Hamilton filmed tonight!observations/comments

[MyLife]

schubox said: "MyFavoriteBrunette said: "The only snafu I noticed was small.  During Guns and Ships, after Daveed raps his right hand man back and Chris sings Alexander Hamilton, troops are waiting in the field for you--a letter being mailed to Hamilton is supposed to be make its way from stage left to stage right via the balcony.  It made it to the ensemble's hand who dropped it.  The look on Anthony Ramos face when he had to pass it really looked like he wanted to laugh and continued down the line playing it off passing the invisible note.  By the time it was up in the balcony right, Jasmine had a what I call a back-up letter in her hand which continued to be passed and made its way to Phillipa and Lin.  It was a nice observation to catch.

 

 

 

"The letter always changes. I noticed last time that the letter that starts isn't the one that gets to the end. There's a switch up top. Probably to get a better sealed one or something.

its great to hear the filming went so well. Can't wait to see it in 15 years"

when the letter makes it way up to the top level, center - each person always has a different letter in hand and they aren't passed from one cast member to another. I think it's because the transfer speeds up at this point and it is to avoid what you noticed happen affect the performance. If one person messes up the chain can continue without a hitch. Smart if you ask me.

[schubox]

Didn't Lin flat out say they would release it someday?

 

EDIT: Nevermind, went back and looked and he just said he didn't know what they would do with it. Still seems silly to go all out on filming it for archival purposes. You'd think if that was the only reason they would just have Lincoln Center do it. And why have a no audience night for close ups and stuff if you aren't going to release it someday?

[Auggie27]

It's not technically Miranda's decision as to whether it's released "someday."  It's the producers'.  These are not capricious decisions made to serve audience demand or impromptu good will by an author; they are heavily negotiated, contracted rights impacting every single union the theater employs.  The Odom stall, much debated, is very indicative of these negotiations.  The production will likely have strong control over any and all footage, as they have from day one.  

[gypsy101]

I thought it was Lin's decision since he's the creator / writer.

[Liza's Headband]

Not entirely. Only partially. 

[mariel9]

But doesn't it seem likely that the Odom issue was related to the commercial potential of the film and being compensated/agreeing on contract language for that?

[dramamama611]

Likely, sure, but that still doesn't mean they WILL release -- only that they can.

[Liza's Headband]

I mean, I think dramama put it best. No one is denying the likelihood of a commercial release but aside from death and taxes, nothing in life is guaranteed. A commercial release shouldn't be a forgone conclusion until it's actually confirmed and/or announced. 

[aaaaaa15]

Someone was saying that it was unlikely though which is why I responded in the first place. Of course nothing is guaranteed.

[HogansHero]

As usual, there is as much comment here based on non-facts as facts. A few fixes: The control of any film belongs to the production or its delagatee. That control is dependent on a grant of rights by the creator but that grant should not be read as a mandate that it be released. Once granted and consideration paid, all rights would belong to the production. (Miranda's dunno comment confirms this.) Footage to be used in the documentary (including lots of off-stage footage) was made during the same shoots over the last few days but has nothing to do with the preservation of full show. (My best guess would be that it will be released in 10-15 years, but in any event after the film is released.) PBS would not have any "guys" at the shoot, because PBS is not making the documentary; it is buying it. If someone spoke to someone who was working on the documentary, that person would be an employee of the production company for the documentary. (Random thought: would have been astonishing to have Ken Burns do it.) Whatever LOJ or any other cast or crew might say on Twitter or elsewhere, none of them are doing any more than guessing about if and when it will be released. My assumption is that Jeffrey Seller does not know the answer to the question because it is a question that there is no reason to answer at this point and that, for that matter, is not susceptible to an intelligent answer at this point.

[Theater_Nerd]

Lin-Manuel posted this message to his official Facebook page last night at 10:33 PM:
The show is preserved w this cast & on the way to Gringotts vault. Grateful to everyone who made a complex shoot painless.
Rest easy, fam.



So it's very much being stored away. It won't be released any time soon - - - and it's anybody's guess as to when. It will be released when it's released.

All this constant speculation is for naught.

 

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

gypsy101 said: "wait that person thought Jonathan Groff was the understudy???

Apparently so!  The lady one seat away from me who was talking to the lady next to me just got her ticket through a scalper (one they've used for years) and had no idea what the Original Broadway Cast was.  I'm sure many in the audience are from this demographic.
 

 

[dramamama611]

MyFavoriteBrunette said: "gypsy101 said: "wait that person thought Jonathan Groff was the understudy???

Apparently so!  The lady one seat away from me who was talking to the lady next to me just got her ticket through a scalper (one they've used for years) and had no idea what the Original Broadway Cast was.  I'm sure many in the audience are from this demographic.
 

 

 

"

And this is why I disagree with those saying prices will come down after the 9th. Most people dont really know or care.   

[MyFavoriteBrunette]

My Life said: when the letter makes it way up to the top level, center - each person always has a different letter in hand and they aren't passed from one cast member to another. I think it's because the transfer speeds up at this point and it is to avoid what you noticed happen affect the performance. If one person messes up the chain can continue without a hitch. Smart if you ask me.

Thanks for clarifying that.  Since I was at orch left, I noticed the letter drop out of Seth Stewart's hand when passing it the next cast member which was Anthony Ramos and I just continued to watch that unfold.  I would think that this happens as it's live and no retakes and makes perfect sense for everyone to have their own letter to speed but I honestly didn't see one getting passed from my seat until I noticed one.  

I've truly been enjoying my live theater experinces this year so much and seeing small details like this, or like the first time I saw Hamilton, watching Anthony Ramos collect and redistribute the toasting glasses in Safisfied.  I look forward to anything new I discover at any show I see more than once.  

The actors weren't playing up to the filming cameras.  They looked into the audience just as much as they have before.  Daveed gestured his   Virginia kiss to an audience member and right before cabinet battle quickly interacted with the ladies in the row in front of me.  There was definitely no disconnect from them and the audience vs cameras filming them.  No distraction whatsoever (for me at least).

[SFFrontRow]

Aren't all productions filmed for the archive tgat is only available for cast and production teams to review when working on a production (current or revival)?

My guess is this is something different, but the filming of productions is not new.

And if only this could be released in my lifetime. Would like to see it again as I stupidey saw this before I heard the full cast recording. I think it woukd have been more resonant if I was familiar with the score and lyrics.

[uncageg]

Off topic but decided to post it ere since it dawned on me the other day as I was navigating around the trucks in front of the theater. I have noticed that the show has no signs hanging from the marquee regarding the Tonys it won. Dawned on me then that they have not had any at all during the run.

[aaaaaa15]

I guess they see it as an unnecessary expense/effort.

[schubox]

dramamama611 said:

"

And this is why I disagree with those saying prices will come down after the 9th. Most people dont really know or care.   

 

"

The dramatic inflation for the OBC will come down but I imagine the secondary market will still be quite healthy for a while to come.

 

[indytallguy]

[Fosse76]

It amuses me that no one here claims to know if/when it will be released, but then go on to say with certainty it will be "at least five years" or "not for a long time" or "this is only for archival purposes." 

 

Based on the descriptions of the filming and the fact that there were contract negotiations with the cast, I can say with certainty that this was filmed with a commercial release in mind. Whether or not they will release it remains to be seen, but it was recorded for that posibility. Simple archive recordings are not this complex. Since they have this recording, there will be no need for an additional recording for Lincoln Center, which is why there were statements about this also being an archive recording.

 

This reminds me as to how Shrek was recorded. Similar to Jonathan Groff, John Tartaglia had already left Shrek when they decided to record the show. He also returned for only the performance being filmed. In Shrek's case, I believe it was a few years before the recording was released, and I believe it was recorded close to the end of the run.

 

No one here knows if this recording will be released commercially (but contractually it can be released), and they certainly don't know if it will be released in six months or in six years. The best answer to the question as to when it will be released is "no one knows'. 

 

****EDIT

And allow me to digress, but between a comment in this and other threads, including an interview, Odom is not coming-off particularly likable. He comes across as arrogant and self-important.  I don't think he's aware that he is in no way important to the success of the show (as proven by the show's advance sales here and in Chicago), so I hope some of the other cast members aren't quite as delusional, Tony award or not.

[Mr. Nowack]

They'll release it when the masses who don't otherwise care about theatre forget about it and they can no longer charge thousands for tickets.

[HogansHero]

@fosse, I agree they did not shoot this just for archival reasons, and I suspect that some day it will be released. My guess as to why it was made is that (a) they felt the OBC was special and important in a way that isn't always the case (and in a special and important show) [the comparable would be ACL], (b) they wanted an insurance policy against a bad movie and (c) they can afford it. What I think is wrong to the point of delusional is that they filmed this to release before the show is in its final stretches.

[Jordan Catalano]

Fosse, I've said here before that I spoke to Lin about his wanting to do this last year. We discussed filming shows in general and the impact they have on kids and why a show like this should be filmed. Even at the time we spoke about it, he was very clear that it was going to be filmed and that it was going to be released at some point WAY down the line. We talked a lot about  INTO THE WOODS airing on PBS and the importance that had on a generation of people and how it didn't air until after the show had closed and he said that would be the best way to do anything like that with HAMILTON. So according to Lin the idea that it should be filmed and held for what can only be presumed a very long time before it's release was what he was thinking from the beginning. And I've been here on BWW long enough for people to know that I don't post B.S.

[NYadgal]

A wonderful and memorable evening.   I've been so fortunate to have seen the show a number of times, and am honored to have been there on this special night.  I have no plans to see it again so had a very full heart while watching this performance one last time.   

I'll admit to wiping away a few tears.  It's been an extraordinary joy.  And I'll always feel blessed to have been in the room in the room where it happened.