Could Spring Awakening work as a movie? — Page 2

90% of America just would not get the musical as a movie. The concept is too intimate and geared towards theatre to be translated to film. People would ask things like,” Why are they holing microphones?" and "Why don’t they gave German accents?"

"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 the lack of energy was less because it was Rent on film and more because it was Rent directed by the guy that did Mrs. Doubtfire and the first two Harry Potters. (And it felt like it was directed by the same guy.)

"I agree-tape the stage version, but if they did, they better do it soon, before the original cast leaves."

Well the stage version has been taped for Lincoln Center. It was taped on Aug 3. And personally, if we're going to talk about losing energy, I think that a taped stage version would kill the show more than any motion picture treatment would.

i think the storyline has the makings of a great movie.
however, i really wouldn't be interested if it wasn't the original cast. i'm even having a hard time visualizing who is going to replace some of these guys. they're too perfect.

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For as much as I didn't care for the show, I think the production essentially begs to become a movie musical. It employs a similar technique as the Chicago musical did with the characters expressing their inner thoughts in song rather than the songs acting to move the plot along, which would allow the filmmakers to easily get around the so-called "problem" of characters simply bursting into song on screen.

The music video makes me believe that with the right group of people a movie of Spring Awakening would be very popular with the teens. I would love to see someone like Baz Lurhmann direct it. I would like to see a Spring Awakening movie directed in the same style as his R+J. I see your point with breaking into music videos. I think the script would definitely have to differ from the stage show. However, I thought the Bitch of Living video on their website showed the possibility of using the songs to tell the story. And really, Chicago the movie has alot of the "character insight songs." So maybe a movie with even work with that concept.

I agree with those who said the microphone gag wouldn't work in the movie, but that is far from the only innovative and most creative part of the show.

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Sorry for starting up an old thread; you may curse at me if you wish.

If any smart movie producer were to pick this up and market it for all it's worth, I think it COULD make a lot of money as a movie. Especially if they were to cast a WHOLE s#!t load of young well known people; not to mention the plethora of older accomplished actors that could make cameo's as the adults (not two to play all of them, a separate actor to make an appearance as each adult presented). I can envision it now...

Melchior: Dominic Cooper (IS older but still looks really young, of The History Boys)
Wendla: Andrea Bowen (Obviously she can sing, of Desperate Housewives Fame)
Moritz: Jamie Bell (Of Billy Elliott)
Ilse: Evan Rachel Wood (Of Across the Universe)

You know, now that I look at it, that wouldn't be a half bad movie of the PLAY.

Updated On: 2/20/08 at 10:26 PM

Evan would make a great Wendla too. I'd love to see her come to Broadway in the show.

I think it could be very beautiful in terms of cinematography and tone if someone like Gus Van Sant directed it. That being said, the musical has such a youth demographic that I don't know if it would attract that age if the movie was created that way.

It's wierd... part of me thinks it WOULD work quite well as a movie. But the other part of me thinks that, on screen, it would become TOO much like all of the songs are just "music videos", you know? I think there's something to the way the show works that it just.. it really thrives off the energy of it being live and in the flesh.

But, I still wouldn't rule out the possibility of it making a good movie if the right director got their hands on it!


My own personal problem would be that I have way too much of an attachment to the original cast haha. And unfortunately, although the cast is very young, the characters are really supposed to be SUPER young- like 15 and 16, no? Plus, the movie wouldn't be made in enough time anyway for the OBC to even have a SHOT at looking young enough. They'd have to do it like.. right away. And that's never going to happen.

(for the record though, i would NOT be happy if they did cast someone like Evan Rachel Wood, simply because she's the same age as the cast. So like.. if you're going to cast people that age, cast the OBC! lol)

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Updated On: 2/22/08 at 07:53 PM

Someone's who's seen more than "five seconds of a preview." I haven't forgotten that thread.

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I think it could be pulled off. I actually think Bare would translate to film VERY well, too, but thats off topic.

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