| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Strahd Von Zarovich |
Posted - 07 Jan 2003 : 00:14:38
Here are a few hypothetical questions.
If the Realms TV series had made it to the screen, which locations would you have liked to see the most?
Also what characters or groups of people would you have liked to have seen?
Are there any particular actors which you feel would have suited certain roles?
and finally
What creatures would you have liked to make an apperance?
Strahd Von Zarovich
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| 26 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Talwyn |
Posted - 30 Aug 2004 : 05:02:40
Strahd, thanks for the advice although I was very much aware that WoTC would jealously guard their copywrite over D&D and it's related material. That's the real shame of it. They just can't see that if they'd let the reigns loose a little, let some of the more enthusiastic people out there, such as yourself, make short films etc about D&D then they may sell even more product. The narrow mindedness and blinked/tunnel vision of many of the people incharge of these enterprises often makes me grind my teeth in vexation. I can quite understand the fact they'd want to ensure that any production made using anything D&D related, doesn't bring the product into disreput but not letting anyone do anything is just plain stupid and selfish. I do suspect though that WoTC probably wouldn't have the final say in it anyway as they themselves are asubsidury company of Hasbro now - the huge & bland toy company that swallows up all others like the legandary Tarrasque. Many decent game companies that i new from the 1980's are now gone because of Hasbro, but that's capitalism for you! 
Maglubiyet, I think you're right in that ideas seen to take time in penetrating the craetive vacuum that is Hollywood. I agree that we'll probably see a film with that most famous drow in about 10 years rather than twenty. What it really comes down to is that if any "star" really wanted it to happen (as well as appear in the film) then WoTC & whatever studio would be more than happy to drop their reservations and make the film. Just look at Vin Deisel's recent outing with Ridick, he wanted to make the movie and so it was made, simple as that. Now that makes me think, he is a D&D fan and if we wrote to him and asked him to lend his considerable clout to the pitch, then it might just work.
The worst thing that could happen is they so no and the best is that a film gets made that may be half-waf watchable. |
| Maglubiyet |
Posted - 29 Aug 2004 : 15:34:34
quote:
Originally posted by Talwyn
It's a shame that most of your fellow film-makers aren't interested in a Realms based production
I think it takes a while for these things to gel in Hollywood. I remember talk of an X-Man movie back in the 80's. My friends and I couldn't believe that no one wanted to make the thing.
Maybe in 20 years we'll see Drizzt and Artemis dueling on the silver screen.
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| Strahd Von Zarovich |
Posted - 27 Aug 2004 : 20:20:58
Can I just give you a piece of advice, from past experience.
Try and stay clear of any references to WotC property in any film that is to be distributed, freely even, on the internet.
As I writer and a film maker myself, I once asked about the potential of doing a website for fans of the genre, to put up D&D based fanfilms.
Unlike the ever enthusiastic Peter Adkison, the current honchos over at WotC do not want to go down that road. Which is a shame. I had even written several shorts to be filmed, but I just put them to one side once I found out that this was the case.
However, it should not stop anyone doing a 'Fantasy' themed film, whether it is lego or live action.
Regards
Strahd Von Zarovich |
| Talwyn |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 12:39:59
Yes I am a fan of Enterprise Bookworm and have heard very good things about the 3rd season. (Puts up a shield and dons helm just in case Alaundo stalks by  ) I've been sneeking a peek at some spoilers for season 3 too (naughty paladin, spank!)
Now back to realms stuff (he says looking about cautioulsy for Alaundo):
What PDK & I have in mind is trying to find people who have some experience in making films/shows and who've worked possibly in the industry. Then we can pick their brains (yum, pass the salt!) for information/ideas/tricks of the trade etc.
So far you are the only person who is interested at all in making films and you'd be doing it on yourt own.
However, I have an idea:
if we came up with a good enough storyline and you animated it, would we then be able to use that in making a "Pitch" to the power-that-be?
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| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 10:38:44
If you want strong, cohesive storyline, you've got a treat coming. Since Enterprise is a season behind in Australia, I can vouch that Season 3, soon to be on your television lineup, blows any previous Star Trek story out of the water. Or out of space, I suppose. A diehard Original Series fan remarked that Enterprise was, in fact, better. (And even if you don't like Star Trek, Enterprise is different.)
Now, before Alaundo begins waving his staff of the irritated moderator, I'd better get back on subject. I'd like to repeat that there is no way we can make a feature length brickfilm based in the Realms -- not unless we can get paid for it or something, in which case it would have to be by WotC and Hasbro. Which brings me around to repeating the italicized text above. 
Short films are a maybe. The recently release movie we made (linked to on the other thread as an example) is under nine minutes. That's enough for a humorous film like that one, but not enough for a serious plot line.
Fortunately, humor pops up in several ways, and I just had another idea for a film. One that doesn't involve our Candlekeep, but about the Realms. I'll have to give it some thought. |
| Lina |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 10:24:02
I think the Avatar Series would have made a great tv series. It's got all the great combinaton's to make it good... good storyline, action, adventure, suspense, plots, the plight of gods, love, etc. |
| Talwyn |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 10:11:14
It's a shame that most of your fellow film-makers aren't interested in a Realms based production 
Yet this is exactly the time to begin making one.
My reasons are as follows:
1- with the success of LoTR, I'd say that any fantasy based shows/flicks still have a lot of audience mileage.
2-people are starting to get really sick of reality TV shows, I've just about thrown out my TV aerial and now only watch documentaries or the news or music TV, although I'm loving the Olympics at the moment, and also DVD's as there is bugger all on TV these days.
3-By the time production has finished on a new show (say by 2005), I'd say we'd have a ready market of entertainment starved fans out there who have had a gutfull of "Pop-Idol or Survivor or I just stubbed my Toe and what agony I had to endure" reality shows (there's nothing real about any of them! ).
4-The real draw card is that it IS fantasy, and I strongly believe that we like to watch fantasic stories with heros larger than life doing almost impossible things because it ennobles our spirit. Just for a moment, you are there with that character, doing great things and sharing the experience. The reality TV thing is shameful voyarism at best and explotation of the gullible & insecure of society at it's darkest: Poor fools wanting their 15 minutes of fame at the expense of their dignity. We get enough reality in our own lives, so we don't need to watch some poor schmucks backstab, lie & humilate themselves all for a cash prize, we have politicians that do that job perfectly well and are paid enough for their efforts!
5-The show needs a good set of writers to back it up. Well I don't need to say much more on this although I'd add that the FR authors may have to brush up on their screen writing ability. Also a strong and coherent storyline is what makes a good show: 6 Feet Under, Babylon 5, The Sopranos, Scrubs are just some examples of quality writing.
In summing up this little Media studies 101 lecture, we need to take matters into our own hands like Bookwyrm has done and others out there in the world, and unite to make something good!
(Talwyn gets of the lecturn and goes off to get a cold beer and watch the Olympics)
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| Bookwyrm |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 09:27:19
It's really too bad that the other members of my group aren't more interested in the Realms. In fact, only one of them has read anything to do with the Realms -- and that was my Jack Archer story.
As it is, I don't think we'll be able to do a serious, in-depth look at anything in the Realms. All I'm hoping for at this point is something short and funny about our own Candlekeep. (Now, if I were the actual filmer, I'd be more willing to take more on myself. But it's a lot of work to move those figures about, and I don't have a fraction of the skill our group's filmer has.) |
| Talwyn |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 07:58:32
I'd forgotten the "suits" own a name! 
They'd probably want a pile of cash and to have absolute control over any production company that dares name itself Candlekeep.
BALLS TO THEM! is what I say 
I don't mind paying royalties to deserving artists who have created this milieu but it's greedy corporations that demand an arm, leg and both kidneys just to use something that they "own" (he say's after spitting on the floor) is most galling. 
(Talwyn pours bucket of cold water over his head in order to settle down)  
Yes since this is a connection and also has a truck load of dedicated and erudite fans lurking here, then getting the were-with-all to found a production company is not such a silly idea.
Handling the copywrite will be tough though.
There are a lot of extremely talented people that frequent these halls and I would wager that many would dearly love to see some form of D&D based production that didn't stink like a ghasts underpants.
So then we have a spark of interest, can we begin to kindle a flame?
I'm up for it!
Hmm, Drawbridge Productions...could we have MurderHole Marketing as well?
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| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 06:32:38
quote:
Originally posted by Talwyn
So then brethern, shall we form our own production company then?
CandleKeep Images maybe? Light on the hill?
Candlekeep Productions perhaps? hmmm... although the word Candlekeep might give us problems with some suits over at WotC. How about Drawbridge Productions? 
The idea has merit, especially since we are semi-connected here on this board, with our direct discussions with several WotC authors who might be interested to have this little FR baby see the light of day...
I am 80% willing to say "let's do it!" due to my recent business & entrepreneurship education, which has me reeling to start something of my own... the missing 20% could be gained through some advice from someone in the industry (anyone here works for a TV production outfit or knows someone who does?)  |
| Talwyn |
Posted - 26 Aug 2004 : 02:42:26
(Sigh) 
It's absolutely typical. A TV production company with a real potential hit series dumps it before it has a chance to shine.
I am getting to the point where I want to go postal on all TV/Studio execs. Who employs these creative black holes anyway? I often thought Lawyers were the scum of the multi-verse but the pond slime that inhabit the upper echelons of the entertainment industry are rapidly moving to the top of the list now.
I see no alternative but to set up our own production company.
Bookwyrm has the right idea in wanting to film his own movie.
I think we have no choice these days but to go our own way.
The spin doctors and ego massagers at the various TV/Movie studios have determined that they can get the maximum profit by making low cost reality TV shows which cater for the lowest/broadest demographic. Thus no amount of email/letters/abuse/stalking or death threats will persuade the execs to make quality programs that the FANS will enjoy.
So we come back to starting our own productions. Just like in Hollywood, if an actor wants to make a decent film, they usually have to set up their own production company and make it themselves, then get the big studios to market & distribute the film/TV show.
For a TV series set in FR, it would be nice to see the more famous characters appear but I feel that they'd be best in a regular guest spot and the ensemble (regular) cast would be entirly new characters.
The real treat would be to use all the great locations of the Realms such as Undermountain, Waterdeep, the Spine of the World and many other places of awe-inspiring beauty.
A lot of the cityscapes could be handled very easily with CGI (look at Rome in Gladiator) and there are thousands of places about the planet which could be used for location shots (any snow capped mountain-range would do in a pinch for the Spine).
So to me the best character would be the landscape, it's what made LoTR so good (as well as good actors  ).
So then brethern, shall we form our own production company then?
CandleKeep Images maybe? Light on the hill?
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| SiriusBlack |
Posted - 25 Aug 2004 : 18:20:47
quote:
Originally posted by Lord Rad
The TV Series of FR has been cancelled. Fireworks Television began proceedings but due to various staffing reasons let the option expire.
At Gencon, Charles Ryan, Brand Manager for D&D at Wizards of the Coast touched on the series one last time driving the nail in the coffin with:
quote:
the live action Forgotten Realms television series is no longer in development. It was a hot item a few years ago, but has since been scrapped as the track record for high fantasy television series is not good as of late. A new Scourge of Worlds interactive DVD is being looked at for development. The first one did not do as well as expected due to financial difficulties with the major distributor, Rhino, just before the release of the DVD. If the final details are worked out expect the adventure to be a classic Dungeon Crawl with the addition of other iconic characters.
The full article can be found here. |
| Lord Rad |
Posted - 14 Jan 2003 : 09:27:10
The TV Series of FR has been cancelled. Fireworks Television began proceedings but due to various staffing reasons let the option expire.
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| Zacas |
Posted - 14 Jan 2003 : 04:17:22
*coughs* um... a while back Wizards had a post... http://www.wizards.com/news/pressrelease.asp?20010918a that advertised that there was going to be a real-like tv series based from the novels and game settings of FR.. made by fireworks, the TV production company that has done Mutant X, Gene Roddenburry's Andromeda, Relic Hunter and some other shows... Tho i haven't seen much on this since then.. |
| Drizzt Do Urden |
Posted - 12 Jan 2003 : 18:21:35
quote:
Originally posted by Strahd Von Zarovich
I think some of your choices for actors are far to obvious. Take a look at LOTR, they managed to get an amazing cast out of some relatively unknowns.....like Orlando Bloom and also Viggo Mortensen.
Mmm, this people are very know this days, but there are many unknow actors, many of them playing in Sience Fiction Series
Any ideas on who would be cool to play Halaster down in the depths of Undermountain. Also I feel Walken would be terrible for Manshoon. Especially as manshoon is mostly masked these days it would be a shame to hide a well known actor under there. However a voice over could be done. (Think James Earl Jones in Star Wars for example)
The Curator
The idea of FR series is nice, but it most not to be that BAD as in the D&D movie of 2001, i've it is so, i'm going terrorize Wotc |
| Strahd Von Zarovich |
Posted - 12 Jan 2003 : 13:49:55
I think some of your choices for actors are far to obvious. Take a look at LOTR, they managed to get an amazing cast out of some relatively unknowns.....like Orlando Bloom and also Viggo Mortensen.
Any ideas on who would be cool to play Halaster down in the depths of Undermountain. Also I feel Walken would be terrible for Manshoon. Especially as manshoon is mostly masked these days it would be a shame to hide a well known actor under there. However a voice over could be done. (Think James Earl Jones in Star Wars for example)
The Curator |
| Salius Kai |
Posted - 09 Jan 2003 : 19:00:07
My appologies, I was unaware. This is a little off topic though. |
| Feanor_Karnil |
Posted - 09 Jan 2003 : 01:06:07
Salius, another show showed on Fox 59 WXIN about 5-6 years ago. |
| Salius Kai |
Posted - 09 Jan 2003 : 01:02:44
Unless I'm wrong, I beleive It went off air about the time we were born, Feanor. I know your whole family is a big D&D fan, but unless Vlad or your dad taped them, it would be kindof hard to watch them. |
| Feanor_Karnil |
Posted - 09 Jan 2003 : 00:09:26
I think the old D&D show was horrible, kids rode a roller coaster and warped into the realms of fantasy. The 'DM' gave them ultimate weapons he's like here have these super powerful weapons. I watched it anyway it was amusing every so often. |
| Salius Kai |
Posted - 08 Jan 2003 : 23:55:06
Agreed, an FR realated TV show would be awsome no matter what they do. I would like to see though, a new version of a D&D show (like the old one but with a better plot). |
| Feanor_Karnil |
Posted - 08 Jan 2003 : 23:48:24
I considered that but anime just sounded different, cooler in a sense.
I do see everyone's point though, either way they can't go wrong. |
| Salius Kai |
Posted - 08 Jan 2003 : 23:33:45
I think Anime would take all of the fun out of it. Look at Lord of the Rings, its not anime and it look real (something anime would have a hard time doing). Anyways, I think Sean Connery would be a good Elminster (he's in everything else). |
| Feanor_Karnil |
Posted - 08 Jan 2003 : 23:26:38
I would very much like to see Drizzt and his friends on their many adventures on the TV. But my opinion is that the show and/or movie should be in Japanese Anime style, I think there would be more possibilities if it was an anime. |
| Arion Elenim |
Posted - 07 Jan 2003 : 03:46:07
Greetings all,
A few months ago I had a post up inquiring as to the cast list of a film version of the Realms...similar to your own...we came up with some pretty neat stuff!
I still think that either Nicholas Cage or Kurt Russell should play Artemis Entreri......and I would love to see Christopher Walken as Manshoon (or, oddly enough....I think he'd also make a great Blackstaff, now that I think about it!)....oh, and Angelica Houston as Matron Malice, Mel Gibson as Zaknafien.....ah, the list goes on!
Check out my former post should you be so inclined to see more! |
| Drummer Boy |
Posted - 07 Jan 2003 : 02:14:26
Well, I know I would like to see something about Drizzt and his friends. He's one of my favorite Realms characters. I don't have much thought on the other questions though... |
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