Would There Ever Be a Possibility...?

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Rikae

However, I think primarily focusing on keeping the narrative scenes largely intact, or shortening them, rather than working them into the dialogue. The latter technique tends to sound cheesy if it's overused, at least to my ear...

I agree, I would like to keep most of the narration where it is and only cut it down when necessary.

About the background music, I meant mainly for in between scenes, not over dialogue, really...if we use it wisely (and sparingly), like Rikae said, it could be nice...for example, a transition into another scene could be cued up with some bg music for a couple of seconds, maybe with the narrator speaking over it.

The only words we would have to change, as mentioned, would be words that signify sounds, in which we have to try and produce that sound - saying it would be quite bad for this medium, and I'm sure all would agree on that!

[MatthewM]

Would it perhaps be easier to do a single chapter at first? I'm for recruiting and casting and all, like I said, but if numbers were an issue we could not get past there are some chapters we could do in which not every member of The Fellowship speaks (in Book II).

[TheGreatElvenWarrior]

We could start with the opening of FotR and work from there... We could figure out the kinks (We wanted to do a radio program, right?) and even if it doesn't get aired, then we could still have a good script, besides it would be fun!

[Macalaure]

Originally Posted by Rikae

However, I favor primarily focusing on keeping the narrative scenes largely intact, or shortening them, rather than working them into the dialogue. The latter technique tends to sound cheesy if it's overused, at least to my ear...

Originally Posted by Matthew

I agree, I would like to keep most of the narration where it is and only cut it down when necessary.

But wouldn't this move us farther away from a radio adaptation and closer towards an audio book?

[Thinlómien]

I read through this thread and decided I might be after all interested. I have some experience in acting, like it a lot and dare to sound silly. (But as a downside I can't stand hearing my recorded voice... am I in the wrong place?) And I do not know who on earth do you want to be played by a childish female voice with a Finnish accent. (If not anything else, I would like to take the challenge, and could certainly commit to, being a random Orc. )

Well, considering accents, I do not think anyone should change theirs a lot in order to do their role better, it's probably going to sound only silly.

I will notify Nogrod of this project - I think he might very well be interested and he'd be one of those people we'd need: a middle-aged male voice (but he has a Finnish accent too ) and a person interested in composing.

Hmmm... I think we should use different accents to make differences. Like, if you decide that Finnish accent sounds weird we Finns could play people that are different in some way or from a certain place so that their origin/difference is highlighted. But on the other hand, I think I sound like we had some very extraordinary and strong accents, which I don't think we have...

Originally Posted by Legate

One note concerning the male/female voices. I think it's going to become soon obvious that there are far more female voice actors than there are female characters in LotR (not very surprising, as there are only two or maybe three who have more than a few lines). It would probably sound strange for a female to dub Gandalf (although if she were good, even that would be possible), but I think the Hobbits' voices and some Elves could be spoken by female voices with no problem. As well as the narrator, eventually.

I agree with everything said here.

And I also agree with whoever it was who said that we need some sound samples when it's time for that...

[Rikae]

Lommy, good to see you on board! I hope Nogrod can be enticed to join the project as well.

As for Finnish accents, I'll have to hear one before I give an opinion. I can say that Mac's very slight German accent sounds pretty good on the Witch-King (note - I'm not saying I agree with the theory discussed elsewhere on the 'downs regarding the word "Nazgul".) I think he could also play a quite decent Aragorn with some practice (and a downplayed accent). I think subtle accents aren't really a problem and could even be an advantage, depending on the role. Actually, although I haven't heard it, I wonder whether Finnish accents might sound good for Elves...

A thought - what does everyone think about perhaps forming an LJ community for discussion of this project? It might be a somewhat easier format to deal with than an increasingly long BD thread, and would facilitate voice post "auditions". We could also exchange Skype information there in a semi-private setting...

Originally Posted by Mac the Witch King

But wouldn't this move us farther away from a radio adaptation and closer towards an audio book?

Maybe, but I personally wouldn't worry much about whether it falls fully into the genre, and worry more about the overall quality - about our ability to create a sense of Middle-Earth through sound. The fact that we'll have actors, sound effects and music already takes it out of the "audio-book" category, as does any deviation from or editing of the text... I'm worried that if we try to force descriptions into the dialogue, the result will seem clunky and artificial (people don't generally describe their surroundings to one another, after all). Still this sort of overall-vision question might be easier to agree on when it comes to specific writing issues, I suppose.

[Macalaure]

Originally Posted by Lommy

I read through this thread and decided I might be after all interested.

All help welcome.

Originally Posted by Lommy

Well, considering accents, I do not think anyone should change theirs a lot in order to do their role better, it's probably going to sound only silly.

I agree. Considering the international cast that we're likely to have, I think we will simply have to live with accents - just as long as they aren't too thick, but I doubt we will face many of those here on the Downs.

Originally Posted by Rikae

A thought - what does everyone think about perhaps forming an LJ community for discussion of this project?

It would be practical, yes, but wouldn't it also remove us from the Downs community and maybe discourage the much-needed participation of people?

Originally Posted by Rikae

I'm worried that if we try to force descriptions into the dialogue, the result will seem clunky and artificial (people don't generally describe their surroundings to one another, after all). Still this sort of overall-vision question might be easier to agree on when it comes to specific writing issues, I suppose.

That's true. The descriptions will probably have to be cut down significantly... I think we have to somehow make them "flow" into the atmosphere of the respective scene. This is where sound effects might be crucial.
However, just take a look at the first page of "A long-expected party", where the narrator tells us about the rumours around Bilbo Baggins. This feels to me like it should be made into dialogue and fitted into one of the following scenes instead of being narrated. You're right, many decisions will have to be made when the issue is at hand, but I think we also need a sort of overall vision so that in the end we have something that looks like a coherent whole. But probably this will just emerge naturally once we really started.

[THE Ka]

This is a lovely idea and I can't wait to see what happens (especially with Oddwen involved, heh heh.).
Though, from past experience, if I may add some advice:

A few years ago I joined, as did a number of other Downers on a project to make a fan-based film of The Silmarillion...
Yes I know, impossible feat, but we were dreaming big. The main thing, as others have said, about making an animation is that not only would we need deep pockets, skill, but TIME. I'm talking relatively, on a job-scale amount of time and effort. I only helped majorly in the drawing/storyboard section, and voice section (Hee hee, sort of a girlish wish to voice Irmo, even though he has about one line in the whole deal.), and it took quite a lot of time just to get started and plan the very beginnings out.

In short, from bad past experiences, a film of any level is something that is near impossible, unless you have connections, money and ultimately, lots of time.

Originally Posted by Nerwen

Despite what some people will tell you, it's not just a matter of pressing the "Make Dragon" button and letting it all take care of itself.

Oh dear gods, if it was really that easy the Silmarillion project would have been up and streaming online now... So. Much. Drawing and plans. No. Money. For Software.

The radio idea, that is definately able to pull off, and thankfully there are a few online radio sites. The only thing I would see being an obsticle is seeing if whether its a hosting thing, or if it is an account basis. Then, it depends on if there are any fees.

Another idea could be hosting a part of the Downs or another independent site with Podcasts. There are a few small radio stations I listen to that upload their shows online in the form of mp3 Podcast recordings and they always sound very clear. Only thing would be a problem of whether any of us can do this.
Excuse any repitition, I've been skimming the thread for a bit off and on.

Originally Posted by Nogrod

They are nice scenes but there is one problem considering the actual trial of making one whole chapter and that is the fact that The Council of Elrond is composed mainly of long monologues...

I truly feel sorry for whoever has to voice Gandalf...

I don't know if I have any skills in this field which could immediately help with the project (I only have a microphone, and probably low quality at that), but if there is a need for any help or extra/fill-in voices (I am quite fine with doing male voices, I've had to play male parts before. Just might come off a bit effeminate.), or research I'll be glad to help. It would be so wonderful if we could pull this off.

~ Ka