Lionsgate has unveiled a new behind-the-scenes featurette for the masterful musical La La Land, as well as a few new images. Written and directed by Whiplash filmmaker Damien Chazelle, the film is a perfect blend of an old-fashioned Hollywood musical and a contemporary story of the harsh realities of life and relationships. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling star as a burgeoning actress and aspiring jazz musician, respectively, who repeatedly cross paths and strike up a relationship as each sets about trying to fulfill his or her dreams. The film takes place in modern day but is a bona fide musical—the opening scene is a stunning single-shot musical number that boldly announces “If you’re not down with people bursting into song and dancing, this movie’s probably not for you.” What’s brilliant about Chazelle’s take on the material, however, is that the musical sequences support the story in a way that makes the film’s themes and characters resonate that much deeper.

This featurette offers a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film, as the various cast members discuss their experiences on set and Gosling reveals that he’s long had a desire to make a film in the style of the classic Astaire/Rogers musicals—which is exactly what La La Land is.

At this point in time, it’s no secret that La La Land is widely regarded as the frontrunner to win the Best Picture Oscar. Adjust your expectations accordingly, but I was blown away by the film when I saw it at TIFF, and this absolutely delightful and emotional story will no doubt resonate with the Academy in a big way.

Check out the La La Land featurette below along with some new images, and click here to read Brian’s review from Telluride. The film also stars John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt, Finn Wittrock, Callie Hernandez, Sonoya Mizuno, Jessica Rothe, Tom Everette Scott, Josh Pence, and J.K. Simmons. La La Land opens in limited release on December 9th and expands into more theaters on December 16th.

Here’s the official synopsis for La La Land:

Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.