Steven Spielberg, keep ben Platt away from the west side story remake- Page 6

[Dave28282]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 8:16pm

I think she would be perfect for the role, based on her other work. Definitely not based on this video. She looks under the influence of something.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 8:19pm

BEN: No,No, No! You are NOT a TONY enough said!

Next...

[Robbie2]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 8:22pm

LesWickedly said: "He has become Evan Hansen. The mannerisms are all seen in this video. His head is constantly shaking along with his voice. Loved him in Dear Evan Hansen, but it seems like he’s having a very difficult time shaking that off."

 

He has become Evan Hansen...He is Evan Hansen and always will be!

[smidge]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 8:24pm

Really, her vocals are horrendous. Unless it's for a comedy version of WSS.
And, back to Platt, his haters are annoying as his supporters. Even if you hate his interpretation the level of criticism , and comments on his looks and family, is unnecessary.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 8:39pm

Dave28282 said: "I think she would be perfect for the role, based on herother work. Definitely not based on this video. She looks under the influence of something."

It almost seemed like she was angry she wasn’t allowed to send in a tape. 

I honestly wouldn’t mind someone like Selena Gomez as Anita. 

[Dave28282]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 8:51pm

Call_me_jorge said: "It almost seemed like she was angry she wasn’t allowed to send in a tape.

I honestly wouldn’t mind someone like Selena Gomez as Anita."

Yes, it's also weird that she mentions the file was too big to email, I mean all actors send tapes via Wetransfer or Vimeo all the time (with a private password), so there definitely had to be another reason to do it this publicly.

Mm, Selena Gomez as Anita would not match a Maria in my opinion, as her type is a little too Maria-esque herself.

Updated On: 3/19/18 at 08:51 PM

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 9:18pm

I keep reading Camila Cabello's name popping up to play Maria. I didn't realize so many people (mostly non-famous people) uploaded audition tapes for West Side Story. Lots of "Maria"s out there.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 10:06pm

Dave28282 said: "Call_me_jorge said: "It almost seemed like she was angry she wasn’t allowed to send in a tape.

I honestly wouldn’t mind someone like Selena Gomez as Anita."

Yes, it's also weird that she mentions the file was too big to email, I mean all actors send tapes via Wetransfer or Vimeo all the time (with a private password), so there definitely had to be another reason to do it this publicly.

Mm, Selene Gomez as Anita would not match a Maria in my opinion, as her type is a little too Maria-esque herself."

Agreed. I mean she definitely can't sing either (I say that as a fan) but she's definitely more of the Maria type.

Speaking of pop stars, I wonder if they'd try to shoehorn Demi Lovato in there. She's not Puerto Rican (though Hollywood is lazy enough that it might not matter) and I don't think her voice is right for the music but she could probably manage it better than others and she has acting experience and a decent sized fan base. If this was a few decades ago Jennifer Lopez would probably be up for consideration.

[colorsblend]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 11:28pm

Honestly, I think he sounds incredible. Not sure if I see him in the role though. I actually like the idea of Ansel Elgort as Tony.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 9:44am

Where did that vibrato come from? Was it learned? Had Ben used the sweeter voice and falsetto as in DEH it might have really been beautiful.

I started to notice his vibrato starting to sound, in my opinion, more out-of-control when he performed DEH on a talk show--I think maybe Stephen Colbert? I'm not sure if it's a breathing control issue or if it's an intentional choice. I do know that for more classical-sounding scores like WSS, you're supposed to just let the vibrato happen instead of white toning, which imo can sometimes make a faster vibrato stand out more.

Updated On: 3/19/18 at 09:44 AM

[carnzee]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 10:33am

I listened to a couple operatic versions ( Jerry Hadley and Jose Carreras) after hearing Ben's version,and sacrilegious as it may be, I missed Ben's modern pop stylings in the song.

I don't think he should play Tony, but I'd love to see him sing this in concert, with a director to guide him away from his mannerisms.

[broadwaybabywannabe2]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 3:10pm

SporkGoddess said: "Where did that vibrato come from? Was it learned? Had Ben used the sweeter voice and falsetto as in DEH it might have really been beautiful.

I started to notice his vibrato starting to sound, in my opinion, more out-of-control when he performed DEH on a talk show--I think maybe Stephen Colbert? I'm not sure if it's a breathing control issue or if it's an intentional choice. I do know that for more classical-sounding scores like WSS, you're supposed to just let the vibrato happen instead of white toning, which imo can sometimes make a faster vibrato stand out more."

i agree here...his vibrato was way too much...Tony should have a pure voice when he sings...he is not supposed to be a trained singer...IMHO!

 

[NJ_BroadwayGirl]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 7:19pm

That video was hard to watch. It was "Hi, my name is Evan Hansen and today is going to be a great day because I'm auditioning for the role of Tony." The cutting off the end of phrases drives me crazy and it seems to be one of his things - he did it on the Grammys and he did it here.

There were moments that sounded beautiful and I agree with another poster who liked how he almost played with the word Maria, testing it out in different ways. But there are so many reasons why Ben Platt is wrong for the role, chief among them being his look and mannerisms that are, I presume, a hangover from Evan Hansen. While Tony has a sweetness to him, he was still a gang member and he should titillate the audience and, for me, Platt doesn’t have that.

[CT2NYC]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 9:17pm

theaterguy11 said:

"Ben Platt will be the new John Lloyd Young."

Did John Lloyd Young executive produce and star in a Netflix series with Barbra Streisand, too? I must've missed that one.

 

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 9:39pm

Did John Lloyd Young executive produce and star in a Netflix series with Barbra Streisand, too? I must've missed that one."

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 11:29pm

Somehow this thread brings this to mind:

Shot by shot, keeping at a distance doesn't pay
Still if you remember your objective
Not give all your privacy away
A little bit of hype can be effective
As long as you can keep it in perspective
Even when you get some recognition
Everything you do you still audition
Art isn't easy
Overnight you're a trend
You're the right combination
Then the trend's at an end
You're suddenly last year's sensation
All they ever want is repetition
All they really like is what they know
Gotta keep a link with your tradition
Gotta learn to trust your intuition
While you re-establish your position
So that you can be on exhibit-
So that your work can be on exhibition!

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 3/19/18 at 11:45pm

Miles2Go2... You nailed it. ^^

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 12:08am

Literally laughing my a$$ off at anyone who thinks that it's a good idea to post your audition videos online in this way.

We'll see when he's not cast in the role.

 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 12:32am

Me clicking on this thread after not reading it in a while:



Me after spending 30 seconds on this thread:

[Miles2Go2]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 12:51am

So many of the comments on these threads make me so glad that we spend most of our time in theatres watching what happens on stage and not talking to one another.

Updated On: 3/20/18 at 12:51 AM

[lovebwy]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 2:41am

Wow. This thread is really scary. The worst of BroadwayWorld. Some of you people really need a hobby. And to stop being so bitter.

[Dave28282]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 5:16am

Some people need to stop being offended by everything when the truth is spoken.

I love this thread. It makes people think. This is life.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 8:30am

lovebwy said: "Wow. This thread is really scary. The worst of BroadwayWorld. Some of you people really need a hobby. And to stop being so bitter."

Did it move you to tears?

[smidge]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 8:55am

Sondheimite said: "Literally laughing my a$$ off at anyone who thinks that it's a good idea to post your audition videos online in this way.

We'll see when he's not cast in the role.

Absolutely love that they deleted my post. Anyway, I actually agree with you Sondheimite. This auditioning process is like when Sean Young tried to get cast as Catwoman by dressing up as a cat. Regardless of what people think of their level of talent, Ben and Naya shouldn’t go for looking so desperate. Spielberg knows what he’s looking for.

 

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 3/20/18 at 9:15am

We’ve been lucky to get 1 of Ben Platt's video auditions in NY but today I’m fondly remembering his West Side Story video audition, which was horribly cast, horrendously staged, and geniusly reimagined with a fierce feminist twist ending and some horrendous riffs that I suspect will be often borrowed in the future. That mind!

Updated On: 3/20/18 at 09:15 AM