rent movie....dont mean to insult...just want to know if anyone feels the same way- Page 3

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:02pm

Agree completely with your comment about Money vs Art Emcee.
There really isn't more I could add that hasn't already been said.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:02pm

Emcee, generally I agree but I think there is quite an undercurrent of artistic integrity in even somewhat "mainstream" films. The Life Aquatic comes to mind of a film that is totally in the mind of the director and was goingt o be what it was no matter if it made money. The thing about film for me is its the directors art but the studio has the ability to screw it up, like with The Magnificent Amborsons. The stage is the actors art the experience of conecting to the audience and the powerful bonds that creates. For me that is more intense and easier to connect to, also less able to influenced by the need to gain money.
I hope that made sense, I'm not sure if it does.

[Over_the_Moon]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:03pm

I second KelRel's soapbox post...

And applaud the words of the great Em.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:07pm

I agree, penguin. There are definitely films that manage to find the right balance, but it's the ones that don't succeed that have caused me to shy away from movies, sadly.

Thanks, OTM. I speak my heart.

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:09pm

Indeed it made perfect sense Penguin. You do feel a deeper, more intense connection when watching a show on stage since the people are right in front of you, performning and its all live and in the moment where as with movies, you are watching footage of something that was filmed months ago. Personally I also tend to feel a deeper connection to lower budget, indipendent films because, again, money isnt usually the main thing on their minds and while this is why alot of them tend to not do so well, it also has a more honest, personal feel to it. I'm not saying all mainstream movies don't do this but its alot more common to see those get caught in the frantic race for an Oscar nod and the initial story is more easily lost in the special effects and A list celebrity credits.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:11pm

Oh yes indeed, Emcee. Considering I have seen about 10 Broadway shows in the past two months and have not seen that many movies in a theatre in the past two years.
Kangaroo, I agree on LOTR I know its not huge here but I love it as well, for exactly the reason you say. Despite all the spectacle the actors really gave it heart.

[KelRel]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:13pm

Thanks Over the moon! *hugs my percious soap box*

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:20pm

Indeed, LotR is a perfect example of a mainstream movie that found that perfect balance. It's effects and actors were incredible, it won tons of awards but it stayed very true to Tolkein's writing and the actors and crew really put their heart and souls into it. Great movie... Sorry for the slight threadjack, huge Tolkein fan. :-P

[peach]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:21pm

Well put Emcee.

I didn't want to come across as the only reason to do something in showbiz ios to make money. Of course, that's not the case, but art for art's sake alone doesn't keep food on the artist's table. Entertianment *is* a business, whether I like it or not.

So yes, there is a fine balance. But, from the photos I've seen, the producers are doing RENT justice, so thank goodness the business sees profit in this!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:23pm

*hugs photos*

You bet.
I really never thought I'd be dying to see this movie.

[peach]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:26pm

Me niether, emcee. I thought "what a flop that's going to be."

Now, I've changed my tune. I think this movie might hit me in the gut and (egad) make me all weepy. After seeing those "Goodbye Love" pictures, I was like "whoa...."

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:29pm

My first reaction when I heard about hte movie was "Yes! I can finally SEE them singing the songs, not just hear it!" But then after that initial shock, I started to really look into it and thats when alot of the skepticalism came foward. Although I'm happy to say that after seeing all these photos and hearing reports from the set I'm much more confident in this movie then I was.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:30pm

Not even that it would flop, but because I was afraid it would be, at least as I was going to percieve it, "wrong." Like I said earlier, I was afraid that it would be different, and not do justice... and that fear I have about them all becoming big movie stars, and not ever returning to a stage.

I'll probably cry for most of the movie... partly because it'll be so gorgeous and because I there are points in the show that always make me sad. And I'll be so damned proud of that blue-eyed beauty with the crazy hair, if he pulls this all off. I cried when I saw them shooting... nothing makes me cry.

Updated On: 4/29/05 at 02:30 PM

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:34pm

Yes I know I will be bawling through this movie. I don't cry easily either (Rarely in movies) but I think just the mixed sadness of the actual story, plus finally getting to SEE the songs being sung by the OBC after about 2-3 years of waiting will just break me down. That and from the pics, it looks like some of the scenes that already made me sad have been shot so beautifully that it will be heartwrenching.

[KelRel]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:44pm

I will be carrying a box of kleenex into the theater with me...just in case. I really can not wait for this movie. Any news on the website or the trailer?

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:48pm

no official news, just alot of educated speculations. Like my best guess is a teaser in the next month or so and a website in the mid-late summer or even early fall. Really just depends on their marketing strategies. Just watch me start crying from the pure adrenaline rush when the teaser comes out. :-P I'll have to start carrying a box of tissues wherever I go.

[KelRel]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:50pm

I keep hoping it will be sooner because Anthony had to quit posting so long ago...they need to hurry up

[kangaroo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 2:53pm

Thanks dreamcatcher & penguin!

I also agree... I cannot wait for the actual teaser, the trailer and finally the movie to come out. As soon as I find out the trailer is out, I am going to go watch a movie so I can see it on the big screen! I am so excited... I can't wait for this movie and to finally see moving clips to show the world RENT!
And KelRel... You're right. It feels a little less alive without Anthony telling everything from his perspective. I miss him being on the board giving us updates on how the film is...

[BEKA531]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:15pm

i don't really know if this is totally relevant anymore, cause i originally posted it around last november, but here it is anyway:






LARSON'S SCRIPT = FOR STAGE
COLUMBUS'S SCRIPT = FOR SCREEN


stage and screen are completely different mediums, and a new script had to be written. as total rentheads we want it to be as close to the stage version as possible since that's what we fell in love with and are still in love with, but we must realize that columbus and his team are working on that. however, they are also interested in making money and having the movie be accessible to all audiences. to make money off the movie everyone has to understand it. this means there must be some dialogue to explain what regular non-rentheads wouldn't understand.

larson's script also merely wouldn't work on the screen. there are many, many liberties that are taken on the stage due to poetic license. you can't just have people run off the side of the screen like they're running off stage. and you can't have angel just appear on screen like he appears on stage after he died. there are many things that just can't be done, because people believe a lot less of screen due to the technology that we have.




BASIC POSITIVES TO COLUMBUS'S SCRIPT AND THE RENT MOVIE THAT EVERYONE SHOULD CONSIDER:

1. the OBC (or as much as possible) are reprising their roles. COME ON PEOPLE! THE OBC! no matter how utterly horrendous the script is, the original characters are reading it. and they knew jonathan, so i'm sure they won't allow columbus to stray TOO far from larson's original ideas. (especially anthony, who has worked with columbus before in adventures in babysitting) many of the larsons are also planning on supervising the shooting.

2. none of the major storyline was changed, meaning that everyone that was supposed to die, dies and everyone that was supposed to live, lives. imagine how pissed off we would be if mimi died, simply because this is not what larson wanted.

3. no MAJOR songs were cut. it's true that Christmas Bells, Contact, and Halloween were cut, and i'm pushing for these songs to be put back in as much as the next person, but again, THINK OF THE POSITIVE! La Vie boheme wasn't cut! Out Tonight wasn't cut! Take Me or Leave Me wasn't cut! One Song Glory wasn't cut!

4. just as the stage version of rent reached thousands, maybe millions of people, the screen version will reach even more. now everyone that can afford a movie ticket, not a broadway or tour ticket, can see rent. larson's legacy will be spread even farther, and even more important, AIDS awareness will be spread father.



if you read this far, THANK YOU! the past 15 minutes of my life weren't wasted! i'll give you a biscuit!


~ rebecca

Updated On: 4/29/05 at 03:15 PM

[kangaroo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:27pm

I want a biscuit!

But thanks for your post beka... it was very relavant to this topic... ~kangaroo :)

[shameless]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:38pm

Rebecca,

I just read the whole thing, very nice work :).

JHartnow said some of the same things I'm about to say, but here goes anyway.

The show is about struggling artists, but it's not just about that. It's about living life to the fullest and it's about everyone needing love and deserving love.

These are VERY universal messages. So, in the end as long as those messages aren't lost or distorted, I'll be happy.

[KelRel]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:43pm

Totally relavent...can I have my biscuit?

[Dreamcatcher]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 3:59pm

Completely agree BEKA. Definitly not a waste of 15 min.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 4:21pm

"it's true that Christmas Bells, Contact, and Halloween were cut"

Christmas Bells was cut? The main characters walking past junkies, homeless and prostitutes while singing. I was counting on that song to be the movie antithesis of Annie's "NYC".

[oxdreaminxo]

Posted: 4/29/05 at 4:34pm

Emcee- I just read the two posts you put on your first post *wait, did that make sense?* and wow. You're SO lucky to have seen all that and you made me even more excited to see the movie! *squeals* I pity whoever gets dragged along with me to see it because I will be crying my eyes out. Awesome posts on your part though :)

Other note- I'm sad Halloween is being cut...but I agree, it could be worse.