Broadway DVDs
Broadway DVDs
RexWalls
Swing Joined: 7/19/17
#1Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 2:14pm
Why is it so hard to find DVDs of old/classic shows? After a Broadway show closes, it's just... done? They don't preserve these things??
I'm trying to find a copy of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Into the Heights.
#2Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 2:25pm
They're preserved at the Lincoln Center library but most shows aren't legally allowed to film and publicly distribute the production.
#3Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 2:29pm
RexWalls said: "Why is it so hard to find DVDs of old/classic shows? After a Broadway show closes, it's just... done? They don't preserve these things??"
You're looking for something that doesn't exist. That makes them very hard to find.
#4Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 2:33pm
https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions/theatre-film-and-tape-archive/access
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#5Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 2:35pm
I'm trying to find a copy of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Into the Heights.
First off, the musical was titled IN THE HEIGHTS.
Secondly, as mentioned above, you can't find it because a filmed DVD of it doesn't exist. Not every single Broadway show is filmed for commercial release. Lincoln Center Archives films many Broadway shows (not all) for their archives but these are for archival/documentation purposes and not commercial release.
#6Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 3:49pm
Someday a theatrical producer or a union or a theater owner will find itself in deep financial distress, and someone will remind them how much untapped wealth is lying there in those unsold DVDs and somehow all differences will be settled and they'll let the money start to flow.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#7Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 4:05pm
Someday a theatrical producer or a union or a theater owner will find itself in deep financial distress, and someone will remind them how much untapped wealth is lying there in those unsold DVDs and somehow all differences will be settled and they'll let the money start to flow.
Even if the Lincoln Center Archives chose to release a few in a limited amount, they are not filmed suitable for commercial release. The shows are filmed to archive and document the staging, direction, choreography, etc so most are shot with extensive full-stage compositions. They are not filmed and edited like a commercial DVD release. People already complain about the camera angles of the officially filmed and released Broadway productions. They will be ape-**** pissed with the camera work on these archived versions.
BroadwayConcierge
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/24/15
#9Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 5:48pm
OlBlueEyes said: "Someday a theatrical producer or a union or a theater owner will find itself in deep financial distress, and someone will remind them how much untapped wealth is lying there in those unsold DVDs and somehow all differences will be settled and they'll let the money start to flow."
I agree. It would be wonderful if some of these shows were licensed to PBS, where they could run them each week - especially the periods of their 'fundraising' (which seems to happen more often than not). I would love to see some old shows airing on PBS. That will make all involved some $$$.
JSquared2
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/23/17
#10Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 5:54pm
David10086 said: "OlBlueEyes said: "Someday a theatrical producer or a union or a theater owner will find itself in deep financial distress, and someone will remind them how much untapped wealth is lying there in those unsold DVDs and somehow all differences will be settled and they'll let the money start to flow."
I agree. It would be wonderful if some of these shows were licensed to PBS, where they could run them each week - especially the periods of their 'fundraising' (which seems to happen more often than not). I would love to see some old shows airing on PBS. That will make all involved some $$$."
How would being on PBS make "all involved some $$$"?
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#12Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 6:22pm
PBS doesn't want them. If they aired them, they'd be fielding phone calls and emails and letters complaining about the quality.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#13Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 6:37pm
There's probably a bootleg lying around somewhere.
That's a whole separate thread in itself. And yes, there are more than a handful of bootlegs of the Broadway production of IN THE HEIGHTS, including a few with understudies in lead roles in them and one with Javier Muñoz as Usnavi.
mikey2573
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/28/10
#14Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 8:42pm
Speaking of NYPL's TOFT, Perhaps the older shows are not similar to commercially released stage productions, but most of the more recent ones are broadcast quality. I've seen two that were done in the past 10 years and they were using multiple cameras with editing, close-ups, medium and wide shots. And the sound was right off the sound system. As I was watching them I was thinking how they were broadcast quality.
#15Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 9:00pm
JSquared2 said: "
How would being on PBS make "all involved some $$$"?"
Those who license out the rights to PBS will make money, and those tuning in to PBS for their fundraising will allow PBS to make their money.
yankeefan7
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/14/12
#16Broadway DVDs
Posted: 8/31/17 at 10:10pm
"They're preserved at the Lincoln Center library but most shows aren't legally allowed to film and publicly distribute the production. "
I remember when my daughter was attending NYU for a semester (kind of like a study abroad program) and was taking a musical theater class. One of the shows, she actually had to write a letter to get permission for her to watch it.
#17Broadway DVDs
Posted: 9/1/17 at 11:05am
I recently enjoyed the RENT Broadway closing DVD that was produced. Lots of special features, as well. Ironically I wasn't much of a fan of the orig. cast or movie - so it finally won me over with this one.
schubox
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/16
#18Broadway DVDs
Posted: 9/1/17 at 11:10am
BrodyFosse123 said: "Someday a theatrical producer or a union or a theater owner will find itself in deep financial distress, and someone will remind them how much untapped wealth is lying there in those unsold DVDs and somehow all differences will be settled and they'll let the money start to flow.
Even if the Lincoln Center Archives chose to release a few in a limited amount, they are not filmed suitable for commercial release. The shows are filmed to archive and document the staging, direction, choreography, etc so most are shot with extensive full-stagecompositions. They are not filmed and edited like a commercial DVD release. People already complain about the camera angles of the officially filmed and released Broadway productions. They will be ape-**** pissed with the camera work onthese archived versions. "
I wish more recordings of shows had an option to watch a full stage angle. I like the close ups and all that, but sometimes I want to see the full stage. And I always feel like I'm missing things when they linger on close ups too long. Even the recent Falsettos release, which was excellent overall, there were times I was wishing I could look to another actor instead of the long close up
#19Broadway DVDs
Posted: 9/1/17 at 10:47pm
It is a little hard to understand. Usually a culture wants to preserve its great art for the generations to come. They are telling us that for a classic like My Fair Lady they are preserving the vehicle into which other actors may be used, but they are not preserving the original production with the actors who originated and defined the roles.
Early television was mostly live and not preserved, but as soon as the means was there, everything was recorded. That is why we can look back proudly to the 60s and watch an episode of My Mother the Car.
But really, there is all that value sitting there and, from the little experience that I've had subscribing or donating, they always need money.
But, hey, Roundabout streamed She Loves Me and now BroadwayHD has it (and almost nothing else). If Roundabout is in such bad shape financially, nice chunk of change for Cabaret with Emma Stone (according to Google Search the highest paid actress in the world).
Of course fifty or sixty others, like the actors, would want a share of the loot, but greed will find a way.
