script writing for the Hobbit...

I am still not convinced you need even that much Sin. If the viewer doesnt now exactly where Gandalf is off too, never sees it, just knows its something to do with dealing with this Necromancer thats enough I think. His absence doesnt need explaining its just the reason for his absence. And less you know for sure the more mysterious Gandalf beocmes.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:I am still not convinced you need even that much Sin. If the viewer doesnt now exactly where Gandalf is off too, never sees it, just knows its something to do with dealing with this Necromancer thats enough I think. His absence doesnt need explaining its just the reason for his absence. And less you know for sure the more mysterious Gandalf beocmes.

true... I may just be satisfying my classic horror, scare the crap out of you with suspense side on it. The scenes I wrote are very tense and creepy. at the couple turns I have in it your almost thinking something is going to be coming out at you and then, its like what just happened this necromancer character fled rather than fight us. I'm sure when we get into the next draft it might come out that is something I will really take a good look at. I appreciate the advice

Happy to help Sin, but it just advice, and without reading the actual script.

For what its worth, if I were you Id stick with your gut impulse, see your own ideas and story out to the end, then worry about what might be needed or what best serves the narrative out of what you have afterwards when revising it.
Now as you write, go with the flow I say. If you start to question major structural things now you will never get to the end for tinkering.

yeah true it can always be edited out later if it doesn't work right. My biggest thing is making the story that Tolkien wrote work in a visual format while not being like Jackson and making up a bunch of crap just to sell it to non-book fans. If the script is good and the film entertaining it should satisfy both film firsters and book fans. THAT is my overall goal with my script

yeah true it can always be edited out later if it doesn't work right. -Sin

Exactly, its a think about later issue. First get a finished piece. Then work on making yourself absolutely happy with it.
There was a famous writer whose name currently escapes me who used to pin his pages to the skirting boards when finished, then he would work on them, and each time he felt he had improved the page he moved it further up the wall- with the aim of considering it finished only when all the pages were at the very top. Tricky to do with Microsoft word mind you.

This scary and horror talk reminds me of how I hated that kind of thing in Jackson's movies. It's like he tries to do scary but it's just not done right. No subtlety. The Riders weren't done properly mysterious and creepy. And small stuff like the meeting between Frodo and Bilbo when he wanted to see the ring and then Bilbo "seemed like a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands" to Frodo. Should have been an unsettling and sad scene just through acting and instead we get Bilbo pulling a beetlejuice scare face. Meh.
I'm more in line with sin's classic horror feelings.

dak wrote:This scary and horror talk reminds me of how I hated that kind of thing in Jackson's movies. It's like he tries to do scary but it's just not done right. No subtlety. The Riders weren't done properly mysterious and creepy. And small stuff like the meeting between Frodo and Bilbo when he wanted to see the ring and then Bilbo "seemed like a little wrinkled creature with  a hungry face and bony groping hands" to Frodo. Should have been an unsettling and sad scene just through acting and instead we get Bilbo pulling a beetlejuice scare face. Meh.
I'm more in line with sin's classic horror feelings.

I grew up on stuff like the original Halloween, and Friday the 13th where it wasn't so much the grizzly things the killer did to the victim but the lead up and terror of the victim up till the deed. I think if done properly it would work to darken the story a bit. It's amazing what setting the mood can do with emotions IMHO. I don't think a horror story line would work in the Hobbit but there are certain elements of suspense and build up about certain characters that would let them feel important in some way but not make the audience feel they are overly important. In my adaptation the Necromancer is merely a foot note just like he is the book. He just gets a glimpse on screen and really nothing more.

I think there are places for it Sin- the goblin tunnels for example- that should be terrifying in there, dark, claustrophobic, Bilbo should be  being half shoved and half dragged along in abject terror.
Basically the opposite of everything PJ did.

And you might want to think about use of sound in the goblin tunnels too- you've long winding narrow tunnels, the sound should be echoing round, an incredibly loud and harsh close by- even if you don't have them singing the song in the book (I'd be tempted to have at least a bit of it) I think the clash of steel, banging of drums, and of course the cracking of the whips should all be used in full horror film fashion here. It should be harsh and industrial sounding, as thats how the goblins are presented in the book, makers of evil but clever devices.

Pettytyrant101 wrote:I think there are places for it Sin- the goblin tunnels for example- that should be terrifying in there, dark, claustrophobic, Bilbo should be  being half shoved and half dragged along in abject terror.
Basically the opposite of everything PJ did.

oh I have it there. Bilbo loses Gollum a couple times and breathing is heard and you think Gollum has found Bilbo out. I think its preetty cool... plus I have a guarded back door where buttons get lost unlike Bilbo running around aimlessly and happening upon the exit

Pettytyrant101 wrote:And you might want to think about use of sound in the goblin tunnels too- you've long winding narrow tunnels, the sound should be echoing round, an incredibly loud and harsh close by- even if you don't have them singing the song in the book (I'd be tempted to have at least a bit of it) I think the clash of steel, banging of drums, and of course the cracking of the whips should all be used in full horror film fashion here. It should be harsh and industrial sounding, as thats how the goblins are presented in the book, makers of evil but clever devices.

My goblins are comparable to primitive cannibals... There are times your wondering when the dwarfs are going to be tortured and then eaten

Mrs Figg wrote:

Bluebottle wrote:

Pettytyrant101 wrote:pc's are here to help us and drive us to distraction in equal measure- right now I am trying to output renders for the awards (that should be up by now) but for some reason hitfilm keeps ctd at random moments during the process- and I cant work out whats causing it- starting to think I may have to reinstall the whole thing

Universe?! I told you to leave Petty alone.

Figg must have been telling it the opposite thing.

hey! that's mean.

I only meant in the sense of wishing a small annoyance upon him. Like stepping in a puddle or something.

Your mistake there Blue was forgetting that our Figg is a proud northern lass, she would never wish the universe to cause me harm, that would take all the fun out of doing it herself

She would rather push you into the sea herself?

Bluebottle wrote:She would rather push you into the sea herself?

only if he were wearing a brick necklace

And the sea was freezing cold and infested with her electric eels.

I might have made it worse.

 I am liking the brick necklace, or concrete boot. eithers good.

and its true about being a Northerner. We tend to say things to your face rather than behind your back. The brutal honesty doesn't make you popular but at least you know whats what.

The brutal honesty doesn't make you popular but at least you know whats what.- Figg

I wouldn't have it any other way lass.

Yeah, I got that.

Mrs Figg wrote:  I am liking the brick necklace, or concrete boot. eithers good.

You would only give him one?

Well, I guess there's no need to waste good concrete.

Mrs Figg wrote:  I am liking the brick necklace, or concrete boot. eithers good.

and its true about being a Northerner. We tend to say things to your face rather than behind your back. The brutal honesty doesn't make you popular but at least you know whats what.

it might not be a popular concept but I admire blunt honesty esp when its to someones face.. I was raised the people might get mad over it but they will get over it or they will be mad a long time. either way they should respect you for being honest

Its not easy when you are a kid though. we go through a kind of baptism of fire at school where you get any fancy pants ideas knocked out of you, so if you are ginger you get told you are ginger, and theres not a lot you can do about it. theres non of this soft southern 'no no its a lovely strawberry blonde' flim flaming. nope. you are a carrot top and that's if you are lucky. it could be worse.

Mrs Figg wrote:Its not easy when you are a kid though. we go through a kind of baptism of fire at school where you get any fancy pants ideas knocked out of you, so if you are ginger you get told you are ginger, and theres not a lot you can do about it. theres non of this soft southern 'no no its a lovely strawberry blonde' flim flaming. nope. you are a carrot top and that's if you are lucky. it could be worse.

just saying I think Gingers are HOT... and in a very good way LOL

we didn't have Harry Potter to make being ginger and having geek spectacles cool though. that was when it definitely wasn't cool at all.

or a witch for that matter. But that's another story. I was tormented throughout ALL my school days by being called a witch, dammit! if only Rowling had written that bloody book when I needed it.

just saying I think Gingers are HOT... and in a very good way LOL - Sin


Aw, thanks Sin, I never knew you cared.