rent movie....dont mean to insult...just want to know if anyone feels the same way — Page 2

triplethreat, I was wondering what messages you felt were being betrayed in making a film version of Rent. Have you always had a problem with the OBC, or do you just have a problem with them now that this show has led them to professional success?

Yes, the stunt casting has ruffled collective feathers over the years, no one here will deny that. But Joey Fatone isn't in the movie. On a remote level, maybe Rosario is "stunt casting" but she's not Scary Spice or Britney Spears, she's an actress who can sing (beautifully, from what I've heard) and effectively portray the character of Mimi. So I don't understand if your problem is with Rent being made into a movie, or with the stunt casting on Broadway, because you seem to combine the two issues in your original post.

Emcee, yay for nightowls!

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Unfortunately, by posting such a strong opinion on such a touchy issue, you're bound to get nasty reactions.

It's perfectly clear that they aren't casting here to get big names. Even though Rosario is one of the "bigger" names they've got in this cast, she's not big enough to have gotten the role based on the name attachment. She can do this - there are clips out there of her singing, and she's spellbinding. Even if there are a few non-originals, it's lightyears better than the stunt-casting, which I DO agree with you on. I hate it, but everything is about money.

But you keep repeating this about what would happen if Jonathan were here to see this and take care of it. A lot of people say things about Jonathan having wanted his vision to reach out, and maybe this would have been the way to do it, or at least to try, since not everyone sees theatre. Before this all actually started happening with the movie, another production company had the rights, other casting was semi-in place, and a whole different version of the film was set to happen. This was years ago. There has been talk of a film for a pretty long time, and I'm inclined to wonder if maybe at some point, such an idea ever did cross Jonathan's mind, or get brought up to him, seeing as he did get to watch some of it grow. I know there are pictures of the cast and Robert DeNiro somewhere... I don't know under what circumstances, but that could have something to do with it. My point, though, is that the people working on this were close to him. They know what they're doing. They're his family. They're the people HE chose to bring these characters to life. I think anyone who is truly a fan of the work should be able to understand at least that much. Jonathan isn't being totally erased by this, by any means.

I don't know what the I'm really trying to get at by repeating myself over and over again, but I guess now that I finally see the other side, I wish other people would. They're doing just fine, and the movie looks incredible.

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Triplethreat, I really understand your feelings, but I don;t think most of teh posters here were attacking you. Some may have been and thats one thing and issues they should deal with. Many of the posts though were from people who also questioned the movie and either are waiting for it to come out to make a decision or have some other information that has changed their opinion.
I also wish Larson were still alive, his creativity and skills would have developed more and more and he seems like he was a fascinating guy.
There are problems of comercialization, etc. I was disgusted by Drew Lachey in RENT but, art needs to be made, I thik we need to see the film and develop opinions of its merits and vision at that time.
I hope you come to enjoy your experience here, many people are truly nice, but everyone is very opinionated. Try not to take it personally these shows just mean very much to all of us, as I'm sure from your post RENT does to you.

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Updated On: 4/29/05 at 12:30 PM

But, aren't you doing the same thing by talking about something you know nothing about? It is not a disgrace to B'way to do stunt casting - it is the business. They have stunt casted for many years, especially by putting pop stars on Broadway. Let me give you examples:
Some are stunt casting, and some are just cast...

Song and Dance - Melissa Manchester
Man of La Mancha - Sheena Easton
Little Woman - Maureen McGovern
Blood Brothers - Petula Clark/ David Cassidy/ Shaun Cassidy
Legs Diamond - Peter Allen (Writer and star)
Les Miserables - Ricky Martin/ Debbie Gibson/ Melba Moore
The Capeman - Marc Anthony / Ruben Blades
The Look of Love - Kevin Ceballo
Jesus Christ Superstar - Maya Days
Speed the Plow - Madonna

There are many more, (and this goes back way before the 70's and 80's) but this is all that comes to mind now.
As for stunt casting...if they didn't do it, sales would plummet, and your favorite shows (i.e. Rent, Chicago, etc.) would close.

And, just so you know, I have seen some of these pop stars, and instead of being criticized, they should be applauded for their efforts to do the same role eight shows a week. It is not an easy job - especially for first timers. Wether they are good or not, shouldn't matter. At least they're up there, trying their best.

As for you not wanting to be bashed or judged, etc...When you post a thread like this one, you should expect it. Not everyone is going to agree with you, let alone be nice if they disagree. I'm the one who called you ignorant, mainly because what I read in your initial post makes it sound like you have no clue what you are talking about.



P.S. Penguin - It was Drew, not Nick.

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Updated On: 4/29/05 at 12:41 PM

I also agree Justice. Sorry I fixed that now, I seriously have no clue which of them is which, I knew the one not married to Jessica Simpson was in RENT but I never can remeber which is Drew and which is Nick. :)

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I think it would be sad to say that things couldn't happen because the creator died.

Should we stop doing Shakespeare's plays? We could be performing it in a way he did not intend. What about Tick, Tick...Boom!? Do you enjoy that show? It was put together after Larson died. Who knows what his view of that show was like.

The point that I am trying to make is that we DON'T know what he would have done or wanted, and I think it is almost insulting for people to assume that they know better than Larson's family. This isn't direct soley at you, TripleThreat - alot of people have said "This isn't what he would have wanted."

Also, should Rent have stopped playing on Broadway? It didn't even start preview yet, and we don't know the changes he would have made the the score/book etc. I think it is fruitless to not do things because we are unsure of what the original person intended, otherwise great theatre would be lost and forgotten.

I, too, have my reservations about the film, but I have faith that it is being done with the best intentions. I also think alot of people's reservations are because they don't want RENT to become mainstream and more popular. They don't want to loose people like Adam, Idina, and Anthony to Hollywood.

Take a look at my signature. He wanted his music to be heard and remembered.

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Speaking of, and I have mentioned this in a past posting:

Larson wanted to fire the director during the NY Workshop production. That same Director was brought to B'way after Larson had died. So, your argument still doesn't make sense, because it went on B'way with Larson not wanting it to go on that way.

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>>I also think alot of people's reservations are because they don't want RENT to become mainstream and more popular.<<

TOO LATE. RENT has long become part of the mainstream. It has been cleverly marketed and promoted from the very beginning all culminating from the unfortunate death of Jonathan Larson just as the show was about to make it's move to Broadway. How do you account for all the books, cd's, t-shirts, coffee mugs made and sold. Not to mention all the posters plastered all over city streets, subway stations and cars when the show first premiered.

People have this notion that RENT is this sort of "underground thing", it's not. It's simply a Broadway musical based on Puccini's "La Boheme" adapted into modern times. It has a beautiful message at it's core which is a universal one.

Some people here are reading way too much into it than what it is really there.

I think what you're talking about, Marquise, is partially true. To people who live or have lived in New York, and have had exposure to theatre either by choice or just by default when living here, RENT is already sort of mainstream, because of the t-shirts, posters, publicity and presence, especially through its fans.

But when we talk about not wanting it to go mainstream, I think it's sort of a different kind of mainstream... something that Hollywood is that theatre is not. There are people who have exposure to movies that would never touch theatre, for a plethora of reasons. Maybe those same people won't be interested in the movie either... maybe they will. But in that sense, there are people who may have no idea what RENT is right now that will hear of it come fall.

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Updated On: 4/29/05 at 01:31 PM

Yes both make money (or lose it) and both are show biz. Both also have the capability to be art. This movie has many committed artists working on it, and even though I've never been fond of his movies I think Columbus is more interested in vision on this than just putting some crap out there so people can buy it.

It is about making money sure, but it is the love of money that causes problems, to put out a work of art and have people feel so profound about it that they spend on it is how I really think the producers are working on this.

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Right, and a lot of that sentiment is due to personal attachment to the people involved, just as much as it is to the material, I think. At least, that's how I feel. I wish them success in whatever they chose, but I know I'm selfish, too.

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Updated On: 4/29/05 at 01:42 PM

YES Emcee,

exactly how I am feeling... just selfishness but happiness that my favorite Broadway stars are going to succeed, but I want to still be able to get a picture with Adam after a show... but there goes the selfishness again

sorry ~kangaroo

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I definitely agree with you Emcee.. I feel that this is one of the only movies that has been made with love. I know that no one on this board really likes Lord of the Rings, but that is also part of the reason I loved the movie so much. Each actor put a lot of love into every scene, Ian McKellen almost memorized the book so he could make sure that Peter Jackson was staying true to the books.

That being said, I think it is the same way with RENT. With almost everyone from teh OBC there, plus Jonathon Larson's family, I don't think the movie will lose Jonathon's original message for the audience. I think that it will still be intact, despite all of the Hollywood aspect of it.

~kangaroo

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