Compa_Mighty
Tol Eressea
Nov 26 2009, 10:53pm
Views: 7998
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The Silmarillion on HBO
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Hello Gautreaux! Welcome to the forums, I hope you have a great time. Anyway, we've discussed this before, and it simply CANNOT happen. The Tolkien Estate which is completely anti-adaptation, owns full rights to the Silmarillion, and it's thus, not adaptable on film or the like. LotR and The Hobbit could be done because those rights belong to other parties who acquired them eons ago, before Tolkien died. Anyway, for the sake of argument, let me re-paste my 20 chapter outline for a Silmarillion series on HBO (I've posted this twice before) Here and here. I don't think it can be done on film, for the same reasons mentioned above, so I believe something à la Band of Brothers or Rome, with Weta in the effects and the Jackson and producers would be the best thing to do. There is the possibility of having many directors, and yet have a coherent vision with the films. The Silmarillion on HBO Some time, when we were in this discussion, I said that productions such as Rome, Band of Brothers, and the upcoming Star Wars live action series demonstrate how TV has actually become a great way to produce what would be impossible for a feature film, with a comparable quality. That said, of course I'd love a Silmarillion series, and I do believe that will be possible in the long term, after everything is settled in the state once Christopher is no longer with us. But that's another entire topic for discussion. What would a Silmarillion series allow? Different writers, different directors. That would be nice. What would be necessary in Silmarillion series? Cohersion. As the Star Wars novels are planned, the series should have an overall visual and acoustic feel, with general guidelines creative teams for each chapter would have to follow, let's say, "guided creativity". What would I love of a Silmarillion series? Well, it would be ideal if this was treated like a movie, and furthermore, an extension of LotR/The Hobbit that would mean Lee, Howe and Nasmith (very importantly so for any Silmarillion imagery) as conceptual artists, and why not, WETA in postproduction. It would be very nice to see this series, and know that it takes place in the same world than the theatrical LotR. That of course doesn't mean PJ or Howard Shore (necessarily), just keep treating Middle Earth as a historical place, whose appearance people already know. The Silmarillion series could encompass the whole book. In fact, I just found the table of contents over at Barnes & Noble ( I borrowed my Silmarillion copy) and I will try to fit it into chapters, as I would think it could be distributed. Excuse me if I don't remember what exactly happens in each chapter, I just read the book once. Chapter 1: The Prologue. It gives the background to the story in an hour. The creation, the Ainur, the first apperance of the Elves. It encompasses: Ainulindale Valaquenta Of the Beginning of Days Of Aule and Yavanna Of the Coming of the Elves and the Captivity of Melkor Chapters 2 and 3: The Elves. Characters are introduced, the whole tree/lamps/sun and moon problematic is presented, the creation of the Silmarills. I think all these chapters are quite interesting to read, but could not be followed closely in many chapters. Of Thingol and Melian Of Eldamar and the Princes of the Eldalie Of Feanor and the Unchaining of Melkor Of the Silmarils and the Unrest of the Noldor Of the Darkening of Valinor Of the Flight of the Noldor Of the Sindar Of the Sun and Moon and the Hiding of Valinor Chapter 4 and 5: Men. Characters, and the Houses of Men are introduced, the continuing drama of the Noldor is developped. Of Men Of the Return of the Noldor Of Beleriand and its Realms Of the Noldor in Beleriand Of Maeglin Of the Coming of Men into the West From then on, the stories are more concrete and movie friendly, as well as character driven. Chapter 6: Of the Ruin of Beleriand and the Fall of Fingolfin Chapters 7 and 8: Of Beren and Luthien Chapter 9: Of the Fifth Battle: Nirnaeth Arnoediad Chapters 10 and 11: Of Turin Turambar Chapter 12: Of the Ruin of Doriath (This one is a tricky one, but I believe it justifies its own chapter, because Thingol and Melian are an important part opf many of the prior stories) Chapters 13 and 14: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin Chapters 15 and 16: Of the Voyage of Earendil and the War of Wrath Chapters 17, 18 and 19: Akallabeth (3 chapters to allow full devellopment of Númenor, using chapter 19 to show the creation of the Gondor and Arnor, the planting of the White Tree, etc.) Chapter 20:Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age (This should be consistent with the movies within the possibilities of the time, it is an effective closure to a 20 chapter series.) This is assuming each chapter is 1 hour long. So there, that's my proposal, what do you think? So there, what do you think? This is my best approach yet.
Here's to Del Toro becoming the Irvin Kershner of Middle Earth! Essay winner of the Show us your Hobbit Pride Giveway!
(This post was edited by Compa_Mighty on Nov 26 2009, 10:55pm)
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