Variety: Broadway Worldwide, the company with ambitious plans to capture and distribute Broadway titles in surround sound and HD, has pacted with Chinese firm Sun New Light Culture Development Limited to create Broadway Worldwide Entertainment Media, in a deal that secures the funding to capture two to four musicals a year for distribution in territories around the world including China.
6 comments:
Filming Broadway and broadcasting it all over the world, seems to be a pretty solid idea. I know there are tons and tons of rules and regulations about copyright and legal words that could take even the fastest reader months to read through. At the end of the day how every I feel it is probably something worth looking at. If we export our theatre maybe that will increase the theatre the world does. I also say that self servilely because I want to work in theatre. So if more of the people of the world enjoy theatre then the more theatre that is done and the more job opportunities I have. Also if China starts opening theatre, WAIT. Lets not be ignorant China has theatre, but it would be more Americanized theatre. I would not say I feel that our theatre is better then theirs. I have no idea what theirs is like. Well lets just say more westernized theatre. Still think it is a good idea.
While spreading the joy and magic of Broadway through the world is a wonderful thought, it can never be fully accomplished. Films are extremely different than stage performances, and when you try to fit a musical into film, it will never capture you the same way. I am not saying that I prefer stage over film or film over stage, but one is certainly chocolate while the other is vanilla. All of the people in foreign countries watching these movies have great experiences I don't doubt, but because of the setup of an audience in theatre, options get limited on a stage. This is going to lead to limited experiences, and if you're dealing with a stage setup and not actually getting the energy in the auditorium of the play, then the different angles and close ups of the actors on stage just isn't worth it. On a film set, you are free to place the audience (camera) absolutely anywhere you like, which helps create endless viewpoints and experiences for the audience to be a part of. There may not be a small variety with stage, but when it is compared to film, there is simply much more you can do.
That being said, I have a strong hope that these films will do a great job of inspiring theatre across the globe.
Filming a braudway shows seems like a good concept. The only thing that makes me second guess this is the fact that the beauty of theater is the fact that it is live and that it is all happening right in front of you. In theater productions the audience is part of the cast. The actors ion stage react and respond to the audiences reactions just like they respond to other actors on stage. By filming it and showing it in other places that aspect of theater is lost. If that aspect is lost then why not just make it a movie? isn't a live theater production closer to a live movie instead? I do see the benefit in it in some ways. Having something filmed lives is a very different feel then the edited together movies that we watch. I am interested to see this idea play out.
The first line of this entire article immediately set m on edge. Capturing and distributing broadway musicals? In my own opinion, that takes away most all of the magic behind seeing live theatre. On top of that, if these shows are distributed to the public there would be no need to go the theatre and see it. Theaters would begin to go dark due to lack of business. I disagree with putting shows like these on discs and distributing them to the public. Theatre and film are both extremely well done and successful independently. I believe they should stay that way.
I wonder if this is going to be what London used to do with Phantom of the Opera that they filmed the show from Royal Albert Hall and send it to cinemas in Asia. And I remembered it was followed by series of jekyll and hyde, Miss Saigon and Etc. Which was really really cool and I think it's great for people who lives so far away and getting tickets to see the show takes crazy amount of efforts, both time and money wise. Theatre in Asia is very different from American or British style of theatre. With different rules, norms, and system, also very different taste. But we are very opened and always love to see how Western theatre do their productions. So I think this idea from Broadway Worldwide is very good and I'm supporting this idea.
Personally I don't agree with what they are trying to do here but I am conflicted about it. I understand people aren't going to theaters let alone movie theaters anymore because they don't want to leave the comfort of their home, so if the people wont come to the show bring it to them seems like the perfect solution. Right? Wrong. At least for theater it looses it affect of having the audience truly feel like they are a part of the story because the action is so close you can touch it. With showing it the screen it just feels like you staring at the fish from behind the glass. And Sure surround sound helps to some degree to make you feel immersed but its just not the same. The only benefit it that it allows people who couldn't see it a chance to watch.
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