Which brings us to today:

We are at the shoot every day. The mood is warm and inclusive and very family-oriented. It is joyful to watch the movie actually being realized. It is deeply meaningful for us to have so many of the original cast members together again and our two new members, Tracie and Rosario fit right in and their talent is going to blow you away! Everything looks wonderful and is completely authentic; the music sounds fantastic and the film is being shot with creative artistry. This is a set full of unbelievably gifted individuals. True professionals all, but beyond that, this is a group of the most decent human beings I've ever encountered. What more could we ask for?

I've been asked if it's what we expected. I can only say this - I had no idea what to expect. I deliberately let go of anticipating what it would be or trying to compare it to the stage play - that stands on its own and continues to be a wonderful testament to my brother and all the amazingly talented people who originally brought RENT to life. The movie is the next chapter on this journey and all I can say is that everything I've seen and heard so far exceeds any possible expectations. I truly believe my brother would be extremely proud.

From time to time I will join in and add my comments and impressions of RENT, the movie, but for now, I thought I should give you an idea of how we got here:

The Beginning:

When my brother, Jonathan Larson, died so unexpectedly 9 years ago, on the actual day RENT was to open for previews, it changed the course of the lives of our family. The New York Times called RENT, "The Birth of a Theatrical Comet," and that's what it felt like. We'd been strapped onto a rocket for a truly unbelievable ride. Nobody, including my brother, would have dared anticipate how huge the show would become, that it would still be on Broadway 9 years later, would have been produced around the world and that it would have had such an impact on so many people.

The world was celebrating my brother while we were forced to make hundreds of decisions each day in the public eye, simultaneously trying to find a few private moments to grieve. One of the biggest decisions was whether to allow a movie version of the show.

In those early days, we tried to second-guess "What would my brother want" and felt the weight of each decision. We finally realized that RENT had surpassed even his dreams and HE wouldn't have had quick answers for many of the choices he'd have faced. He would have been calling me, saying "Jule, what do I do?" The bottom line is that we will never know for sure what he would have chosen. And so, our benchmark has not been "What would Jon have wanted" but "Is each choice being made with good intentions," because, in reality, that's the best our family can do.

Honestly, the idea of translating RENT into a movie terrified me. What if it didn't work? But fear would have been what stopped us from going ahead with a movie and one of the central themes in RENT is NOT to choose fear. And so, we chose to take a "leap of faith" and allow a movie to be made.

That having been said, during the last 8 years, each time the movie was mentioned, I felt extremely uncomfortable. It never felt right. Until we met Chris Columbus. I honestly think that things happen for a reason and work out the way they're meant to and I believe it took this long to make a movie because we were waiting for Chris. In the first few minutes of our meeting with him, all the anxiety of the last 8 years vanished. As more family members and many of Jon's closest friends have gotten to meet Chris, they have all felt that same comfort. Chris GETS IT. He, himself, is a huge fan of the show and he wanted to stay authentic to the show, while broadening it for film. I can honestly say that RENT is in the most capable, creative, loving and respectful hands.