Would There Ever Be a Possibility...?

[MatthewM]

Any updates?! People, we must do this!

[Nogrod]

Okay. DW II is over and I'm beginning to gather myself little by little...

Originally Posted by Matthew

People, we must do this!

I absolutely agree!

I hope summer will be a time when everyone is able to make a few recordings - it will eventyally rain one day or another and then what to do inside if not to record something for this project?


As we haven't heard of McCaber lately I'd suggest we'd start with The Ring Goes South from where the fellowship leaves Rivendell: the place from where my clip with the music begins, page 298 on which I think is a pretty standard edition, beginning with: "Many others of Elrond's household stood in the shadows and watched them go..."

That for the reason that we'd have music for that part readily available as well. I'll promise to come up with some other sound effects as well. They should be used sparingly though but I'm definitively for having something there.

If McCaber turns out and says he has the music ready for Rivendell I'm ready to call this proposition off and start from the beginning of the chapter.


Another concrete suggestion:
If we start from where I thought we should, let's then first cover something like three pages - going to p. 302 the last sentence being: "We must stop talking aloud, rest quietly, and set the watch" by Gandalf.

That would be a conveniently short amount of text to gear us up to doing this - and also as the text continues from there with Sam being at watch and the crebain coming I think I'd need to think about some serious variations to the musical theme as well. So it would make something like a natural "first stop".

Did we have something like an agreement on the roles? (Gah, sorry but I need to go now... I'll be back with this...)

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Did we have something like an agreement on the roles? (Gah, sorry but I need to go now... I'll be back with this...)

Well we don't have, which is probably the main problem. But let's call it official and make some... voting (Oh, what a thing, one possibly cannot get rid of that...) Or something like that, like everyone posting the character list and in it whom he would like to see in which role. I think several roles were already stated for definite, but there were still lots of others which were not...

[Volo]

Originally Posted by Frpdo, all he says in that part

Dangerous or not, a real sunrise is mighty welcome

And Boromir says nothing. Narrator says a lot.

Copy of list in one of Matthew's posts. Characters speaking in suggested part underlined.
Narrator - Oddwen
Frodo - Volo
Legolas - Nerwen, or Mac? Has this been decided?
Gimli - Nogrod (or, if Nogrod decides he would rather do Gandalf, who then?)
Boromir - Matthew
Sam - Brinniel
Merry - Lommy
Pippin - Greenie
Bilbo - Nogrod
Aragorn
Gandalf
Elrond

Downers who want to participate but don't have a character.
Legate

So I suggest Matt does Aragorn and Legate does Gandalf (or Mac or Nerwen depending who does Legolas). Let's do the deciding quick, no point in letting another few months pass. If this short passage doesn't work with these roles, we can try again with others.

[Nogrod]

I looked at the book and made some counting for the lines different characters have... and am suggesting a new idea.

Let's take first an excerpt that begins from where I suggested (p.298) and read it through to page 305, ending with Gandalf's line "But we must not use the wood - not unless it is a choice between fire and death".

There the story changes quite remarkably as then the getting forwards gets actually tough and the snow starts to fall etc...

And taking a few pages more we'd get everyone speaking at least a few lines.


My count of lines for every character from the end of 298 to the halfway of 305 is as follows:
(short = 1 to 2 rows, medium = from about 3 to 10 rows, long = more than that)

Gandalf - 10 med. + 5 short
Aragorn - 4 med. + 5 short

Gimli - 1 long + 1 short
Legolas - 1 medium
Boromir - 1 medium

Frodo - 2 short
Sam - 1 med. + 2 short
Pip - 4 short
Merry - 2 short

The narrator - about 2½ pages


So unfortunately those roles we're most unsure of are the ones that have the most to do...

So a Gandalf and an Aragorn?

Any ideas?

[Nogrod]

If I have it right there are now: Legate, Mac and Gwath without an assigned role and roles needing to be filled are those of Gandalf, Aragorn and Elrond (assuming Nerwen takes Legolas, will you? or do you have other suggestions?).

Right?

Preferences any one of you three?
Or should we vote as Legate said?

Borrowing Volo's list I think ones we seem to happy with are:

Narrator - Oddwen

Frodo - Volo
Sam - Brinniel
Merry - Lommy
Pippin - Greenie

Boromir - Matthew
Gimli - Nogrod

(Not needed as yet and thence can be changed:
Bilbo - Nogrod)

Also note that if (and when I hope) we will be doing more of this new quite juicy roles will become available...

[Volo]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Bilbo - Nogrod)

That's arguable. There's one line that might need a Bilbo is we want. -Right, forget that, the part comes slightly later. In any case, this is bloody useful. Ctrl + F

[MatthewM]

Welcome back, Nogrod! I know that Gwath wanted to be a part of this as well. He hasn't really voiced a preference for character, but out of Gandalf and Aragorn, I think he'd make a better Aragorn.

Ideas anybody?

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by MatthewM

Welcome back, Nogrod!

The end of our semester and the DW II really kept me busy...

I know that Gwath wanted to be a part of this as well. He hasn't really voiced a preference for character, but out of Gandalf and Aragorn, I think he'd make a better Aragorn.

I'd say so too... and if Legate could carry on the way he makes Gandalf shout he'd make a nice one... And I also think Mac might be best as Legolas (well, he's just marvellous as the baddies!!!) if Nerwen is not going to do that - which I'd prefer myself.

But then again Gwath seems to still have a problem with the background-noise. And that will really stick out, believe me!

Have you any chance of getting rid of that during June - July- August, Gwath? If not then I'd suggest that Legate and Mac take the two leading roles with Nerwen being Legolas.


How about you Mac and Legate try one more, being careful with the S's (avoid high-pitch ones) and avoiding speaking to your nose? And no, this is no mockery. I never learned this when I was at your age or even later... it was only by age and then joining a choir a few years ago that led me to understand these things...

And I don't mean trying like how to sound like Donald Duck or how to make an orc-growl, but listening to where the sound of your voice comes from and where it resonates. And experiment then!

If it's high up and front it's the nasal one which I don't think either Gandalf or Aragorn would have.

Bringing the voice to the middle of your mouth and thence letting it resonate in your skull makes a pleasant full voice.

Dropping it to the back of your mouth / into your throat makes it sound lower and coarser.

If you manage to get your whole body (especially your midriff) to support the sound it will be spectacular (and no... I'm not good at that myself... it's so hard).


I'd like to hear a few trials unless you others are already bored / you have clear ideas how to cast the last roles.


But those with assignments could start doing it already! As soon as I get the first files I'll start building the recording... unless Nerwen has better equipment & more time in her hands... but for now I seem to have at least time until the end of July...


Oddwen! The sooner I get your part the better! That is the backbone of all this. With your part with me I could start counting how to fit the music eg. how many melody-rounds / bars we will need approximately and thence thinking about the variations etc...