Thanks Chris! For your vision, your words, and your courage. You are an amazing director! I wish you all the best in your life with all that love and talent that you possess!
Thank you for everything.

~Muse~

Thanks, Chris. I'm glad that I feel like I can trust you with this show. I was so worried... but you've truly removed all fear I had concerning my RENT being made into a movie. Thanks. I'm glad you understand RENT -- really understand it.

*Mondie :)

Thank you Chris. I trust your vision. You have yet to fail in your cinematic interpretations of cultural phenomena, from the first to Harry Potter to Rent. I can't wait to see Rent and I feel it will be just perfect.

Thank you Chris! For taking everything you said in that video, and turning it into what is sure to be an amazing movie!

Chris... I must admit that I was skeptical about your direction of 'RENT', but when I see clips like this one, I feel very confident that you have done a great job with the film!!
You are super talented and your dedication to 'RENT' could never be matched by another director. I'm glad you were onboard for this production!!

~Shastina

Thanks Chris, your vision really seems great. Can't waittt for next Wednesday!

Chris I am so glad that you got the Job of directer for rent. I think you have brought everything we needed and loved from the stage and put in More, You r the best
-louis

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Did I forget something?

Chris,
It's so great to see that you care so much about the fans of Rent. This blog is wonderful, and I can't wait to see the movie. reconsider the changes you made to the song that comes after the funeral. You have been so true to Jonathan Larson and to the fans of Rent, I hope that we will have the chance to see the song in it's full form.

Yippee!!! I'm so glad that you really know what the essence of Rent is instead of saying something cheesy. You did a great job. We Rentheads are so lucky to have you as the director! Thanks!

9 days!!!

Those were beautiful words, Chris. Mighty beautiful words.

I couldn't agree more. The fact that you see it that way is such a comfort, because I'm sure most Rentheads see it that way, too. Thanks Chris!

*hugs*
~Lausy M.~

Awwww. Thank you, Chris.

- Annie
Yonkers, NY

Chris,
I think it's so great that you care so much about the true message of RENT. I think you've done a wonderfull job of making sure it stays true to johnathon larsons original work. I just hope that you reconsider the cuts you have made to certain songs that are not in the movie, but were on the soundtrack, because they sounded wonderfull and i know all us rentheads were really looking foward to seeing them fully in the film!

Amen to that, Mr. Columbus. Amen.

Aww that was awesome!

<33

you captured it exactly, Chris! Thanks so much for everything you've done to truly make this movie for the fans!

-Jenn
Bronx, NY

He sounds like a true rent head!!! Welcome to the crew, Chris!! Thank u!!
Sammy

Thank you so much for those words, Chris, and I know it'll turn out great. We have faith that you'll do right by the story and in fact by Jonathan Larson (R.I.P)...

From my understanding, you truly know the message of the Rent story.

Chris, we are so grateful that you wanted to bring this message to life. For each person, the message may be different... but we are glad that RENT has touched your life too. I think we were all kind of cautious at first about this movie, but we now know that RENT was put in good hands. I don't know if every director could have done what you did: taking the original cast members and using them to be a part of this movie... it means a lot to us, and we can't thank you enough.

November 23rd,
Joyce

I cant think of anyone else I would rather have be the director of this film.

Chris, That was totally inspirational. I just loved what you did with the Harry Potter movies and just cannot wait to see how Rent was put together. I know I will not be disappointed especially w/ u as the director.

Lots of Love to the you and the cast,

Lindsey

I know there have been mixed feelings on your direction of this film. I honestly never felt strongly one way or another. I will say, I'm glad you got 6/8 of the OBC for this film, because my biggest concern was the cast. I wanted either OBC or unknowns. The only one who doesn't fit into either is Rosario, but she's got an amazing voice and she's a wonderful actress, so I don't care. What I've seen makes me very content and I've been e-mailing all of my friendstelling them why they should go see Rent. Thank you for bringing one of my favorite shows to the screen.

Chris, thank you for your dedication and commitment to the spirit of RENT. Please allow us devoted fans the option of at least watching the movie (as it was filmed) in it's entirety on the DVD! You've have said that this movie is being made for us. I know you won't let us down:) Forever Grateful.

Thank you Chris for deciding to take on the project because without this I wouldn't have been presented with the opportunity to do extra work on it. There was an ad in the Oakland tribute saying that they wanted people from the community to be extras. So of course I went to the casting call. I never considered or imagined that I would ever be doing something like that, so thank you so much. Since then I've done more extra work but nothing since has been that fun, and, organized. Thank you so much again and I can't wait to see the movie.

Thank you.... your comments were insightful and it made me breathe easier knowing that you are in tune with what I feel is the true essence of RENT... thank you, thank you!

I saw the film.

It was amazing.

Congrats.

I sincerely hope that everyone takes note of your insight, dedication, and overall amazing production.
(cough oscar cough)

Chris,

You have got to be my favorite director of all time. My love of your work began when I was only 4 years old. I watched Mrs. Doubtfire so many times that I memorized the entire 1st scene where Daniel Hillard is doing the voice over of the bird and the cat... i can still recite it today. From that movie to Home Alone, Stepmom, HP and so many others, I could not be happier that you have been chosen to convey Jonathan Larson's message on film.... I know It is gonna be awesome. Thanks for collaborating your talents with the Rent community

chris, thank you for your words on rent...and everything else. i am anxiously counting down the days until the 23. i can't wait to see the final vision you had for this wonderful piece of art.

much love, xoxoxox

Chris,
I think you have really captured the essence of RENT completly. From the very beginning of this project it seemed that you have done the best job anyone could possibly do in bringing RENt to life on the big screen. Thank you a million times over!

Chris, thanks for giving people a chance to share in this wonderful, wonderful experience. I think the movie has the ability to change people's lives just as the show has done (and is still doing!), and without you it couldn't have happened. And what you said in your clip is so completely true.

=) Looking foward to the movie in one - ONE! - week!
~Alex

Mr. Columbus,
I am writing a paper on Rent the musical for an eigth grade informative essay. I have some questions that i need to ask you, and if you wouldn't mind answering them ASAP. What exactly made you want to change a broadway play into a movie? Now that i think about it, What prompted you to even make it into a broadway play? How did you find the right people to play all the parts?

Thank you,
Adam E.

Hey Chris, Just a requst for the DVD. Could you give us an option on the DVD to watch an extended version, or the theatrical version. I would really be soooo grateful and I know everyone here would be too. The scenes that you shot are, from what I heard,...amazing. I would just like to be able to buy an extended DVD or a dvd in which you could watch either version of the movie.

Your grateful friend, PAUL

Deep Chris, but nice. Oh and being the Harry Potter obsesser i am, nice job on the first 2 HP movies!

Chris, Thats very true, and i completly agree, i think we all do. Truly a good point brought up too

Chris, great job. I admire your dedication to bring (most) of the original cast back. That took class.
I would like you to explain or discuss why you chose to have Mimi's character smoke in the movie. I am sure you are aware of the controversy, the product-placement and paid inclusion of tobacco in movies. I am also sure you are aware of the influence on teens that movies provide. Can you elaborate on your decision?

To the cast,director, and crew of RENT,
My name is Liz, and I am from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and I was invited to a sneak preivew at a local movie theatre, and I thought the film was incredible, you really brought the stage to the screen very what seemed effortlessly. It was wonderful. Thank you for a wonderful thing a decade later.
Thanks again,
Liz

Is the building they live in in New York or San Fansisco? I went looking for it on 11th and Ave. A and coldn't find it :-(

I'm going to be honest in saying that I was so concerned about how this film would turn out. I knew that it could not have all the music in the show in it and I've seen it twice on Broadway so I had pretty high expectations for it. Today I went to the first showing in my state and was thrilled. I was so worried that I would be dissapointed but I wasn't at all. Thank you so much for not loosing the ideals of Rent in the film version. It is wonderful and a joy to watch. I laughed, I cried, and the entire audience mooed with Maureen. It was an amazing experience- thank you so much.

The film was AMAZING!! Thanks so much for taking on this project! I've been waiting 9 years for this. I've seen the play twice...once in Minneapolis and once in New York, though it would be impossible for me to count the number of times I listened to the soundtrack. I live in South Dakota, so it is not easy to make it to such events very often. You brought this muical, which has been a joy in my life, to all of us!! It was so fantastic. I just can't thank you enough!!

Thank you for having faith in the original cast. Their presence gave us RENTheads faith that the movie would not flop the stage show. And I loved the movie. I do have one question though: why wasn't the fact that April commited suicide out there the way it was in the play? Just out of curiosity.
Thank you for making this movie. It is truly beautiful.

Dear Mr. Columbus,

What was it like to work with Anthony Rapp again after all of those years since "Adventures in Babysitting"? I've read some of his comments about working with you again, but I don't think I've heard your side yet.

I have never seen "RENT" on the stage. Was the fantasy sequence in "Tango: Maureen" in the stage version as well or was that new for the film? I heard most of your interview with Bernie Ward on Wednesday night (11/23) at my Mom's house. That was a very nice surprise. She listens to him a lot & I just happened to be there. I tried to email this through the website during the show, but I don't think it went through. I was going back & forth between rooms & the next time I heard you on the radio I just heard the tail end of your mentioning "Tango: Maureen" & then I wasn't sure if it had gone through or not. Sorry if you have already answered this & I missed it. How fun that Brendan got to come along too. Did he enjoy it?

What determines whether or not the 1492 logo goes on a film? I've seen it at the end of "RENT" & "Christmas with the Kranks", but not on "Harry Potter" or "Fantastic Four".

Happy Holidays,
Sandy

I loved the blog and I was wondering if maybe you could put the videos from the blog in the dvd. It would be great.
Thanks

i completely get the whole too strong for the film kinda thing,
isnt that why u cut christmas bells out?? cause its a very great song too, i absoluetly love it, but it just wouldnt work on film,
i think u can just pull of a lot more on stage than on film, lol, the beauties of show biz,
well, ill look forward to seeing goodbye love on the dvd, cause i love that song!!! (what am i saying, i love ALL the songs!!)
and i loved the film, im going back to see it again, for like the millionith time!!

thnx for doing this for every1, it means a lot to those of us who have never gotten the chance to see rent on stage, or have been able to go to new york, that being said, i loved the tribute to johnathan larson at the end, that in itself made me cry, lol
wow,

thank you, very very much, lol

--meg--

you're movie kick some serious butt i have never seen it before (i mean live) because i was like 3 when it was out, but i saw this and now won't shut up about it!

i can't wait until it comes out on dvd because then i can watch it everyday after school and just wow is all i can say

WOW!
<3 mel

Hi Chris
Im from Portugal and i saw the RENT musical, like 15 times in NY.
Im really looking fw to see the movie here, but i think that the movie is not going to show here!Im sooo sad!!I have to o to Spain our NY.
Im really your and rent´s biggest fan!
I love you guys!
Idina, you are really the best!
Chris, as a videographer, im dreaming of working with you!
Thank you for your bless!
Best regards from Portugal Europe!;)