Film version of ...GREAT COMET OF 1812 turns to Kickstarter

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 2/7/14 at 7:51pm

http://popwatch.ew.com/2014/02/07/natasha-pierre-great-comet-movie/

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/7/14 at 7:56pm

Sure. Rob it of the unique way in which it's staged and zoom in on the weak material. What a great way to highlight the shows flaws.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 2/7/14 at 7:59pm

Doesn't it sound like they're trying to incorporate the existing staging into the final film though?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/7/14 at 8:03pm

It also says "feature film" though which to me means legit movie and not a film of the stage version.

[willep]

Posted: 2/7/14 at 9:50pm

They posted an article on Facebook an the headline sounds like a separate feature film adaptation, but the article talked about filming the last performance for theatres. Would love to be able to watch this again, I hope it translates well.

ETA I see now it is the same article, and having read it more closely (I was at work before and just scanned it) I see that they are planning on it being more than just a recording of the show. Interesting. I hope it does the show justice.

Updated On: 2/7/14 at 09:50 PM

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 5:34am

i for one cant wait to throw some money toward this :)

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 11:38am

Just like moving from the site-specific staging to a proscenium house, this show would be so drastically different as a movie. I watched the Theater Talk with Malloy and Chavkin from last spring, and they talked about how unique a live production can be, especially due to your seating position in relation to each member of the band and the actors.

I think a “music video” version with closeups on Phillipa Soo’s face as people writhe in the background seems a little too much for me.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 11:53am

I didn't think the filmed version of Passing Strange could ever capture the magic that was in the theatre, but Spike Lee did a marvelous job.

From the information they've given (keeping the sets, tent, and wanting to use as much of the original cast as possible) it seems like they definitely want to record the production itself and not make it into a "legit movie." This could work in a fascinating way. I hope they go the route Lee went with Passing Strange and not treat it like a Lincoln Center Library recording. The trick is to capture the energy and electricity in the theatre, rather than being caught up in preserving every ounce of staging and acting moment.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/11/14 at 7:23pm

Is the kickstarter campaign up yet? I can't find it.

[willep]

Posted: 2/11/14 at 7:29pm

Same. Haven't seen/heard anything about it at all today.

[willep]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 8:50am

It's live now, finally.
Great Comet Kickstarter

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 12:13pm

Their rewards are a bit wonky, as this is the first movie kickstarter I've seen where there is no option to get a copy of the finished film as your reward. Plus, the letter sounds interesting, but it is bundled with attending the show before March 2, and I'm not back in NYC until March 8, etc.

I'd suggest they break these out and unbundle them more.

[203bbf]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 12:42pm

Absolutely agree with the weirdness of the pledge rewards.

I'll be perfectly honest - I would have pledged $25 for a digital download, but $25 for a "sizzle reel" (glorified trailer) isn't going to get me to open my wallet.

For comparison, Zach Braff's movie Kickstarter included a screening at the $30 level, and the Veronica Mars movie Kickstarter included a digital download with $35.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 1:01pm

It sounds like everything is up in the air when it comes to what kind of distribution it will have – maybe they aren’t even sure if they will being producing physical copies of the movie. Or, depending on how much it costs to make, maybe they are going to be dependent on many of the same people who are willing to donate to purchase the film to make any profit.

Plus, the letter sounds interesting, but it is bundled with attending the show before March 2, and I'm not back in NYC until March 8, etc.

There is a second $100 option that includes the letter without the comp tickets.

I went for the $125 – excited for my merchandise and, more importantly, to get to see this movie!

I wish I had $8,500 to spend…I would love one of the chandeliers!

Updated On: 2/13/14 at 01:01 PM

[AntV]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 5:32am

Pretty low total after the first day. I doubt it will make the goal. The huge fans usually put in the most money on the first day. But they'll probably still make the movie anyway by raising funds elsewhere.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 5:39am

It just seemed odd that you can see the show and get a letter for $100, or if you rather just get the letter, that's also $100?

[willep]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 10:30am

Well, it says that the free ticket is for the first 200 people who donate $100 or more by midnight tonight. So it sounds to me like anybody who selects that level or below gets a ticket. In other words, it wouldn't matter which $100 option you choose.

I agree about the sizzle reel though, that's silly. Especially because if you read the whole page, it sounds like they have a lot of funding already from the producers, and that the kickstarter will be used to fund "the filming in March and the creation of the sizzle reel" which they will then use to raise money for post production. Why not just use this funding for post production and give us a copy of the final product? I'd rather donate money to that than the creation of a sizzle reel.

[CreatureKitchen]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 12:31pm

Does anyone think that there's any chance of the the show extending/ touring/ moving spaces again now that they've announced the movie? I have a friend who I'd really like to take to see the show, but won't be able to before March 2nd...

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 10:01am

My guess would be that, because it sounds like they are going to start production on the movie (likely in the space) right after March 2nd, they won’t be extending past that date. Who knows if they may reopen in the future, but it sounds like as soon as this closes, they will be focusing on filming.

Also, got an e-mail saying new rewards were going to be put up this week on the Kickstarter page, so maybe they have taken note that many were not happy with the offers. Excited to see what else will be put up!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/17/14 at 3:47pm

Yeah, they aren't going to make their goal in 13 days. Maybe they should have had more press on this whole thing? I'm sure if more people knew about it, they would contribute.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 4:36pm

Just got an e-mail that said they have added an option to receive a signed DVD. It’s for a $200 donation (along with the t-shirt and a signed cast recording).