SilmFilm Podcast - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Aiwendil · 07-05-2021, 06:06 PM

Has anyone listened to the SilmFilm podcast by Corey Olsen et al.? It's a project where they imagine a hypothetical adaptation of the Silmarillion as a prestige TV series, just for the fun of imagining it.

I've seen a couple of YouTube videos of Corey Olsen, and his stuff has largely struck me as more didactic than anything I'd be interested in (I know Tolkien's work well enough that I don't need to be lectured on it). But this seems like an interesting exercise for the imagination. On the other hand, I've listened only to the first episode so far and I'm already vehemently disagreeing with their choices . . .

Aiwendil · 07-09-2021, 10:27 PM

Well, I've listened to the first few episodes and I have to say, I'm not particularly impressed. They have this whole elaborate idea about having multiple frame narratives with their own story arcs, which strikes me as exactly the wrong approach. And they frequently seem to recall things about the narrative of the Silmarillion inaccurately.

Inziladun · 07-10-2021, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aiwendil

And they frequently seem to recall things about the narrative of the Silmarillion inaccurately.

Considering that it's a "hypothetical adaptation" of the Silm for TV, I'm not surprised. Faithfulness to the source would probably not be much concern.

Aiwendil · 07-10-2021, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Considering that it's a "hypothetical adaptation" of the Silm for TV, I'm not surprised. Faithfulness to the source would probably not be much concern.

To be clear, I don't have a problem with people imagining a hypothetical adaptation in which they would change a lot fo things from the books. I wouldn't necessarily be interested in watching such an adaptation, but people should feel free to engage in whatever intellectual exercises they want, and one could potentially learn a lot by doing so.

What has me rolling my eyes at this podcast is more that while they seem to want to keep their imaginary show pretty faithful, they misremember a lot of details from the books as they discuss them. Like, several times they talked about Orome finding the Elves at Cuivienen as if it happened after the Battle of the Powers and the destruction of Utumno, when in fact that was their whole motivation behind going to war!

07-05-2021, 06:06 PM	#1
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	SilmFilm Podcast Has anyone listened to the SilmFilm podcast by Corey Olsen et al.? It's a project where they imagine a hypothetical adaptation of the Silmarillion as a prestige TV series, just for the fun of imagining it. I've seen a couple of YouTube videos of Corey Olsen, and his stuff has largely struck me as more didactic than anything I'd be interested in (I know Tolkien's work well enough that I don't need to be lectured on it). But this seems like an interesting exercise for the imagination. On the other hand, I've listened only to the first episode so far and I'm already vehemently disagreeing with their choices . . .

07-09-2021, 10:27 PM	#2
Aiwendil Late Istar Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,224	Well, I've listened to the first few episodes and I have to say, I'm not particularly impressed. They have this whole elaborate idea about having multiple frame narratives with their own story arcs, which strikes me as exactly the wrong approach. And they frequently seem to recall things about the narrative of the Silmarillion inaccurately.