The RENT movie press junket today (11/12)

OK, just finally got home from the cross-country flight for the press junket in NY this morning. Will have full transcripts on my site, but some tidbits:

*the Mute poster was, indeed, Adam's idea
*Jesse revealed that Daphne and Fredi were "devastated" when they didn't get the movie roles as he talked to them after everyone else was cast. We even had him repeat this as this was news to everyone considering what had been said.
*I *may* have convinced Columbus to include an extended cut on the DVD along with his preferred (theatrical) cut. He said he'd show me the full-length version to prove his point, and I told him I'm gonna hold him to that, heh.
*Anthony and Taye got very emotional when talking about the Off-Broadway performance right after Jonathan's death.

That's all I can think of right now... but what Jesse said I found very intriguing, to say the least.

Anthony--I know you lurk here... just wanted to say it was good to meet you. I was the lame guy in the print/online room who asked you about the "Whiteboy Spice" handle after the session was done, heh.

OH SNAPS!

(JESSE!)

Awesome. :)

Where is your site btw?

oh okay, thanks

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Interesting regarding the Daphne Rubin Vega casting blurb. Suddenly Columbus' "no coment" line seems to make more sense. She really was too old though. Hey, it happens.

The film lucked out in that department though,Rosario Dawson is one of the strongest in the cast.

Updated On: 11/13/05 at 01:32 AM

if the movie is half as bad as some have made it out to be, then they'll be happy they weren't involved

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"As I said in my thread, add me to the few who are now siding with Columbus regarding the "Goodbye Love"/"Halloween" cuts. The film would have been pushed over the singing enjoyment line if it were any longer."

Maybe if he was better at that whole making Rent into a film thing, that wouldn't have been a problem.

"Santa Fe" added nothing...and i think "Light My Candle" could have been dialogue. I love the song, but on film, having that sung through served no purpose. There are a few things I'd consider turning to dialogue before "Goodbye, Love." I'd turn the first half of that song to dialogue before the second.

"Why should the "pregnancy excuse" not be used? Jesse said nothing about why they weren't cast, only that they were devastated. Daphne being pregnant is still a valid reason."

But if having members of the OBC was so important, couldn't they have worked around her pregnancy? That kind of thing is done all the time when producers have their heart set on a specific actress.

And if I remember correctly, she had already delivered and was halfway through her maternity leave by the time the major portion of the principle photography was started.


Am I remembering correctly?

Updated On: 11/13/05 at 02:04 AM

THANK YOU for recommending, if not "convincing" Chris to include an Extended Version of the film as well as the Theatrical Version on the DVD!!

Regardless of how people may feel about "Goodbye Love" (and "Halloween") being cut from the final edit, it would be a GIFT to the fans to have the option of watching both cuts of the film on the DVD:) There is hope!!!!

Yeah, I agree that the pregnancy thing was BS from the start. It was a nice thing to be able to say, but even if Daphne was never pregnant, she wouldn't have been asked to play Mimi. It doesn't help that Mimi is the only character in the musical whose age is specifically referenced as 19, but looking younger. No one in the OBC could pass for under 20 in a million years, so unless they're going to actually change the lyrics, they had to recast the part. I think that it's really important to the story and characterization that Mimi is younger than the other characters.

I am glad that they were honest about it during hte press junket, though.

Honestly, for Daphne, the character wasn't right at this point in her career. Mimi is the only character with a specific mentioned age, and a stripper to boot. The others could get away with pretty much any age and any physicality. It would be difficult to see Daphne as 19 and if there was ANY slight baby weight it would be difficult to mask. I absolutely hate that either actress was "devastated" by the pass over of the role. I can understand Daphne not really being considered, though. Not sure about the justification for the Freddi decision.

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I agree, BroadwayGirl

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