Comments on: Chicago http://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html Abridged Scripts for Movies Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: AJmhttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-83928 AJm Mon, 26 Jul 2010 04:43:56 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-83928 I know that all of these comments were made a long time ago, but since I am reading it for the first time I wanted to throw my two cents in. To those who say that they absolutely hate musical: okay, then they aren't for you. To those who say that they love some musicals but hate most others: that is a very common thing. You probably love the musicals that theatre scholars consider to be written the best. There is a science and a art to writing for musical theatre. It all had to do with the way that the songs are presented in the work. In "Chicago" for example. The musical numbers are presented in two ways: through a dream sequence or as a vaudeville/jazz hall performance. This is very effective, as you can see from the success of the movie. This style of writing for a musical works very well for film. It did not work well for the show when it originally opened on Broadway, it ran for one month. Of course there have been many other musicals that have been almost perfect on stage, "A Chorus Line" and have completely flopped in film. The problem is the change in medium. The worlds of film and theatre are meant to do two complete different things. Film is meant to be real, we have come to expect things to resemble life as we know it, even if the film is set in the future. In the movie "Avatar", the people still act as we do today. If James Cameron had people doing front flips every 15 steps, the movie would have not made any money. So no matter what time or place, film reflects the world as it is today. When at the theatre we have what is called a "willing suspension of disbelief". basically we accept whatever they do within the first 10 minutes to be the "rules" of the world. So in musicals, we just accept that people can sing and dance in the middle of the street and once they come to the chorus of the song everyone around them miraculously known all of the lyrics and all of the dance moves and somehow everyone keeps singing perfectly in tune until the end of the song then they all go on their marry way like nothing even fucking happened. And thats how the two forms differ. I know that all of these comments were made a long time ago, but since I am reading it for the first time I wanted to throw my two cents in.

To those who say that they absolutely hate musical: okay, then they aren't for you.

To those who say that they love some musicals but hate most others: that is a very common thing. You probably love the musicals that theatre scholars consider to be written the best. There is a science and a art to writing for musical theatre. It all had to do with the way that the songs are presented in the work. In "Chicago" for example. The musical numbers are presented in two ways: through a dream sequence or as a vaudeville/jazz hall performance. This is very effective, as you can see from the success of the movie. This style of writing for a musical works very well for film. It did not work well for the show when it originally opened on Broadway, it ran for one month.

Of course there have been many other musicals that have been almost perfect on stage, "A Chorus Line" and have completely flopped in film. The problem is the change in medium. The worlds of film and theatre are meant to do two complete different things. Film is meant to be real, we have come to expect things to resemble life as we know it, even if the film is set in the future.

In the movie "Avatar", the people still act as we do today. If James Cameron had people doing front flips every 15 steps, the movie would have not made any money. So no matter what time or place, film reflects the world as it is today. When at the theatre we have what is called a "willing suspension of disbelief". basically we accept whatever they do within the first 10 minutes to be the "rules" of the world. So in musicals, we just accept that people can sing and dance in the middle of the street and once they come to the chorus of the song everyone around them miraculously known all of the lyrics and all of the dance moves and somehow everyone keeps singing perfectly in tune until the end of the song then they all go on their marry way like nothing even fucking happened. And thats how the two forms differ.

]]> By: Crishttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-32674 Cris Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:34:20 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-32674 "Then I can really boost my squinty-eyed career!"Lawlz. "Then I can really boost my squinty-eyed career!"

Lawlz.

]]> By: Anonhttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-32000 Anon Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:52:47 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-32000 While I actually enjoyed Chicago I find this funny and for the most part a pretty solid summary of the movies bad points.Libby- The producers was originally done without songs, for the most part, (there was always springtime for hitler). While I actually enjoyed Chicago I find this funny and for the most part a pretty solid summary of the movies bad points.

Libby- The producers was originally done without songs, for the most part, (there was always springtime for hitler).

]]> By: Libbyhttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-30775 Libby Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:30:52 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-30775 Rod, I just have to tell you, even though this was posted years ago, that your effort to make rhymes for pretty much every bit of dialog amused me greatly. It was so well done! Perhaps you could write a musical? And I have to say, I don't mind some musicals. I love Grease, the Producers, Sweeney Todd....although the last two could have done without the singing. However I just can't picture Grease without the songs. I don't think it would have been anywhere near as big... Rod, I just have to tell you, even though this was posted years ago, that your effort to make rhymes for pretty much every bit of dialog amused me greatly. It was so well done! Perhaps you could write a musical?
And I have to say, I don't mind some musicals. I love Grease, the Producers, Sweeney Todd....although the last two could have done without the singing. However I just can't picture Grease without the songs. I don't think it would have been anywhere near as big...

]]> By: Indy Hunghttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-30283 Indy Hung Fri, 17 Oct 2008 22:44:06 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-30283 i personally LOVE musicals. i think they are the most beautiful pieces of theater. random bob, a musical is like peanut butter and jelly. you can eat a piece of bread with just peanut butter, and you can eat a piece a bread with just jam. but put them together, and you get the total package!but i agree that High School Musical was kinda cheesy. i personally LOVE musicals. i think they are the most beautiful pieces of theater. random bob, a musical is like peanut butter and jelly. you can eat a piece of bread with just peanut butter, and you can eat a piece a bread with just jam. but put them together, and you get the total package!

but i agree that High School Musical was kinda cheesy.

]]> By: Aces Highhttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-29177 Aces High Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:29:19 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-29177 if you can stomach even thinking about the idea, do High School Musical, just to remind everyone how retarded and unnecessary it is if you can stomach even thinking about the idea, do High School Musical, just to remind everyone how retarded and unnecessary it is

]]> By: random bobhttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-24952 random bob Sat, 30 Aug 2008 04:09:03 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-24952 No, I agree with poster #1: musicals suck. People breaking out into song & dance is corny as hell.You wanna sing? Sing. You wanna act? Act. don't combine the two.Having said that however, I must say that this "musical" wasn't all that bad. No, I agree with poster #1: musicals suck. People breaking out into song & dance is corny as hell.

You wanna sing? Sing. You wanna act? Act. don't combine the two.

Having said that however, I must say that this "musical" wasn't all that bad.

]]> By: dragonloverhttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-10977 dragonlover Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:31:51 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-10977 Musicals are a wonderful expression of talent and collaboration. However, turning them into movies is an extremely bad idea. Musicals are a wonderful expression of talent and collaboration. However, turning them into movies is an extremely bad idea.

]]> By: Better_than_youhttp://www.the-editing-room.com/chicago.html#comment-5855 Better_than_you Mon, 12 Nov 2007 18:15:57 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=55#comment-5855 Musicals suck, I would rather have a root canal than sit through one Musicals suck, I would rather have a root canal than sit through one

]]>