Movie Musicals following Dreamgirls success?- Page 5

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 6:02pm

Well, if I read between the lines...

Sondheim has a higher "position" in Hollywood as a writer/composer than... well, anybody else ever. Including Gershwin, Irving Berlin... even the Pope.

Fortunately, I read the lines.

I see that a high-profile, quirky-yet-reputable, successful (enough) director latched onto a Broadway musical property with a big box office star attached to it, and that's why the project got a fast greenlight finally, after all these years. This guy named "Sondheim," what does he do again?

Oh, yeah! Didn't he win an Oscar over a decade ago for some Madonna song?

Don't forget... I live and work in this place called Hollywood.

Posted: 3/1/07 at 7:23pm

Re the Producers... It's odd because I saw the theatrical trailer a number of times before other movies and the audience alwayss eemed to LOVE the trailer--laugh at ever (IMHO lame) line, etc. Just odd it sunk so very fast when anyone who saw response to the trailers I think would think at least some of that audience would go before they read the bad reviews

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/1/07 at 8:20pm

I daresay this board has tons of people who will swear they know him personally and of course he's not anything like that. Well, sorry, but I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the man during the days of getting investors for INTO THE WOODS.

Now, let me get this straight. You're going to sneer at these (so far hypothetical) people who swear they know Sondheim and what he's like, then - with what seems like nary a whiff of irony - claim some sort of moral high ground because of a conversation you had with the man over twenty years ago?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 5:45am

No, I'm saying that any one of these hypothetical people with such intimate friendships with the man could easily pick up the phone and resolve this discussion in about ten minutes time.

So what do you think the chances are of that happening?

>> I live and work in this place called Hollywood.

LOL -- where every waiter has a screenplay and every delivery boy is a producer. So? I'm still waiting to be impressed.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 8:57am

I'm still waiting for you to pull your head out of your ass.

But I've given up on that, now.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 9:13am

So what do you think the chances are of that happening?

Someone - other than you, that is - would have to claim to have intimate knowledge of Sondheim which no one - other than you - on this thread has, so I'm gonna say pretty slim.

How about you give him a ring and remind him of that conversation you had and ask him? Maybe you won't even have to remind him. Maybe he'll have instant recollection just from the sound of your voice!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 10:37am

>> But I've given up on that, now.

Oh, that stung!!!! LOL

Face it, bucko: you can talk the talk but you seem to have real problems walking the walk.

>> How about you give him a ring and remind him of that conversation you had and ask him?

Unlike *some* folk around here, I'm not claiming that kind of intimate relationship. I met him once. It was great doing so. Everythng else I know comes from people who *do* know him well, like Craig Zadan, who probably knows more about him than the rest of you combined. And I would trust his assessment of Sondheim far more than any "insider" fan boy on this board.

But I'm sure at least *someone* here can prove me wrong and give ol' Steve a ring. I mean, please, wouldnt it resolve the discussion here? Or is scoring personal points more important to you?

Hmm. I'm guessing the latter.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 10:44am

Unlike *some* folk around here, I'm not claiming that kind of intimate relationship.

But who? That's what I'm trying to figure out. Who in this thread has claimed to have that kind of relationship? Just point me to the post, because I can't find it. Thanks.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 11:04am

"Please note: when a film mogul purchases the rights. If you think it's as easy as walking into a store and buying a can of soda, you really dont know much about the arcane world of entertainment law. If someone is buying all rights to do with a property as he pleases, he's paying a whale of a lot for that privilege."

Exactly where in my post did I even imply that? When selling anything, there is often a lengthy contract negotiation. However, when one is purchasing rights, it's usually all or nothing. A studio isn't going to buy the rights to half a play, and they certainly aren't going to allow the original author to retain creative control. Often times, the most that is granted iscasting approval or script approval (script approval is what P.L. Travers was granted by Disney for Mary Poppins). However, final edit is most certainly not going to be given to the original author. So if Sondheim insists that Epiphany remains in the script, the director doesn't have to even film it, let alone allow it to appear in the film. If hollywood artists hate one thing, it's outsider opinions. It's very clear to me, based on what has been publicy said, that Sondheim has absolutely no legal rights regarding the film.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 11:21am

>> Exactly where in my post did I even imply that? When selling anything, there is often a lengthy contract negotiation. However, when one is purchasing rights, it's usually all or nothing. A studio isn't going to buy the rights to half a play, and they certainly aren't going to allow the original author to retain creative control.

Your original post left the implication sitting there. Go back and read it.

I responded by saying that the only way a studio is going to get that kind of wholesale access to someone's work is by paying through the nose for it. Someone of Sondheim's stature, either in or out of the theatre community, isnt gong to just reliquish control without getting a good chunk of change for it, if indeed he ever would in the first place. Once more: this is the third film of his work where he provides both lyrics and music. The first two were disasters. Now think: if you were someone like him, would you just hand over control like that to what is arguably your masterpiece? Or are you going to make sure you retain just enough control that they cant mess with it *too much*? Even if he's working behind the scenes with Burton, I have every reason to believe that he's doing what he can to make sure *his* work arrives as intact as possible.

And I'm not seeing a whole lot to dispute that beyond some vague statements, both on these boards and in the PR work that's being done on the film.

But once more: if they've started shooting, then that suggests that the music has been pretty well wrapped up, at least those numbers involving the principals. We had one person here who claimed to have been in the chorus for those recordings and that "God That's Good" was still in the film. Was he really in the ensemble or just saying that for some kind of reflective fame? Frankly, I dont know, just as I get a little gun-shy when someone claims to have read the shooting script. Maybe those things *are* available somewhere on the Net, but the bottom line is simple: before throwing yet another rumout out there, we might want to consider five simple words: Put up or shut up. I base my observations about what I know about Sondheim as well as what I know about the TV and movie industry. And maybe Im wrong in my guesswork about this project -- and if so, fine. I was wrong. No big deal in the grand scheme of things.

But every time some "insider" starts to throw out yet another rumour, I'm going to call him on it.

>> Who in this thread has claimed to have that kind of relationship?

No one in this thread. But look elsewhere and you'll find them, the ones who claim to have gotten this or that and know him well. Frankly, I'm surprised they havent come forward to offer to resolve this discussion. I guess they're too busy, huh.

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 11:27am

SeanMartin, I happened to look at your blog and saw you were discussing this there as well. Is it cool if I comment on it here? I don't see any comments on your blog, so I thought I'd keep mine here where the discussion is going on.

You said, "as they all claim 'inside information' and 'intimate friendships' with various celebrities, not the least of which is Stephen Sondheim."

Who is claiming intimate friendships here, or even inside information? I suggested someone on this board read a draft of the screenplay and even showed you the post where that was said. You're the one who chosen to frame it as "inside information." I just considered it someone reading a screenplay.

You then go on to state that, "A demo CD they bought on eBay turns into a personalized gift from the composer himself. To simply be in the same room constitutes a devoted friendship of many years passing."

I realize, of course, that my aptitude for reading comprehension is specious at best, but aren't you the one who brought up your two decade old meet and greet with the man as some sort of evidence for knowing his thought process and what he's really like? That and the collected works of Craig Zadan?

It's you who are claming to know what Sondheim will do and why he does it.

No one is claiming to be an insider fanboy. No one except you, that is.

Who in this thread has claimed to have that kind of relationship?

No one in this thread. But look elsewhere and you'll find them, the ones who claim to have gotten this or that and know him well. Frankly, I'm surprised they havent come forward to offer to resolve this discussion. I guess they're too busy, huh.

Why are you making it about them, then? They're not the ones having this discussion.

Updated On: 3/2/07 at 11:27 AM

[Dark_Angel]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 12:16pm

Wow. This is a really interesting thread if only to gain insight on the process (purchasing/selling rights) of adapting a well known property for another medium (in this case a stage piece for cinema).

The real interesting thing is seeing how this movie really turns out in about a year from now and referring back to this thread.

[Weez]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 1:08pm

I disagree. There is nothing interesting about this thread since it turned into a "my dad's bigger than your dad" slanging match. Are people genuinely getting some satisfaction out of pointing out ways you could purposefully misinterpret someone's post so it says "I'm lyk totally BFFs wid Sondhime, and he luuuuurves Jonny D but totaly has ULTIMATE POWAH! over dis film"?

[Kringas]

Posted: 3/2/07 at 1:18pm

I'd say it's less about the slinging match and more about a giant chip on someone's shoulder.