Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Hamilton Film Adaptation?
RW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/13
#1Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 4:49pm
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2016/05/19/hamilton-tickets-are-out-of-reach-its-time-for-a-hamilton-movie/?tid=sm_tw
The article does make you wonder when/if we will get an announcement of a film adaptation of Hamilton. It's a property that has gained nationwide attention so capitalizing on it would be great. However, a problem would be the foreign markets? What do you guys think?
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#2Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 4:56pm
Oh jeez, it is not 'time' for a Hamilton film, the show hasn't even been on Broadway for a year. Lin has said he worked for 7 years to make it a piece of theatre and he wants as many people as possible to experience it that way first and he's absolutely right. The tickets aren't out of reach, it's perfectly possible to get a Hamilton ticket if you believe in being patient, especially as it expands into tours and London.
It will be a film one day but it will take years and rightly so.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#3Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 4:57pm
As every other discussion has pointed out....it's too soon.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#4Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 6:15pm
Does anyone know if they've already filmed it for the Lincoln Center library yet?
#5Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 6:20pm
I've always firmly believed that the reason the talks keep stalling for the Wicked movie is because it is still making so much money on Broadway. A movie is a great way to revive a struggling show like Rent, even though that movie was atrocious. There's a reason that the Phantom and Les Miz movies weren't made in the late 80s or early 90s.
http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com
cmorrow
Stand-by Joined: 10/25/12
#6Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 6:24pm
Jshan05 said: "Does anyone know if they've already filmed it for the Lincoln Center library yet?"
Hamilton has not yet been taped for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT).
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#7Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 6:25pmI'm wondering if LMM doesn't go for a two-fer - you can have film rights to Hamilton after you produce and release the film version of In The Heights.
#8Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 6:28pm
cmorrow said: "Jshan05 said: "Does anyone know if they've already filmed it for the Lincoln Center library yet?"
Hamilton has not yet been taped for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT)."
Oh that seems odd to me. I would think he would have liked to have all of the original cast for the taped performance. Does anyone know if they bring back the original cast members for the filming? For example, when She Loves Me was revived in the early 90's, I know that Judy Kuhn left the cast early. Did she come back for the TOFT filming? I'm so curious about that (and what LMM will do about Groff!)
#9Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 6:59pm
Lin has stated that he wants to have the stage show filmed with the original cast. They had to bring the originals back for Into the Woods, so even if it takes a while to come to fruition it's possible the original cast may still get recorded.
Broadway Forever2
Leading Actor Joined: 3/7/16
#10Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 7:14pm
Way to soon. but honestly they should make an In the Heights film. What happened to that? i think it would make a great film if done right! Lin should push for that again.
schubox
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/16
#11Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 7:54pm
I don't even know how they could adapt it. They'd have to cut so much to make it a reasonable running time
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#12Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 8:03pm
Not necessarily, the Les Mis film is only about 10-15 minutes shorter than the show.
cmorrow
Stand-by Joined: 10/25/12
#13Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 8:16pm
Jshan05 said: "cmorrow said: "Jshan05 said: "Does anyone know if they've already filmed it for the Lincoln Center library yet?"
Hamilton has not yet been taped for the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT)."
Does anyone know if they bring back the original cast members for the filming? For example, when She Loves Me was revived in the early 90's, I know that Judy Kuhn left the cast early. Did she come back for the TOFT filming?"
Judy Kuhn does appear in TOFT's video of She Loves Me, taped in June of 1993. And TOFT always tries to record shows with as many original cast members as possible, but the library has no control over who is in it on the day of the shoot. It's rare that a cast member returns for the taping, but it has happened. (I don't know what the situation was with Judy Kuhn -- that was before I worked there.)
#14Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 8:17pm
I wish they filmed musicals the way they used to years and years ago. '1776' was made 4 years after the show debuted on Broadway. Ditto 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum' and I think 'West Side Story'. They didn't wait.
Now, geez, it was 25 years before Les Miz was made into a movie, and I think 15-20 yrs. for 'Phantom'. Both suffered as a result, all of the timeliness was gone and the great performances of Colm Wilkinson and Michael Crawford are gone forever. I know, it's all about touring and money, but it's still a shame.
#15Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 8:21pm
I think it will be tough to get "certain demographics" to buy the multi-ethnic casting on film.
Who says we need a Hamilton movie at all? Would it really benefit the material to put it in such a literal medium?
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
#16Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 8:56pm
I really don't think that it would work on film. The show has a theatricality about it that would not transfer. The clash between the period costume, sets, and then the rap music would be far too much on screen. I love it just as much as everyone else, but I feel like a movie would come off as campy and bizarre. I would honestly much rather have the original broadway cast filmed.
#17Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:03pm
icecreambenjamin said: "I really don't think that it would work on film. The show has a theatricality about it that would not transfer. The clash between the period costume, sets, and then the rap music would be far too much on screen. I love it just as much as everyone else, but I feel like a movie would come off as campy and bizarre. I would honestly much rather have the original broadway cast filmed."
I feel the same way as icecreambenjamin does. I don't think a show as theatrical as "Hamilton" would really work on film as is...there would have to be much adapting and revisions to do so, film is a totally different animal in that respect.
A filmed version of the stage version would be most welcome though, in very much the same vein as the South Pacific and The Light in the Piazza were done for Live at Lincoln Center.
I feel it is still too early in the run to do it at this point though.
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#18Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:03pm
I don't know, I'm imagining a film with Donald Glover as Hamilton and Oscar Isaac as Burr and it looks pretty perfect in my head.
#19Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:14pm
I agree that it's too much a piece of theater to make a good movie. You can get away with stuff like multiethnic casting on stage that won't work in a movie which is seen to be a more "real" environment.
The best option is to film the stage version and then show it on TV at some point.
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#20Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:24pm
sueb1863 said: "You can get away with stuff like multiethnic casting on stage that won't work in a movie which is seen to be a more "real" environment."
Maybe if it was an original film but I think by the time a film would come out, enough people would be well aware of Hamilton's casting for it not to be an issue.
#21Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:30pm
I disagree that the film is too "theatrical" to work on film. I imagine they could make it work very well. But the fact is, along with many of those huge musicals that took forever to get their films made, it really is all about money. Phantom and Les Miz both had to wait so long and I agree with sarahb22 that they suffered. Of course movie musicals were not a thing that was done in the 80's and 90's so it's not shocking to me. Dreamgirls, Nine and Chicago each took over 25 years to be made as well. Wicked won't be made for another 10 years probably. It's just how it goes. For some reason theatrical producers have this strange notion that a movie will eat into the profits of the stage version but I don't think this is legitimate. Did it affect Chicago, Hairspray or Mamma Mia! all of which were several years into their runs on Broadway, when their films were made? I doubt it.
"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."
#22Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 9:30pm
The way I can see this working is if it's shot with the same idiosyncrasy as the musical is staged: part drama, part anachronistic music video. Can an abstract and stylized full length music video picture still fly? The last one I can think of is The Wall.
jdra
Understudy Joined: 5/9/16
#23Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 10:06pm
gypsy101 said: " Did it affect Chicago, Hairspray or Mamma Mia! all of which were several years into their runs on Broadway, when their films were made? "
Hairspray was a film first.
schubox
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/16
#24Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 10:20pm
aaaaaa15 said: "Not necessarily, the Les Mis film is only about 10-15 minutes shorter than the show.
"
Yeah but the show flies through history. I am pretty sure they're going to want to show some of the battles and fights a little more. Honestly I just don't think Hamilton would work as a feature film. I could be way off but I can't picture it at all. It's such an abstract version of history. Are they going to cut to King George in England singing (although I imagine all the King parts would be cut).
aaaaaa15
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/31/15
#25Hamilton Film Adaptation?
Posted: 5/19/16 at 10:42pm
Well Hamilton is shorter than Les Mis anyway so they would have time to work with.
I understand what people are saying but I think if they embraced the theatricality of it and made it almost a surreal/dreamlike film then it could work well.
