Welcome, Anthony Rapp! — Page 6

Favorite non-broadway music?

"Questions...
...what roles are you hoping to play on broadway eventually?"

I would really love to get to do some more Shakespeare, whether that's on Broadway or not. But as far as roles that already exist, I was inches away from getting to play the Emcee, and I would love to get another shot at that someday. Other than that, there are plenty of roles that haven't been created yet, and some of those are bound to be pretty fantastic. After all, I never would have predicted a role like Mark Cohen would have come along.

"...are there any roles you feel you missed out on because you got typecast as Mark?"

I don't know, since I'm not in the casting offices and I'm not privvy to what's being said about me. But sure, maybe. I do know that it took years before I got to do a non-singing role in New York again. Whether or not that's because of Rent, I can't say for certain.

"...what is the shooting schedule/locations for the RENT movie looking like it'll be?"

It looks like we'll be rehearsing and recording in San Francisco and/or LA from the end of November till the end of January or so (with some time off for the holidays), and then there's a break, and shooting will resume in San Francisco in mid-March, with some exteriors being shot in NYC. The shoot itself is slated for about 13 weeks, but that could of course change.

"...do you prefer touring or staying in one place?"

I like a mixture. I love to travel and discover new places, and getting to do that while earning a paycheck is a good way to go about it. But I also love working in NYC and getting to go home to my boyfriend and our cats.

Inches from the Emcee? I certainly hope that's somewhere in your future.... just a small personal bias.

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Do we sound like fan girls? "What's your favorite color?" (I'm just kidding, nobiz.)

What has your favorite film experiences been?

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aha aha Tiff. aha aha aha aha aha.

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So do people go around remembering you from Adventures in Babysitting? Although it is like secretly everyone's favorite movie... how do you feel about that?

Give us more insight into your take on how Columbus will go about creating the film. Will he keep it very close to the show?

Although I guess they don't fit the younger look, how do you and the others feel about the rest of the OBC not being asked for the movie?

Thanks for posting Anthony!

Alright, I have no questions... but I'm in New York and it's 4 a.m.

I know I've said this like forty times today, but thank you for joining us, Anthony!

.... now I need to sleep. My BWW addiction can be fed in the morning.

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Boy you guys work quickly!

I found out about Compulsive Bowlers through Brian Gligor, actually, a while ago, and I had lurked there a little bit, but again, I wanted to join in when the discussion about the Rent movie began.

And yes, people do sometimes recognize me from Adventures in Babysitting, which is very funny to me. I mean, it was almost 18 YEARS ago that I made that film! And there are people expressing concern that I might not look young enough for the Rent movie.

But seriously, I'm flattered. I had a total blast making that movie, and I'm proud of it and all, but I'm surprised at the staying power it's had. When it came out in 1987, it wasn't that big a hit, but here it is all these years later and people still talk about it. A lot. I'm happy to be a part of so many projects that have made an impact like that. I consider myself very lucky in that regard.

I don't want to talk too specifically about the details of the screenplay, since it's not really my place to do that, and because things might change. But overall, I feel very confident that Chris will approach the material with care and heart and a good dose of humor when necessary. This is a show that profoundly affected him when he saw it, and he has passionately pursued the chance to get to make it. I have all the faith in the world that this will be his most ambitious and adult and complex and alive film yet.

As for the OBC not being used, I am sad for them, and I will certainly miss them. I am just happy there are at least some of us getting to be a part of it.

As for my thoughts on the movie originally, I just always hoped that when and if it got made it would be made well, with the right amount of passion and heart and artistry. plans have changed in that it was almost given the green light with Spike Lee at the helm a couple of years ago, but that fell through at the last minute. Somewhere along the way, Chris lobbied long and hard for it, and Miramax released the rights, which were briefly picked up by Warner Bros., who ultimately balked at making a film about AIDS and gay people, then it was almost done at NBC, which would have been a disaster. Finally, Joe Roth took it on board at his company Revolution, in part because his daughter is such a huge fan of the show.

And the rest of its history to come shall reveal itself in the fullness of time...

feh, it's only 1:12am in Vancouver right now. But I missed the Daily Show re-airing for this, so consider yourself complimented.

Oh okay, serious question. (Not really.) I worked with Paulo Costanzo a couple of years ago and he had some interesting things to say about his Road Trip experience and working with Tom Green. ::evil and guilty grin::

What was it like making that movie?

That sound you hear is Anthony shutting his laptop, walking away and going, "That's the last time I ever come on that g0ddamn site again."

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Updated On: 10/30/04 at 04:16 AM

I really enjoyed working with Paulo; he was my fave actor on that set. I'm sorry that we haven't managed to keep in touch over the last couple of years. What were his stories? I thought Tom Green was a really good guy, very hardworking and fun.

I was disappointed that some of my stuff got cut, and I don't think it was for the right reasons -- I think the filmmakers got a bit scared. Jacob was a big Jesus nut, and we had more of that in there, but I think they didn't want to alienate Christians or something.

Overall, I thought the screenplay was much funnier than the finished film in many respects.

Stunt casting? I understand why producers do it, but it doesn't always make me happy. However, I do respect the people who put themselves out there and face their critics when they take on a role onstage. It takes a certain amount of courage.

I didn't expect to be asked to do the movie, but I certainly hoped I would be a part of it. I've been through enough in this business over the years to know better than predict the outcome of an audition or meeting before it's happened...

Really? I thought you hated it to begin with, I'm suprised you say that.

No, no you, BG2. I was talking to him.

I thought he didn't like Rent in the first place, or maybe I'm only remember insults aimed at certain cast members?

Okay final question for tonight. (And it's RENT related but i'm too lazy to go into the RENT thread. Sue me.)
Do you have any apprehensions or fears going onto this movie now? And do you feel like you'll be keeping your approach to, and portrayal of, Mark the same as you did when you first did RENT, or are there facets to the character that you'd like to enhance or create?

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