What Do You Want the Next Big Movie Musical to Be? — Page 2

Ado Annie D'Ysquith said: "On the stranger side, I wrote a treatment for Bat Boy as an indie musical, ala L5Y. I think it could be very good, perhaps elevate the source material."

If FOX were more willing to be adventurous, creative, and take a risk, I think Bat Boy would have made for a better TV musical than Rocky Horror, especially since they've chosen to air the show around Halloween.

Rocky's got it's own life that will be diminished by attempting to 'popularize' it instead of allowing to live in its own camp/cult world. Bat Boy could have been its own thing...

That's fair, Liza. In the little treatment I put together, I did actually cut some of the score to make the story "flow" better for film.

You're right, the subject matter is an acquired taste, which is why I felt it would work best as an indie flick...not necessarily for widespread release.

GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH sounds great, and I can't wait for it! Here's hoping it will be good enough to somehow re-spark the perceived viability of movie musicals. Isn't there already a Broadway/stage musical about P.T Barnum though? Funny that they're deciding to do a completely original work rather than adaptation of the original. I love P.T. Barnum and people like him though, they make good entertainment for stories, so I'm sure I'll enjoy this movie. Wonder if it will end up getting compared and contrasted to the Broadway Barnum musical though, and whether that will work to the movie's favor or detriment.

mamaleh said: "The upcoming GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH is said to be the first totally original movie musical since NEWSIES, and that--plus the fact that Hugh Jackman is starring--has me very excited.

Co-stars Zac Efron and Michelle Williams aren't exactly chopped liver, either.

The creative team also looks to be a force to be reckoned with, including Michael Gracey and Pasek & Paul.

I have high hopes for this film.



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Pasek and Paul must be very excited these days! They were the lyricists for the new music for LALALAND which is to open in cinemas in December, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is opening on Broadway also later this year, and they are the composers for GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH.

I thinkthisall would agree that the world needs a musical version of " Corine's Corner" with a bevy of superstars playing the victims of her priceless interviews.

gypsy101 said: "jo said: "Pasek and Paul must be very excited these days! They were the lyricists for the new music for LALALAND which is to open in cinemas in December, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is opening on Broadway also later this year, and they are the composers for GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH."

I thought the score of La La Land was also written by Pasek & Paul?"



According to VARIETY, the music was composed by Justin Hurwitz while Pasek and Paul wrote the lyrics.

http://variety.com/2016/film/in-contention/la-la-land-composer-justin-hurwitz-songs-1201849249/

"The film’s composer, Justin Hurwitz, spoke exclusively to Variety about the process as he and Chazelle sought to turn something traditional and classic on its ear.

(Note: All songs feature music by Hurwitz and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, save for “Start a Fire,” which was written by Hurwitz, John Legend, Angélique Cinélu and Marius de Vries.)"

Updated On: 9/27/16 at 06:35 PM

I've been waiting over 20 years for Once on This Island as an animated film.

Check this out! You might be surprised about how many are actually coming down the pipe line!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA5Cg5GzEKE

Is pitch perfect a musical? i thought since the characters know they are singing it's not, but I could be wrong.

Liza's Headband said: "As a massive Bat Boy fan, I couldn't disagree more. I really don't think it would transfer well to film unless the score was streamlined a bit. It's not the most accessible for general public consumption, in my humble opinion.... "

Liza, would I be too far off the mark if I were to associate the phrase "accessible for general public consumption" with "a safe(r) bet"? (IMO), FOX is going far too safe with their Rocky; tweening it up like Glee. I wonder if they chose Rocky because it's a safer bet - based on the response of the Glee episode.

I would agree that Bat Boy's plot and characters fall outside of the mainstream, but so do John Waters movies, the original Rocky Horror Picture Show (especially during the decade it was first introduced), even Sweeney Todd. Still, all have found respectably large enough audiences to be considered successful, although my definition of "successful" doesn't necessarily include financial reward.

I also agree with you that the score might benefit from some tweaking, whether it be streamlining, or (as I think) some improved musical arrangement beyond the instrumentation/scoring/vocal arranging that's on the OC album.

As for the score, I think it walks a very palatable line between traditional musical theater style and rock. There's a lot of humor in it - i.e., "Let Me Walk Among You", "Ugly Boy" and even "Apology to a Cow". I especially like the line in "Inside Your Heart" where she quickly blurts, "I'll be fine, I heal real fast".

"Hold Me Bat Boy" sounds to me like it could have been a part of Little Shop...'s score and its refrain sticks in my head. "Inside Your Heart" is very sweet and fits the traditional musical theater template. Truth be told, I find much of the score to fit a traditional musical template, yet it's still musically interesting.

I don't think Bat Boy would do well in cinemas, but cinemas are no longer the singular, mainstream format for movies. IMO, cinemas are past their prime. I'd still have preferred FOX chose Bat Boy over Rocky Horror for TV. I could also see it as a Netflix or Amazon production. I also think that Dr. Horrible... opened a door that should remain open.

Bat Boy isn't the perfect musical, which is why I think it could have a better chance for success on network TV, like FOX, where it's free and accessible to all. It's macabre enough for Halloween, and (I think) the score is more accessible for the general public than you've given credit for. I mean, you like it and I like it - isn't that enough?

I am in agreement with gypsy101. I do not consider the "Pitch Perfect" films as traditonal movie musicals. They don't have a score that is unique to or advances the narrative. It is simply just a film with songs in it.

Calling films like "Pitch Perfect", "Saturday Night Fever", "Footloose", "Flashdance" and "Dirty Dancing" is a bit of a stretch.

All of those films however have been adapted into traditional stage musicals.

Also like someone said, Parade. I think the subject matter is much better suited for film. Really seeing it in the south.