‘La La Land’, why do the two protagonists ultimately not remain together?
One of them moved to a different continent permanently
One of them moved to a different continent permanently
They realized their individual career paths necessitated their romantic separation
They realized their individual career paths necessitated their romantic separation
They suffered a permanent falling out due to creative differences
They suffered a permanent falling out due to creative differences
They were separated by a professional betrayal
They were separated by a professional betrayal
During the 89th Academy Awards mix-up, what was the technical cause of the error?
The accountants accidentally handed out an envelope from the previous category
The accountants accidentally handed out an envelope from the previous category
The Academy Awards ceremony was missing the original ballot boxes
The Academy Awards ceremony was missing the original ballot boxes
The winner’s name was printed twice on the card
The winner’s name was printed twice on the card
The hosts read the wrong names aloud from a teleprompter error
The hosts read the wrong names aloud from a teleprompter error
Which classic French musical is cited as a primary stylistic influence for ‘La La Land’?
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
Donkey Skin
Donkey Skin
Les Misérables
Les Misérables
The Young Girls of Rochefort
The Young Girls of Rochefort
Who composed the music for the film ‘La La Land’, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Score?
Benj Pasek
Benj Pasek
Justin Hurwitz
Justin Hurwitz
Justin Paul
Justin Paul
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Which of these was a required skill evaluated during the audition process for the male lead in ‘La La Land’?
Singing opera
Singing opera
Professional tap dancing
Professional tap dancing
Classical ballet
Classical ballet
Playing the piano
Playing the piano
What visual technique is used to portray the “what could have been” sequence at the end of ‘La La Land’?
A static wide shot
A static wide shot
A slow-motion sequence
A slow-motion sequence
A cynical monologue
A cynical monologue
A musical fantasy sequence
A musical fantasy sequence
What happened when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway were presented with the wrong envelope at the 89th Academy Awards?
They read the names on the card without pausing
They read the names on the card without pausing
They hesitated and appeared confused before reading the card
They hesitated and appeared confused before reading the card
They refused to read the card and left the stage
They refused to read the card and left the stage
They immediately recognized the mistake and corrected it
They immediately recognized the mistake and corrected it
What time constraint did the filmmakers face to shoot the freeway opening sequence in ‘La La Land’?
A 5-day window
A 5-day window
A 2-day window
A 2-day window
A 4-day window
A 4-day window
A 3-day window
A 3-day window
In the film La La Land, what was the subject of the monologue Emma Stone’s character delivered in her most successful audition?
Performing an original song written by a childhood friend
Performing an original song written by a childhood friend
A song about a dream in a Paris cafe
A song about a dream in a Paris cafe
A monologue about a failing audition in New York
A monologue about a failing audition in New York
Demonstrating the ability to mimic different regional accents
Demonstrating the ability to mimic different regional accents
In the imagined ‘alternate ending’ of La La Land, what career role does the male lead hold?
A piano teacher who loses their hearing
A piano teacher who loses their hearing
A studio executive who discovers them both
A studio executive who discovers them both
A jazz bar owner
A jazz bar owner
A struggling actor who quits the industry
A struggling actor who quits the industry
Which film was the rightful winner of the 2017 Best Picture award, despite the initial mistaken announcement?
Manchester by the Sea
Manchester by the Sea
Lion
Lion
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures
Moonlight
Moonlight
What editing technique was utilized to create the visual impact of the opening freeway dance in La La Land?
It took over fifty takes to capture the entire sequence in one go
It took over fifty takes to capture the entire sequence in one go
It was designed to look like a continuous shot but used hidden cuts
It was designed to look like a continuous shot but used hidden cuts
The cars were all on tracks, not actually driving
The cars were all on tracks, not actually driving
It was filmed on a soundstage using a massive treadmill
It was filmed on a soundstage using a massive treadmill
Which scene in La La Land serves as the emotional catalyst for the female lead, illustrating the brutal reality of auditioning?
Dramatic rejection from a casting director
Dramatic rejection from a casting director
A quiet dinner between the two leads where they agree to end the relationship
A quiet dinner between the two leads where they agree to end the relationship
Successfully booking the lead role in a major project
Successfully booking the lead role in a major project
A montage of parents telling her to quit acting
A montage of parents telling her to quit acting
What was a direct consequence of the 2017 Oscar envelope mix-up regarding Academy protocols?
The Academy updated their protocols so two people hold copies of the envelopes
The Academy updated their protocols so two people hold copies of the envelopes
The accountants were fired from the company immediately
The accountants were fired from the company immediately
The show host was prohibited from ever returning for future ceremonies
The show host was prohibited from ever returning for future ceremonies
The voting process was changed to a digital-only ballot system
The voting process was changed to a digital-only ballot system
Who was the primary force behind the decision to film the ‘Another Day of Sun’ sequence in La La Land on a real freeway rather than using a green screen?
The cinematographer, Linus Sandgren
The cinematographer, Linus Sandgren
The lighting designer, Tom Fleischman
The lighting designer, Tom Fleischman
The director, Damien Chazelle
The director, Damien Chazelle
The key grip, Jerry Hartleben
The key grip, Jerry Hartleben
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If you enjoyed this quiz, you can find more trivia by visiting our pages for films with multiple endings, cinematography secrets, or star award records.
