NEWSIES Will Be Filmed Live With Jeremy Jordan & Kara Lindsay- Page 7

[lotiloti]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 4:21am

sbflyfan said: "It's $20 in Ohio. Most irritating is the aspect ratio is wrong. Heads and feet are cut off in many shots and during the dance sequences. We're at intermission right now and the logo at the bottom of the screen is cut off, which proves my point. Management says its the feed they were provided with and there's nothing they can do. 

If the picture is cropped, the wrong macro has been selected on the digital projector. I'm guessing it should be set for 1.85 FLAT. 

 

 

 

"

 

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 9:26am

Thanks for the replies on the cropping.  It didn't make it totally unwatchable, but I could definitely tell something was wrong. During many closeups, actors' eyes would barely be in the frame at the top of the image, and in a few shots, actors standing on tables had their heads cut off from the mouth up while delivering lines. Most irritating were the dance sequences where feet weren't visible. I figured the directing and editing wouldn't be that inept.

The manager insisted at first that "I can't do anything about aspect ratio."  She tried to tell me it was just the format it's being presented in on the feed they were sent.  I asked her to come into the auditorium and pointed out the logo being cut off, and a few other people nearby spoke up and agreed with me.

Like I mentioned, they stopped the video for a few seconds during Act 2 and when it came back on it looked perfect, filling the entire screen without 'letterboxing', then the image disappeared again and reverted back to the way it was. One of the managers was in the auditorium and said "Sorry folks, we just need to fix something."  A voice radioed to him and said "It won't work." At least they made an attempt.

Now that I know it's a downloaded file the individual theater plays, and not a livestream of a video feed, I'm surprised this would happen and that they wouldn't have tested beforehand to make sure their ratio is set correctly. At $20/person, the theater I was at must have lost at least $2000-3000 comping everyone in for one of the other screenings, with no one to blame but themselves.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 9:45am

I'm seeing this on Saturday.  Tickets ended up being $12.72 with a convenience fee added from movietickets.com. Was honestly surprised it was that cheap. Or is it that cheap because it's a pretty early showing?  I know they do that at some theaters. I'm going to a theater that's about 50 miles from NYC in NJ. I'm not in the middle of nowhere like the town I actually live in. 

[goldenstate5]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 11:00am

rcwr said: "goldenstate5 said: I wouldn't be surprised if this pulls a Beauty and the Beast-style revived national tour

What does that mean, a Beauty and the Beast-style revived tour? Something about the tour production? Or how it came about?

 

"

In 2010, Disney launched a six-year-long national tour after a break due to popular demand.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 11:12am

^it was also a redesigned production with a completely new set and it was non-equity. 

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 11:50am

I saw it last night and mostly enjoyed it. The camera work is a bit busy, especially during the dance and action heavy musical numbers.  Wide shots would have made the athletic choreography much more thrilling.  The book scenes and the more intimate songs worked well, though.  I found Lindsay much more enjoyable and less saccharine than the 2 times I saw her on Broadway, in the role.  Jordan is still impressive in the role.  Though I never noticed how terrible of a dancer he is until now.  

[sorano916]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 12:26pm

Mildred Plotka said: "I saw it last night and mostly enjoyed it. The camera work is a bit busy, especially during the dance and action heavy musical numbers.  Wide shots would have made the athletic choreography much more thrilling.  The book scenes and the more intimate songs worked well, though.  I found Lindsay much more enjoyable and less saccharine than the 2 times I saw her on Broadway, in the role.  Jordan is still impressive in the role.  Though I never noticed how terrible of a dancer he is until now.  "

 

Which makes the fact that he was nominated for an Astaire Award even more amusing.

 

I actually saw the live filming in September and while they ran through it without stopping then, there were a couple of small flubs, so it was nice to have the full performance without those. I totally agree that the camera work was jarring at some points, especially the fight scene at the end of Act 1. Also, there were moments that the lighting made it seem that they were dancing in front of a green screen rather than being on stage, IMO.

[lovebwy]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 12:34pm

Crutchie literally looked to be 40 years old, and JerJor looked too old too.

They really should not have had so much editing. The dance sequences are more impressive without cutting back and forth.

Jeremy is dreamy, of course, but this was just not a great experience for me. 

(Saw it at El Capitan on Hollywood Blvd)

 

 

 

[Ceej]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 2:18pm

FWIW, there was an interesting credit at the end. I'm not sure of the exact phrasing, but there were three audio credits in a row at one point and one was something like, "Home Entertainment Mastering" or "Mixing" or similar.

I know many are speculating a DVD/Blu-Ray release -- this would seem to point that way as well.

[jmuep]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 4:14pm

I thoroughly enjoyed it and am happy there's a record of this, but I came out of the show last night thinking they absolutely got the wrong director.  This is a show where there's so much depth of action that wide shots are needed most of the time and the director just kept cutting to close-ups -- especially when they weren't necessary and were flat out distracting -- like cutting back to Jordan "asleep" during "Brooklyn's Here."  And I was also annoyed that it felt like there was an official policy to show Ben Cook as much as possible.  It was actually comical how many times they cut to him or framed a shot to make sure he was included -- at the expense of the story or other performers.  

[trpguyy]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 4:31pm

Ceej said: "I know many are speculating a DVD/Blu-Ray release -- this would seem to point that way as well."

To clear things up, it is a confirmed fact that it will become available for physical purchase. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 4:32pm

I just got tickets for next Wednesday for 11 bucks. I'm not sure why they were so cheap.

[Comden Green]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 6:22pm

lovebwy said: "

They really should not have had so much editing. The dance sequences are more impressive without cutting back and forth.
 

"

And that's the thing.  They were great dance sequences.   And we didn't get to see them.  

The reason for frequent cuts is to keep from getting bored by long scenes.    I don't think there was any danger of getting bored by letting us see what the theatre audience saw.   

 

(Of course close ups of the dialog scenes were great)

an ideal DVD would have a second version where the camera sits still for the dance scenes.  

[rcwr]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 6:37pm

Comden Green said: an ideal DVD would have a second version where the camera sits still for the dance scenes.

That would be my DREAM.

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 9:17pm

For those of you who saw the MISS SAIGON - LIVE screenings you'll remember that the main complaint about that one was also "too many close-ups" and "not enough wide shots" to show the full effect of the big production numbers and how the sets moved.  I seem to remember reading somewhere that the decision was made to film NEWSIES after they saw the BILLY ELLIOT - LIVE screenings and that they ended up hiring the video director who had over seen that to do NEWSIES but I don't recall people having this complaint over the BILLY ELLIOT taping.  I can somewhat understand the logic in the choices that were made for MISS SAIGON since that was taped and screened ahead of the Broadway engagement and perhaps they felt that the closeups would be just enough to whet people's appetites to come and see the "full view" live in the theatre ... though that wouldn't be the logic behind NEWSIES since the show closed on Broadway and the tour has finished it's run.  Who knows what goes into the decisions they make ... I'm just glad it was captured on film ... period!!

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/17/17 at 9:25pm

Since I haven't seen it yet, I can't comment on what people saw. But, I also thought the camera movement was too much in Rent when that got filmed and shown. I think part of the problem is they want to film these like movies. I don't think wide shot for the entire thing would be great.  Because they did that at BroadwayCon for the opening and I was bored from not being able to see from the back at either the stage or screens next to it. But, probably some still shots of big things would be better here.

[Dave13]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 4:51pm

At the theater now.  Not sure if it is my theater, but the sound quality is bad.  I was hoping for surround sound.  I wanted to feel like I was in the theater, but the sound wasn't picking up the high notes of the songs.  It just seemed muffled.  I would have enjoyed it much more with better sound quality.  

[Marianne2]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 5:18pm

I saw this earlier.  It was good. I never saw it on Broadway or at the Papermill,  so I have nothing to compare it to.  Well, I didn't like the movie version,  so that's why I never saw it before today.  

I agree some of the big dance numbers could have used some wider shots. But, I think some of it wasn't so bothersome for me because I didn't know what to expect. 

Yes, the sound was pretty flat at my theater too. 

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 5:23pm

Saw it on Thursday night and the sound was fine ... the 30 minutes of pre-show, however, was barely audible ... I assume that was just because the theatre normally plays their pre-show stuff at a much lower level than the actual previews and main feature ... this time, though, they should have turned up the volume.  I would have gone out and said something to someone but was afraid my seat would be gone by the time I got back as the theatre was nearly FULL.  Really enjoyed it and plan on going back again on Wednesday.

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 6:09pm

Just got back and I loved it! Newsies is one of my favorites and I agree they shouldn't have edited so much, but the only scene where I was truly annoyed was the fight scene in act 1.... The rest of the show was awesome! 

[Dave13]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 6:46pm

Theatre Fan3 said: "Saw it on Thursday night and the sound was fine ... the 30 minutes of pre-show, however, was barely audible ... I assume that was just because the theatre normally plays their pre-show stuff at a much lower level than the actual previews and main feature ... this time, though, they should have turned up the volume.  I would have gone out and said something to someone but was afraid my seat would be gone by the time I got back as the theatre was nearly FULL.  Really enjoyed it and plan on going back again on Wednesday.

 

"

That's how it sounded to me.  It sounded like typical previews, but never adjusted for the movie.  I kept thinking someone would fix it but never happened. It was just flat and you had to make an effort to listen.  

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 9:53pm

Dave13 said:  "That's how it sounded to me.  It sounded like typical previews, but never adjusted for the movie.  I kept thinking someone would fix it but never happened. It was just flat and you had to make an effort to listen."

 

That's terrible ... you should have complained when you left and they should have given you passes to come back either on Wednesday or to another event.  Don't know what you paid but it was $20 here and that's too much money to pay and then have to strain to hear it.  You might check the Fathom Events website and see if there is a "Contact Us" link anywhere ... I'd let them know about your experience as I would think they would appreciate knowing which theatres are putting on a "less that optimum" screening of their programs.

Updated On: 2/18/17 at 09:53 PM

[lambchop2]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 10:38pm

Saw this earlier today. I really loved it, so high energy (can't quite get the level of seeing it live, but surprisingly close) and I was at first disappointed that Jeremy Jordan would be Jack instead of the tour lead, but damn did he put in a performance. I unexpectedly ending up crying during his speech during Seize the Day.

Blah things to me:

-The editing in the strike fight scene was really choppy and made everything confusing. The impact when Crutchie is beaten was almost completely lost because of this.

-Les... oh Les.  Jack's affecting speech in Seize the Day being followed with his "pweeeaaase?" was truly terrible.

Also: So apparently someone was supposed to be Kid Blink in this filmed performance? Did anyone catch this? He's in the cast list and I saw people talking about how there was supposedly supposed to be a bunch more newsies in one scene (including Blink) but I didn't see this. Did I (pun not intended) blink and miss it or what?

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 2/18/17 at 10:56pm

Also: So apparently someone was supposed to be Kid Blink in this filmed performance? Did anyone catch this? He's in the cast list and I saw people talking about how there was supposedly supposed to be a bunch more newsies in one scene (including Blink) but I didn't see this. Did I (pun not intended) blink and miss it or what?

Kid Blink was historically the leader of the newsboy strike, and he's in the 1992 movie too, but not the stage version because he has an eye patch and it would be dangerous  someone to dance (or be onstage with all those dancers) with only 1 eye. For the newsies film they added a bunch of newsies so everyone could be in it, I think they just called one of them Kid Blink as a little Easter egg for fans

 

[StephieElise]

Posted: 2/19/17 at 2:41am

I'm just back from it. I really, really enjoyed it but agree wholeheartedly with the comments on the shoddy camera work, particularly during the dance numbers and fight scenes. I've never got to see Newsies; it hasn't made it to Australia yet, I missed the Broadway production by a couple of months and arrived in LA 3 days after the tour finished up there! So it was fantastic to be able to see the show in some form! I was particularly pleased to see Michael Dameski in the cast and would love for him to come home to join the production that I've been dream casting for years now (once a producer actually gets around to announcing it!).