Why aren't more Broadway shows preserved on film?- Page 3

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 1:50pm

Small businesses are financed through savings and bank loans of the owners and families. They are almost never funded through solicitation of strangers to invest.

It is far too expensive and time consuming to make a public offering under SEC rules.

Updated On: 9/9/19 at 01:50 PM

[itsjustmejonhotmailcom]

Posted: 9/9/19 at 2:11pm

OlBlueEyes said: "Small businesses are financed through savings and bank loans of the owners and families.They are almost never funded throughsolicitation of strangers to invest.

It is far too expensive and time consuming to make a public offering under SEC rules."

That's the same reason Broadway shows aren't capitalized through a public offering (and why they can't solicit strangers.) Many start ups are financed in a similar fashion - tech startups that aren't flashy enough to attract the big VC firms often turn to angel investors. Someone opening a restaurant often turns to family and friends. 

[dehibo9312]

Posted: 6/23/21 at 10:58pm

I made an account just to reply since I was thinking about this the other day too.

But I think the answer is simple: Figuring out how everyone got paid would be the hardest part because of the various unions and agreements with film, stage, musicians, composers, writers, etc.

But as this thread has shown, besides untangling agreements and obligations, egos and gatekeeping of "Real Broadway(tm)" are a bigger factor than most let on.

[joevitus]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 9:59am

In the online fitness group I joined, you can expect the same questions about abs and belly fat to be asked over and over. On this message board, you can expect the "why aren't more shows preseverved on film?" questions to be asked over and over. Absolutely zero wrong with either question, but after seeing it asked and answered so many times (and knowing a search will lead to the previous questions), it does become a bit tiresome.

I wish more shows were filmed, too, for the record. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 10:36am

I thought I'd posted a link to this VERY informative twitter thread in this particular post, but I guess not (since it's from 2020): 

https://twitter.com/stardustschild/status/1316473624333881344

[cmorrow]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 11:53am

Thanks for posting the informative thread about TOFT. I've worked at the Performing Arts Library for many years with this collection. Betty (who hired me) and Patrick have both worked very hard to get these productions preserved on video. One correction I can add: $12,000 to tape a show is not accurate. It's usually more than that, sometimes a lot more.

Updated On: 6/24/21 at 11:53 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 5:08pm

"Why aren't more Broadway shows preserved on film?"

Why don't you live live in a 15,000 sqft. home with an eight car garage, situated on 25 acres with a lovely orchard out back?

I think you will find the answer to both questions is mostly the same.

All snark aside, the various unions, rights holders, and wages make filming most shows prohibitively expensive, especially considering the niche market. Unions and wages work differently overseas, which is why we see more filming of stage shows in England, and still, it can often cost too much.

[dehibo9312]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 5:44pm

@LizzieCurry

Great twitter thread, very informative, thank you for sharing. The link didn't work for me, but searching on my own I was able to find it and made this threader post for anyone else having the same issue.

@jimmycurry01

I agree, musicals are a niche market, so profit margins would be slim regardless of other issues.

Updated On: 6/24/21 at 05:44 PM

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 10:16pm

cmorrow said: "Thanks for posting theinformative thread about TOFT. I've worked at the Performing Arts Library for many years with this collection. Betty (who hired me) and Patrick have both worked very hard to get these productionspreserved on video. One correction I can add: $12,000 to tape a show is not accurate. It's usually more than that, sometimes a lot more."

Perhaps you could answer a question I've wondered about.  Are the archive videos duplicated and backed up off-site anywhere, or is the collection physically housed at the library the only copy in existence?  I always worry about fire or natural disaster taking out the collection, or discs wearing out and becoming unreadable.

Updated On: 6/24/21 at 10:16 PM

[cmorrow]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 10:35pm

sbflyfan said: "cmorrow said: "Thanks for posting theinformative thread about TOFT. I've worked at the Performing Arts Library for many years with this collection. Betty (who hired me) and Patrick have both worked very hard to get these productionspreserved on video. One correction I can add: $12,000 to tape a show is not accurate. It's usually more than that, sometimes a lot more."

Perhaps you could answer a question I've wondered about. Are the archive videos duplicated and backed up off-site anywhere, or is the collection physically housed at the library the only copy in existence? I always worry about fire or natural disaster taking out the collection, or discs wearing out and becoming unreadable."

Master copies are kept in off-site storage, while playback copies are on site at the library. Plus, everything is gradually being digitized. This is very time-consuming, and the process was slowed by the pandemic, but eventually just about everything will be backed up on digital files.

[JayElle]

Posted: 6/24/21 at 11:32pm

dramamama611 said: "Yes, if all...or even most productions were released, I think that ticket sales would lose. " We'll wait for the release!"

And, to address the ops subject line: Almost every show IS preserved, and if you are in N.Y., you can make arrangements to see the recordings."

I thought I read that years ago. How does one make that arrangement to see it?   Via the NY Public Library?

[cmorrow]

Posted: 6/25/21 at 6:19am

JayElle said: "dramamama611 said: "Yes, if all...or even most productions were released, I think that ticket sales would lose. " We'll wait for the release!"

And, to address the ops subject line: Almost every show IS preserved, and if you are in N.Y., you can make arrangements to see the recordings."

I thought I read that years ago. How does one make that arrangement to see it? Via the NY Public Library?"

Yes -- specifically, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, at Lincoln Center. The video archive is called the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive (TOFT). More info about TOFT, here:

https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/theatre-film-and-tape-archive

P.S. I would add that saying "almost every show" is preserved is overstated. MANY shows are preserved, but not everything. As many shows as possible.

[cmorrow]

Posted: 6/25/21 at 7:09am

P.S. I should add that the TOFT screening room reopened to the public in mid-May, on an appointment-only basis, for the first time in 14 months. (There was a brief attempt to reopen in November, but a surge in COVID cases shut the library down again.) In July, restrictions will be loosened further. More info about this on the NYPL website.

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 6/25/21 at 11:00am

cmorrow said: "sbflyfan said: Perhaps you could answer a question I've wondered about. Are the archive videos duplicated and backed up off-site anywhere, or is the collection physically housed at the library the only copy in existence? I always worry about fire or natural disaster taking out the collection, or discs wearing out and becoming unreadable."

Master copies are kept in off-site storage, while playback copies are on site at the library. Plus, everything is gradually being digitized. This is very time-consuming, and the process was slowed by the pandemic, but eventually just about everything will be backed up ondigital files."

I was guessing such a backup was in place, but thank you very much for putting my mind at ease, and for your insight into working with this collection!  Greatly appreciated.