MovieChat Forums > Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway (2008) Discussion > Starting a trend?

Starting a trend?

posted 16 years ago by ehm_jay29
6 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this last night and was really, REALLY impressed! It really captured the show in a way I never really thought possible. Many of us probably remember the Joseph, Cats, and Jesus Christ Superstar "videos" that were released, and were awful.

So perhaps this will usher in a new era of Musical Films that are made and shot at live performances. I know that I'd love to see a version of Les Mis or Phantom of the Opera like this (since the film was so God awful).

I know that they've shot lots of shows for the archives, or for documentaries and such but perhaps its time to go back and revisit some shows and put them out in theatres. Of course I know that most shows wouldn't do this until they were finally closing on broadway (which I guess rules phantom out since it seems to not want to ever leave) since it would "curb ticket sales" of the live show (which I'm sure it wouldn't)...

it was just so well done, and such a great way to capture the energy of the show. I would love to be able to relive all my favourite shows like this!!

[–] indyjoneschick02 16 years ago

I hope so! I would LOVE to see Wicked like that instead of an actual movie.

[–] Chason_S 16 years ago

I would love to see more, also - but I'm not so sure that it will "take off" the way we are hoping. I'm not so sure that RENT LIVE made that much money. There were only 18 people at the showing I went to, and there is a thread on here that shows that others were at a similarly attended performance. Of course it doesn't help that there was nearly no advertising, and that it only played once on Wednesday and Thursday nights and two VERY early mattinees on Saturday and Sunday.

[–] ehm_jay29 16 years ago

exactly, if it was well marketed (I only heard about it cause I HAPPENED to be on wikipedia where it was mentioned and then eventually found the trailer on the apple website) I think there would have been more people in attendance.

not to mention 26 bucks a ticket is quite a lot - I mean yeah it's cheaper than broadway but it's twice the price of a regular movie ticket...

not to mention I cannot forsee them doing this for shows that are still playing.

[–] artguylarry 15 years ago

To the poster who mentioned wanting to see a live performance video release of Les Miz: There is a DVD release (of sorts) for Les Miz. Granted, it is not a full on production, but it's very moving just the same. Rather than a full on performance, it's Les Miserables in Concert. It was filmed in 1995 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and featured the "dream cast," uniting the best of performers in each of the roles. Basically, everyone is in costume and in character, but with no sets, props or action. They do however feature numerous stills and clips of actual productions throughout the performance. They are shown on a big screen in sync with the performance.

I know, I know. That all sounds lame, but if you're a true fan of the musical, it is still very moving. Believe me, it's better than it sounds.

[–] IMDBRefugee1SD (139) 7 years ago

Yes, that video is great. And I would recommend the edition that includes the documentary on the development of
the show.

[–] IMDBRefugee1SD (139) 7 years ago

Many of us probably remember the Joseph, Cats, and Jesus Christ Superstar "videos" that were released, and were awful.
-----------------------------------------------
The "Cats" video was excellent. It was not filmed "live", but captured the singing and dancing well.
"Joseph" was a good representation of the show, but it's not a great show.
I have no idea why they made a video of "Superstar". It captures the feel of the most recent stage version,
but the stage versions have been all over the map. And the singing is so inferior to the film version.