It's expensive to produce musicals on television. Craig Zadan More Quotes by Craig Zadan More Quotes From Craig Zadan Our plan from the beginning, two years ago, was we are going to get every fan of every movie we are honoring to come watch the show, but in addition to that, we are putting on an entertainment. Craig Zadan company-news There we are standing in the jungles of Peru and there is this young girl talking to me about the pizza and selfie. Craig Zadan company-news If anything's going to go wrong, it'd go wrong during 'Peter Pan,' not 'The Sound of Music.' Craig Zadan wrong go music sound To battle the odds - loss of interest, no funding, discouragement - requires someone who doesn't give up. Craig Zadan someone battle odds loss We called the head of CBS and said, 'We know how network television feels about musicals. Would you even consider doing 'Gypsy?'' He said, 'If I did say yes, you'd have to have a big movie star who does not do TV.' I told him that, in our fantasy world, we'd like Bette Midler. He said, 'Get Bette Midler, and you have an on-the-air commitment.' Craig Zadan you fantasy commitment world A lot of people feel that 'Music Man' is a good movie musical. Craig Zadan good man music people I was captivated by Stephanie Mills. Craig Zadan captivated mills In the past, once a movie musical was made, it was believed that you were left with that version, good or bad, for posterity. Craig Zadan bad good you past We zero in on family as a theme because it makes the movies emotionally available to a universal audience. Craig Zadan movies theme audience family We'd never do 'The Sound of Music' because the movie was perfect. Craig Zadan never music perfect sound It rests in the hands of 'Dreamgirls' and 'Hairspray.' If they're successful, we'll be back on track - people will continue to greenlight musicals. If they don't work, then you're going to see everyone go back to the way it was before 'Chicago.' Craig Zadan you work hands people Some filmmakers set out to re-create the theater experience they got on Broadway. They kept everything the same. They shot the original casts. We reinvent the whole thing, look at it solely as a movie. We pretend that nobody saw 'Chicago' or 'Hairspray.' Craig Zadan pretend nobody look experience I don't understand how other producers who have no experience making a musical jump in and produce one. Craig Zadan jump how understand experience People think, 'Oh, you're doing 'The Wiz' because 'Empire' is such a big hit.' The truth is, staging this musical has been a dream of ours since the '90s, but the rights were tied up. It's just coincidental that, this year, when we were choosing a new musical, the rights were cleared. Craig Zadan you truth-is truth people Carrie Underwood clearly drove 'The Sound of Music.' For 'Peter Pan,' we had terrific actors but not stars, and we did not do nearly as well. Craig Zadan well music stars sound When you work on a passion project, there's always the chance that you'll get your heart broken. Craig Zadan you passion work heart There were no TV musicals until we did Bette Midler 'Gypsy,' and the success of that opened the door for us to do the rest. Craig Zadan door us rest success What usually happens on the Oscar telecast is that as soon as best picture is announced, everyone is up out of their seats and running off to their parties. Craig Zadan picture everyone best happens Neil and I had the greatest experience of our lives doing 'Chicago' with Latifah. Then we had the second best experience of our lives doing 'Hairspray.' Craig Zadan greatest doing best experience We couldn't even contemplate doing 'Hairspray' without a live audience. Craig Zadan live without doing audience
