It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since composer Jonathan Larson went home from the final dress rehearsal of his new show Rent—and died of a ruptured aorta in his Manhattan apartment, never getting to see the show’s international success.

One of the last people to talk to him that day was longtime friend Eddie Rosenstein, a documentary filmmaker who served as one of the inspirations for the character of Mark Cohen. A decade ago Rosenstein sat down with Playbill.com's managing editor Robert Viagas to share what he remembered of Larson’s hopes and dreams for Rent in those last few days. And he talks about the Rent movie, for which he shot all of the mock documentary footage.

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Rosenstein is president of Eyepop Productions, a movie and reality TV production company. His projects have included "A Tickle In The Heart," "School Play," "The Gospel According to Mr Allen," "Two Weddings" and "The Greatest Tunnel Ever Built."