I know the musical Les Miserable has been translated into 21 different languages, but was wondering if they are going to translate (dub) the film into those languages?
Otherwise, I find it hard to think this film will make much money if it is only subtitled in other countries. I know Germans are as lazy as Americans and hate reading subtitles and far prefer the films to be dubbed.
Considering this film has no spoken lines - it is all music - I just wondered how and if they are going to translate this into German/French/Italian/Spanish etc. for the international market? Otherwise, I would guess this film will not be scooping up large amounts of money in non-English speaking countries. Then again, it ain’t cheap or easy to dub musicals in multiple languages.
Any Dopers seen ads for this film to be shown in other languages?
All of the previews I’ve been seeing talk on and on about how the actors themselves set the pace and timing of the music - the orchestral score was all added afterwards. This is supposed to give the music a very natural flow. I’m looking forward to seeing how it pans out.
Seems to me that dubbing the film would basically negate that whole process.
Dubbing is cheaper than subtitling. Especially in this case, where translations have already been made. You just pick the singers and have them sing the score (which they can learn beforehand). In this case, dubbing make far more sense.
I hope it turns out to be more like musical theater. I’d pick seeing Wicked, Phantom of the Opera or La Boheme on the stage over Oklahoma, Momma Mia or Sweeney Todd on film any day of the week.
They sure are making a big deal about the actors singing the parts live during the filming. Especially silly when you consider that actors are doing that every night somewhere.
I assumed that was part of the point. It’s a theater-like singing performance on film (and without the $100 a chair price tag to see Les Mis on stage).
The whole attitude toward the live singing is really bugging me. As you said, there are hundreds of actors doing this every single night (and sometimes twice in the same day), all without the benefit of a second take. They have to get it right every single time. Do we really hold screen actors to such incredibly low standards that people fling laurels at them when they’re able to finally get a live song right on the twelfth take? And judging by Russell Crowe’s singing in the clips that have been released, they don’t even need to sound good to earn praise, apparently.
I don’t see why. They’re comparing it to other musicals on film (which are not sung live during the filming), not to stage theater. In fact, the idea is to draw it closer to a stage show, not to hold itself as superior.
The reason this is an interesting change is because the only accompaniment the actors had was a pianist who was following along. The actors set the pace of the song and were allowed complete freedom to stretch this note here, interpret this bit there, and so on. Later, the orchestral score was played to go along with the individual actors’ interpretations of the piece.
In musical theater, the actors and the orchestra practice together, but (as you said) you get one shot during the performance. It’s a bit like tumbling along in an avalanche or atop a big wave - everything happens and it’s going to keep on happening no matter what.
I think this particular way of doing things might give some interesting results.
Have you watched the extended preview for the movie? They are absolutely holding up “their way” (which is not actually “their way,” as I said above) as superior. And if they’re using actors who can actually sing, like Hugh Jackman and Aaron Tveit, then they’ll sound fine. But for actors who can’t sing, like Russell Crowe, it will make them sound all the worse.
I won’t be seeing the film till February 7, when it opens in St. Petersburg, Russia. I hope it’s just subtitled. On Russian TV, they often just lower the english dialogue and speak over it in russian. That won’t do.
I’ve read the screenplay and can have the soundtrack on my Samsung player (I often watch films there this way). I do, however, think they’ll release it worldwide with the Jackman, Crowe et al.