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#801

Homophobia??????

Posted: 11/18/04 at 11:57am

Yeah, I have to sit down and read the whole thing eventually. Some of the dialogue was still kind of iffy, but it's only a second draft.

A work of art is an invitation to love.

#802

"Emcee, the script follows the libretto and takes out all of the horrible diaglogue from draft one and yet is still Very Filmic, using great devices while songs are sung that i think Rent fans will love, and let me emphasize once again, nothing homophobic."

I don't want to belabor this issue too much longer because I can sense that you're a bit miffed that we disagree on the value of one screenplay as compared to another. But since this is a thread devoted to asking a person who works in the film and theater industries questions about work in which he is or has been involved, what would you say if I were to tell you that Steve Chbosky has also been reading this thread? I'm sure his feelings are just as his hurt by the way in which his dialogue is dismissed as "horrible" (sans explanation) as Rapp is by concerns over his age, the quality of Columbus's writing, etc.

As far as using "great devices while songs are sung" goes, I'm not understanding why you find that Columbus's devices so much more innovative than Chbosky's... care to explain via PM? You have to at least admit that several of those "great devices" were invented by Chbosky and that the "horrible" dialogue in Chbosky's screenplay is only moderately altered in several parts of Columbus's screenplay.

#803

Homophobia??????

Posted: 11/18/04 at 1:49pm

Evelyn --

I sincerely apologize if you felt I was dismissive to your argument. You mistook my tone; I was (and remain) genuinely flabbergasted that you would find the material homophobic, and I asked you why you found it so. As I said, I disagree with your assessment, but I am interested in hearing what you have to say about the matter. I don't consider that dismissive, but I am sorry that it seemed that way to you.

I am not asking you not to take any exceptions to the work we're doing; but I am asking you to have some faith that we're not going to screw it up.

One thing that I'm struck by in reading the CB boards (I went there after posting here) is that it seems like there are people who have big problems with the show in the first place, and are hoping that the film will improve on those problems.

I'm also reminded by my initial reaction to the show itself when my agent first told me about my audition for the Studio production: I was highly skeptical that anything calling itself a "rock opera," let alone one featuring drag queens, HIV-positive S&M dancers, and documentary filmmakers could ever feel authentic and important, and yet, it worked. But believe me when I say that a big part of the reason why it worked was from the intensity and passion and integrity that Michael Greif and Tim Weil and the cast brought to the task of bringing Jonathan's vision to life. I think I've said so before, but in my meeting with Chris Columbus I was very very very impressed by the clarity of his purpose and by the intensity of his desire to make a film that would measure up to the experience that the show has brought to so very many people around the world.

Again, it all remains to be seen as to whether or not he and we will be successful at that, but I know we will bring our all to it.

I want to say again: *please* continue to dissent and discuss and express your thoughts. But please also understand that if I disagree I'm not dismissing your right to have your opinions or to express them.

#804

Homophobia??????

Posted: 11/18/04 at 1:50pm

There is a small group of elitists on the CB board, but most of us are decent. But it is true. If theres something to argue over, it gets argued. Sometimes, its an intelligent argument, I cant deny that. And sometimes, it's a bunch of bull.
There is a curent thred that Evelyn - Wonka has been very animated in, and rarely can I find a point that makes sense.

She needs to realize that she is not talking to some other poster on the Broadway board needs to learn some respect to those who are older than her one and know what they hell they are doing. THEY are in the movie, and I think that they would understand their own characters they THEY created.

And what I would LOVE to know. If all of us over here on the Broadway Board are cry babies, why waste your time defending yourself?

*edited because I can't spell when I am heated*

*Krissy* **Support the use of illegal wood burning stoves. Get your own metal trash can today!**

Updated On: 11/18/04 at 01:50 PM

#805

Homophobia??????

Posted: 11/18/04 at 2:16pm

"One thing that I'm struck by in reading the CB boards (I went there after posting here) is that it seems like there are people who have big problems with the show in the first place, and are hoping that the film will improve on those problems."

It's true that many people there (and elsewhere ,really) think that there were problems with the show in the first place. While I haven't participated in that discussion, I can tell you that the biggest concern about the stage production is that it can be overwhelming for someone seeing it for the first time. Today4U, for instance, is such a fast-paced song that the story about killing Benny's dog goes right over a lot of spectators' heads. I was enamored by the show when I first saw it, but I'd be lying if I said that the first question I asked myself as I left the theater wasn't, "Who had HIV and who didn't?" (sometimes the most important lines were the ones that the orchestra muted)

EDIT: Come to think of it I did have a few follow up responses to criticisms of the stage production, but as for separate threads devoted to those criticisms... I don't remember contributing to them. I tend to be more concerned with works in progress than done deals.

Updated On: 11/18/04 at 02:16 PM

#806

Homophobia??????

Posted: 11/18/04 at 3:46pm

Just my 2 cents, but I dont know if you can really compare this Rent project to Mrs.Doubtfire. They are different styles, different genres and very different in alot of ways. About the only thing they have in common is the director and I'm not sure you can assume his treatment of characters in this project from his choices in another...just my opinion though

"Commit a little mortal sin, its good for the soul"

#807