Filming The Silmarillion - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mhagain · 01-30-2007, 03:01 PM

Has this been done before? Well here we go, just for fun!

Never mind whether or not you think it could be done, let's have some proposals for how it may be made possible to do it.

Preferably without any major alterations to the story.

Here's one to start with:

Pick a handful of characters who feature large in it (Thingol and Finrod spring immediately to mind) and tell the bulk of the story from their perspective. The major drawback is that things might become too depressing, but that aside I believe it could work.

Any others?

Macalaure · 01-30-2007, 03:12 PM

Actually, this has been debated about quite some times already. I'm too lazy to dig out the threads and links again.

I think most agreed that the Silmarillion could only be filmed in more than one movie. (I - The Rebellion of the Noldor; II - Beren and Lúthien; III - Nirnaeth Arnoediad and Túrin Turambar; IV - Fall of Doriath and Gondolin and the story of Eärendil; V - Akallabêth; - for example).

The story would have to be fleshed out immensely (I,IV and V especially) and would at times be borderline fanfiction. Of course this does not mean bad, but mean straying from the book (which also does not automatically mean bad, though not all here will agree).

The questions that arise are the filming rights and whether such a massive amount of movies would in fact bring profit. But I take we're not talking about that thing called "reality" here.

Maybe some parts of the Silmarillion will be done somewhen, Beren and Lúthien, for example. Or maybe a high-quality animated series. This is cheaper to produce and could stay closer to the book.

Thinlómien · 01-31-2007, 02:30 AM

Well, mhagain, at least the following thread might interest you.

Let's cast the Silmarillion

And tsk, tsk, Mac, forgetting about your very own little threads...

Elladan and Elrohir · 02-02-2007, 03:47 PM

Well, obviously, it's impossible to try to adapt the whole thing. Literally impossible. The result would be horrific if anyone were stupid enough to try.

I'm an aspiring filmmaker and it's my dream to one day be able to make Silmarillion-based films. Of course, I fully realize the odds of that happening. Even if someone in a position to make the movies wanted badly enough to do them, you'd have to purchase the film rights from the Tolkien Estate. I doubt that's even possible while Christopher Tolkien lives.

In my dream world, my Sil films would be:
(1) Beren and Luthien
(2) The Children of Hurin
(3) The Fall of Gondolin
(4) The Downfall of Numenor
(5) The War of the Last Alliance

(1) would make a spectacular movie, IMHO. Has all the ingredients. But a huge undertaking. (2) would be spectacular as well; the only downside is that the ending is gut-wrenchingly sorrowful. I'm not sure audiences would put up with it. (3) would be more like a Star Wars Episode III deal where yeah, Gondolin falls and Turgon dies and Maeglin betrays everybody, but you do have "A New Hope" in the form of Earendil. (4) and (5) would ideally be filmed back-to-back, or at least with your Elendil/Isildur/Anarion actors returning, with (5) concluding with the Disaster of the Gladden Fields.

However it would be done, it would be a massive undertaking. It really does dwarf LOTR because with LOTR, you have a 1000-page novel plus appendices to work with for your story. With these, there certainly is a variety of material from Silm, UT, HoME, and the forthcoming CoH, but you have to do a ton of extrapolation. It's going to take a director with a strong commitment to Tolkien, a vision to truly bring the stories to life, and an imagination the size of Mount Everest. Depending on the director, these stories could be crafted into some of the greatest films of all time, or they could be big fat duds.

Beregond · 06-09-2008, 08:12 PM

Sorry for brining up an old topic, but I got it in my head to do an animated Silmarillion. I'd never animated anything before, but I started learning how last week, and made a kind of concept "trailer". I was inspired stylistically by the movie 300.

I know it has no plot or narration... I just hope it might inspire someone. I don't think I have the time or skill to do a story myself. I'd like to, but..

Anyway, I uploaded it to youtube:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dcUOB4ED_Q0

R. · 06-12-2008, 02:12 AM

An animated Silmarillion would be awesome. In fact i think they should animate all Tolkien's work. They would be great with today's animation technology.

Ron

Nerwen · 06-12-2008, 05:23 AM

Hey, Beregond, that's very impressive for a first animation!

(I actually am an animator, by the way, so I know what I'm talking about.)

01-30-2007, 03:01 PM	#1
mhagain Wight Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: The best seat in the Golden Perch Posts: 219	Filming The Silmarillion Has this been done before? Well here we go, just for fun! Never mind whether or not you think it could be done, let's have some proposals for how it may be made possible to do it. Preferably without any major alterations to the story. Here's one to start with: Pick a handful of characters who feature large in it (Thingol and Finrod spring immediately to mind) and tell the bulk of the story from their perspective. The major drawback is that things might become too depressing, but that aside I believe it could work. Any others?

01-31-2007, 02:30 AM	#3
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	Well, mhagain, at least the following thread might interest you. Let's cast the Silmarillion And tsk, tsk, Mac, forgetting about your very own little threads... __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

02-02-2007, 03:47 PM	#4
Elladan and Elrohir Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Halls of Mandos Posts: 332	Well, obviously, it's impossible to try to adapt the whole thing. Literally impossible. The result would be horrific if anyone were stupid enough to try. I'm an aspiring filmmaker and it's my dream to one day be able to make Silmarillion-based films. Of course, I fully realize the odds of that happening. Even if someone in a position to make the movies wanted badly enough to do them, you'd have to purchase the film rights from the Tolkien Estate. I doubt that's even possible while Christopher Tolkien lives. In my dream world, my Sil films would be: (1) Beren and Luthien (2) The Children of Hurin (3) The Fall of Gondolin (4) The Downfall of Numenor (5) The War of the Last Alliance (1) would make a spectacular movie, IMHO. Has all the ingredients. But a huge undertaking. (2) would be spectacular as well; the only downside is that the ending is gut-wrenchingly sorrowful. I'm not sure audiences would put up with it. (3) would be more like a Star Wars Episode III deal where yeah, Gondolin falls and Turgon dies and Maeglin betrays everybody, but you do have "A New Hope" in the form of Earendil. (4) and (5) would ideally be filmed back-to-back, or at least with your Elendil/Isildur/Anarion actors returning, with (5) concluding with the Disaster of the Gladden Fields. However it would be done, it would be a massive undertaking. It really does dwarf LOTR because with LOTR, you have a 1000-page novel plus appendices to work with for your story. With these, there certainly is a variety of material from Silm, UT, HoME, and the forthcoming CoH, but you have to do a ton of extrapolation. It's going to take a director with a strong commitment to Tolkien, a vision to truly bring the stories to life, and an imagination the size of Mount Everest. Depending on the director, these stories could be crafted into some of the greatest films of all time, or they could be big fat duds. __________________ "If you're referring to the incident with the dragon, I was barely involved. All I did was give your uncle a little nudge out of the door." THE HOBBIT - IT'S COMING

06-09-2008, 08:12 PM	#5
Beregond Playful Ghoul Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,251	Sorry for brining up an old topic, but I got it in my head to do an animated Silmarillion. I'd never animated anything before, but I started learning how last week, and made a kind of concept "trailer". I was inspired stylistically by the movie 300. I know it has no plot or narration... I just hope it might inspire someone. I don't think I have the time or skill to do a story myself. I'd like to, but.. Anyway, I uploaded it to youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dcUOB4ED_Q0 __________________ "Hope and memory shall live still in some hidden valley where the grass is green."

06-12-2008, 02:12 AM	#6
R. Animated Skeleton Join Date: May 2008 Location: In the belly of the beast Posts: 26	An animated Silmarillion would be awesome. In fact i think they should animate all Tolkien's work. They would be great with today's animation technology. Ron __________________ In The Belly Of The BEAST

01-30-2007, 03:12 PM	#2
Macalaure Fading Fëanorion Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: into the flood again Posts: 2,911	Actually, this has been debated about quite some times already. I'm too lazy to dig out the threads and links again. I think most agreed that the Silmarillion could only be filmed in more than one movie. (I - The Rebellion of the Noldor; II - Beren and Lúthien; III - Nirnaeth Arnoediad and Túrin Turambar; IV - Fall of Doriath and Gondolin and the story of Eärendil; V - Akallabêth; - for example). The story would have to be fleshed out immensely (I,IV and V especially) and would at times be borderline fanfiction. Of course this does not mean bad, but mean straying from the book (which also does not automatically mean bad, though not all here will agree). The questions that arise are the filming rights and whether such a massive amount of movies would in fact bring profit. But I take we're not talking about that thing called "reality" here. Maybe some parts of the Silmarillion will be done somewhen, Beren and Lúthien, for example. Or maybe a high-quality animated series. This is cheaper to produce and could stay closer to the book.

06-12-2008, 05:23 AM	#7
Nerwen Wisest of the Noldor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: ˙˙˙ssɐןƃ ƃuıʞooן ǝɥʇ ɥƃnoɹɥʇ Posts: 6,694	Hey, Beregond, that's very impressive for a first animation! (I actually am an animator, by the way, so I know what I'm talking about.) __________________ "Even Nerwen wasn't evil in the beginning." –Elmo.