Welcome, Anthony Rapp!- Page 66

[zippyjen]

Posted: 1/14/05 at 5:11pm

i love the plaid pants! and marks's scarf. Random!!!!

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 1/14/05 at 10:04pm

Thanks for the update! I'm glad everything is going so well (except for Idina etc.)! How is everybody liking their stay in SF?

[BEKA531]

Posted: 1/14/05 at 10:17pm

thanks for taking the time to answer all of our questions, anthony! i really appreciate it!

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 1/14/05 at 11:30pm

Wow, I missed so much being at my most adorable nephew's bday party. He just turned two and I got him the cutest pair of plaid Roger-type pants. Sorry, I guess that's irrelevant.

Anyway, hey thank you so much Anthony for you taking your time to answer our questions and keeping us updated on what's going on with the movie and such.

I had an interesting question for you. I was wondering if while recording the OBCR, did you do the Mark hands? What I mean, is like the way you move your hands while you sing. When I saw you in LSOH you kind of did the hands and I was just wondering. Also, do/did you do the hands while recording the soundtrack for the movie? And will you being doing them in the movie? I think the hands adds character, and was just wondering. Thanks.

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 1/14/05 at 11:32pm

Anthony: Will you be wearing the sweater you wore for the obc at one point or the current "mark sweater" or will it just be random costumeing.(sp?)

[Racetrack]

Posted: 1/14/05 at 11:54pm

As a million other people have said thanks again for answering our questions. Thank you for answering my friend's question about Hedwig. He was wondering about that because of a part he has. Lol(long story behind that).

I think there are so many rentheads out there that they will go to the movie a bunch of times and drag other people along to see it.

So I hope you're having/had fun at the feast. Sounds like a great time.

[turtlked7]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 1:51am

Sorry for replying to this message but i don't know how to post my own. Can someone tell me please. Obviously I am new I have been keeping up with Anthony's updates for a little while now (Thank you so much by the way Anthony. You are the reason i am now excited about this movie. I was worried at first.) Anyway I have a question for Anthony also:
You have been talking alot about table dancing and what not and who is doing well but i haven't heard very much about Adam Pascal. How is he doing? Is What you Own in the Film and how is that being done?

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 2:01am

Adam's in SF, too... Anthony's mentioned a bit about their rehearsals together. Sounds like he's kicking butt, as always. I'm pretty sure What You Own is in. I'll let Anthony take care of the rest when he logs in again. Y'all know I'd love to hear more about Adam, too.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 6:29am

Emcee, it's gotten a little weird. Your level of obsession is now to the point where I feel you ignore the other celebrities.

[Whiteboy Spice]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:46am

Hi all --

What an amazing night last night... The only unfulfilled aspect of last night's festivities was the fact that Idina and Taye weren't there too. They were certainly missed.

But we read through and sang through the whole film, for Chris and all of his department heads; the Larsons (including Matthew and Dylan McCollum, Julie Larson's sons, who were *very young* the last time I saw them and are now well on their way to being all grown up!); and six of Jonathan's closest friends, who made the journey out to San Fran especially for the event. Tim Weil played piano and I narrated the important bits of stage directions, and we all poured our hearts into it. Wow, does it move like lightning. The show always has had an incredible forward momentum, and it looks like the film will have that as well. The dancers we have been rehearsing with were all there as well, and after the reading they were all saying how much they were bawling their eyes out. I think they didn't really *know* how powerful this story is, how truly amazing the music is. It was wonderful to get to share that with them, since they will also be in the film, and are now even closer to its heart.

After the reading, we had the peasant feast, which as most of you probably know is a continuation of a tradition that Jonathan started for his friends back in NYC. He would cook a turkey and they would bring side dishes and share a holiday feast that they were all too poor to have on their own. In 1995, Jonathan held his last peasant feast, but instead of inviting his friends, he invited the cast and artistic staff of the Off-Broadway production of Rent, because he wanted all of us to know our job was to embody his friends, to honor them, and he wanted all of us to begin our road to lifelong friendship. It was a very special night, and after his death, his family took it upon themselves to continue the tradition for all of the future companies of Rent that they could get to. They have literally held them around the country, and around the world.

And at the feast, in addition to some delicious food, each of Jonathan's six friends shared some memories of Jonathan, in an effort to bring him even that much more present. It was very moving to watch them struggle at times to get through their own tears as they talked about how special he was in their lives, about how much they had seen him fight to get his work out there in the world, about how much he did try to live each day to the fullest. His friend Eddie Rosenstein talked about their fellow obsession with numbers, especially the numbers three and nine, and how perfect they were: three is the emobodiment of the building blocks of the universe (beginning, middle, and end; proton, neutron, electron, etc.), and nine is the embodiment of rebirth (it's "three on steroids," as Eddie said, and the length of human gestation, etc.). Then he fought back tears as he remarked that wasn't it perfect that this film was starting almost exactly nine years to the day of Jonathan's death, given Jonathan's interest in such cosmic notions?

At the end of the night, we got to watch a little bit of video of Jonathan performing songs from his one-man version of Tick, Tick... Boom! It never ceases to amaze me how full of life and anger and joy and talent he was, and it was right up there on the screen for us to see. He sang Johnny Can't Decide, Sunday Brunch, and Why, and as usual I was pretty much destroyed by the end of Why. It is such a cruel irony that he was gone right at the cusp of his life changing forever, after he gave so much of his life to his work. But his legacy will certainly live forever in people's hearts and memories, and now with the film, we have the opportunity to make it last longer, in an even more tangible way. We only get to do the film once, and Chris said to the Larsons that he promises to make a great film, and I am certain that he wouldn't make such a pledge if he didn't mean it.

Believe me when I tell you that most films would never in a million years organize a night like last night for its cast and crew. It might happen in a theatre production, but the film world tends to be a less close-knit community, a lot more transient and work-for-hire, in my experience, usually lacking a larger context for everyone to get wrapped up in while they're working. But Rent seems to work its magic wherever it enters people's lives. That is really a testament to Jonathan Larson, and to how he went about his life. He really intended to write a piece of theatre that would change people's lives, and therefore the world, and his show has done just that, again and again and again. Now we get the opportunity to have his show do that for a lot more people.

I'll get to everyone's recent questions in another post. I just wanted to share all of that with you.

Take care --

Anthony

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 11:51am

Thanx for posting...Sounds like soo much fun! It truely is awkward with the whole 3 and 9 thing. It seems like there would be a strange aura there. Was it awkward at any time?

Updated On: 1/15/05 at 11:51 AM

[BEKA531]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 12:18pm

i'm SO EXCITED that this movie is moving forward. a full read-through already? wow. about time... it's only 10 years later. haha

the peasant feast sounds (for lack of a better word) AMAZING. to have everyone that loved jonathan together in the same room celebrating his life... i can't even put it to words.

[Whiteboy Spice]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 12:20pm

Here are some responses to questions:

"I had an interesting question for you. I was wondering if while recording the OBCR, did you do the Mark hands? What I mean, is like the way you move your hands while you sing. When I saw you in LSOH you kind of did the hands and I was just wondering. Also, do/did you do the hands while recording the soundtrack for the movie? And will you being doing them in the movie? I think the hands adds character, and was just wondering. Thanks."

What can I say? I tend to have spastic hands. Honestly, I don't try to make them do anything special, I just allow them to move in the way that they want to. I imagine if you saw videotape of me singing in the studio my hands would be spazzing out just about as much as they did onstage. We'll see how much they'll spazz out on film.

" If I may ask- why were you disappointed in the program? Sorry to go back to this, but that was the college I was really leaning towards, so I wanted your opinion on it. Thanks!"

Well, this was over 15 years ago now, so I have no idea if the program is different now or not, but for the cost I thought the artistic training was severely lacking. It felt like a factory, with very little emphasis on developing students' voices and points of view, and too much emphasis on setting up a cool shot. But I would encourage you to do some research and see if the tone there has shifted at all in the intervening years.

"Also- is it true they're cutting out Halloween..?"

As of now, Halloween is in the film. I think that it will stay in the film, but until the film is released, you never know what might happen in the meantime.

"Hey, are you in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences?"

Not yet, but I'd like to be, and I think I meet all the criteria. I think there's a process of vetting and applying and having other Academy members write letters of rec on your behalf or something. I'm going to investigate it. I am a SAG member, though, and I do vote for those awards. I'm doing my best to see all of the nominees in the film categories. It's too hard for me to see all of the tv performances, so I don't always vote for those categories.

"I take it you didn't like Catch Me If You Can or Titanic"

I pretty much didn't like Catch Me If You Can, but I thought there was a lot to admire about Titanic. I'm not sure it was a great film, by any means, but it was incredibly well put together, and some of the performances were wonderful, especially those of Kate Winslet, Frances Farmer, and all of the ship's crew members. As for Leo, I thought he was severely miscast in Titanic. being from the midwest myself, I can tell you there was nothing remotely midwestern about his portrayal. He's too much of a Southern California boy in that film, if you ask me. And I just think that Kate blew him out of the water, no pun intended, with her depth and poise and heart. But as I said, in at least two films I think he's been pretty incredible, so I don't have a vendetta against him or anything. Tobey Maguire, on the other hand, drives me *NUTS.* As does Jim Carrey, except in Eternal Sunshine. Which is a movie I really liked, although I thought the screenplay was even more powerful than the film.

"So what do you think of Sideways, Million Dollar Baby and all the hype surrounding them, and Kinsey and all the hype not surrounding it?"

I really loved Sideways, which surprised me. I loved Alexander Payne's film Election (it was darkly funny and true and very very sad, with great performances), and then hated his film About Schmidt (it was condescening to its characters and Jack Nicholson was all *wrong* for that role. My friend and I felt swindled after leaving that theatre), so I was worried he was heading in the wrong direction. But I found Sideways to be amazingly funny, compassionate, dark, and complicated, and *everyone* was great in it.

As for Million Dollar Baby, I thought the performances were very strong (especially Clint Eastwood's -- who knew he could be that great?) and the feel of the movie was remarkably intimate and dark and somber, with a nice amount of offhanded humor. But overall, the story just feels conventional, although Clint Eastwood dressed it up in a nice package. He made the film better than it had a right to be. I really really thought Mystic River was a big overrated piece of hackery, but I thought Million Dollar Baby was a nice step froward from there. Although the scenes with Hillary Swank's family were way too grotesque and over the top.

A for Kinsey, I look forward to seeing it, which I will do this weekend. I want to catch that and Hotel Rwanda and House of Flying Daggers asap.

Speaking of films, have you seen Bad Education? I'm not sure it's Almodovar's best film, but he is always a deeply interesting filmmaker, and this one doesn't fail to be innovative, compelling, and filled with wonderful ideas. And Gael Garcia Bernal is incredible in it. (While I'm talking about him, let me also highly recommend Y Tu Mama Tambien to those of you who haven't seen it.)

"Do you have any upcoming tv appearances such as "Regis and Kelly" or "the tony danza show"?"

Ummmm, nope, not lately. The show that I'd love to get the chance to do is Ellen's show. I think she's hilarious and a wonderful interviewer. I imagine that we're all going to have lots of opportunities to do publicity when Rent is released, although I don't know how they're going to relegate the duties between the eight of us. I'm hopeful that we'll get to perform live on a couple of shows, demonstrating that it's not just studio and movie trickery that got us to sing onscreen. We shall see, though. That's well down the road.

"BTW, how is your book coming? are you finding any time to work on it?"

I sent my editor my latest draft back in November, and I am awaiting his notes so I can make whatever changes he thinks are necessary. Hopefully the book will come out around the same time as the film, although that's uncertain at this point, because publishing schedules are figured out way in advance. I will certainly keep you posted as I find out more. Thanks for your interest in it.

"How is everybody liking their stay in SF?"

I think we're all enjoying SF, but we have precious little time to really explore the city, because we're spending long hours working on the film. We get the pleasure of experiencing the amazing view of the city from Treasure Island every day, though, so that's a huge bonus.

"Will you be wearing the sweater you wore for the obc at one point or the current "mark sweater" or will it just be random costumeing"

All of that is getting figured out as we go.

"You have been talking alot about table dancing and what not and who is doing well but i haven't heard very much about Adam Pascal. How is he doing? Is What you Own in the Film and how is that being done?"

Adam's been great. There is a wonderful opportunity he has in this film to show people how intimate and beautiful his voice can be when he doesn't have to blast it to the back wall of the theatre. And he is as heartfelt and alive and passionate in his work as ever. I love singing with him so much.

And What You Own is very definitely in the film. The logistics of how it will be shot are still getting worked out, but I don't want to say too much about it anyway, because there have to be some things left your imaginations!

All right, have a great day everyone --

Anthony

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 12:26pm

Thanx again for taking the time to do this! We knoe you are really busy!

[CrAzIaBoUtReNt]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 12:32pm

Thanks Anthony! That's awsome that you are having a good time. I think everyone here is bery thankful for all of you're updates as much as I am.

[EvelynNesbit1906]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 12:55pm

Howdy, and thanks for sharing with us your experience yesterday evening. It was as touching as reading the Rent Bible. The studio should consider sponsoring the production of a New Testament (so to speak) that covers the experience of making the film.

I'll respond to your comments about the Oscar contenders in more detail via PM. Otherwise, I'd just be accused of threadjacking... but yes, I did see and love Bad Education, which will most likely NOT be nominated for any Oscars!

[herenowhere3]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 12:56pm

I love that you sing with your hands. it's facinating to watch, it's like the emotion of what you are portraying has over taken your being.

Eternal Sunshine is just about my favorite movie of last year, and the only movie about which I can say I like Jim Carrey, his comedy just doesn't do it for me at all.

[thespian geek]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 1:48pm

Anthony, your post about Jonathan and the peasant's feast had me all choked up and in tears. Just reading about it was intense, I can't imagine what it would have been like to actually have *been there*. Knowing me I would have been bawling my eyes out the whole night - not just at the read/sing through.

It's really comforting to read that and know that the joy, passion, sadness, etc. you all feel in relation to this piece of art will be there on screen. For fellow Rentheads (especially those of us who never got to see the OBC on stage such as myself), I do believe we're in for a real treat (if that's the right term) and I still can't grasp why people are so turned off by the idea of OBC members doing the movie. The bonds you all share are incredible and I can't wait to see them for myself on that movie screen.

[Chloe]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 2:00pm

Anthony, thank you for that wonderful description of the peasant's feast. I work in the film business too and know how true it is that we are so often lacking in a sense of community. There seems to be even less now than when I started in the business. It really warmed my heart to hear that Rent is staying true to itself in this way.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 3:00pm

Thanks so much again! I really hope you get on Ellen's show! She is so funny!

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 3:26pm

Thanks so much for all of the updates, Anthony!!

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 3:37pm

When did Halloween get put back into the film? That's wonderful! It wasn't on the original list posted...a friend of mine in particular was heartbroken that it was cut.

It was so touching to be able to hear about the peasant feast firsthand like that. Thank you so much. And for all the updates!

PS: I have spastic hands when I act, too.

[JadedBenevolence]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 4:17pm

Thank you so much for sharing how the peasant feast went with us. That was beautiful reading of Jonathan's friends and all. It's so wonderful to know his family and friends are still involved after all these years. That only makes it that much sweeter.

I appreciate you answering my question. I really enjoy watching the spastic hands. It really does add to your characters. Do you talk with your hands too? I tend to do that sometimes. I look forward to seeing the hands in the movie.

Also, I'm extremely ecstatic that Halloween is in the movie. That is my favourite song from the show, and I'm glad they put it in. I was devastated when I had heard it wouldn't be in there. But now I'm happy. Thanks for letting us know.

And since there's been talk of fav movies, which are your fav movies? Like, the ones you have to watch over and over again, because they're so great. Thanks again.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 4:21pm

Okay, shush about the hands now. You're going to give him a complex.

[randy_girl]

Posted: 1/15/05 at 4:24pm

Hey Anthony,

I read an article today about Open House. The movie sounds pretty interesting. Can you tell me more about the project and how I might be able to see the film? Has it been released on DVD?
Here the link to the article: http://www.advocate.com/html/stories/930/930_open_house.asp

Your post about the feast made me cry. I'm such a sapp. Give the Larsons our love.