I had sat down with a few friends a while back to watch A Chorus Line.

Shut up. It's a good film.

Anyway, I realized theres a reason that filmmakers all want to do a musical some day. It has to be one of the hardest, most challenging genres. Some make them right (Bob Fosse, Robert Altmen) and some cock it up so bad you want to cry (Spike Lee, Woody Allen). My thought on it is that if the music is part of the story and setting it can be a classic, like Fame or All That Jazz. If people just suddenly burst into song then it's just too damn bizarre in most cases. We don't identify anymore (Cop Rock, Cop Rock). Hard to say though, sometimes it can work perfectly (South Park, Cannibal). So what I want to know is this. What do you think are the best musicals and why did they work?

My personal favorites are still Fame, Chorus Line, and All That Jazz.

Shut up.

-- Michael Fitts (michael@noextraday.com), December 05, 2000

Answers

We are producing a musical, after "The Last Book" got rejected by Sundance 2001, we've decided to shoot a musical and give the 2002 festival a shot.

Can't discuss much, except the music will be in the style of "Cirque du Soleil", it's kind of a blend of Ethnics and New Age music style.

We are in pre-production right now, any of you interested please contact me.

Allen Chuang Director Manical Productions

-- Allen Chuang (allen@swmagazine.com), December 07, 2000.

BTW:

I really want to shoot "Rent" into a movie, too bad New Line already acquired the right to the movie version.

Allen Chuang Director Manical Productions

-- Allen Chuang (allen@swmagazine.com), December 07, 2000.