CAST Into the Woods Movie- Page 8
CAST Into the Woods Movie
#175CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:06pm
Another reason (aside from the fact that it's all through the play) for casting at least Little Red around 13-15 and Jack around 17 is that you'll be inviting a different movie audience in to see the film. Cast an adult as Little Red, and you'll never draw in a younger crowd the way you will if she's 13-15. Especially if it's someone they've seen in a movie before. But you will instantly give them a "kid's perspective" on what's happening. You're far more likely to hold their interest.
In other words, it's also good business, not just a good creative decision for the material.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#176CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:13pm
I think people are disproportionally fixating on the word beauty. Is the youth part not as important, since few of these suggestions are truly youthful?
Isn't it possible that the Witch's youth and beauty is simply relative to her lack of youth and beauty as the crone? I mean, I get she should be attractive, but it's not like the Witch goes on and on about how she was the most beautiful woman in the world or something.
Updated On: 1/13/12 at 02:13 PM
#177CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:23pm
I need to find the words in the script, Phyllis, but I think you're onto something.
The point is that she was cursed because of her vanity. It's sort of a "wicked queen in Snow White" kind of thing. She's the fairest!
But just because she THINKS she's the most beautiful doesn't mean she is. And yes, youth is part of that beauty.
Also ... when she puts the potion together at the end of Act I and drinks it, she becomes her "true beautiful self" again, but loses her powers as a result.
I'm not sure how important it is that she actually is the "fairest in the land" or merely that she THINKS she's the fairest in the land. That's a big distinction. I'd have to read that part of her backstory again.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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Updated On: 1/13/12 at 02:23 PM
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#178CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:25pm
I always saw it that way, the Witch has traded power for youth and beauty, but I thought it had more to do with the perpetuity of it- that she would stay young and beautiful- than that she was extraordinarily either.
I agree that it would be better to cast a young person as Little Red, the whole stage vs screen distinction means that the age of former stage performers of the role has little importance, they will need to get a demographic (if they can) and I think actually having a teen/immediate pre-teen would be better for that. Though the only actress that age I know of is Chloe Moretz, and I have no idea if she can sing, and she would probably be too old by then anyway, considering she is almost 15 already.
I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.
#179CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:30pm
Also, for that last scene in the trees, waiting for the Giant's Wife (No One Is Alone), has Cinderella and the Baker taking on the parental roles for the younger Jack and Little Red, who now assume the child roles. They're each missing the other's piece in their lives.
It would look really weird (and actually does in the stage show already) with them being too old at that point. They should be the "children who will listen."
It's actually VERY important to the story that they're not much more than kids themselves, the more I think about it.
Forget the stage show. It's a new medium now. And aside from kids, you can bet the wolf won't be an actor in a costume either. He'll be CGI all the way.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#180CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:42pm
And lastly, I really hope these aren't a "lily-white" woods. There's no reason for it in a fairy tale. I still think the Witch is a logical choice for non-white casting, because she's not related to anybody else by blood, as revealed later in the plot, so you won't be mess up any of those brother/sister relationships late in the story.
I still think Beyonce could play the Witch, she's young and beautiful, and she'll sing the hell out of the songs. Plus, it would be nice to hear the witch's rap done once, without wincing at the "whiteness" of it. It's a starring role, too, along with the Baker and his Wife. A non-white leading role would be great.
(Yes, I remember Phylicia Rashad played it in NY.)
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#181CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:50pm
I think that Red's age is pretty well defined by her story. I think the humor of her character comes from our expectation of what she'll be at her age vs what she really is...we expect that, at her age, she will be sweet and innocent. Then she opens her mouth and we get sarcastic, disdainful, rebellious and self-centered. She wants to stray from the path, is slightly sexually curious...but not much (I think if the sexual aspect of the song where not intended, the wolf would not have been given exposed genitalia. To what purpose, otherwise?) She insists she doesn't need help. Later, we see her child-like vulnerabilities.
These are all very typical traits of a 13 to 16 year old girl...rebelling, pushing for independence, yet not quite understanding consequences yet. The lesson being that things are not as simple and safe as she'd thought they'd be back when she started. And that you really don't need to go it alone.
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.
#182CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 2:55pm
^ Exactly! Very well put, artscallion.
Sexual awakening begins for girls at 12-13. That's the perfect age for her then. Based on everything you say (which I agree with).
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#183CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:21pm
Why don't they just cast Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber as Red and Jack and get this movie some real butts in the seats. Tweens would flock to this thing like flies to ****. Then add some adults to the casting who are big names for the older crowd and you've got another Valentine's Day on your hands. Hey maybe the caveman formerly known as Ashton Kutcher will play one of the princes!
Now we're talking like some money making pack rats!
#184CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:25pm
It is entirely possible that they might do just that.
Straw-men not withstanding, there are some legitimate reasons to cast an actual teenager and pre-teen in the roles of Jack and Red, as put forth quite astutely by Best12 and Artscallion.
As far as having the show not be "lily-white" I think there are some interesting potential casting choices out there, but I am not sure I can get behind Beyonce... though she has been fine in things I have seen.
I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.
Updated On: 1/13/12 at 03:25 PM
#185CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:36pm
I'd love to hear some other non-white casting ideas!
As for Disney tween casting ... these guys are all under contracts, right? (Even Bieber, or am I wrong?) I wouldn't be surprised if Disney called in a few favors for being in this (now) Disney project. It's a win-win situation. Except for maybe the audience, if they suck.
I really don't want to see a Disney Channel approach to this material, so if they are cast and, you know, actually ACT, rather than twitch and roll their eyes, then okay.
Otherwise ... keep 'em the hell out.
It's good to ADD IN the tweener crowd for this movie, but not at the expense of the older audiences at the same time. Thats the trick. Appeal to everyone, not just one demographic while excluding another.
So NO Disney Channel acting allowed. Period.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#186CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:41pmI think 'who' this film is actually for is going to be a real question the film makers are going to have to figure out. There are about 10 fairy tale to live action film adaptations that are likely to reach cinemas before INTO THE WOODS does, so its going to be interesting to see if they think this is a family film, an Oscar prestige film, an animated film, a children's film....it obviously could go any direction.
#187CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:45pmYes MB, and the likelihood that the producers are having considerable disagreement on those questions, and are likely to push the artistic team in different directions are reasons I am a bit tepid in my enthusiasm for this project. And reasons I still believe it is far from a done deal to get made at all.
I stand corrected, you are as vapid as they say.
#188CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:45pm
The worst thing they could do is make it largely animated and/or family-friendly. That's where most of their competition lies.
They have Sondheim in their corner, and that's their big distinction in making them stand out from the hoards of other projects (and you're right, there are dozens now).
What keeps this apart from the others is the cleverness of the writing, the story, and the songs. Dumb that down or take it away or focus on other things, and you become ordinary. Just like the Witch ... you will be more attractive to the masses but lose all your powers in the process. 
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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#189CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:46pmWell it does seem likely these are among the questions that probably put the project into turnaround 15 years ago...
#190CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 3:48pmThat was back when there weren't dozens of projects like this in development. They were just scared and stupid back then. They waited too long to leave the gate. Now they have to sit there stuck in traffic with the rest of them.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#191CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 4:25pmI'd rather have Jack and Little Red played by actors who read younger rather actors who actually are young.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#192CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 5:05pm
Aside from film being completely different from stage as far as casting ages goes ...
The kids and tweens in the audience would be the first ones to know they were older trying to play younger. If that's the audience you want to pull in by casting the two roles younger, why try to dupe that audience at the same time? They'll know, especially if the performers are already established in some way.
Of course it depends on the performers, too. Not all 12 or 13-year-olds are alike. Some are already on their way to maturity, others are still more or less children. Depends on the actor. Same with Jack. Some 17-year-olds haven't started shaving yet. Others can grow full beards and look like they're in their mid-20s already. It just depends.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
random person 112
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
#193CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 5:31pm
I know i've said it before but after hearing this, i'm pretty confident she could sing it and in the orginal keys.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
random person 112
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
#195CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 5:40pm
Sorry phyllis meant to post a link but it don't come through. I mean Charlize Theron.
Charlize Theron
#196CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 5:49pm
That was painful.
You really think that sounded better than this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPFKMco8AL0
random person 112
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
#197CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 6:13pm
If only she sounded like that in person ljay, if only if only. In reality she dosn't she sounds like she is singing from the very back of her throat. Plus that was after strenous musical theatre traning, with time theron could produce similair or better results. Plus three musicals really?
Updated On: 1/13/12 at 06:13 PM
#198CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 6:16pm
I saw her 5-6 times in NIGHT MUSIC, and the cast recording is a very good reflection of how she sounded live.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eLiKS42_Ps
#199CAST Into the Woods Movie
Posted: 1/13/12 at 6:17pmTaylor Swift, Amanda Seyfried, and any other Hollywood actor that cannot sing and cannot act but has a recognizable name...because that is how directors in Hollywood seem to be doing it these days.
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