RENT PETITION

[Kass983]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 7:50pm

I saw this on another board. I guess they're petitioning Sony to allow the release of a 10th Anniversary DVD. I don't know how much good it will do but here's the link for anyone interested.

Edit** Sorry if this has been posted previously.
Rent Petition Updated On: 4/27/06 at 07:50 PM

[Renthead#1]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 8:11pm

I signed it yay.

[donna_darko_23]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 8:55pm

That would be so awesome if they actually put it on DVD.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 8:56pm

Well did they even record it?

[Renthead#1]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 8:57pm

Somebody told me they did.

[Katt]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 8:58pm

They did record it, but it's in the Lincoln Center, so good luck trying to get in.

They can't release it on DVD, because Sony owns the rights.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:00pm

i signed
im not too sure this will be able to happen, but still...
signed anyways
:)

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:00pm

Sony owns the show's right? Because they had the movie ones? How does that work? (It's an honest question, I know nothing about this)
Updated On: 4/27/06 at 09:00 PM

[catsuit]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:03pm

I signed it. -prays-

How great would that be if they actually released it? I would die of happiness!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:04pm

Unless Sony itself taped it, it will never be released. The rules about taping for Lincoln Center Archives are strict and specific. It's not like they could just hand it over to Sony for a fee.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:05pm

Wouldn't it be nice if the petition that actually tried to point out reason why this should be released rather than saying "Let's release it."

Do the people these types of petitions are intended for ever see these things anyway? Somehow I'm doubting it. I think we all should write letters. In a very professional, non-Renthead fashion.
Updated On: 4/27/06 at 09:05 PM

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:06pm

"It's not like they could just hand it over to Sony for a fee."

Sorry for the double post but...why? And why don't the producers (or whoever had the SHOW's right to begin with) have power over this?

[Katt]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:07pm

I think Sony owns the rights to distribute videos of Rent out. So without Sony's permission, they can't do it. I'm pretty sure that's how it works. It doesn't apply to other merchandise though.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:11pm

No, no. You guys just aren't understanding what I'm saying. Lincoln Center Archives operates under a very strict contract with Actors Equity which allows taping ONLY for the use of inhouse archive viewing at the library. It is NOT a contract that can be transfered into commercial release or television broadcast.

If SONY wanted to release this on dvd, they would have had to do their own taping and would have had to have negotiated their own contracts with everyone involved.

If the show was taped by them, perhaps it could be released. But the video made for Lincoln Center archives will not now, never or forever be released on dvd.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:14pm

But the video was used for all sorts of press (and used for live feed next door into a press room and room for current and former actors from the show who could not be seated inthe audience)...wouldn't that mean that the taping was not only intended for the purpose of the archives?
Updated On: 4/27/06 at 09:14 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:15pm

It would be in Sony's best interest to release a DVD of the concert, because they hit such a box office bonanza on the movie. Given the huge profits they've made on the hundreds of DVDs of the movie they've sold, they really owe it to the fans.

Perhaps they could sell it only at Target and give some proceeds to charity.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:19pm

BWW had those highlights clips, and there have been other press clips, so I am willing to bet it was taped by someone other than the Lincoln Center Archives. But I don't see Sony authorizing the release of the video, unfortunately

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:21pm

Well, the terrible quality of the movie and the marketing certainly didn't help THAT situation.

I'd find it hard to believe that if this was released on DVD that it wouldn't do better than, say, the numerous DVDs of Sondheim's works that have been released.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:23pm

I wasn't there, so I don't exactly know what the set up was. Typically, television cameras are allowed to record only portions of a theatrical performance for use in television reviews/stories etc. They are not allowed to tape the entire performance.

I don't know what the cast was watching - it was very possibly just a live feed. If the live feed was "recorded" it was probably done on the sly and wouldn't legally be allowed to be released.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. If the show was taped legally or otherwise it will unquestionably "turn up."

All I'm saying is that the video that was recorded for Lincoln Center was probably completely seperate and won't ever find its way to commercial release.

ETA - I wouldn't argue with the popularity of a dvd release, but the difference is, those Sondheim specials were negotiated beforehand. It was known at the time of the performance that they would be released on television/video.

You can't really release something like that as an "after thought"



Updated On: 4/27/06 at 09:23 PM

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:24pm

I do think that the DVD would be moderately successful, if not more so than the DVD of the film. But being that the film DVD was only released a few months I think Sony would probably see it in direct competition. Unless they packaged it with the film as a special edition thing or something.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:31pm

Exactly, Colleen -

And it could be more complicated than you'd initially think. It would depend completely on what the terms were of the initial sale of the film rights. Sony may or may not own the rights to something like the broadcast of the concert.

And it would still cost them millions of dollars to edit, market and pay the cast/crew/royalties to release a video of the concert. They are probably still trying to close the profit whole on the film version of RENT.

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:34pm

"And it could be more complicated than you'd initially think."

No, I realize that. Hence all the questions.

"It was known at the time of the performance that they would be released on television/video."

Somehow I think that if they knew they were going to release this on DVD beforehand or even now, they wouldn't make it known right away for the sake of filling the house with tickets at those prices and profiting on the film first.

[Katt]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:35pm

That's true. Sony definitely won't release it. What's the incentive for that? For them to lose more money? It's a nice thought, but it's not going to happen.

[Broadwayluva]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 9:49pm

signed!

[defying_gravity2]

Posted: 4/27/06 at 10:11pm

I signed it. We can hope, can't we?