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Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

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#1

Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:32am

I think that SA could make an awesome movie. If developed and directed properly, with a theatrical edge, I think that the transfer from stage to screen could be a success.

What do you all think?

Updated On: 6/20/07 at 10:32 AM

#3

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:35am

It certainly fits the bill for what audiences will allegedly only buy in a movie musical these days, what with the songs taking place in the minds of the characters and not in real time.
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
#6

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:41am

ANY Broadway show can be adapted as a film. You just need a director with a proper vision. The vision can be either a straight transfer, or a twist (such as what Condon did with CHICAGO). The vision and its execution is what counts.
"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle
#7

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 10:45am

"It can be a great movie.

Just don't let it be a musical."

Agreed - the original play would make a great screenplay.
Jack: For your information, most people who meet me do not know that I am gay. Will: Jack, blind and deaf people know you're gay. Dead people know you're gay. Jack: Grace, when you first met me, did you know I was gay? Grace: My dog knew.
#8

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 11:53am

I can't seem to grasp the idea of it as a movie and NOT a movie-musical..I think the score is perfect for the type of hype people are looking for today in movie musicals.
#9

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 12:12pm

SPRING AWAKENING THE MUSICAL would definately work as a movie, given the concepts it already uses on stage.

I'm opposed to it because the score is firmly rooted in our day and age, and I myself prefer movies that still have some impact even a decade later.
"Y'know, I think Bertolt Brecht was rolling in his grave."
-Nellie McKay on the 2006 Broadway production of The Threepenny Opera, in which she played Polly Peachum
#11

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:21pm

Truly a snowball's chance in Hell of transfering well to film. I can't see it working AT ALL, and honestly, I'm a fan of the show. So, take it for what it's worth -- Opinions matter ever-so-much on this board, as it stands.
#12

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:23pm

"If developed and directed properly, with a theatrical edge, I think that the transfer from stage to screen could be a success."

That is kind of a broad statement, couldn't you say that about anything really?
#13

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:25pm

Gee thanks Capn'... Of course ANYTHING can be turned into a movie but the question was can it WORK?

Updated On: 6/20/07 at 01:25 PM

#14

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:37pm

The original play could. The musical as a movie, IMO, would be obnoxious and not translate the way it does on stage which would be detrimental to its success.
"I chose and my world was shaken. So what? The choice may have been mistaken. The choosing was not."-Sunday in the Park with George
#15

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:53pm

I'd rather they made no movie of it, thana bad one. In any case, I just don't see it...the play and the musical are too expressionist / Brechtian. The characters are more types than fully developed people...it was meant to be that way, and it works in the theatre, but film is more intimate medium and I can't see it coming off without some unfortunate changes.
#16

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 1:58pm

It would be difficult because of the performance aspect of all the songs. They're not necessarilly plot-based songs with action involved. They more stop the plot to give insight and to allow the song to comment on the action, as opposed to push it. I find it thrilling in the theatre, but would it be weird for a plot-based movie to break out into music videos every 10 minutes or so?

But I agree with Kringas, it has everything that a movie needs today: hot young cast, rock music, sex.
Eeeeeeyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaannnnnddddd aaaaaaaiiiiiiiiyyyyyyaaaaaammmmmmmm teeeeeeeelllllliiiiiinnngg yyyyooooooouuuuuuuwwwaaaahh...
#18

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:35pm

I would love to see the play turned into a movie. The play, not necessarily the musical. I think the musical on film would seem completely dated ten or twenty years after it's made. The play would make a great movie, though. I'd love to see a darker version of the story, which I think was the play's intent.

~Steven
#19

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:37pm

how did i know the second i came into this thread that there would be someone who was part of the "now that spring awakening won all those awards, since i refuse to like anything mainstream i don't like it even though i liked it before" group? how DID i know?
Can, can I have it?
#20

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:41pm

But I agree with Kringas, it has everything that a movie needs today: hot young cast, rock music, sex.

I think you misunderstood me. I meant that since its songs exist outside the world of the play (much like they did in the movie version of Chicago) audiences would be okay with that, since the oft-repeated meme about movie musicals is that no one will buy a movie musical where the characters just organically break out into song.
"How do you like THAT 'misanthropic panache,' Mr. Goldstone?" - PalJoey
#21

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 2:46pm

If the musical were made into a movie, a lot of the energy in that theater would not there. I feel the energy in the theater is crucial to the show itself.
#22

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:25pm

true, Becoz i knew you21, spring awakening live energy definetly plays a part in it's appeal, but for example, as much as the rent film was sort of uninspiring there was definetly moments in that which were high energy or exciting, and i think a show like spring awakening (IMO better than rent) could do the same, except with more good moments.
Can, can I have it?
#23

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 3:57pm

I really enjoyed Spring Awakening, I thought it was a fun show with a lot of energy and the best lit stage I have seen possibly ever. That being said, I think I have to go with no on a movie version. The main problem I had with the Rent film was that it lacked the energy you find in the theatre and it really brought it down for me, I think a film version of Spring Awakening would suffer that same fate. The energy is most definately needed here. However, if Showtime were to decide they wanted to tape the show as is a la Death of a Salesman or Into the Woods, I wouldn't mind seeing it. That way there it preserves the concept, lights, and intent of the musical.
#24

re: Could Spring Awakening work as a movie?

Posted: 6/20/07 at 4:39pm

I agree-tape the stage version, but if they did, they better do it soon, before the original cast leaves. It would be interesting to see a movie of the original play, I think the musical is just too stage-y, and it would lose a lot of it's energy.

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