Hollywood the Write Way is proud to present the second installment of Young Insight, the new series of interviews, essays, etc… from young Hollywood.

This interview is conducted with special guest, Harvey Guillen (ABC Family’s Huge).

Read what didn’t make it in the video below:

One of my favorite shows is Rent. I didn’t really know about the story behind it until the movie came out. But after I saw the show for the first time and continued to see it, I couldn’t watch the movie again because it was so different. Do you have an example of a show that you were surprised about when it comes to how well or not so well it was translated?

Using Chicago as an example, I was surprised that in the original stage version, Mary Sunshine is played by a man who dresses in women’s clothing. In the film version, they used a woman. In the stage version, that said a lot – going back to that period when America put on a facade and disguise. You thought something but it was not at all what you thought. That was a big point in the stage version that usually things are not what you think they appear to be. I think they should have kept that in the film. I wanted to play that part (laughs). John C. Reilly did an amazing job with “Mr. Cellophane.” That’s one of my favorite songs. That is a role I would love to play someday. I like that Hairspray, they kept that same idea. It would have been completely different if John Travolta hadn’t played the mother.

What do you think about the lack of original musicals and a surplus of revivals in New York in the past few years?

I can understand why there are so many revivals on Broadway. Times are hard. A family of four may not have $400 to go see a production of Mary Poppins. It’s pricey to go see shows. So I think that bringing back old favorites and bringing in well known celebrities as headliners is good right now. I think the Tonys alone was a great example of that. We saw Catherine Zeta-Jones in A Little Night Music and Scarlet Johansson doing a play. They need big names to fill the seats. Times are hard. It’s like, “Should I spend $400 to see a show or pay 3 bills?” But if Scarlett Johansson is in it, then the question becomes, “Well it’s Scarlett, how many times is she going to be on Broadway? I better not miss this.” So I think that is why that is happening but I think that we will go back to a place where there are more original pieces and just things that are different, like Spring Awakening. That was a great play that was adapted from a book over 100 years old. That is amazing that they could make that cool. And classics don’t die. Some might ask, “Well why are they doing Oklahoma! again?” Well, that generation wants to see it again. It’s is the same as watching a favorite movie over and over and over again.

Oh yeah. That’s true.

That’s true, yeah, it’s because you want it to live.

Now you mentioned the Tonys. This year, many people did not like that the Hollywood actors were snagging the awards. What do you have to say about that?

I love when film and television actors get the chance to perform on stage. But the Tonys didn’t feel like the Tonys. It felt like more of an extension of the Academy Awards… I felt that it was very Hollywood influenced this year. Not to say that their performances weren’t good but we need to see more of those unsung heroes on Broadway…but what are you going to do? This year was probably the hardest year for Broadway financially.

What do you think needs to be done in Hollywood to raise their standards and make the quality of films better for musical movies?

I think what needs to be done in Hollywood to make musical movies better…I just think that you really need to give the work all the time that it needs. I think that people spend too much time on pumping something out. These words were written for a reason. These songs were written for a reason. And I’m a big believer in…if you can’t sing the song, then you probably shouldn’t do the show. A show is written in a certain key. So when I see a movie where they have hired some great actor but is not a powerful singer…we have tons of great singers but they aren’t “names.” Theatre gives people a chance. So if you give people a chance, they will surprise you. I think it is time for Hollywood to give a lot more people a chance.

This show that I am working on is a perfect example of this. The whole cast, with the exception of Nikki (Blonsky) and, well, no, not even Hayley (Hasselhoff) because she had really never done anything beforehand – everyone was given a chance. We weren’t superstars or “names” and we were given a chance. At the end of the day, you work a little harder because you want to be really good since you know that this is your chance. So when given a chance, people will surprise you.

Where do you think the future of musical theatre and film stand, long term or short term?

For long term, I think we have rough times that will be had on stage production. But there is no way, if you are a real art lover, you will ever let that die. With all of the money being made and with huge budget films, people with power who appreciate the arts can’t let that die. Deep down inside, we all know that this is something we could never let die. What a disservice we would give our children and their children if they couldn’t grow up in a world where the arts weren’t at arms reach.

For film, I think it is only getting better. Because of the exposure they are aiming for with Spring Awakening and talks of In the Heights and Wicked…could you imagine Wicked on film? It is an amazing stage production, one of my favorites and on film there would be no limits when it comes seeing the witches flying and such. It should be amazing. Really for the future of both stage and musical movies, the sky is the limit.

Aside from Glee, do you think that there is longevity with more of the musical aspect on television?

I think so and I think we forget that at one point that was all that was on television. Even variety shows, Donny & Marie, The Brady Bunch had a variety hour and also let’s not forget people like Judy Garland. All of these people originated that idea. So we are taking something that worked back then and bringing it back. If it’s a hit, you bring it back and tweak it.

Do you think that people overlook Off Broadway?

I think they do, yeah. I think that’s sad because most of the shows on Broadway were at one point being developed Off Broadway. Off Broadway was In the Heights and now you can’t get a ticket. They were handing out free tickets on the street. Some people passed on that and then 2 weeks later those same people are paying $200 for a front row seat. Because you don’t give it a chance. What else do you have to lose? Let’s say a show wasn’t a great production and you spent $25. You were probably going to spend that on a bagels and coffee anyway. Sure, that is 2 hours of your life but you got to interact with other human beings. At the end of the day, you are supporting the arts. Even if you didn’t enjoy it, someone else did and at the end of the day, you supported something that you wanted to believe in.

Young Insight is where “Young Hollywood” analyzes smart, sophisticated, and critical issues involving life, literature, film, music, television, art, food, etc… taking Hollywood the Write Way to just the right level.

Stay tuned for the next installment of Young Insight!