Filmed live or movie?

[Deleted]

I am not sure which I prefer. I like the idea of filming a musical, but it's not easy at all. If it's done well, it can make the show even better and make epic scenes seem even more epic. The danger is capturing everything on film, the camera work. Especially if you deal with a scene that would have to intercut between two scenes on film, like One Day More from Les Mis. Several people are singing in different places. My idea of hell if I were a director.
Live recordings are also great, because you get the actual stage show without having to go to the theatre. And lets face it, theatre tickets aren't exactly cheap. And you also get the best seats and get really close to the action on stage. The camera work is also important here, but you have limited space to film, so perhaps it's less difficult to get capture eveyrything that's going on.
As much as I like the idea of making musical movies, I think I prefer the live recording. I have seen Rent and Phantom both as movie and live recording(RENT's last show and Phantom 25th). And the movie versions have some flaws that the live recording don't have. Scenes have been cut and it's not really the same as the live recording.

[rachel]

I've got one idea. If they filmed "One Day More" the way "Tonight-reprise" from West Side Story is shot, it could work.

[digne]

This is why I am happy with the choice of director for Les Mis. Tom Hooper did a great job integrating several complex themes and story lines in his mini-series John Adams. Now we'll have to wait to see how he does with music. And yes rachel, something like the "Tonight (reprise)" would work. So let's cross our fingers.

In truth, I'm more concerned about the cast choices.

I didn't post here but Aaron Tveit appears to have been cast as Enjolras. At least it's not another Hollywood name! But I have to wonder if this mean Enjorlas will sing "I'm Alive" from Next to Normal as counterpoint to "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"?




But over all film musicals are difficult to do. Musicals are by their nature unrealistic. People don't just burst into song in real like -- at least not usually. So the medium tends to work well in the theater because when we go to the theater we know it's not real. We are looking at stage with painted back drops etc ... But in film our mind can play tricks on us that what we see is really happening..

This is one reason, films such as Chicago, Moulin Rouge (Baz L's version) and even Nine take the the singing out the natural would. Moulin Rouge was filmed entirely on a sound stage -- and the film looks it. We never see the "real" Paris, only Moulin Rouge's version of it.

I think filmed stage productions of musicals are usually better than their film versions for this reason. But there are a few films I really love, included the 3 I just listed (even if I think all three have faults).

Then films of musical comedies can sometimes pull off "real" settings because their own cheekiness can make it work (see Mamma Mia!).

[Havanah]

Missed out on this.

Filmed live shows all the way for me.

The cast are usually those who are doing it every night. They are people who make it work and are people who know the role they are playing. They usually have way more depth because they have had time to develop their own character, their way of singing each song and their character's relationship with others.

There's not a chance of a retake. It's all shot one as it happens. True, if someone really messed up they would probably cut that bit and film the next night and, of course, some are filmed over several nights. However, the actors have played it from start to end and that means that they can get a lot more into their role.

The atmosphere gets across when it's live too.

The only bonus with film films, that I can think of, is that you can use more special effects. Of course, if this is a good thing or not can be argued greatly!


Mind you, with films like Chicago where the singing is kinda integrated into the plot (not quite the right phrase but I'm sure you know what I mean!) rather than people just bursting out into song I think it can work. Maybe, for me, that's because my mind no longer sees it as a musical that has a film but as a film that has singing in it. I can imagine Cabaret would be similar (except I don't like the film of Cabaret because of the actors!)


Buuuuuut...
I'd prefer live theatre over any film any day