Biopic Muiscals vs. Jukebox Musicals

[RW3]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 9:14pm

Which are harder to produce, write, direct, choreograph, etc?

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 9:48pm

They both can be in terms of writing and directing. With biopic musicals, you really want to stay as true to the story as possible. With jukebox musicals (specifically one in which you are using songs from one artist or group's repertoire), it can be difficult to come up with a decent story that will tie the songs together.

[loliveve]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 9:54pm

[EDIT- since you seem sincere in your interest, I'll remove what I said. But in all seriousness, please try to exercise some discernment in what questions you pose!] Updated On: 8/8/13 at 09:54 PM

[RW3]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:07pm

^Those other threads were just for fun. This is is actually a serious question. I've always thought about writing my own musical and I'm trying to see whether I should start either write biopic, jukebox, or an original musical.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:14pm

Start with an idea you're passionate about, not a form of theatre you think'll be easiest.

The easiest one to write will the be the one whose story you need to tell.

Updated On: 8/8/13 at 10:14 PM

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:17pm

^^^ Great advice!

And I didn't see the deleted threads, but given the popularity of both forms, this seems a worthwhile subject for discussion.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:21pm

@RW3 Let us know when you figure it out!

[RW3]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:31pm

Thanks for all the suggestions, it really has made my decision a little bit easier!!!
P.S. I'll try to calm down on the dream casting threads!

[justincharacter]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:38pm

Whose music were you interested in including for the jukebox musical, or were you still thinking?

Updated On: 8/8/13 at 10:38 PM

[RW3]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 10:45pm

I narrowed it down to Adele or Amy Winehouse.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 11:09pm

Oh, who else came to mind other than them?

[RW3]

Posted: 8/8/13 at 11:37pm

At one point, I thought about writing an Elvis musical. Another idea was doing what Rock of Ages did and pull a collection of rock songs from the 80s only in this case would be songs from the 21st century. So, I've had a lot of ideas.

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 7:18am

I will echo what someone said earlier in the thread: focus on the story you need to tell. Once you figure that out, then worry about the format.

[Minadnan]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 8:22am

I do not think any is easier to produce. I do not know why you would ask that question. Even though something is easier does not mean the public will like it nor will it be successful. I believe in hard work and passion for the topic you are planning to do and lots of time to re write change and fix your work.

[Minadnan]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 8:24am

RW3 its all very well thinking on what songs you will use but the heart and soul of a musical is the BOOK its what differs the modern musical to Ziegfeld's Follies.

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 8:32am

You do realize you need to obtain the rights to use the music and the stories of the artists behind them? That is a long, arduous and potentially expensive process. You would do well to contact a lawyer to help you if you wish to go that route. It's harder using pre-existing material sometimes because you need to pay the creators for the use of their work.

I think you need to understand that going in.

[ggersten]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 8:56am

Rights are a huge issue. Search here for stories about the problems "Applause" had with the rights to the film script for "All About Eve".

As others have said, you need a story that people may relate to for a jukebox musical - why does Mamma Mia succeed where All Shook Up did not? Why does Moving Out succeed where Good Vibrations does not? Rock of Ages or Hot Feet?

Biopics? Not certain what you mean. Are you going to stick to the "truth" or use it as a jumping off point. And here, it's not enough to have a good story or even a good trunkload of songs - it needs to be well crafted - and most likely have something else to say than just "Here was a life"
Compare the following hits and misses:
Evita, Barnum, Will Rogers Follies, Jersey Boys, Funny Girl and Fiorello! with Lennon, Scandalous, Rothschilds, Mack and Mabel, George M, Chaplin.

[Minadnan]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 9:13am

right they are hand and hand songs and the book and actors

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 10:41am

I is amazing when you think about it but "Crazy For You & Nice Work " were both "jukebox musicals".

[N2N Nate.]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 11:41am

Produce: Both
Direct: Both
Write: Jukebox
Choreograph: Both?

Congrats on having a thread that has nothing to do with WICKED.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/9/13 at 1:19pm

Thank God

Loved Bakers Wife & Pippin but hated Wicked. Why it is still running escapes me

[iWannaBEaSedaris]

Posted: 8/11/13 at 5:40pm

Not to be a catty poster, but you do realize that Biopic is a portmanteau of Biography and Picture referring to films. BioMusicals are fun too though.

[Jon]

Posted: 8/12/13 at 7:20am

I love when idiot TV news readers mispronounce it "bye-OPP-ic", like it's some sort of device that improves vision.