Although it will be forever link with Moonlight because of that Best Picture mishap at this years’ Oscars, La La Land is the little movie that could. An original musical that took more than six years to make and ended up dancing away with the critic's adoration and the public's affection all around the world. The tidal wave of admiration and love for the film will get a second boost now that is being released today on DVD and Blu-Ray with three hours of extras. To celebrate this release, we had a chat with choreographer Mandy Moore, who laughs off the fact that "the other Mandy Moore" has had a really big year. "I have been dealing with the confusion for more than 15 years now. So I was prepared. But from now on I'll be forever link to this wonder movie."

A lot has been said about how difficult the opening number for the movie was to work on, so I wanted to start off asking you about "What a Lovely Night"  How did you work with Ryan and Emma for that number and where there any particular influences that you channeled during that process?
Mandy Moore: I would say that that one was my second most difficult number or difficult in a different way, because of the pressure of having to create an incredible duet for your two lead actors. So Damien (Chazelle, the director) and I talked a lot about A lovely day to get caught in the Rain, the Fred and Ginger number that happens in the gazebo.  We loved the story arch of that particular number and how coy Ginger plays it. In that one they don't really like each other in the beginning  and towards the end of the number they are keen on each other. That was our really big reference for that. And the biggest challenge was that it was going to be done all in one take, with no cuts. They were dancing outside, on the asphalt,  on an incline. So that was one of the ones we started rehearsing really early on. I knew it was going to be the most difficult for them and the one that they would have to practice the most. It was ultimately very rewarding.

How would you describe the process of collaborating with Damien Chazelle on this project?
MM: We have a great relationship and we had many, many conversations regarding the material way before I even started to consider creating movements for the different numbers. The conversations were about characters and about tone.  He would reference different styles for different sequences. All of that gave me a very good roadmap when it was time to get in the room and create. Once I started working on the movement, I would invite him very early so he could look at it and discuss it. I feel very lucky to have worked alongside him, because he is very generous as a creator and as an artist. He was always willing to collaborate and find things together.

Even so, would you have forgiven him if he cut the opening number? Because at one point in post-production that was being considered
MM: (Laughs) No. I would have been very angry and very upset. Ultimately, you have to accept what’s right for the film. But when he first mentioned that, I was like Damien are you serious? All that time and all that money. So I think that's why never told me, because he was never completely locked on taking it out. But I know we all agree it was best he didn't.

Did you at any moment during the process suspect that the movie would take off the way it did?
MM: I knew that the project was something special the minute I met Damian and I heard the music. What I didn't know was how well received it was going to be. We knew that we were making something that we were really proud off  and something that hadn't been done in quite some time. But we did not know that it would take off the way that it did and how much it inspired people. We knew we were making magic for sure but that did not prepare anyone for the reception, which started in Venice when people started freaking out. That was the first inkling that it was going to become something.  The whole experience has been very dreamlike.

How has the experience been of seeing all sorts of videos from around the world imitating your work on this movie?
MM: It's kind of a trip, honestly I do feel like-(pauses) You look at your work as a creator and evaluate. But with La La Land I really feel  I have been able to take a step back and really appreciate the work that I put in  and be able to say "Well done". But it has been really incredible to watch all these people be inspired by it and taking all this time and energy to produce these videos. It’s really incredible. I never while making it felt that power it was going to have over people. But it’s just really incredible to have worked on something that has inspired people. Every time I watch a new one, I can't stop smiling. Its very cool that people have been moved to create their own little La La Land and I'm now looking forward to more when the movie comes out on DVD.

(Photos by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)