View Full Version : Would There Ever Be a Possibility...?
MatthewM
02-28-2008, 02:54 PM
This idea is kind of out there, and I am not sure if it could ever be properly done or organized.
But think of this --- after Jackson's movies, us fans (those truly devoted to the book) are always saying how we think PJ should have added this, or not added that, or should have done something differently. Do you think we, as the BarrowDowns community, could ever have the ability to actually do things differently? Do we as die hard fans have enough means to create our own film version of The Lord of the Rings?
I am not talking about a full scale movie theatre version, not only because it is unrealistic, but also because it is far too soon to ever approach another LotR official dramatization not to mention the blessing of the Estate would most likely never be attained. I am talking about somebody who has the video recording abilities to create an acceptable, clear movie of how the fans would have loved to see LotR. YouTube, anyone?
In all reality, I suppose this idea is one of the biggest long shots, ever. We would have to cast, write, and all take a certain amount of time out of our lives to film. I, for one, would be all for it, however we would also have to take into account money, transportation, filming location, etc.
I know it's a crazy idea, and it is one that just crossed my mind the other day because I was thinking how we as fans could create an underground masterpiece of the book we love so much. It's just an idea that I thought would make for some good discussion. Who knows what could happen?
Sauron the White
02-28-2008, 03:05 PM
Matthew .... you are a young man while I am an older one. I have little doubt that the type of technology you are describing will come to pass if you get to be my age. I envision a day when average people can pretty much save every frame of a film in a very sophisticated computer, be able to digitally remix or remaster it using advanced version of what today we call CGI, change things you want and pretty much make your own movie.
Patience is the key. I may not live to see it but you may well live to make it happen.
Rikae
02-28-2008, 06:09 PM
Hmm.. reminds me of a Werewolf game I saw once... now who was that visionary (and beautiful, charming and lovable) mod? :cool:
Seriously, that would be simply awesome -- although I should be old enough to know better... I would love to help out, in some capacity, on a project like that.
I don't know what I could do, but I'd love to be involved.
I can think of someone who would probably be a lot more help (if she's interested and has the time, of course), but she's travelling in Europe at the moment...
Thinlómien
02-29-2008, 01:51 AM
I think the biggest problem in such project is that we live at relatively long distances from one another so it would be very difficult to manage. Something like a radio series would be easier because everybody could do that in their home. Actually, a couple of people were thinking about such a project some time ago but they never got far. Unfortunately, I can't find the thread...
MatthewM
03-01-2008, 12:45 AM
I think the biggest problem in such project is that we live at relatively long distances from one another so it would be very difficult to manage. Something like a radio series would be easier because everybody could do that in their home. Actually, a couple of people were thinking about such a project some time ago but they never got far. Unfortunately, I can't find the thread...
I am not opposed to a radio series --- this could work. Do you know details on how we could go about that? Although I would still like to think there is some hope we could do a live action project...
Do you guys suggest I make a different thread with a more catchy title? I wonder if more people are interested.
TheGreatElvenWarrior
03-01-2008, 02:00 PM
My friend and I were talking about how you could get more in if each chapter was like a different episode of a show or something, and each episode could be an allotted time... you could show each chapter how it should have been seen by the mass amounts of people who have never read the books!
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but my explaining is a bit choppy, please forgive me!
MatthewM
03-02-2008, 07:33 PM
My friend and I were talking about how you could get more in if each chapter was like a different episode of a show or something, and each episode could be an allotted time... you could show each chapter how it should have been seen by the mass amounts of people who have never read the books!
It seemed like a good idea at the time, but my explaining is a bit choppy, please forgive me!
I kind of understand what you're saying...you mean we could film each chapter within a certain amount of time? Say 45 minutes, for example? If so, that is a good idea.
Kitanna
03-03-2008, 08:50 AM
This is a pretty cool idea, but rather hard. Some Downers live near each other and can collaborate easily. However, there are Downers, like myself, who live hours away from the nearest member and it makes it harder to contribute to this sort of project. But if a reasonable and realistic way (like Lommy's radio suggestion) can be found, I think this is a great idea and am completely willing to help in any way I can.
Gothbogg the Ripper
03-04-2008, 04:09 AM
Could the fan community make a film? If we hired actors, yes. In terms of scripting though it would fail. It would fail because every fan has such clearly defined ideas of the series and what should be left in.
Rikae
03-04-2008, 09:08 AM
Do you guys suggest I make a different thread with a more catchy title? I wonder if more people are interested.
You could pm a mod and ask for the title of this one to be changed.
What about animation (computer), btw? Possibly within the reach (technically and financially) of a bunch of amateurs, and can be worked on by people long distances from each other - and it can be done in non-cheesy ways. Plus, my brother does it for a living. :cool:
alatar
03-04-2008, 11:01 AM
Dig up a bunch of action figures - preferably LotR ones - and film the entire movie stop-action. Sure, it might take you a lifetime, but maybe with some help...
Or find a way - surely it exists as freeware - to create digital animated characters, capture some landscapes with your camera and use some friends to do the voice-overs. With Apple Macintosh software, making and editing movies isn't too hard.
Or grab some friends, get them some costumes, borrow a digital camera and film one scene - just one - and do it really well. Build from there. We did this in the 80's (yes, A.D.) with 8mm film and no money (or script or clue), and it is priceless.
Have fun!
Legate of Amon Lanc
03-04-2008, 11:11 AM
Dig up a bunch of action figures - preferably LotR ones - and film the entire movie stop-action. Sure, it might take you a lifetime, but maybe with some help...
Or, I remember we actually tried to make a movie, resp. just picture to our LotR musical with my friend using Lego figures. Well, it was meant to be parody... and we never finished the picture anyway... but it was an attempt :p
Otherwise, I think the radio thing is not that bad idea, it could even work. I think if it's organised and enough people are interested, it could be done.
MatthewM
03-10-2008, 04:07 PM
Why were some of my posts and the posts of others deleted?
Finduilas
03-10-2008, 04:30 PM
Something malfunctioned. Lots of post got lost today.
TheGreatElvenWarrior
03-10-2008, 08:53 PM
I kind of understand what you're saying...you mean we could film each chapter within a certain amount of time? Say 45 minutes, for example? If so, that is a good idea.Exactly, I just couldn't get the words out... sometimes I draw a blank...
Groin Redbeard
03-11-2008, 10:20 AM
I love the idea, but I do think that it's a bit unrealistic to do. Good one MatthewM!:)
MatthewM
03-13-2008, 10:06 PM
Hm, that's weird with the post deletion thing. Anyway, here's what I wanted to say---
Dig up a bunch of action figures - preferably LotR ones - and film the entire movie stop-action. Sure, it might take you a lifetime, but maybe with some help...
Or find a way - surely it exists as freeware - to create digital animated characters, capture some landscapes with your camera and use some friends to do the voice-overs. With Apple Macintosh software, making and editing movies isn't too hard.
Or grab some friends, get them some costumes, borrow a digital camera and film one scene - just one - and do it really well. Build from there. We did this in the 80's (yes, A.D.) with 8mm film and no money (or script or clue), and it is priceless.
Have fun!
I'm quite against the action figure idea - the idea I have, although very unrealistic and nearly impossible, would be meant for either human actors or like most have suggested, radio would work...
I wanted to know if anybody knew the first thing about how we would go about doing a radio project, if one was to start. For I have no clue. :eek:
McCaber
03-13-2008, 10:25 PM
I wanted to know if anybody knew the first thing about how we would go about doing a radio project, if one was to start.
Scriptwriting and casting would be where I would start. I suppose we should ask Brian Sibley for advice on this one, though.
alatar
03-14-2008, 02:50 PM
I wanted to know if anybody knew the first thing about how we would go about doing a radio project, if one was to start. For I have no clue. :eek:
With the ready access to digital technology, you shouldn't have a hard time creating something. Spend more time researching script writing. Plan out what you want to do, and chop it into smaller bites to get you going (that 'eating a mumakil' thing).
Record a small scene doing a few voices yourself. Add some sound effects. Play it for friends to hook them into the project.
Nerwen
03-14-2008, 07:56 PM
I think you should all know that good animation software is expensive and takes ages to master. And you're talking about animating an epic story with battles and such. 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.
If I were you I'd go with a purely audio version. (Not that that's easy to do well either.)
Eönwë
03-16-2008, 03:30 AM
I'm sure I posted here earlier:eek: post deletion/malfunction:mad:
Yes, I think the radio series is a good idea.
Azaelia of Willowbottom
03-23-2008, 08:50 PM
This sounds like a great idea, and I'd love to be involved in whatever capacity I can be. I'd love to help out!
However, I'm another Downer who doesn't really live within reasonable distance of anyone (that I know of), and a college theater student which equates to very little money or free time during the school year.
I think making a movie as a community would be an awesome experience, but it would be really hard--we're all over the world, so getting everyone involved in the same place would be difficult, what with some of the great distances that separate us, and the wide variety of schedules and living situations.
I think that it might be more practical to go with the radio drama suggestion. It would be far less expensive than trying to get everyone in the same place at the same time, costumed, fed, with a place to stay, and so on. The bonus is that Downers everywhere could participate if they wanted to. It's easy enough to find (or borrow) a microphone to plug into the computer, and upload files to the internet. We wouldn't have to deal with conflicting schedules and long travel distances.
As for where to start? Probably the same place one would start planning a movie. Outlining. Deciding what's in and what's cut, and what path the story ought to take (chronological order or the order in which it was written). After that would come drafting and editing a script, then casting, and then recording, sound effects, editing, and putting it up somewhere in its final complete form.
Edit: Apologies if this isn't particularly coherent. I'm getting over a very bad cold, and my brain isn't quite 100%.
Eönwë
03-24-2008, 05:27 AM
Deciding what's in and what's cut
If we're actually doing this, can I have one request. Please keep Tom Bombadil this time! I'm sure we can have some fun with that.
edit: anyway, we have to include our namesake, the Barrow Downs.
MatthewM
03-24-2008, 09:09 AM
If we're actually doing this, can I have one request. Please keep Tom Bombadil this time! I'm sure we can have some fun with that.
edit: anyway, we have to include our namesake, the Barrow Downs.
Oh yes - Tom would stay in if we decided to do that part of the story. But I am thinking, would it perhaps be easier to do a seperate Book (ex: Book II) rather than the story as a whole? For fans like us, we would not be "lost" as to what happened prior, and anybody who will be listening to our project would already be familiar with LotR. So it might be easier to work on just one of the Book's.
Azaelia - good outline.
Macalaure
03-26-2008, 09:40 AM
I think the great advantage of a project like this is, that we need to abide to less restrictions than a commercial radio adaptation would have to. We can, for example, take as much time as we like to, or afford to worry less about characters that might not seem credible to a non-reader. There is no real reason to cut anything - unless there is something which turns out to simply not fit into the whole.
This is probably a stupid question, but I guess it should better be cleared early on: Could there be any copyright problems for this?
TheGreatElvenWarrior
03-26-2008, 12:24 PM
Could there be any copyright problems for this?I'm sure that you would have to go through the Tolkien Estate or something to get their approval for this... but other than that little detail, I think that this would work out fine!
Azaelia of Willowbottom
03-26-2008, 01:47 PM
I'm not sure, but I believe that as long as it's just for personal use and we're not going to sell it or otherwise make money from it, we should be in the clear as far as copyrights go. In other words, if it goes no farther than our little community, I don't see that we'd have a problem.
However, getting the Tolkien Estate's approval is more than just a "little detail", especially if they expect that we buy the rights, which I can't imagine would come cheap.
I dunno. I don't know too much about copyrights, and I could very well be wrong. Perhaps we should ask someone who knows more about this sort of thing.
MatthewM
03-26-2008, 03:30 PM
This is probably a stupid question, but I guess it should better be cleared early on: Could there be any copyright problems for this?
I really don't think it is a big deal. It's not like we are going to sell it. If everybody went around trying to seek the approval of the Tolkien estate for doing anything LotR related not only would the Estate be overly rich but nothing would get done because the Estate is extremely slow in response. Have you ever ran a search under YouTube for LotR videos? I verily doubt that each person who put a song to New Line's movie clips asked for New Line's permission, along with the Estate's permission, along then with the artist's permission for who's song they are using.
I can see an issue if we were going to sell this for money. But we're not.
So, let's talk about this. How would we record the parts for our respective characters seperately? Also, we would need a voice sample from everybody who was auditioning for a spot...we can't just have anybody saying they will do this project and than finding out they can't deliver, or do not fit their part.
Macalaure
03-27-2008, 09:39 AM
Well, I was just asking because Copyright has been discussed a lot recently on the Downs and because, after all, in the ideal case, we would be putting an adapted version of the whole LotR available on the Internet. YouTube is a bad example, because much of what's on there isn't actually legal. ;)
So, let's talk about this. How would we record the parts for our respective characters seperately? Also, we would need a voice sample from everybody who was auditioning for a spot...we can't just have anybody saying they will do this project and than finding out they can't deliver, or do not fit their part.
I don't think separate recording would work out well. I think services such as Skype allow to record calls (not sure whether the quality's sufficient). All who play a role needed in a particular scene (plus a "director", maybe) could just call each other at one time to record a scene. With a little bit of scheduling, this might be a way.
The voice samples are a good idea, but who decides who gets to decide over who gets which role? :D
Rikae
03-27-2008, 10:48 AM
Well, I was just asking because Copyright has been discussed a lot recently on the Downs and because, after all, in the ideal case, we would be putting an adapted version of the whole LotR available on the Internet.
It seems like it should be legal if we aren't selling it, but we should probably start off with a disclaimer to that effect, just to be on the safe side.
The voice samples are a good idea, but who decides who gets to decide over who gets which role? :D
Democracy?
The question is, do we vote for representatives on the casting committee, or have a general election on the casting of each role? Dictatorship is right out.
Rikae
03-27-2008, 10:51 AM
Actually, on second thought, discussion (a la Wikipedia) tends to give better results than democracy when you have a small enough group to make it feasible - the trouble there, though, is the inhibiting effect concern for the prospective actors' feelings will have. Secret ballots it must be... ;)
Oddwen
03-27-2008, 07:44 PM
Do we have enough male voices? That seems to be a common problem on the internet, though less severe here.
(*cough* My resumé (http://audio.xanga.com/One_733t_p0z3r) *cough*)
Gwathagor
03-27-2008, 08:01 PM
Oh yes - Tom would stay in if we decided to do that part of the story. But I am thinking, would it perhaps be easier to do a seperate Book (ex: Book II) rather than the story as a whole? For fans like us, we would not be "lost" as to what happened prior, and anybody who will be listening to our project would already be familiar with LotR. So it might be easier to work on just one of the Book's.
Azaelia - good outline.
Good thought. It would be cool just to do certain parts of the story that we felt needed improvement, or that we particularly liked - such as the Bombadil episode. Could be a good way to start out, and then expand the project later if all went well.
I'd love to help. I am going to school in the Chicago-area and live near Portland, Oregon (during the summer), so I may be a bit removed from other Downers, perhaps. I'm not sure. At any rate, I'll do whatever I can. Some tasks would doubtless work better over long distances, but I can write and act.
MatthewM
03-27-2008, 10:41 PM
think services such as Skype allow to record calls (not sure whether the quality's sufficient). All who play a role needed in a particular scene (plus a "director", maybe) could just call each other at one time to record a scene. With a little bit of scheduling, this might be a way.
The voice samples are a good idea, but who decides who gets to decide over who gets which role? :D
What's Skype? I'm not familiar with it...is it something like a program online in which you could record conversations, etc? If so, that's definitely a start and a good idea. Indeed with some scheduling it is a way.
Actually, on second thought, discussion (a la Wikipedia) tends to give better results than democracy when you have a small enough group to make it feasible - the trouble there, though, is the inhibiting effect concern for the prospective actors' feelings will have. Secret ballots it must be...
Well, I would say a discussion on the matter of casting would be fair enough for everybody. Definitely samples are needed though, auditioning for a certain character, perhaps? What do you mean about Wikipedia? Do they have discussion boards? We could also discuss here about casting for each role - let me just say, it's no secret who I want to voice - and I could provide you with an excellent audition via my crummy microphone here to prove my worth.
Male voices - I am one, I'm sure we would have plenty. Maybe somebody could also, if they have the skill, do more than one voice. I don't think I could, but I'm sure other people have this skill.
It's also necessary to decide which parts of the story we shall attempt to do - my vote is Book II, that being The Council of Elrond - The Breaking of the Fellowship. Any other parts people would like to attempt? I know Gwathagor mentioned Bombadil.
Gwathagor
03-27-2008, 10:50 PM
Well, from LOTR, a few other scenes that might be fun would be the Council of Elrond, the conversations between Faramir, Frodo, and Sam, and the Treebeard scenes.
And then there's always The Hobbit and Unfinished Tales. :cool:
Gwathagor
03-27-2008, 10:57 PM
Male voices - I am one, I'm sure we would have plenty. Maybe somebody could also, if they have the skill, do more than one voice. I don't think I could, but I'm sure other people have this skill.
I'm planning on playing everybody.
;)
MatthewM
03-28-2008, 12:26 AM
Here is a quick layout I wrote up if we were to do a chapter of/part of/all of Book II. In all of Book II, here are the characters that I think are necessary to include. I do not think I have forgotten any. I didn't include the Balrog, because of course he does not speak - but of course he is included.
Purposed list of characters to include listed below.
Characters
Narrator
The Fellowship
Gandalf
Frodo Baggins
Samwise Gamgee
Peregrin Took
Meriadoc Brandybuck
Boromir
Aragorn
Gimli
Legolas Greenleaf
Others
Elrond
Galadriel
Celeborn
Haldir
Gloin
Glorfindel
Bilbo Baggins
Orcs
-
Arwen?
Radagast
Saruman
Gollum
The last four characters may be mentioned in a flashback during the chapter The Council of Elrond. I have a question mark after Arwen because I was debating whether or not it is necessary to include a flashback from "Many Meetings" of Aragorn and Arwen sometime in the beginning to give value to Aragorn's despair/solemness in Lorien.
Here are some other questions we must ask-
*How many voice actors?
*Sound effects- how accessible are they?
*What do we include? What do we not include?
*Background music
Macalaure
03-28-2008, 07:42 AM
An important prerequisite for our voice-actors (for the main roles, at least), apart from a fitting voice and some acting ability, is long-term availability. Losing, for example, our Frodo at some point in the middle would be a problem. Looking over this thread, there seems to be a shortage of elder posters, but for characters such as Gandalf, Saruman, Treebeard, Theoden, Denethor etc. we need voices that have an older sound. But I'm sure that, once we actually managed to record a scene or two, we can warm up some of them.
What's Skype?
It's an Internet service that allows you to phone other people via the computer. From one registered (free) user to another, it's for free. Several people can join in one conversation. I've never tried it, so I don't know how the quality of it is, but there exists the possibility to record calls.
Maybe somebody could also, if they have the skill, do more than one voice.
Given the huge amount of minor characters, we will probably have to do that.
Any other parts people would like to attempt?
Take five different people and you'll get five different answers. :D Personally, I'd like to hear some of the long dialogues, like between Frodo and Gandalf in "The Shadow of the Past" or the ones between Denethor, Faramir and Gandalf in "The Siege of Gondor". But I'm fine to start with Book II.
It would be cool just to do certain parts of the story that we felt needed improvement, or that we particularly liked - such as the Bombadil episode.
I'd say let us just pick one scene now (preferably one that requires little re-writing, for the beginning) and go ahead. It needn't be perfect (I'm sure we'll end up re-doing some early scenes later anyway), just a sample to see whether we really have a shot at making it work.
Rikae
03-28-2008, 08:06 AM
The mention of Wikipedia was just referring to their decision-making process for controversial edits - they insist that it is *not* a democracy, and that decisions must be made through discussion and consensus.
I'd second the nomination of "The Shadow of the Past"... or, actually, I think starting from the very beginning, different as it may be from the usual M.O. of Hollywood, might be reasonable for us. Films, after all, are usually made out of order for practical reasons which don't really apply to us, and I think that at least writing from beginning to end will help us establish the tone and get "into" the world we're re-creating. Still, doing book II first could work just fine.
I have no acting experience whatsoever, but if you're short a rather young-sounding female voice (unlikely) I'm willing to try (I may well be one of our oldest participants so far, but telemarketers frequently ask me if my "mommy" is home). Actually, I would enjoy being the narrator - but I don't think I have the right voice.
I'd certainly be happy to help with the writing, and in any other way I can.
I wonder how far accents will be an issue. I think most of us are Americans, right?
Rikae
03-28-2008, 08:19 AM
Looking over this thread, there seems to be a shortage of elder posters, but for characters such as Gandalf, Saruman, Treebeard, Theoden, Denethor etc. we need voices that have an older sound.
Seeing that you're the oldest person to show interest in the project, are we to assume you volunteer? :p
We seem to be short on everything, actually, except women. I wonder if actively recruiting people would be helpful, or counter-productive (bringing in people who weren't that committed to the project).
As it is, we have 2 men and 1 (2 with me) woman willing to act. A scene between Frodo and Galadriel, perhaps, or Frodo (or Bilbo) and Gandalf is a possibility, but all four hobbits plus Treebeard, Goldberry and Bombadil is definitely out. (Ah! I want to play Goldberry if I turn out to have latent acting talent!)
We can just get started, though - record one scene (Shadow of the Past again comes to mind) for which we already have enough actors and hope more come on board after seeing what is possible.
How about music? Are there any composers lurking around who are interested in lending their skills to this project? *nudge, nudge*
I'm an ex-music major and play a few instruments badly, but I know there are far more qualified people in the 'downs...
Legate of Amon Lanc
03-28-2008, 08:26 AM
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.
Nerwen
03-28-2008, 08:33 AM
Re: Skype– good for cheap long distance calls, but not for recording. You get weird delays and distortion.
Rikae
03-28-2008, 08:38 AM
Re: Skype– good for cheap long distance calls, but not for recording. You get weird delays and distortion.
I'm not sure if I understand this correctly, but apparently you get better quality by recording from the user's computer (?) - perhaps the Skype add-on doesn't record that way. Skype itself, in my experience, usually has good sound quality but tends to have delays/skipping on weekends. If it were possible to record from the computer of one of the users, it shouldn't sound different than the call itself, I suppose... right?
http://www.nch.com.au/phone/voip/recordingcompared.html
MatthewM
03-28-2008, 09:36 AM
We seem to be short on everything, actually, except women. I wonder if actively recruiting people would be helpful, or counter-productive (bringing in people who weren't that committed to the project).
I know what you mean, yet perhaps we just need to look around more. I'm sure there are more people (men in specific) who would be committed and interested in this. I know one of my friends who is a big LotR fan who would love to participate, and he could do more than 1 voice, I believe. This is still a brand new idea...I'm sure we'll attract more eventually. I hope!
We can just get started, though - record one scene (Shadow of the Past again comes to mind) for which we already have enough actors and hope more come on board after seeing what is possible.
Not a bad idea, but I'd rather do a part of Book II and just wait until we get enough people. After all, everything that goes along with this (writing, music, sounds, etc.) is going to have to be taken care of before we start acting and recording. So all in all it's going to take some time as is.
How about music? Are there any composers lurking around who are interested in lending their skills to this project? *nudge, nudge*
I'm an ex-music major and play a few instruments badly, but I know there are far more qualified people in the 'downs...
I am not much of a composer, although I do play bass/guitar...I would think classical riffs are where it's at for this though, and I'm not too good at scales and such...I suppose we can see what the scene calls for?
Also, I was thinking this - if we go with the green light on a chapter/scene, should we take Tolkien's words, word for word, and not change any dialogue? I am for this, as we all as die hard's know the Book shouldn't be changed. It wouldn't be hard to not change it, if we only did a section at a time, if that is what we did.
One more question, for now - How are we going to incorporate the "Frodo said.", etc. into the dialogue? Do you know what I mean? For example Frodo speaks, and then in the book it says "Frodo said" to let the audience know who just spoke to avoid confusion. I suppose with actual voices it may not be hard to tell but to some it may.
Rikae
03-28-2008, 09:51 AM
I am not much of a composer, although I do play bass/guitar...I would think classical riffs are where it's at for this though, and I'm not too good at scales and such...I suppose we can see what the scene calls for?
I think classical (or similar) is probably the way to go as well - and wouldn't it be fabulous if someone/a few someones could contribute original compositions to the project... if that's possible?
Also, I was thinking this - if we go with the green light on a chapter/scene, should we take Tolkien's words, word for word, and not change any dialogue? I am for this, as we all as die hard's know the Book shouldn't be changed. It wouldn't be hard to not change it, if we only did a section at a time, if that is what we did.
One more question, for now - How are we going to incorporate the "Frodo said.", etc. into the dialogue? Do you know what I mean? For example Frodo speaks, and then in the book it says "Frodo said" to let the audience know who just spoke to avoid confusion. I suppose with actual voices it may not be hard to tell but to some it may.
Certainly I would prefer to stay as close to the original as possible, changing only those things (like "Frodo said") which would be awkward or redundant in this format. I would much rather see each character given a recognisable enough voice, than to hear "Frodo said"'s all over the place. The only other instance I can think of where deviation from the text would be the most sensible route is where sounds are described, as it would be far more intuitive and make the best use of the medium if we provided the sound itself. Other than this, why not stick to the text?
Macalaure
03-28-2008, 01:24 PM
We can just get started, though - record one scene (Shadow of the Past again comes to mind) for which we already have enough actors and hope more come on board after seeing what is possible.I'm all for that (the starting point being out for debate). If we already start out being perfectionist, I fear we won't ever arrive somewhere. I don't see a problem with re-recording some scenes if we come to the conclusion that a change made elsewhere requires a change in recorded material.
Seeing that you're the oldest person to show interest in the project, are we to assume you volunteer? :pI'll take everything that Gwath leaves for me. :p
How about music? Are there any composers lurking around who are interested in lending their skills to this project? *nudge, nudge*Hmmm, but composing is one thing, recording another. I'm not sure I like the idea of computer-generated background music. :( [/wetblanket]
Do we really actually need so much background music? I mean, won't it distract from the dialogue too much?
Re: Skype– good for cheap long distance calls, but not for recording. You get weird delays and distortion.Hmm, that's what I was concerned about. We should just try it, and if it doesn't work, we'll have to figure out something else.
Also, I was thinking this - if we go with the green light on a chapter/scene, should we take Tolkien's words, word for word, and not change any dialogue? I am for this, as we all as die hard's know the Book shouldn't be changed. It wouldn't be hard to not change it, if we only did a section at a time, if that is what we did.
Certainly I would prefer to stay as close to the original as possible, changing only those things (like "Frodo said") which would be awkward or redundant in this format. I would much rather see each character given a recognisable enough voice, than to hear "Frodo said"'s all over the place. The only other instance I can think of where deviation from the text would be the most sensible route is where sounds are described, as it would be far more intuitive and make the best use of the medium if we provided the sound itself. Other than this, why not stick to the text?
I, too, think we should only change something when it's necessary. Where there is dialogue provided, I see no general reason to change a thing. But what about the narrative sections? I don't think it's a good idea to leave them as they are - we'd have the narrator talking half of the time! I think we should use the narrator sparingly, and instead try to work the narrative sections into dialogue. If we do this, however, the writing will become a serious and probably exhausting task.
Rikae
03-28-2008, 02:36 PM
Hmmm, but composing is one thing, recording another. I'm not sure I like the idea of computer-generated background music. :( [/wetblanket]
Do we really actually need so much background music? I mean, won't it distract from the dialogue too much?
I don't think it will detract if we use it wisely, but enhance. You're right - computer generated music sucks - but we could possibly get together a small band of musicians among us to lay down tracks on top of one another, which could work out nicely.
If we do this, however, the writing will become a serious and probably exhausting task.
You have my keyboard!
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...
MatthewM
03-28-2008, 06:08 PM
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
03-29-2008, 10:35 AM
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
03-29-2008, 07:51 PM
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
03-30-2008, 12:51 PM
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...
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
03-31-2008, 02:52 AM
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. :p (If not anything else, I would like to take the challenge, and could certainly commit to, being a random Orc. :D)
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...
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
03-31-2008, 08:36 AM
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".) :smokin: 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...
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
03-31-2008, 09:09 AM
I read through this thread and decided I might be after all interested.All help welcome. :)
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.
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?
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.
Gwathagor
03-31-2008, 12:26 PM
Tolkien based Quenya in part on the Finnish language. I don't know what a Finnish accent sounds like, but I would laugh if we decided to cast the Finns as Elves.
Aganzir
03-31-2008, 12:38 PM
Don't know what a Finnish accent sounds like? Here (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=dFA8hiDr8dU)'s our Prime Minister, who is a good example of a Finn speaking English. :smokin: They seem to be so ashamed of him that they have named him the PM of Sweden.
I don't think any of us Finns here speak so badly, though. :D
Thinlómien
03-31-2008, 12:39 PM
Tolkien based Quenya in part on the Finnish language. I don't know what a Finnish accent sounds like, but I would laugh if we decided to cast the Finns as Elves.Okay, maybe I just have to record my speech a little then. In short, Finnish accent sounds flat and silly. :p If any of you watches F1 you must have noticed how Häkkinen and Räikkönen speak... But I daresay I and Nogrod sound much less horrible. ;)
And as to composing and Elvish voices, I, Agan and Greenie toyed with the idea that we could compose and perform the A Elbereth Gilthoniel -song, if others think that would be cool. :)
edit: xed with Agan - too funny
Gwathagor
03-31-2008, 12:43 PM
That news channel has cool theme music.
Ok, interesting accent.
Eönwë
03-31-2008, 02:21 PM
I've been away for the week, but there, I've returned.
Yes, I'll be willing to do this (If my microphone doesn't die on me).
PS. What would Tom Bombadil's voice sound like? Young or Old, Tired or lively, etc?
edit: I would probably say quite childish, but strong
Azaelia of Willowbottom
03-31-2008, 02:34 PM
I'm just officially putting myself out there as an option for a voice. I'm a student actress, so I know a bit about using my voice and creating a character and so on. However, I sound extremely young, so if you need yet another young-sounding female voice (this time with a general, nondescript American accent--nothing noticeably identifiable to a single area).
I won't be able to send in a sample until I get home for the summer (a little over a month away). I hope that won't be too late.
MatthewM
03-31-2008, 10:43 PM
This is awesome to see so many people now on board! I knew we would catch some fire here. Anybody that you think can and will help us out is welcome.
Thinlómien- all your ideas sound great, keep them coming. Does this Nogrod character know how to record? Because Mac, Rikae, and myself have not the slightest clue on the technical part of things.
I have some acting experience and I am banking on voicing Boromir. I will, of course, give a sample through whatever medium we choose to go with. I'm just waiting for nose to heal fully as I had my deviated septum corrected two weeks ago.
With the narration thing- it does seem like we can figure this out once the writing starts. I'm sure with dedication this will flow.
Accents- I see no big deal in differing accents as long as they aren't hard to decipher. Finnish accents are fine! I also could see a certain accent, such as Finnish, working well with the Elves. At least one of the strongholds- Rivendell or Lorien. I'm American, so I don't really know how to describe my voice in terms of a distinct heritage like Europeans can. You'll see in the near future.
Oh and...what is LJ?
Gwathagor
03-31-2008, 10:46 PM
LJ = LiveJournal
MatthewM
03-31-2008, 10:53 PM
LJ = LiveJournal
Thank you Sir Gwathagor
Gwathagor
03-31-2008, 10:55 PM
Sir Gwathagor.....:cool: Heh heh. Yeah, that's right. I'm SIR Gwathagor.
MatthewM
03-31-2008, 10:57 PM
Hey now, I was just being friendly, I take the Sir back! How about ... peasant?
Ok off topic, that was the last time.
Gwathagor
03-31-2008, 11:17 PM
:( I liked it. "Sir Gwathagor" had a good ring to it.
Gwathagor has a fair amount of acting experience as well, but his voice sounds weird on tape. Good luck finding a part for him...of course, if he plays everyone, than nobody will notice that he sounds different. Maybe we should all record ourselves reading bits from the Book and post links to the recordings up here?
Anyway.
We have to figure out what format we'll use and how it'll work - whether Skype or something else. I think this should happen first, because the whole project depends on this, and on whether it's feasible.
Then we need to choose a passage to record - this might depend on what actors we have, or we might be able to recruit. Then we'll adapt it, write out a script.
And then choose the actors.
Then we actually have to make it happen. Hard part.
A lot of these things could happen simultaneously, but I thought it would be useful just to review our various objectives, to give us a general sense of order and direction.
-SIR
Nogrod
04-01-2008, 02:16 PM
Aha! Don't forget me! :)
I hadn't noticed the whole thread. We had some similar thoughts two years ago with Farael but it never kind of materialised... So I'm definitively interested.
I try to read this through tomorrow and will thron in my five cents.
Great.
Mithalwen
04-01-2008, 02:44 PM
If any of you watches F1 you must have noticed how Häkkinen and Räikkönen speak... But I daresay I and Nogrod sound much less horrible. ;)
I take your Hakkinen and raise it with Nigel Mansell..... actually I am always impressed by the English skills of sportsmen and wonder how many of our lot would cope away from their native tongue... which is already seemingly a struggle for so many. ;).
But to save this being totally OT, due ot my lack of time and technical competence I will un-bag galadriel ( from the last time this was suggested) so you will miss out on my Cate Blanchett/ Charlotte Green impersonation... but bon chance
MatthewM
04-01-2008, 06:02 PM
But to save this being totally OT, due ot my lack of time and technical competence I will un-bag galadriel ( from the last time this was suggested) so you will miss out on my Cate Blanchett/ Charlotte Green impersonation... but bon chance
Come on... imagine it... "The Lord of the Rings - The Ring Goes South" by the Barrow-Downs community- renowned Tolkien enthuisiasts!
Alright or something of that sort. Anyway if you reconsider, let us know.
Nogrod
04-02-2008, 03:57 AM
Does this Nogrod character know how to record? Because Mac, Rikae, and myself have not the slightest clue on the technical part of things.I'm no professional but I do know a thing or a two as I do recordings here at my home with an audio software program - mainly music but we have experimented with other stuff as well (with Lommy and Greenie that is).
And I don't think skype is the answer to our problem.
Something I think we might try out first.
Let's decide on a short scene or a part of a scene - let's say one page or two - where we have several characters speaking and some narration and then deal the roles. Then everyone involved records her/his part with any audio device which creates a digital recording ie. one that can be sent via e-mail. You should not worry about the "silences" between what your character says, just record the lines your character has one after another. I will then combine the audio files in the mixer unit of my sofware, cut them and organise them to follow each other in the way they should be.
I can then do some limited number of tricks with the tracks (yes, I'm going to make every one person's lines into one track in the final composition) like use an equalisator to add more bass or treble to the voice, add echo or pan the tracks coming from left, right or center etc.
One thing we might also consider would be testing with different settings for voices. If you send me a clip of your voice reading a part of the text I could make a few different-sounding versions of it so that you could then decide yourself which sounds the best (even if my software has limited possibilities to handle voices they still are varied enough to produce quite different sounding voices). This might also be one way of dealing with the problem of there being comparatively more females participating in this than there are female roles in the book.
So that's the first idea that comes to my mind. What do you think?
Rikae
04-02-2008, 06:11 AM
I fear that wouldn't work from an acting standpoint - none of us are professional actors, and even they don't attempt to read their lines in total isolation. There will be no sense of the tone of the other characters' readings at all.
Macalaure
04-02-2008, 07:38 AM
From the acting standpoint it might be a problem, but it is very good to know that we are getting somewhere in the technical department. You recorded music, Nogrod? That's very good!
Here's a (perhaps silly) suggestion: Would it be possible to combine Nogrod's approach with Skype? The actors could connect via Skype and hear each other play, being able to interact, but each could record his own voice by himself and send it to Noggie, who pastes them together again. This sounds kind of complicated, but, under the assumption that Skype and the used recording program function together, it could maybe work.
Rikae
04-02-2008, 08:04 AM
Here's a (perhaps silly) suggestion: Would it be possible to combine Nogrod's approach with Skype? The actors could connect via Skype and hear each other play, being able to interact, but each could record his own voice by himself and send it to Noggie, who pastes them together again. This sounds kind of complicated, but, under the assumption that Skype and the used recording program function together, it could maybe work.
It seems worth a try to me. :) The one problem I can foresee is that the other actors' voices from Skype might bleed through onto the individual track, but that can probably be minimized by fiddling with various settings and using good quality headphones, and perhaps Nogrod can cover up any that remains? It sounds pretty close to what's done to create the voice tracks for cartoons or record music in a studio, actually, as far as I know. Perhaps we should start looking for appropriate recording software, and have a trial run? Free software would be ideal, since quite a few (the majority?) of us are starving students...
Mithalwen
04-02-2008, 09:46 AM
Anyway if you reconsider, let us know.
Well I was being noble since there are a glut of women who seem better qualified and who have the technology... *sighs*
Oddwen
04-02-2008, 10:25 AM
A recording program I've found and used is Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/)- it works for Mac and Windows, and it's freeeeeee!
It requires a separate download if you want to export as mp3, but I guess .wav is the more common format anyway.
Nogrod
04-02-2008, 01:15 PM
There are pro's and con's in both ways of doing it. If everyone records her/his stuff alone one can make as many re-recordings one wishes and then send me only the "perfect takes" but it surely is harder to act without feedback. Although that only applies to dialogue-intensive scenes. With scenes including lots of narration or lengthy monologues it's a different thing of course.
Though there should be a fun of it's own in reading out aloud with others! And that should be a factor to remember... more fun!
So I do think Mac's idea could be worth trying. Still everyone should produce her/his own recording of the joint session as I can then handle the "tracks" separately adding possible effects or manipulate the frequencies individually (adding more bottom to the male voices fex.) and to pan the speakers around the audiospace.
I'm not too worried about other voices coming through from others speaking as I can dim them down (cut them silent altogether) everytime the one whose track it is doesn't speak. Also there should be no "compatibility problem" between skype and my audio studio program either if you can just record your part of the session and send them to me in a normal audiofile format.
It requires a separate download if you want to export as mp3, but I guess .wav is the more common format anyway.It would be better if we can use unpacked audiofiles (for example .wav -files) and not pack or transform them into any mp3 or atrac -formats because they also reduce the quality of the recording - and because we need to combine different recordings then the better the quality of the originals are the more flexibility we have at the later stages. My colleague has a program with which one can cut those low- and hihg pitch hums and hisses and I could lend it from him to level the recordings as people will have different microphones and different backround noises anyway.
It is most obvious but let it be said still. When you do a recording try to minimise any background noise (one thing people easily forget is to shut out the air conditioning and stuff like that - we don't normally pay attention to that noise but when recorded it really will be heard). Also I'd suggest that you send me only the "raw material" even if you happened to have some software with which you could enhance the eq or add some echo. The end result is better when all the effects are applied and all mixing is done with one device. Also adding "effects" tends to increase all the humming and hissing which we wish to avoid.
But this looks interesting inded! I'm all in!
MatthewM
04-02-2008, 06:15 PM
Let's decide on a short scene or a part of a scene - let's say one page or two - where we have several characters speaking and some narration and then deal the roles. Then everyone involved records her/his part with any audio device which creates a digital recording ie. one that can be sent via e-mail. You should not worry about the "silences" between what your character says, just record the lines your character has one after another. I will then combine the audio files in the mixer unit of my sofware, cut them and organise them to follow each other in the way they should be.
So that's the first idea that comes to my mind. What do you think?
Nogrod- I really like this idea. I'm willing to do either a joint session or indiviual sessions. I do understand what the others are saying though, so I'm up for giving both methods a try.
Is an MP3 completely out of the question? Because I have a program, Music Maker 2004, and it records audio sounds but the only way to send them is if I convert them to MP3. I would like to send you a sample Nogrod, so you get an idea of my voice.
May I suggest a page to read from? I'm going to be recording myself as Boromir and I will be reading from page 289, during the chapter The Ring Goes South. Almost every member of the Company speaks here, as it is the debate on whether or not to go into Moria. Maybe this would be a good scene to practice on the program we choose?
Nogrod- what e-mail address shall I send this to?
MatthewM
04-02-2008, 06:22 PM
Correction! I can send it as a wave, I believe.
MatthewM
04-02-2008, 08:48 PM
Rikae and Mac, I have sent you an e-mail with samples. Incase you hadn't checked your mail before coming to the post.
Nogrod
04-03-2008, 02:24 AM
Nogrod- what e-mail address shall I send this to?Do not use my email given in the user CP as it has really limited space and seems to be always full - and audiofiles are big.
You should use my gmail account instead. I will PM it to those who have actively discussed matters here lately starting now with Matthew, Rikae, Mac, Oddwen and Legate...
Estelyn Telcontar
04-03-2008, 02:55 AM
Nogrod, we ask members not to post their e-mail addresses in order to protect themselves from spam or worse. There are too many bots combing the internet for links. Please do remove it from your post; those who wish to have it can contact you by PM. Thanks!
Nogrod
04-03-2008, 04:10 AM
Nogrod, we ask members not to post their e-mail addresses in order to protect themselves from spam or worse. There are too many bots combing the internet for links. Please do remove it from your post; those who wish to have it can contact you by PM. Thanks!I see. Done.
Nerwen
04-03-2008, 05:27 AM
If you need a second person to mix the recordings etc., I have experience with this and access to professional software and equipment (my father's a musician and I'm doing a multimedia course).
Nogrod
04-03-2008, 05:36 AM
Great!
We could try different mixings and then compare them. If you have far superior sofware we should use yours but if they are roughly similar - producing roughly similar quality - we could share the tasks according to which one of us has time or whether certain tasks are better suited to one software than the other.
Nogrod
04-03-2008, 02:21 PM
I got Matthew's clip on Boromir.
You act well but the recording is pretty terrible... :(
I'd give you (all) two pieces of advice.
1. Don't record your voice too loud so that the voice breaks down. Adjust the input in a way that the recording levels stay in the middle or little above it. Whatever the recording device it normally goes red when the input volume is too high. If the voice breaks down already in the recording session there's no way to mend it afterwards. One shouldn't record on too low levels either as then all the background noises come to the fore: so try to find the levels just below the "red zone" as it gives the optimal quality of sound.
2. Get away from your computer, as far as is possible - or at least build some kind of a sound-wall between the microphone and the central unit of your PC. It's no problem if you record from far away of the PC and there's some empty track before your recording starts (if you have to move yourselves to the place where you will make the recording after pushing the rec-button) as that can be always cut away. When you record by your computer the humming of the cooler-system of your PC will come through to the recording and it sounds really nasty indeed - like you'd be talking on the deck of an old-fashioned steam-boat :D. My friend who's a professional told me there's no solution for that as the pitch of the noise the computer has is low enough to be on the same wavelengths as the speech so cutting those will also cut out important lower tones from the voice.
I'll send a few clips to anyone who sends me their e-mail addresses. There will be two versions of Matthew as Boromir: one where I have tried to downplay the background humming as well as I could and one where I have tried to make his tone as Boromirish I could (which ended up sounding Boromir being on board of a steam-riverboat as heightening the lower frequencies to make the tone more forceful and low ends up also heightening the background humming of the computer...). Then there is one where I play Gimli and it has been done near the computer (and you can hear the humming) and on the other I play Bilbo a few meters away from the PC (and you can't hear the humming any more).
Btw. Those parts I've made myself you should not judge by the acting merits as they are basically just read-throughs with a lots of mistakes as my main focus was on finding the fitting tone to my speech as those characters - both acting-wise and mixing-wise. And I'm in no way trying to steal those characters to myself. I just tried them. :)
Speaking of audiosoftware once more. You Nerwen should especially listen to this (http://www.myspace.com/barrownogrod) - and why not the others who have not heard it yet (use headphones if you can). For I just remembered that I do have a Myspace account where there is my version of the Song of Boromir (a Finnish composition to the local theatrical version of the book which I have arranged myself and turned back to the original lyrics; it's all done in my room eg. I played all the instruments and made the vocals there). From it you can hear what I can do with my sofware; the possibilities and the limits as well - basically the interesting stuff from this point of view is in the end of the song as it's one that grows little by little. But I think we should aim for that kind of sound-quality (and it's an mp3 and not an audio file!).
Just keep on sending me your emails and audio clips! We'll overcome the technical obstacles!
Nogrod
04-03-2008, 04:13 PM
Crashlanding!
I tried to send a few samples to Matthew via gmail and after trying to send it long and hard the program said that sending of it failed because it went over the 20 MB limit... and only those short clips I tried to send took 29 MB (Matthew's originals took about 3MB...) So let's take a different approach then.
I sent it to both Matthew and Gwath as mp3's. I had problems in sending things to Myspace as well and it's getting late. That's a stupid site indeed. I managed to send my song there when I joined the site (just to do that) a long time ago but now it seems practically impossible to add anything to my account there if it's not a video or a pic... :mad:
So anyhow I'm afraid we need to go on compressing the files - at least those I will send you as they include lots of mixing stuff and thence are heavier to load.
Let's first try with everyone sending me basic audiofiles if they're of reasonable size. I will send mp3's back to your mail after I have meddled with them.
We might also try sending them to Nerwen to see whether her software would bring better results.
PS. Anyone wishing to hear those first trials just send me your email address by a PM (this first trial is something like 2˝ MB as an mp3 file).
McCaber
04-03-2008, 04:20 PM
If we are still talking about setting a musical background, I have several guitars and some software which should be up to the task.
From my (somewhat limited) experience, acoustic guitar and keyboard can work very well together.
Gwathagor
04-03-2008, 04:53 PM
Nogrod, I thought you were terrific as both Gimli and Bilbo. Thanks for sending those.
Nogrod
04-03-2008, 05:27 PM
Nogrod, I thought you were terrific as both Gimli and Bilbo.Thanks. Although, as I said somewhere before, they were only kind of sound-checks. And my Gimli has a bit too low voice indeed. I mean how will we make the Balrog or the Ringwraiths if already a dwarf is speaking that low? :)
* Although some general discussion about the scope of this effort should be done as well eg. how much do we want to do this? It's possible to make a chapter or two even if it's task indeed but what's the reasonable limit? The whole book? I read it as a bedtimestory to Lommy and Greenie when they were young and it took something like 9 months reading about an hour or at least half every night. So what's the first goal? A whole chapter? Which one? *
I can promise to make those low-baddies if no-one else comes forwards with a lower voice (in my choir I'm a tenor!!!). I can drink a bottle of whiskey the night before and record the tracks first thing in the morning - or when I have a really sore throat... :D
Nogrod
04-03-2008, 05:43 PM
I'm going to sleep and stop this flood-posting right away.
But how is it?
If we're planning on background music should we then also think about some sound-effects? Some sound-effects are easy to make at home but others may require some creativity and effort.
I've tried a few, like a sword-battle going on around and steps moving from left to right and they seem to work - at least in a way. Others might be experimented. I would indeed be interested in experimenting with them as that is something I have always loved: the soundscapes. But it will be a task.
And making music for even a chapter of narration is not a small feat either.
MatthewM
04-03-2008, 10:26 PM
Nogrod- thank you for being involved with this! You definitely are a great asset. As far as the scope of things- should we try a chapter first to see how it all goes? Or a certain Book (Book I, Book II, etc.)? I would like to do a part from Book II but we'll see how it goes.
Gwathagor
04-03-2008, 10:46 PM
I think a chapter would be plenty for us to work on until we get the hang of things.
McCaber
04-04-2008, 12:15 AM
Well, which chapter?
Thinlómien
04-04-2008, 10:25 AM
I think I might like to try some Elf... but not sure whom. Maybe Haldir (or even Legolas)? But I don't know if we want to have them sound like me... :D Maybe I should try...
MatthewM
04-04-2008, 11:03 AM
Hm...well let's all say some chapters that we would want to do.
My personal choices are really any chapter from Book II. There would then be quite a few characters in which we could cast. I'm sure you could say the same with The Return of the King, at least the first Book of it. But yeah, I'm for a chapter from Book II.
What does everybody else think?
Nogrod
04-04-2008, 05:24 PM
Just keep on sending me your email addresses. You don't know what you're missing! I will then mail you back what we have.
This far we have Matthew's, Oddwen's and my interpretations of some of the characters. Mac, Rikae, Lommy (and Gwath?) have already promised to make their versions as well. It's testing all the time as we need to learn how this thing works.
So join in and contribute & enjoy what others have done!
This is fun indeed!
Nogrod
04-04-2008, 05:43 PM
I see a problem coming though...
When we combine recordings made in different places with different equipment they will then follow one another (like what we shall soon hear there being Oddwen narrating and myself bringing Gandalf into the midst of it after which Oddwen will continue) and the different levels of background humming may sound nauseatingly disturbing.
Like there is the narration with midlevel humming behind it followed by character X with a clean background - interrupted by a humming "X said" - and then the voice goes to character Y who has a lots of background noise...
It all just goes on to say that you should try to minimize any background noises. The first thing is to get the microphone away from your computer as the computer makes a lot of noise.
Do not worry about there being gaps or silences in your recording. Those I can cut away easily.
Azaelia of Willowbottom
04-04-2008, 08:12 PM
It's nice to see that things are happening! I won't have access to recording equipment until mid-May, more than a month away, but if that's not too late, I'll send some stuff in then. If it is, then best of luck/break a leg to all, and I'll be looking forward to hearing the final product/helping in any other way I can.
Nerwen
04-04-2008, 09:15 PM
Re: humming–
Sounds the 50-cycle hum (or 60-cycle in America). This is very common and it means your equipment is not grounded properly.
You can try using different connections. However, most sound-editing programs have filters for getting rid of it.
As for sound effects– I have heaps, so I don't think that should be too much of an issue.
Oddwen
04-04-2008, 10:14 PM
Re: humming–
Sounds the 50-cycle hum (or 60-cycle in America). This is very common and it means your equipment is not grounded properly.
You can try using different connections. However, most sound-editing programs have filters for getting rid of it.
I thought so - I have a very cheap microphone. It's the first time I've recorded on my laptop, I shall try again later on my Mac.
I tried a minimal noise removal effect on my original wav, but that made the rest of the audio sound like I was talking into a tin can. Which would, I suppose, be alright in Moria, but not under the darkening sky.
Nogrod
04-05-2008, 02:12 AM
This is very common and it means your equipment is not grounded properly.
You can try using different connections. However, most sound-editing programs have filters for getting rid of it.You're quite right Nerwen. But I'm afraid the basic problem we have faced this far is the hum that comes from the computer (computer's cooling system that is). If you listen to my two versions you can hear the difference as my Gimli is recorded with the mic on the table right beside the computer (and there's clearly audible humming in the background) while my Bilbo is pretty clean of any background hum because it was recorded about two meters away from the PC.
Filters are handy when the noise one wants to cut out is on different wavelengths than the stuff one wants to record (like the scratches from old LP-records or the hissing of old C-cassetes). But the humming of a computer is quite low and cutting those frequencies out will also cut those frequencies from the human voice leading up to this "tin-can" effect Oddwen speaks of as you now miss those important lower frequencies that add to the richness or fullness of the human voice.
Sure. The quality of the microphone makes a difference but unless the mic is really bad its main effect is just lower quality of tone. Better microphones produce clearer, richer, wider and sharper sound - not exactly the slang one should use I presume but those words describe the difference to me at least.
I won't have access to recording equipment until mid-May, more than a month away, but if that's not too late, I'll send some stuff in then.I'd say don't worry. This kind of project will take time even if we decide on just one chapter... as I think we should first concentrate.
Nerwen
04-05-2008, 05:22 AM
You're quite right Nerwen. But I'm afraid the basic problem we have faced this far is the hum that comes from the computer (computer's cooling system that is). If you listen to my two versions you can hear the difference as my Gimli is recorded with the mic on the table right beside the computer (and there's clearly audible humming in the background) while my Bilbo is pretty clean of any background hum because it was recorded about two meters away from the PC.
Oh, that's what it is. In that case people to need to either keep well away from the computer during the recording, or use headset mikes. Also it's a good idea not to have the record volume too high, so the mike doesn't pick up hissing and background noise.
Eönwë
04-05-2008, 05:27 AM
Ok, I think I'll rejoin
MatthewM
04-05-2008, 03:43 PM
Ok, I think I'll rejoin
Good! I was just about to leave you a message saying it's too bad you're going to depart.
Nogrod
04-06-2008, 01:33 PM
Oddwen's clip is almost a page long and there's three hobbits, Gandalf and the narrator involved in it. We are going to make a trial with it tomorrow. Lommy comes over to my place and she'll record one hobbit's lines and I will do the Gandalf parts - and hopefully Greenie has time and enthusiasm to join us making another hobbit so Oddwen would have one hobbit and the narration left to her. I'll send it all to you all to hear as it's done. Then we can hear how different voices act together.
Matthew: If you can please make another go for Boromir (or whoever you want). Just lower the input levels a bit so that your voice doesn't break and try to get the mike (and yourself) at least a little away from the computer. Let's see if a second try brings better results in light of recording quality. You acted nicely already in the first clips.
Others: Keep those clips coming (just record a short passage of someone's lines and send them to me) and we'll get this thing going! Send me a PM to get my email address to send them into. Remember this is just testing so do not take it too seriously. But we need first to hear how your equipment works and surely we'd all like to share your voice.
I promised to send those "raw-materials" to Nerwen as well so that she could try out whether her software would produce better results.
Meanwhile - as the testing goes on - we should actually start the discussion what is the chapter we should try first and who should play which role.
I have no strong preferences to either question.
McCaber
04-06-2008, 02:37 PM
I'd love to help out with this.
I don't have mic equipment, so I can't contribute to the voices. However, I can help with soundtracks, as that is more my area of expertise and I have the hardware to do it.
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-06-2008, 02:47 PM
I actually need to save some time to even make some recording... and first I should probably save some time to read most of this thread since my last post here, as I have only vague idea what's been arranged meanwhile... :eek: I wouldn't have been of much use lately anyway, as my voice was still recovering after I was ill (though maybe an Orc would do then; I was recording some singing for my brother however, so hopefully it didn't ruin my voice again)... I will try to come up with something soon, but if I don't, don't bother with me, maybe you won't even need me, depending on the thing you pick to record...
MatthewM
04-07-2008, 01:58 PM
Matthew: If you can please make another go for Boromir (or whoever you want). Just lower the input levels a bit so that your voice doesn't break and try to get the mike (and yourself) at least a little away from the computer. Let's see if a second try brings better results in light of recording quality. You acted nicely already in the first clips.
I sent you three more takes as Boromir, the other day actually. Did you get them? I tried different mic placings, taking the chord as long as it stretched.
Nogrod
04-07-2008, 02:53 PM
I sent you three more takes as Boromir, the other day actually. Did you get them?Sadly no. Okay. I'll PM you... ***
Otherwise some nice news.
Lommy came here today and played Frodo's part in the clip Oddwen sent me. Greenie will come on Wednesday and I try to persuade her to take Merry. I try to find time to recording Gandalf in that clip. Then we would have a clip including four different actors in it! That should give us a taste of how it might sound like.
Btw. Many of the clips are now from Rivendell. 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...
*** EDIT: I sent you Matthew a mail instead of a PM so that you can reply to it. Thus we can remove the possibility that the address was wrong. I have a few ideas in the mail I sent you to try out.
Gwathagor
04-07-2008, 03:33 PM
The only microphone I have is built into the keyboard of my laptop. I'll try it anyway, but hopefiully I'll be able to dig up something more legit when I go home (in a month).
Thinlómien
04-08-2008, 01:09 AM
Yes, I did Frodo, and it was horrible. ;) I do not like hearing my own voice recorded, especially as I always thought it less feminine, clearer and less squaky. Whatever. :D Anyway, I let Nog keep my Frodo in order to demonstrate how it works with a "dialogue", but I don't want to be Frodo when we do the recordings. So, don't regard it as an "audition" for the role. ;) I also tried some Legolas and deleted it - because someone whose English is more fluent has to do the part and because I sounded even more girly than normally when I was trying to sound like Legolas... poor guy...
Eönwë
04-08-2008, 03:22 AM
Augh! My voice is breaking (even worse than usual)I suppose this means I'm out, or can only do only minor characters, as my voice wll obviously change too much to be recognisable as the the same one.:(:(:(
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-08-2008, 12:00 PM
All right, I FINALLY managed to read all the thread between my last posts... I have a few comments to that...
One more question, for now - How are we going to incorporate the "Frodo said.", etc. into the dialogue? Do you know what I mean? For example Frodo speaks, and then in the book it says "Frodo said" to let the audience know who just spoke to avoid confusion. I suppose with actual voices it may not be hard to tell but to some it may.
Certainly I would prefer to stay as close to the original as possible, changing only those things (like "Frodo said") which would be awkward or redundant in this format. I would much rather see each character given a recognisable enough voice, than to hear "Frodo said"'s all over the place. The only other instance I can think of where deviation from the text would be the most sensible route is where sounds are described, as it would be far more intuitive and make the best use of the medium if we provided the sound itself. Other than this, why not stick to the text?
I think the "Frodo said" things should be left out. Just as Rikae said. In most of the audio plays, it is managed like that in the first scene a character is being called a name by someone else (if possible, several times), so this way the audience knows his name. Or, actually in our case it is quite possible that the character may be introduced by the narration. Or, if not, another classic trick is to introduce a character by adding some "situation briefing" at the beginning (which is made up by the screenwriters). See, in the Czech radio play the narrator was Bilbo Baggins and at the beginning, Frodo said something and Bilbo's voice interrupted: "This is my nephew, Frodo Baggins. He is a nice guy. He had been growing with the Brandybuck but I adopted him..." Of course, that play was without really just a conversation play and all was done by the dialogues, but the basic idea is this and it is also a variant to use. I see Mac probably imagined it to go in some way like that. But that will really take lot of effort and would practically mean writing a totally new story (stageplay).
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!
Concerning background music, I am really for just sounds in the background, and leave the music... maybe only during very long narrative sections, just soft one, and as Matthew said, between the scenes...
Now concerning the present things. I will record something soon - only a question, it does not matter what I record, Nog? Whether a dialogue, narration, a mix of both; a dialogue between two characters - should I act them or, like, what exactly is the purpose of this? Just technical thing (to find out that I need to buy a better microphone :rolleyes: or probably a microphone with longer cable, as I am quite sure the computer humming will be heard in my case), or also to show my acting capabilities and such? (The thing I have in mind is, if I record a dialogue between Gandalf and Frodo, and in the end I turn playing Gimli, the sample won't tell much, as my voice or acting may not be good for Gandalf nor Frodo, but good for Gimli.) Speaking of that, I have no clear idea of whom I'd like to play - well, how could I when I don't know what chapter we are going to record or such. But I don't particularly care (although I just got an idea what I could record... we'll see).
Hm, not sure if I said all I wanted, but I will post if I remember. :) It has been enough for now anyway, I think :)
P.S. Oh yes, Nog: And mainly: How long thing should the recorded sample be? And in which format (I was not able to figure out from the posts whether it has to be wav or whether converting it to mp3 does not matter - I think depending on the length of it, wav can be quite a big file).
Nogrod
04-08-2008, 01:03 PM
To the concerns of Lommy and Eönwë - and anyone else - I'd just want to say the following... Don't raise the level of expectations for yourself too high. This is no Hollywood or BBC production with professional actors, directors, studio conditions or equipment. We are amateurs all of us who have gotten an idea to do something fun together. Right? It would be awesome if we could - come fall - boast that we have indeed made one chapter from the LotR together over seas and continents. And we have had fun with it. And we can remember that thing when we're old in a way "well, then we did this thing back in the early third millenia... now where's that file again... I was soo young back then, just listen to my funny voice..." :)
I got Matthew's clips finally. I'm afraid most email-providers have a 10MB size limit what comes to attachements so we should start using mp3's indeed. Otherwise the files get too big to be posted. I'm trying to upload the next bigger one to Myspace though. If it works we could share larger files that way later. But just for now let's stick to mp3's (I know I myself said let's try to use wav.-files as they have a better quality but having sent a pile of files recently over this matter I think we need to accept the mp3 format - and it's not that bad compared to the relative differences in the recordinhgs themselves).
I'd advice against meddling with the text, at least in a way of adding things to it. One thing we could and probably should do would be to skip off those narrations which only state "Frodo said" or "said Gandalf" (and there are a lot of those!). When the narration goes like "Bilbo laughed" or "said Elrond Gravely" we should think whether that tone of voice can be acted out clear enough to omit that phrase if that is the only thing that precedes, cuts or follows a speech. But when the narration says fex. "cried Sam, unable to contain himself any longer, and jumping up from the corner..." then the narrator should read that all, also the part "cried Sam".
Legate - and others who have not recorded anything yet: it's pretty much the same what you record now. Take something you like.
The first thing we need to see is, do the equipments work and how they do it? This far we know that Oddwen's equipments work well enough as well as mine (and Lommy & Greenie can use mine as well) and that Matthew has some problems with the technical stuff. I've sent one clip from Matthew to Nerwen for her to see whether she could get better results from it with her dad's stuff.
But there surely is the other dimension as well. It would be useless for me to try a Lobelia just as a technical trial as that would in no case be my character. So keep your favourites coming. After we have a host of them we all have heard we can start to discuss who should take which role.
And we need a narrator as well. I think it would be good if the narrator was someone who speaks English as a mothertongue and has decent equipments because the narrator is the one who has basically the most lines.
About the length then. Oddwen read almost a page and that I think should be the maximum. Matthew has made some takes from almost oneliners to a few sentences. That I think is the minimum.
Regarding the chapter we should try eventually I'd say we should try to choose one which has lots of hobbits and elves in it so that all the females could find characters to themselves - if we are to try female voices as hobbits and elves in the first place; I do think myself it's a good idea as there are so many females compared to males in relation to the roles in the actual books.
Although a chapter with a few orcs as well might do as I could run the female orc-voices through a guitar amplifier with distortion or something... it might sound interesting as well.
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-08-2008, 02:08 PM
All right. I will have something for you hopefully tomorrow.
I'd advice against meddling with the text, at least in a way of adding things to it. One thing we could and probably should do would be to skip off those narrations which only state "Frodo said" or "said Gandalf" (and there are a lot of those!). When the narration goes like "Bilbo laughed" or "said Elrond Gravely" we should think whether that tone of voice can be acted out clear enough to omit that phrase if that is the only thing that precedes, cuts or follows a speech. But when the narration says fex. "cried Sam, unable to contain himself any longer, and jumping up from the corner..." then the narrator should read that all, also the part "cried Sam".
Yup, I am sure once we choose the text, we will be confronted with such choices while going through the text itself - unless we really make it totally different and write our own stageplay - and so that will wait once the text is chosen.
Speaking of Orcs, I like very much the Uruk-hai, but not sure if it's everyone's cup of tea... :D
Or hey, what about the Voice of Saruman? That provides some good dialogues (but that will be quite a challenge to make a convincing Saruman :) - and even more convincing Gandalf in the end... Besides, I think MatthewM wanted Boromir there...).
Nogrod
04-08-2008, 02:16 PM
Speaking of Orcs, I like very much the Uruk-hai, but not sure if it's everyone's cup of tea... :DWhen Greenie comes over tomorrow I'll try to persuade her to try an orc just to see what could be done with the voice.
I also think she's pretty outstanding Gollum as well (I've heard her acting him). So if I can talk her over to try that as well... :rolleyes:
MatthewM
04-08-2008, 09:49 PM
Besides, I think MatthewM wanted Boromir there...).
Indeed! :)
So, if we can agree that we are looking for a chapter which has speech from Men, elves, and hobbits...perhaps one from Lorien?
A Little Green
04-09-2008, 10:11 AM
When Greenie comes over tomorrow I'll try to persuade her to try an orc just to see what could be done with the voice.
I also think she's pretty outstanding Gollum as well (I've heard her acting him). So if I can talk her over to try that as well... Well, that is done now. We did a discussion of Shagrat and Gorbag and I also did a bit of golluming... :Merisu:
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-09-2008, 10:45 AM
Well, that is done now. We did a discussion of Shagrat and Gorbag and I also did a bit of golluming... :Merisu:
Aah, I also thought about Gorbags when I was choosing what to do, but then I left the idea as I presumed we won't be probably doing Orcs anyway... so I picked something "neutral" (Strider). It's not the crown of creation, but now for the basic purposes it should serve well. Hope Nog gets it all right.
Thinlómien
04-09-2008, 12:56 PM
This is beginning to look better and better... :D
To the concerns of Lommy and Eönwë - and anyone else - I'd just want to say the following... Don't raise the level of expectations for yourself too high. This is no Hollywood or BBC production with professional actors, directors, studio conditions or equipment. We are amateurs all of us who have gotten an idea to do something fun together. Right? It would be awesome if we could - come fall - boast that we have indeed made one chapter from the LotR together over seas and continents. And we have had fun with it. And we can remember that thing when we're old in a way "well, then we did this thing back in the early third millenia... now where's that file again... I was soo young back then, just listen to my funny voice..." Okay, I agree with this, but I just want to protest a bit. For you can't count me to this category... I don't want to be Frodo because it is against my mental image that Frodo would sound like me and as for Legolas, well, is it too much asked that he would deliver his lines understandably? ;)
If we're doing Lórien, I might reconsider doing Haldir... I like him and I would have great fun with some of his lines. Maybe I must test one day.
Nogrod
04-09-2008, 03:06 PM
Okay. I should be doing other things than this indeed as I have millions of things pressing on my schedual, but now I have frustrated myself already for almost an hour with MySpace. And I'm really getting annoyed with the site. It seems they only give you a chance to upload videos and pics there and no more audiofiles.
So anyone knows a site where you could upload audiofiles for free? Or any other means of sharing these files without e-mailing them as most e-mail programs seem to have a 10MB limit (the full version of trial-clips this far is 10,5 MB in mp3 :()?
I'll send the clips we have so far for everyone who has given me their mail-addresses when I first take my Bilbo out from there. That should make it under 10MB and thence sendable. But in the future we'd need to find another solution.
The contents of the file are:
1. Oddwen's read-out from Many meetings which has been meddled a bit leaving Oddwen the narration and the role of Pippin. Frodo is played by Lommy, Merry is played by Greenie and Gandalf is played by me.
2. Greenie playing Gollum!
3. Greenie playing Shagrat and Nogrod playing Gorbag.
4. Matthew's new takes on Boromir, three short ones.
5. Legate reading Aragorn and hobbits on Weathertop.
6. Nogrod playing Gimli in The Ring Goes South.
And remember, you can get the file by sending me a PM with your e-mail address! And Mac, Rikae, Gwath, Nerwen, Eönwë... and everyone else... I'm waiting for your clips as well!
Gwathagor
04-09-2008, 03:21 PM
I say...Greenie's quite good as Gollum, and MatthewM's new Boromir takes are great.
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-09-2008, 03:24 PM
Wooow but it's so COOL!!! :) :cool: :D
Love it!
And Greenie must do a Gollum for sure (Gwathy, "quite good" is too weak words). Woooow
(other edits coming soon)
And Matthew's Boromir gives me the creeps (that means he is great, and also don't interpretate it as anything against Boromir, Matthew - it's just how it's meant to be).
And I will emphasise once again - the Hobbits are not supposed to be taken seriously... *ahem*
Nogrod
04-09-2008, 03:59 PM
And I will emphasise once again - the Hobbits are not supposed to be taken seriously... *ahem*I'd say nothing there should be taken "seriously". These are just trials to see if the equipments work (I hope Nerwen finds a solution to your background hum Matthew as I feel I'm quite armless with it!) and to give people an idea how other people sound and what they might do.
And I don't think this should be taken as a serious undertaking in the first place if serious means "dead-serious" or going for perfection. We'll never attain that anyway.
Greenie made her Gollum basically prima vista, just choosing the part of the text and reading it with one take. The same goes with our Shagrat and Gorbag (well, we tried different voices a few times to each other thinking what would sound nice but in the end we read it straight with no rehearsals).
So lower the bar of expectations and just go on with it. These are no "final takes" or measures of your performance. This is testing. So go on acting! Do overdo your characters! I think the least interesting ones are those who are played "safe" (like my Gandalf in the first clip). Just jump into it and do not care how you sound.
After we have tested enough we can go on recording the actual stuff and then everyone has their chances to rehearse as much as they want and to make as many retakes they wish.
About the roles...
Matthew would like to be Boromir. To me it's okay as he seems to have a good touch with him. We just need to get rid of the background hum if possible. Let's see what can be done. But that also means we should find our chapter from The Fellowship of the Ring? Or could you Matthew think of acting someone else?
If we have a chapter with Gollum Greenie should do that. But that's if we have it as it seems that the best choices for a scene would be indeed taking place in Lorien or Rivendell looking at the people involved.
I can take whatever role you wish me to take. I can make my voice pretty low so it would probably fit that kind of characters; dwarves, wizards, baddies, ...
Other ideas or preferences?
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-09-2008, 04:12 PM
I'd say nothing there should be taken "seriously". These are just trials to see if the equipments work (I hope Nerwen finds a solution to your background hum Matthew as I feel I'm quite armless with it!) and to give people an idea how other people sound and what they might do.
Of course. Still, some of them are pretty good even for a trial.
Other ideas or preferences?
As for me, I don't have any preferences - it will depend only on the chapter chosen, once that is known, I may have some. But otherwise, I don't particularly care. Not even about the chapter, that is.
Seemingly, we should pick a part with equally as much dialogue for each character and if possible enough to that point that everyone gets just one character (or more or less, how many will there be of us, anyway?). These first chapters of Second book (especially chapter 3-5) come to my mind, while of course that would disqualify our nice Gollum, but otherwise there's plenty other characters and I think good balance between narration and dialogue (I am still afraid that the narrator will have about 50% of the work on him/herself).
MatthewM
04-09-2008, 04:40 PM
MatthewM's new Boromir takes are great.
And Matthew's Boromir gives me the creeps (that means he is great, and also don't interpretate it as anything against Boromir, Matthew - it's just how it's meant to be).
Thank you! Your compliments are much appreciated.
The clips sound awesome. Great job to everyone. I love how you get those P's rolling, Greenie. I'm very excited that we are getting closer and closer to this.
Nogrod, to your question on the chapter- yes, I definitely would like to be Boromir, I'd rather not act as someone else. So I favor choosing a chapter from The Fellowship, in specific from Book II. Like Legate said, there would be plenty of roles for each to take and a decent amount of dialogue for each. If we wish to incorporate Elves, I would suggest a chapter from Rivendell (The Council of Elrond) or any of three from Lorien- although I think one of them (Lothlorien, I believe) does not have much dialogue from The Fellowship.
edit: I'm working on the mic situation...hopefully I will find a solution with the background noise.
Oddwen
04-09-2008, 08:50 PM
I'd say nothing there should be taken "seriously". These are just trials to see if the equipments work
...he says, as he spreads my stuttering & slurry take across the globe. ;)
Great job everyone - I echo the general consensus circling Matthew's Boromir, and Miss Greenie (er, hi, welcome to the 'Downs by the way) - your voice has a bit of a creepy/harsh edge, even when you're not an Orc or Gollum - I'd love to hear your Wormtongue.
I use my Xanga blog for my files (http://audio.xanga.com/one_733t_p0z3r/) - though I don't know if there's a size limit, as none of mine are larger than seven megabytes, and you have to have a Xanga account to upload. You can't download either. They take aac, aiff, au, aug, mp3, wav, and wma files. *shrug*
the Hobbits are not supposed to be taken seriously... *ahem*
Same here. I think they *all* should have Spanish accents. :smokin:
Gwathagor
04-09-2008, 11:45 PM
I don't have any proper recording equipment or software, Nogrod, just the built in microphone on my computer. Do you still want a few readings?
Nerwen
04-10-2008, 09:17 AM
Hello, all. I have finally had time to listen to the recordings.
Comments:
–Firstly– Greenie IS Gollum!:eek:
–Legate has a good mike set-up, which is giving a nice clean recording. Everyone else– not so good, and it will be a problem, even if I use filters to notch out the background noise/breathing/electrical hum etc.
–I have a bit of acting and singing training, so if we go ahead with this I can coach people on mike technique. This may help somewhat.
Finally, it's great hearing what people sound like. But tell me, Legate, did you inhale helium to do Frodo?:D:D
Nogrod
04-10-2008, 12:46 PM
When do we hear your voice Nerwen? :)
Gwath, please give it a try anyway.
And Nerwen, before you try any extensive operations with the clips wait a moment until I can send you the "original versions" of the recordings. The big one you got via e-mail is something I have already meddled with... (fex. faded the hum from Legate's recording - even though that was an easy one because the wavelength it was was easily blocked without the main quality of the voice suffering) :cool:
I'm just having a minute-by-minute schedual right now (and the hours of the day seem not to be enough) but sometime the next week it should ease up a bit and I can then try to send you those unedited versions. Adding effects over effects or filters over filters rarely produces good results.
Let's see this continuing!
Rikae
04-10-2008, 01:25 PM
Sorry I haven't been keeping up lately - I've been preoccupied with college and various other things - but I'm still here and eager to help.
Nogrod, I have to say (again) - your Gimli is absolutely fantastic! I am a little confused as to why the orcs seem to have Scottish accents...:D... well, anyway, I will try to get you a recording this weekend at the latest, and nag Mac to do likewise.
Brinniel
04-10-2008, 03:19 PM
Hey ho,
I've been skimming through this thread for the past few days (I admit I haven't had time to read throughly) and since this project seems rather intriguing I just wanted to offer future possible help.
I'm certainly no actress and I hate recording my voice...I'm more of the behind the scenes girl. For the record, I am a film major who has some experience with audio behind me. I'm actually planning to switch my specialisation next semester to post-production as I love to edit and I've been looking into doing sound design (sadly, I'm not sure if I'll be able to get into the audio class I want next semester...). Anyways, I can't really help out much with recording since I don't live near anyone, but in the future I could possibly help out with editing the audio together and adding sound effects (depending on my schedule).
Though, I'm not sure how quickly everyone's planning to put this together...as I wouldn't be able to help out for a little while. I'm currently studying abroad in Europe and when I return to the US, I'll be back home for the summer (therefore lacking equipment). But I return to my college in September where we have computers with all sorts of audio programs as well as recording studios and foley studios. Computers are easy to access, and it might be possible for me to reserve a room since I will be in a Film 2 class.
Anyways, this is a really cool project and if you'd like me to help out, let me know. :)
(I apologise for any typos. German keyboards are funky...the y and z buttons are switched and it confuses me).
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-10-2008, 04:30 PM
But tell me, Legate, did you inhale helium to do Frodo?
Nope, toluen. But really, you'd wonder how often I speak like that :D (with my brother, that is. It was developed from making a caricature of one of his former classmates who spoke similarly.)
Brinn, I am sure any help would be appreciated... especially in the technical fields. And even if you wanted to join and do some recording yourself (I think your voice would be okay for that, and everyone has a bit of acting talent at least).
(I apologise for any typos. German keyboards are funky...the y and z buttons are switched and it confuses me).
Yes, tell me about that. Every time I go abroad and write something on the computer there, they have Z in the left-down corner and Y in the middle of the upper line. How can anyone write with that? :p ;)
THE Ka
04-10-2008, 06:55 PM
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.
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. :eek:
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.
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
Thinlómien
04-11-2008, 12:02 AM
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.Do join, it'd be great. The more there's people the merrier it is. :D
And Brinn too, great to see you in, whatever you'll be doing. :)
Yes, tell me about that. Every time I go abroad and write something on the computer there, they have Z in the left-down corner and Y in the middle of the upper line. How can anyone write with that?Easily. It's the natural order of things. How can anyone write with something else? :p
MatthewM
04-11-2008, 10:40 PM
Has anybody contributed any more recordings?
Nogrod
04-12-2008, 09:06 AM
Has anybody contributed any more recordings?Sadly no.
I'm still waiting for Mac and Rikae... and Gwath should give it a try as well.
Nerwen, where are you? We'd like to hear your voice too?
Also the Ka should absolutely throw us a line or two with her male-acting!
And Eönwë, don't freak out with your breaking of the voice. Just give it a try!
I'll try to get the gang here to do something tonight as Brinn is visiting us here in Helsinki (they are now having a city-tour while I have been in a choir-seminar and I'm now back home preparing a meal to us). We have here possibly the largest gathering of the 'Downers ever: Brinn, Lommy, Greenie, Aganzir, Volo and me. That makes six 'downers spending a weekend together... :)
So maybe we could pull out some reading to you as well...
So those of you who haven't done it yet, please send me your e-mail addresses so I can send you the things we've done so far and for you to receive my mail-address where you could send your contributions - just short clips to begin with so as only to see if the equipments work and to give us others a taste of your voice.
Looking forwards to more contributions!
MatthewM
04-12-2008, 10:33 PM
I'll try to get the gang here to do something tonight as Brinn is visiting us here in Helsinki (they are now having a city-tour while I have been in a choir-seminar and I'm now back home preparing a meal to us). We have here possibly the largest gathering of the 'Downers ever: Brinn, Lommy, Greenie, Aganzir, Volo and me. That makes six 'downers spending a weekend together... :)
Awesome! Can't wait to see what comes out of that.
Nerwen
04-13-2008, 07:35 AM
Nerwen, where are you? We'd like to hear your voice too?
I am making an ad for my film class, so I'm going to be pretty busy this week, but I'll send you something when I can.
Nogrod
04-14-2008, 04:57 PM
I'll have something quite fun to come for you just as I have time to edit it properly...
So we made the scene where the fellowship is in front of the gates of Moria while Brinn was here. Six different actors with one take! I have edited the laughs from between it already :( and thrown the voices here and there but I will still look at it once before I send it forwards...
Just wait to hear the performances and our home-made sound effects! :rolleyes:
And remember you can join "the club" by sending me your e-mail - and hopefully also your own contribution...
Estelyn Telcontar
04-15-2008, 02:30 AM
Noggie, if you have a place to host that recording on the internet, would you please give us the link? It would be great fun for all of us, not just those involved, to be able to hear it!
Gwathagor
04-15-2008, 07:18 AM
I recorded a few bits on my entirely crappy integral microphone and it sounds truly truly awful. But, at least you now know kind of what I sound like when I read.
:rolleyes:
Oddwen
04-15-2008, 08:36 AM
I went ahead and uploaded what we have to my Xanga audio page (http://audio.xanga.com/one_733t_p0z3r/)- it's streaming only, contents are in post #121 above. Should be the first one on the list.
Any objections? Too bad! Mwahaha! Hem.
Nogrod
04-15-2008, 12:43 PM
Thanks for your clips Mac and Gwath! I'll be mixing them a bit tomorrow and will then send them back for everyone to hear. As well as our six-actor spectacle from the Journey in the Dark. :eek:
If I find a free audio upload page I will send them there as well (I need to check that xanga page). Otherwise I could send them to Oddwen who could in turn upload them to her xanga-account...
Thanks for uploading those first ones Oddwen!
And Esty, do join the "gang"!
Nogrod
04-15-2008, 02:54 PM
Done!
So I opened an account in xanga. The quality of the file isn't the best one there as Oddwen already noted but it works.
Just go here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/a99472114600/audio.html), sit back and relax...
It's all done with one take. I have just edited the bursts of laughter and the different noises resulting from us changing places around the mike to produce something like a more or less fluent storytelling.
As it's done with one take there are a lots of mistakes and all that but this is more a documentary of us having fun than any ambitious project to produce a highquality radio adaptation. Then there's too much Gandalf and it starts slowly but after you reach eight minutes it becomes quite fun indeed.
Pay heed to the sound effects in the end! Pure home made effects! :D
The actors: Aganzir, Brinn, Greenie, Lommy, Nogrod, Volo
Brinniel
04-15-2008, 04:01 PM
Hurray, it's finished! Thanks for posting it, Nogrod. :)
Now let's see if others can guess who is playing who... (I'm sure I won't be difficult to guess since I'm the only American. :rolleyes: )
Btw, for future reference to anyone who wants to post audio, I searched on google and there's tons of audio hosting sites. For example, here is one (http://www.supload.com/free-audio-hosting).
Lalaith
04-15-2008, 05:24 PM
Oh, I loved it. The wolves were *magnificent*. Did you use them when playing live werewolf, too?
But Nogrod, this is getting scary.
You have always really reminded me (personality wise) of my eldest brother. Then, I saw your picture as Tom Bombadil, and I find you look like my eldest brother. Now I have heard your voice (Gandalf, right?) and - what do you know - you sound just like him, too.
Oddwen
04-15-2008, 10:50 PM
Heh - great job all y'alls on that - your Wargs were much more convincing than the movie. :)
Gwathagor
04-15-2008, 10:55 PM
Oh, I loved it. The wolves were *magnificent*. Did you use them when playing live werewolf, too?
But Nogrod, this is getting scary.
You have always really reminded me (personality wise) of my eldest brother. Then, I saw your picture as Tom Bombadil, and I find you look like my eldest brother. Now I have heard your voice (Gandalf, right?) and - what do you know - you sound just like him, too.
Yes, and what you DIDN'T know is that your brother is leading a double life in Finland on weekends.
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-16-2008, 03:15 AM
Whoa, Nog, it was wonderful! (All of you!)
"Ouvrez... bitte?" :D
But especially Gimli had really great accent and Boromir was mad!
And was that squeking of Frodo supposed to be an epigony of my fantastic and original Frodo? ;) :p
Thinlómien
04-16-2008, 03:30 AM
I've heard this so many times but it never fails to make me laugh. :D (I'm in the school library, listening to it with headphones and people are looking at me and wondering why I'm giglling and grinning... well, they have no clue. :D)
I'm laughing at the animals and Gandalf's "clear" mellon and everybody's voices and the whining Hobbits and well, everything... :D
Nerwen
04-16-2008, 05:01 AM
"Ouvrez... bitte?" :D
I totally cracked up at that point.:D
I'm laughing at the animals and Gandalf's "clear" mellon and everybody's voices and the whining Hobbits and well, everything... :D
I know, I kept expecting Frodo to say, "Are we there yet? Can I have an ice-cream?"
...but overall it's pretty darned impressive. Out of curiosity, Nogrod, did the wolves and the opening door come from an sfx cd, or what?
Nogrod
04-16-2008, 05:33 AM
Out of curiosity, Nogrod, did the wolves and the opening door come from an sfx cd, or what?Nope! They are purely home-made. :D
The wolves are Aganzir, Brinniel, Greenie, Lommy & Volo. They went to different rooms and howled there. After that I mixed their voice a bit, panned them moving in space and added loads of echo...
The opening of the doors is a combination of two different voices. There are two rocks picked up from the backyard grinded together and then there is my iron mortar which is scratched with the mortar hammer (or whatever is the name of that thing you grind the spices in a mortar). And the resulting sound is given a lot of echo as well as the lowest frequencies are turned to the maximum.
:cool:
A Little Green
04-16-2008, 07:52 AM
But especially Gimli had really great accent I agree. :D We had this idea that Gimli would have a Russian accent and Legolas a Swedish one. ;)
Actually, Legate, in case you didn't notice, there was also some Czech in the part where Gandalf uses different languages...
:rolleyes:
I'm laughing although I haven't even listened to the final version. :D It was very interesting to do and now I want to get a home studio too. :S
Russian accent indeed... :rolleyes:
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-16-2008, 10:00 AM
Actually, Legate, in case you didn't notice, there was also some Czech in the part where Gandalf uses different languages...
In fact, I didn't. :rolleyes: Nogrod's voice is often very quiet, or sometimes even when he starts loud, the end of the word ends in silence. Only now listening of it with the volume up, I noticed that, but really not on the first hearing. :rolleyes:
Aganzir
04-16-2008, 11:03 AM
And was that squeking of Frodo supposed to be an epigony of my fantastic and original Frodo? ;) :p
No. As a matter of fact, her voice is really like that.
THE Ka
04-16-2008, 11:16 PM
I wish I could listen sooo much, but sadly the audio is missing on my computer (it crashed a few months ago, I've been rebuilding the drivers and cards... No fun a'tall.), so my project now has been to relocate the audio component for the computer, which may take a bit, but should happen.
Also the Ka should absolutely throw us a line or two with her male-acting!
I've been practicing over the past week, and actually hoping my throat cold holds out so I don't make it sound as if anyone the fellowship bumps into is pulling multiple Dernhelm(s)....:rolleyes: Eventually...
~ Ka
MatthewM
04-17-2008, 12:21 PM
I'm at school right now so I can't listen yet but I can't wait to hear this!
Nogrod
04-17-2008, 12:39 PM
As any discussion here will take time should we slowly start discussing about the part or chapter we should go for with a first "real" trial?
I'll post those clips of both Mac and Gwath soon into the xanga so you can hear them too. Sadly Gwath's mike is inbuilt to the computer and one really can hear it - he has nice voice and his pronounciation is just lovely.
So if you Matthew and Gwath could still look around for possibilites of fex. lending a mike from school / friend / friend's friend or something? Others I think have no problem.
And if there's no solution to Matthew's and Gwath's problems I would suggest we just take them in and suffer the quality of the recording equipment for the sake of getting two really good actors and friends in.
And the rest just keep on sending me your clips! Send me a PM to get my gmail -account address.
And let's go on suggesting a suitable chapter to try!
Estelyn Telcontar
04-17-2008, 02:05 PM
Thanks for the link, and most of all, for letting us hear the results of your live reading! It was very enjoyable, what with the accents, wolves, and all. I'm reminded of the live chat readings we did several years ago - one of the highlights of my Downs experience! Two posh Brit accents doing the two wizards and a wonderful Gollum - great stuff! Participants from several countries on two continents were united by the magic of the internet.
Right now, I don't have time for anything else than my current Tolkien project, so I can't join in. But I look forward to hearing more as your project proceeds...
Gwathagor
04-17-2008, 02:36 PM
So if you Matthew and Gwath could still look around for possibilites of fex. lending a mike from school / friend / friend's friend or something? Others I think have no problem.
I'll work on it.
Nogrod
04-17-2008, 03:55 PM
If and when this is going to take some time we should also start to think about the sound effects and possible music stuff as well?
I do not think we will be such wizards that we could get any chapter fully composed but we might go for some interludes - or if the narration in the storyline calls for music then why not try to add some background music then? Someone said s/he would be happy to do some. After we decide on the chapter let's hear from you (McCaber that was?). I could also do some if needed. And anyone having ideas do then come forwards!
Making of sound effects has been something I have loved from very early on. I remember we made a kind of "Radio dramas" with my little sister back in the late seventies / early eighties (when I was ten+!) and I was already then most interested in trying to find the way to make the sounds even if the equipment at that time were quite primitive (we had a Tandberg reel-to-reel and a C-cassette radiorecorder back then and we recorded the effects on one, then played it and acted on it recording on the other one).
But if we'll really decide to go on with this project I'd have one more reason to invest some money to a decent digital audio recorder with which I could start experimenting with different sound effects (I've dreamt about it for a long time! Now I might have a reason to invest in it!). During the summer we could go to our summer cottage where the noises of the city would not interfere and we might record stuff like basic walking of a group in ME envirovenments, the howl of the wind, shooting of arrows, any watery noises (our cottage is by a lake) or whatever we need. And surely that would make us try the limits of our creativity at home! I mean the opening of the doors of Moria were not bad in our latest...
If we can avoid using the sfx cd's the better. The more we do ourselves the better. The more people are involved the better.
So thoughts on the chapter we should go for?
So thoughts on who sholud then play whom?
So thoughts on if we need music there and who should try making it?
So thoughts in possible sound effects we'd need in that chapter?
And if someone's thinking it: this is no closed society! Everyone is welcome whatever s/he can bring to this effort! Remember this is not dead serious! But surely we do our best... :)
MatthewM
04-17-2008, 10:09 PM
How about The Ring Goes South or A Journey in the Dark, like you have recorded? Or maybe Farewell to Lorien?
Great job Downers on A Journey in the Dark! Really awesome to see this coming together!
Gwathagor
04-17-2008, 11:49 PM
My vote goes to "The Ring Goes South." There is a great deal of dialogue in that particular chapter.
Thinlómien
04-18-2008, 05:51 AM
Has anybody counted how many actors we have? That might affect the choice...
And as no one seems to be willing to guess, I'm going to reveal the cast of our audio clip before it's totally forgotten. ;)
Nogrod is Gandalf.
Brinn is the narrator and Sam.
Aganzir is Frodo.
Volo is Gimli and Pippin.
A Little Green is Legolas and Merry.
I'm Boromir and Bill the Pony.
And by the way, you can't understand the brilliance of Greenie's performance unless you've heard Swedish. :D
MatthewM
04-18-2008, 09:48 AM
Has anybody counted how many actors we have? That might affect the choice...
Well there's me, Nogrod, you, Gwath, Legate, Rikae (I think), Mac (I think), Brinn, Aganzir, Volo, A Little Green, and the KA(I think)? Am I missing anybody? If so I apologize.
With a cast this large, we could easily have each actor play one character. In "Farewell to Lorien" (I have to read through it again) but I think the whole Fellowship has lines along with Celeborn, Galadriel, and Haldir. But I am not completely sure if that's correct. I would like "The Ring Goes South", but let's see how many definite actors we have first, so we can include everybody.
As far as the casting goes, I would like to Boromir, as has been said. Does anybody else have a preference for who they play?
Macalaure
04-18-2008, 12:07 PM
So... who wants to play what role. Who thinks who has a fitting voice for which role?
Matthew: Boromir
Nogrod: I would prefer him to play Gimli over Gandalf, because I missed some of Gandalf's grouchiness.
Legate: I rather liked his Aragorn.
Nogrod told me I would fit Legolas.
What do we do with our actresses? I love A Little Green's Gollum and Brinn's Sam. I wonder why nobody yet gave a sample of Galadriel or Éowyn.
(Matt, you missed Odd- and Nerwen :))
Which chapter to do.... I would be for The Ring goes South or A Journey in the Dark - exciting chapters, lot's of dialogue. The Council of Elrond would be nice, but would probably require too many different voices for now. Lothlórien would also be interesting. If we had a really good Frodo, we could pick The Breaking of the Fellowship: His dialogue with Boromir is, in my opinion, one of the best dialogues of the whole LotR.
I'd also like to add my name on the list of people to applaud Nogrod and his crew for their amazing sound effects.
MatthewM
04-18-2008, 01:04 PM
Matthew: Boromir
Nogrod: I would prefer him to play Gimli over Gandalf, because I missed some of Gandalf's grouchiness.
Legate: I rather liked his Aragorn.
Nogrod told me I would fit Legolas.
Sounds great to me! I too really, really like Nogrod's Gimli, but whoever he wants to play is fine with me.
What do we do with our actresses? I love A Little Green's Gollum and Brinn's Sam.
Yeah, the female voices sounded good with hobbits, and I'm sure they could do great Elves too. Also the narrator could be female, like in the clip Brinn does.
Oh, and I sincerely apologize for leaving anybody out in my list of participants!
Nogrod
04-18-2008, 03:35 PM
Nogrod told me I would fit Legolas.Then again the roles of the elves should probably go for the ladies in the end if we look at the gender-ratio here. As goes to the roles of the hobbits as well (even if you made just a wonderful Frodo!)
If we'd have a chapter with baddies Mac should definitively be one. His Grima is just a celebration of acting!
I've sent the clips of Gwath and Mac to my xanga-account. Check them here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/403842125652/audio.html).
Thinlómien
04-18-2008, 03:40 PM
Mac is a convincing baddie indeed: I love his Gríma! :D Gwath has a nice voice which could serve almost any role.
I wonder why nobody yet gave a sample of Galadriel or Éowyn.We are too modest (or then we just don't have fitting voices).
Macalaure
04-18-2008, 05:26 PM
Then again the roles of the elves should probably go for the ladies in the end if we look at the gender-ratio here. As goes to the roles of the hobbits as well (even if you made just a wonderful Frodo!)I agree, but I also hope it won't make the hobbits appear too young and the elves too feminine.
If we'd have a chapter with baddies Mac should definitively be one. His Grima is just a celebration of acting!Mac is a convincing baddie indeed: I love his Gríma! :D Thanks a lot! :)
Gwathagor
04-18-2008, 08:05 PM
Nogrod: Gimli (and/or Gandalf?)
Macalaure: ...somebody BAD...
MatthewM: Boromir
I'll need to listen to the Journey in the Dark clip again to decide regarding the others.
Gwathagor
04-18-2008, 08:11 PM
Macalaure would be a good Legolas.
I think it might be wise to make the narrator a female voice, given the ratio of female actors to female parts.
McCaber
04-18-2008, 09:41 PM
So, The Ring Goes South or A Journey in the Dark to start out with? Sounds good to me.
I'll start trying to hammer out some music. Is Rikae going to help with this, or should I do it by myself?
MatthewM
04-19-2008, 01:11 PM
Nice clips from Gwath and Mac! I do agree that we need to give the females some Elf parts and hobbit parts, but I think at least Frodo should be played by a male, separating him as older than the other three hobbits. I like Mac's Grisknak, and I like Gwath's Aragorn.
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-21-2008, 11:38 AM
Nice. I actually quite like Gwath's Aragorn. And I also think Macgolas may be nice :) (if we choose not to leave the Elves for the female part of actors). Only, is it possible to get a better quality of the recording? :( Such thing would be probably good.
Concerning the chapter, I already said before that The Ring Goes South or Journey in the Dark would be a good choice in my opinion (especially now after I just re-read Ring Goes South, I find it a quite good chapter to pick - only there are large narrator-bits, but what can we do. These are everywhere). And concerning my role, I don't care much, as I said, I picked Aragorn to show the "middle" position of my voice acting, I can eventually go into extremes (no, not meaning just these hobbits you heard). So whatever you think would suit me and/or mainly what role would be needed to fill.
Rikae
04-21-2008, 11:50 AM
I wonder why nobody yet gave a sample of Galadriel or Éowyn.
You know my microphone hasn't been working lately. ;)
I just wanted to add my vote for, at the very least, the following:
MatthewM as Boromir
Nogrod as Gimli
Macalaure as Legolas
Also, somebody did a great Gollum, but I can't remember at the moment who it was (and I'm away from my own computer, so I can't find out right now.) :rolleyes:
I'll have to listen to the clips again before giving more opinions, but those are the ones that definately stuck out in my mind so far.
McCaber - sounds great! You go ahead (I just wanted music, I don't really have the equipment on hand to create it.)
Nogrod
04-21-2008, 02:00 PM
I'll start trying to hammer out some music. Is Rikae going to help with this, or should I do it by myself?If you wish to have a partner in this I could try to help you out if I have time. So if you wish to have some live basslines or guitars (acoustic or electric) - or possibly choirs - I could give you a hand. Or if you need help arranging some of the stuff I'd be happy to help as that is a thing I love myself (I'm no composer but I may have some talent in arranging music).
I'll continue this is an PM so as not to burden this thread with technicalities.
MatthewM
04-25-2008, 03:01 PM
Any more updates here?
Nogrod
04-25-2008, 03:18 PM
Okey-dokey. :p
I've made the first experiment with the music as a kind of an idea of a basic chord-procession for the journey from Rivendell through Eregion came to my mind.
The clip starts with the narration when the fellowship leaves Rivendell. It is said there "there was no laughter, no song or music..." But after the depiction goes a little forwards the music creeps in.
The main idea in the music is to bring together a bit sorrowful chord-procession by an acoustic guitar (the empty land that once was great but still is not devoid of beauty) and a darker synthetizer line (bringing forwards the unknown threat).
I have a couple of ideas how to bring in some variations to the main theme while the scene continues. I also have some ideas how to add some voices to sing an aaaa-aaaa -thing or a distortion electric guitar wailing quietly at the background at some other places.
There are two things in the clip:
1. The narration fitted with music (about 1.45)
2. The music by itself so that you could get a better picture what it is goinbg on there in the background. (a bit shorter) :)
You will find it from here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/840fd2154147/audio.html).
Comments, further ideas?
What I did realise was that making the music to a whole chapter will not be a small feat indeed!
So don't be afraid McCaber, I'm not wishing to rob this part of the project from you. This idea just came to my mind and I wished to give it a try - and I kind of like it enough to wish to share it. If we will actually get a full chapter done there will be more than enough stuff to compose... And if you have better ideas for this part (if we're going to record this part in the first place) just let me know. No problem. It was fun doing this anyway.
PS. If you have earphones use them! The slowly growing music will sound much better with phones...
Rikae
04-25-2008, 03:47 PM
Wow, that music really gives just the right mood, I think. Nice work! :)
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-25-2008, 03:54 PM
At least for myself - quite nice, Nog! I am not going to meddle into this music arrangement and other stuff, but I won't have any objections if this were to play there. Other comments? From the beginning, it sounds like Pink Floyd's Sorrow (of course, because there's the synthetiser and nothing else :D ), or overall it sounds like the music from Diablo :D Or am I to offer responsible criticism? Maybe I would expect... "softer" thing. This is way too... dark? ... "raw"... but as I said, I'd accept that there, and overall I don't care whether there's going to be music or not (Hm... so why am I writing this. Maybe so that you have at least some feedback :) ).
Nogrod
04-25-2008, 04:59 PM
Thank's for the feedback Legate!
Maybe I would expect... "softer" thing. This is way too... dark? ... "raw"...So just check this (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/e8d672154214/audio.html).
This is another version of the same music (and music only) where I have taken all those dark echoes and high-pitched reverbs away so that the acoustic guitar sounds more "normal" and bright. There is quite a difference there.
I guess the whole mood is a bit different. There still is the suspense or the dark flavour but it sounds more bright or crisp.
Would that sound better to you?
Gwathagor
04-25-2008, 05:32 PM
I like the music a lot, both variations of it.
However, they both are a little depressing and lack an adventurous, hopeful, heroic quality. While listening to it, I don't get the sense that we are on a quest which, at least early on, would doubtless seem exciting to the Fellowship.
Anyway, I realize that we're all going to have differing personal opinions, so I'll be content with whatever we settle on.
Thanks for doing that, Nogrod!
:)
Gwathagor
04-25-2008, 05:34 PM
overall it sounds like the music from Diablo
Ha! That's true!
McCaber
04-25-2008, 08:36 PM
Thanks Nogrod. That gives me a nice place to start/lead up to, and it makes my job easier.
If anyone else wants to help with the music, I'm not stopping them. Just send me or Nogrod a PM.
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-26-2008, 09:38 AM
This is another version of the same music (and music only) where I have taken all those dark echoes and high-pitched reverbs away so that the acoustic guitar sounds more "normal" and bright. There is quite a difference there.
I guess the whole mood is a bit different. There still is the suspense or the dark flavour but it sounds more bright or crisp.
Would that sound better to you?
Oh, indeed, this sounds better and I actually really like it. I would be all for putting that there :)
However, they both are a little depressing and lack an adventurous, hopeful, heroic quality. While listening to it, I don't get the sense that we are on a quest which, at least early on, would doubtless seem exciting to the Fellowship.
Hm, but I would actually oppose having any "heroic" music in there (in this moment). What I really won't like to see would be the heroic thing like we see in FotR (the Fellowship climbing the mountains and that Fellowship theme playing there) - it's nice in the film, but it's not good for us, I'd say. And look what is the text which is supposed to go with it: it is not meant to be heroic at all, and last of all hopeful - Eru forbid! This is a hopeless quest! And the Fellowship is leaving the safety of Rivendell, one dark winter night - and I strongly doubt anyone is excited. Just read the chapter! The only one who is "heroic" is Boromir who feels the need to blow his horn. But nothing else.
Oh, and one thing for you music-makers. My brother (who is actually quite a music maker) suddenly expressed his interest in the subject, so it could be that he might lend a hand or two to the music-making if you wish and if it's possible. What do you think? If that will be possible, then... hmm... how should we do this... let's say you could PM me some things about what you are planning or what you'd need or whatever with the music, and then we'll see.
Gwathagor
04-26-2008, 12:09 PM
It doesn't need to resemble the movie score, Legate. In fact, that wasn't what I had in mind at all. I would just like it slightly more upbeat.
How about something as crazy as in Dead Man, if someone has seen it? :D
But the stuff Nogrod made is to be put into it, for sure.
Nogrod
04-26-2008, 07:28 PM
Oh, and one thing for you music-makers. My brother (who is actually quite a music maker) suddenly expressed his interest in the subject, so it could be that he might lend a hand or two to the music-making if you wish and if it's possible. What do you think? If that will be possible, then... hmm... how should we do this... let's say you could PM me some things about what you are planning or what you'd need or whatever with the music, and then we'll see.Good to hear that! More people in the fellowship the merrier!
The first problem though is that there is no planning going on at the moment. And it's hard to plan if we don't have a deal about which chapter we should go for in the first place. I myself might vote for the Ring goes south as it has diffent moods and quite a lot of dialogue.
And what would your brother wish to do Legate, compose, arrange, play - and if he'd play which instruments he could do? The easiest thing is when he wishes to play then we can send him the background when that is ready and he can either play the violin or oboe or electric guitar (or whatever instrument he plays) right over it the way he wishes or we could send him notes and give him the beat. If he wishes to join in with the composing then we should make some deals about who takes which part of the chapter. And even if he doesn't I should have something like a deal with McCaber anyway. I mean I can continue developing this one I've made this far if McCaber doesn't say he wishes to do exactly that part. All this counting on the possibility that we'll end up doing this chapter that is.
If we take the passage I've made now the scene will go on for something like 10 minutes and it should mainly be a background thing - like all this music should be. We can use the pauses in the narration or the changing of the settings in the book as places where we can bring forwards some musical ideas for something like ten seconds at the time but probably no more.
If the stuff I made (well, a lengthier rerecording of it including a lot of variation) would start with the departing of the fellowship from Rivendell I'd say the next place to make some real changes - not taking into account the variations - would be Sam's night-watch the earliest, probably only when they start climbing Caradhras. But even there the changes should be more smooth than abrupt. With the attack of Caradhras and the coming of the snow we should have a totally new theme to be sure - even if there could be remnants of the score before it.
And we definitively need a Rivendell theme in the beginning - spiced with some hobbit-like things as there are long sequences of the hobbits discussing before the company sets off.
If the Ring Goes South is going to be the chapter we will make...
Gwathagor
04-26-2008, 09:13 PM
I vote that we do either The Ring Goes South or Journey In The Dark. Journey In The Dark might even allow Gollum a cameo appearance!
Gwathagor
04-26-2008, 09:17 PM
And we definitively need a Rivendell theme in the beginning - spiced with some hobbit-like things as there are long sequences of the hobbits discussing before the company sets off.
Wind and bells and mellow xylophones for the elves and some kind of English folk tune for the Hobbits!
Legate of Amon Lanc
04-27-2008, 11:03 AM
First, I actually thought we have already semi-agreed on Ring Goes South; but in any case, I would be all for it. Journey in the Dark is also nice, but TRGS sounds at least as well and there's quite a lot character talk at the beginning and Nog has actually started working on something for TRGS, so...
And what would your brother wish to do Legate, compose, arrange, play - and if he'd play which instruments he could do? The easiest thing is when he wishes to play then we can send him the background when that is ready and he can either play the violin or oboe or electric guitar (or whatever instrument he plays) right over it the way he wishes or we could send him notes and give him the beat. If he wishes to join in with the composing then we should make some deals about who takes which part of the chapter.
Now, concerning this (I am almost-quoting, or paraphrasing the response):
If you have something done and you'd wish him to play something for you - he can do either accoustic guitar or bass guitar (unfortunately, we no longer have the violoncello and there's also piano but it will be probably very bad quality), you can send it to him eventually with some guidelines how you'd like it to be. Or with the beat or notes, if you sent him such (direct quote: "If they really took the effort with it..." :D ), then he could follow that as well.
And if it were to be the way that everyone picks some part of the chapter and makes music for it, then also no problem - you can discuss that. In that case, there are probably some passages where you'd like to have the music. So from these passages, you would probably have some passages you'd like to do, and also in that case he'd look at these passages if there isn't anything which would really interest him, and you could then agree on what is he going to do.
And last thing, he also has some of these composing-programs and he can do something with them, like putting tracks together or such, or make electronic music (or music out of recorded music samples).
Nerwen
04-27-2008, 11:04 AM
Nogrod, I have sent you a clip of me saying stuff, in case you need more voice-actors.
Nogrod
04-28-2008, 03:13 AM
Nice!
You Nerwen have quite a "boyish" voice which is exactly what we'd need regarding the hobbits and elves. :)
Macalaure
04-28-2008, 02:36 PM
Soooo... I guess we're doing The Ring goes South or A Journey in the Dark? Well, since the two follow each other, why not start with the first and see how far we get?
We're not going ahead well with the casting. I've heard many samples, but who do people actually like to play now? Why doesn't everybody just say who s/he wants to play and then send in a short sample of each of these characters (if s/he doesn't have already) so that we can decide on it? Once we've decided on it, we can start experimenting with the first non-local recordings! :)
For the two chapters above we need:
Narrator
Frodo
Sam
Merry
Pippin
Gandalf
Aragorn
Legolas
Gimli
Boromir
Elrond
Bilbo
The characters for female voices would be the Narrator, Frodo(?), Sam, Merry, Pippin, Legolas(?), Bilbo(?).
I really like Nogrod's music. I was sceptical to too much background music before, but this was very nice to listen to.
Wind and bells and mellow xylophones for the elves
Hmm, when I think of Elvish music, I usually think more of harps and flutes, as in Blind Guardian's "Battle of Sudden Flame", for example.
Gwathagor
04-28-2008, 02:42 PM
Hmm, when I think of Elvish music, I usually think more of harps and flutes, as in Blind Guardian's "Battle of Sudden Flame", for example.
Naturally, it would depend upon the occasion.
Ok, I'm interested and I hope there's enough of my voice in A Journey in the Dark, because I don't have any microphone at the moment so it would be a big bother to find one. :)
MatthewM
04-29-2008, 01:55 PM
The wheels are turning!
Nogrod- that's an excellent musical score you have brewing. I too would like it a little more uplifting, but I have no qualms in keeping it along the same lines that you have created. Afterall, right before the Company sets out in the dead of winter, there isn't a voice in Rivendell that is heard. All was dark, cold, and brooding. Like Legate said, the only real noise that takes place before the Company sets out is the sounding of Boromir's horn. So, the dark feel of the music definitely does go with the scene.
Once the Company leaves Rivendell, perhaps then it should be slightly more cheery? Since they've been out into the open air, Gandalf's leading...the overall mood is a tad more cheerful, although still flocked with cold and doubt.
On the chapter- I also thought we agreed on The Ring Goes South. I think it would be a great choice to start with. And, if that goes well, we could always do A Journey in the Dark. As far as casting goes, I believe that everyone agrees with me being Boromir. So, that leaves 11 more characters to be voiced.
Concerning hobbits, I will say that I think Frodo and/or Bilbo should be voiced by males, to seperate them from the younger hobbits. I would like Legolas to also be played by a male but if some females fit the part then that's fine too. I know we have a large female crowd, so let's make sure everybody can participate if they want to.
Does anybody have a character they would prefer?
Nogrod
04-29-2008, 02:41 PM
Thanks for the list Mac.
I can play Gimli. That's okay by me.
I can try Gandalf if needed. There are pro's and con's in me doing it. A good thing is that my voice is a bit lower and sounds older so it might fit Gandalf in the company. A bad thing is that I'm no native speaker and Gandalf has quite long monologues every now and then - probably only the narrator will need to read more. One solution to the to the problem: those clips I have read Gandalf this far have been just rough first takes without any corrections. In practise I can rehearse them and take them all over again, even a sentence at the time when we start recording, so many things can be fixed. Second problem: Gandalf's monologues are oftentimes quite boring to read as he basically lectures with the old-wise-man tone. Lommy & Greenie say I read him with the "speacial voice" I always get on when reading them a bedtimestory... :rolleyes: Possible solution to the problem: I try to find a new angle to approach Gandalf to make it more fun to me and less boring for you to listen (not making it into a comedy to be sure but somehow more lively or edgy or whatever).
So who else do we have?
Matthew
Macalaure
Legate
Oddwen
Nerwen
Lommy
Greenie
Volo
How about:
Brinn (when are you home and able to make recordings?)
Gwath (have you any chance of getting to a place with a decent mike or to lend one?)
Rikae (do you have enough to do in carrying "the other" :) or do you have time to join?)
If Gwath gets a mike we'll have six male voices. That could nicely cover: Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, Elrond and Bilbo or Legolas. Or if someone takes two roles then both of them.
That would leave us with five parts: the narrator, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin with four to six female voices. Or if we wish to make a female legolas (Nerwen might be good in that - gah. Sorry I need to send you her clip as well...) then six parts.
Others I have forgotten? Eönwë? I haven't heard about him in a long time and he hasn't sent me a clip either even if I PM'd him my email a few weeks ago.
So any further ideas?
Gwathagor
04-29-2008, 06:29 PM
I should have a mic when I am home in two weeks. I can't attest to it's quality, but we'll give it a shot.
Gwathagor
04-29-2008, 06:34 PM
I agree that Frodo should be voiced by somebody of the male persuasion if at all possible...but hey, whatever works out.
Rikae
04-30-2008, 10:01 AM
It seems to me that there are plenty of female voices already, and besides, my microphone has been acting up lately.
Macalaure
04-30-2008, 02:31 PM
I can play Legolas, if you like.
However, in case we decide on a male voice for Frodo, I would also be interested in playing him instead.
Thinlómien
04-30-2008, 03:50 PM
I've now heard Nerwie's voice. (I hope Nog sends the clip to you others soon.) I'm quite sure she'd make a wonderful Legolas (not too girly, I assure you) - unless we have Galadriel, because then she must be her.
Nerwen
04-30-2008, 11:23 PM
*takes a bow*
And yes, I know I have a rather boyish-sounding voice– it's why I opted in, since we don't have enough actual males.
Eönwë
05-01-2008, 02:00 PM
Eönwë? I haven't heard about him in a long time and he hasn't sent me a clip either even if I PM'd him my email a few weeks ago.
I am very sorry Nogrod. I have been too busy to fix my microphone. All my SATs :mad: and stuff will be over in a week or two, so by then I can join.
But probably you'll have to do this scene without me. Sorry.:(
Nerwen, your voice was wonderful! I could only gasp.
Nogrod
05-01-2008, 02:34 PM
Okay. I made a bit more optimistic version of my theme to the Ring Goes South. The new theme should begin in the point when the fellowship notices the sun shining in the morning when they have come to the border of Hollin. It's only a variation of the earlier one but it has more major chords and more variation...
You can find it from here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/50e5b2177365/audio.html).
To make a contrast the first gloomy part which starts the scene (leaving Rivendell) is included - taking about 1.20 minutes - but then it changes to the more positive theme (sun comes up). So the beginning is there only for contrast.
The new "optimistic" recording is pretty hastily made and thence not "flawless" (or thoughtfully mastered / mixed) but I thought I'd like to share the basic idea with you so that you could say whether that works in principle or not.
I have been too busy to fix my microphone. All my SATs :mad: and stuff will be over in a week or two, so by then I can join.
But probably you'll have to do this scene without me. Sorry.:(No way! Do you think this will be done in a week or two? :D
I'd make a careful estimate that we might have something ready in July - August or something... so just tell who you'd like to be and we'll take that into account.
After we decide on the roles everyone needs to record their parts and after that it will take a while to add & build them together, to add the music & possible sound effects & stuff...
Thinlómien
05-02-2008, 01:18 PM
Since the casting seems to get nowhere, I and Nogrod decided to make a suggestion. Unfortunately, we had no idea about some roles. Anyway, we have a few suggestions:
narrator - Oddwen
Legolas - Nerwen
Gimli - Nogrod
Boromir - Matthew
Sam - Brinniel
Merry - Lommy
Pippin - Greenie
After these, it seems less clear to us...
Gwath or Legate could be Aragorn.
Mac or Volo could be Frodo.
Nogrod could be Bilbo - he will send you an old clip of him playing the hobbit soon.
Elrond could be played by Nerwen, Mac, Gwath or Legate.
And someone has to be Gandalf. But who?
Any comments? Preferences? Suggestions? Approvals? Objections?
Everybody, feel free to make cast suggestions of your own - either for some particular role or the whole cast. Let's get this discussion rolling.
I could be Gandalf... What do people think?
But I decided today that I deffinitely want to be the Nazgul and other such creatures! :D
Thinlómien
05-02-2008, 01:55 PM
I could be Gandalf... What do people think?Why not. :D You should try. Noggie says that you can come to his place to make the recording.
Legate of Amon Lanc
05-02-2008, 02:10 PM
I see the proposal as fine, although I would prefer Nog as Gandalf, as he sounds to me the best as him. But now that Volo proposed himself as Gandalf... I don't know much about Volo's voice, so I really can't tell, if you think he'd be a good Gandalf, then go on.
I see the proposal as fine, although I would prefer Nog as Gandalf, as he sounds to me the best as him. But now that Volo proposed himself as Gandalf... I don't know much about Volo's voice, so I really can't tell, if you think he'd be a good Gandalf, then go on.
Well, let's say that Noggie would rather be Gimli and the musician. Sure, I myself am ok with anybody taking Gandalf role and would even prefer if somebody did - just that I could do it.
Nogrod
05-02-2008, 06:10 PM
Here's the latest... even if the first clip of the first one is a bit older (it just got edited away from the first e-mails as the size of the total file would have become too large and most of you have never heard it).
So first of all there is the clip with me playing Bilbo. It is followed by Lommy & Greenie playing a dialogue between Merry & Pip. You can here them from here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/f2a5c2181523/audio.html).
Secondly there is a trial to see how the mood changes within the "Ring goes south". The beginning of the clip has the "gloomy" music but then changes to the more positive one when the sun comes forwards in the narration. Do not pay heed to the badly made narration... just consider the message and the music... It is found here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/57c012181527/audio.html).
Thirdly, I tried to enclose a clip from Nerwen. Sadly I have not had the chance to do anything about it as it's a video-clip - I did indeed encounter some problems to hear it in the first place myself. Bringing it into my audio-software-program resulted in buzzes and hisses and all that electric mayhem you can imagine... So next time you send something please Nerwen record it in audio, not video... My Xanga site wouldn't accept that file neither as video or audio... so it was a dead end on all fronts. I managed to listen to it for sure but sharing it was just not in my scope... (I can pass it via email to anyone to try and open oneself though).
Oddwen
05-02-2008, 06:11 PM
I actually was going to request to narrate, since I'm not really comfortable acting...plus I've tried pitch-shifting my voice down and I sound like my Mom, which doesn't help. :rolleyes:
Nogrod
05-02-2008, 06:28 PM
I actually was going to request to narrate, since I'm not really comfortable acting...Great!
Just hold your horses while you narrate. In the clip you sent us a long ago you were speaking like the devil himself was at yout tail. You have a nice voice so let it do the work and read slowly, easily, enjoying every word you speak.
And just as an advice to anyone doing these things: pauses are good as they can be shortened or deleted but speaking too fast binding sentences together is bad as then there is no way of editing them away from each other.
That becomes more acute with the requirement of adding music on the background where one would need to cut the narration / dialogue to fit with the music. Music has beats that can't be fooled but the timing of a speech can be edited... So just record loosely. The gaps can be edited away.
Good to hear that Oddwen!
You're welcome to give Gandalf a try Volo. I think you might manage it but it will be a task indeed. Let's try it.
MatthewM
05-02-2008, 10:24 PM
Secondly there is a trial to see how the mood changes within the "Ring goes south". The beginning of the clip has the "gloomy" music but then changes to the more positive one when the sun comes forwards in the narration. Do not pay heed to the badly made narration... just consider the message and the music... It is found here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/57c012181527/audio.html).
Nogrod- I love the music! It sounds amazing! Great job.
I would like to hear Volo's voice as Gandalf, because obviously such a role needs careful consideration. Let's hear it Volo! :)
EDIT:: Nogrod, do you have a recording of Nerwen's voice? I would like to hear it and I couldn't find a link...
Oddwen
05-02-2008, 11:27 PM
Great!
Just hold your horses while you narrate. In the clip you sent us a long ago you were speaking like the devil himself was at yout tail. You have a nice voice so let it do the work and read slowly, easily, enjoying every word you speak.
Thanks! But how do you know he wasn't? :p
I'll see if I can get a bit from The Ring Goes South up within the next few days.
Legate of Amon Lanc
05-03-2008, 01:58 AM
I think I'm going to, if I have time, record and post some samples where I put some effort to acting at last... so that you have some more backup material for choices...
Thinlómien
05-03-2008, 06:18 AM
I like Nogrod's music, too. And I don't think it ever was too gloomy in the first place.
And I just re-listened to the Merry and Pippin dialogue. Greenie is amazing and I have amazignly contagious yawns. But it really made me laugh because it sounds like regular quarreling between me and Greenie... :D
PS. Looking at the Xanga page, I see Nogrod has decided to follow Farael's example and start calling me Loomy... :rolleyes: :p
Legate of Amon Lanc
05-03-2008, 10:27 AM
And I just re-listened to the Merry and Pippin dialogue. Greenie is amazing and I have amazignly contagious yawns. But it really made me laugh because it sounds like regular quarreling between me and Greenie... :D
Quite. I just listened to it and it's fantastic :D And Nog, the music is very good, too! I really like it. Very well done and well connected!
Macalaure
05-03-2008, 02:58 PM
I think Nogrod should definitely play both, Gimli and Bilbo (unless we have people left who don't get to play anybody). He's doing them both magnificent, and the two characters interact only very little.
Lommy and Lily made a quite marvellous Merry and Pippin. The only slight problem I had was telling the two apart. :rolleyes: You have rather similar voices, I have to say. :D
Nogrod, I think the music is excellent, too (definitely not too gloomy for this scene), but don't you think it's a little too loud? I had problems understanding your voice now and then.
I'm looking forward to finally hearing Nerwen, and also very much to Volo's version of Gandalf and more of Legate. I'm soon (using a very loose definition of "soon" here) going to send a few more takes of mine. I had a cold recently and my voice went bad, but now I'm ok again.
Nogrod
05-03-2008, 05:55 PM
Nogrod, I think the music is excellent, too (definitely not too gloomy for this scene), but don't you think it's a little too loud? I had problems understanding your voice now and then. Thanks. And sure the clips I've made had the intention of showing what the music might be. In the "final" version the music should be more in the background and the narrator hopefully articulates English better than I do... :rolleyes:
Hoping to hear your new takes - as well as Legate's... and anyone.
Let's get this started!
PS. McCaber, do you have any ideas how the beginning of the "Ring goes south" in Rivendell might sound like?
Thinlómien
05-04-2008, 04:04 AM
Lommy and Lily made a quite marvellous Merry and Pippin. The only slight problem I had was telling the two apart. You have rather similar voices, I have to say. I know. Even my best friends used to mix up our voices on the phone... :rolleyes: :D But we can try to do something about it - in that recording we were talking in voices very close to our normal ones, but I think we'd be able to alter them a little.
Legate of Amon Lanc
05-04-2008, 10:45 AM
Well, I have just sent some clips to Nogrod. I recorded some Aragorn in Hollin and also Elrond. I realised three things: a) I have no idea how should I act Elrond. I think he should be rather "soft" but not sure about the outcome... b) The Fellowship is composed of such dully "normal" characters! I would know really well how to act types like Bill Ferny could be, but these Main Heroes are just too "normal" that I can't lay myself fully into the acting. c) I never realised that Aragorn has sentences which can be so easily misquoted, like: "I have a sense of watchfulness, and of fear, that I have never had here before." Try to speak it over several times. I couldn't stop myself mispronouncing it as "I have a sense of watchfulness and of fear that I have never had beer before" :rolleyes: ;)
Brinniel
05-04-2008, 04:10 PM
Brinn (when are you home and able to make recordings?)
Well, I'm coming home on the 8th. As for when I can make recordings? Hmm...that's a good question...
Here's the good news: I managed to get into my first audio production course (a prerequisite to sound design) for next semester. Which means I'll have access to all sorts of cool audio equipment and studios...even if it's not for school projects (as long as it's not during finals).
The bad news: I don't start up that semester until September. Until then, I'll be sitting around at home far away from any cool equipment. It'd be an honour to play Sam and I would do it, but I don't think I have any decent mikes. Though I will be sure to look around and see what my options are when I go home...
The only slight problem I had was telling the two apart.
Indeed. I did manage to eventually figure out who was who, but it took me awhile. I didn't realise how much you guys sound alike until I hear the voices without the faces... :rolleyes:
Noggie, would it be possible to get the audio clip of Nerwen and the earlier ones (before Journey in the Dark) by email? I would very much like to have them. :)
Since I don't have a microphone (although there might be one around the house somewhere, but of poor quality and I don't have a program to record in anyway) I tried Gandalf out on my own and came to the conclution that I can't use my voice in a way it sounds normal, wise and old at the same time. I'm dropping off Gandalf and taking up Frodo if it's alright. Me being the youngest male actor I think Frodo is somehow more natural than Gandalf. I could act much better if I wouldn't have to strain my voice and try pronoucing so many wierd names.
Nogrod
05-05-2008, 03:28 PM
Here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/00a052192842/audio.html) are the clips of Legate.
I tried once again but Nerwen's clips couldn't be uploaded neither in video or audio.
I'll send them to everyone I have an e-mail address as they are. I hope you can listen to them. I managed to listen to them but somehow the internet sites do not wish to upload them.
So please Nerwen, next time just basic wav.-files if possible? Your voice is great and would really do well in the fellowship!
Nogrod
05-05-2008, 03:30 PM
Btw. if you Volo have time feel free to visit my place to try Gandalf. It should not pend on a fact that you have no good mike as you can easily visit me to try / do it...
Macalaure
05-05-2008, 04:03 PM
That sounds quite promising, Legate, but actually, your Aragorn doesn't happen to fit my mental image too well - not commanding enough. But something in between your Aragorn and your Gandalf shout would pretty much fit my mental image of Gandalf! What do the others think?
Gwathagor
05-05-2008, 05:36 PM
I thought Legate was very good as Elrond.
Oddwen
05-05-2008, 07:43 PM
I've recorded and uploaded two clips - one from "The Ring Goes South (http://audio.xanga.com/One_733t_p0z3r/a25e02193069/audio.html)", and a favorite passage of mine from "The Great River (http://audio.xanga.com/One_733t_p0z3r/863fd2193075/audio.html)".
I played a bit with the audio settings for my microphone, and don't hear as much as the background hum, but then again I didn't normalize the volume - it may just be hiding. In RGS I was ignoring the cardinal rule of recording (talk past the mike, don't talk into it), hence the spitting and ph-ing.
Edit: Yup, the hum is still there. Darn.
Nerwen
05-05-2008, 08:01 PM
So please Nerwen, next time just basic wav.-files if possible
Sure– and I'm sorry about the file not loading. I don't know why though, because it's just a basic Quicktime.
Legate of Amon Lanc
05-06-2008, 05:02 AM
That sounds quite promising, Legate, but actually, your Aragorn doesn't happen to fit my mental image too well - not commanding enough. But something in between your Aragorn and your Gandalf shout would pretty much fit my mental image of Gandalf! What do the others think?
I thought Legate was very good as Elrond.
Thank you. Anyway I see this will be up to some voting... Concerning Aragorn, that's actually what I don't imagine him like: "commanding", as you say. He's just a Ranger, as Frodo said, and especially in this part he seems rather quiet and dark, so to say. As for Gandalf, I think my voice is not "old enough" for him, but then, who of us would be... but mainly the horde of lines :eek: Anyway I could try it - but depends on what others think.
Macalaure
05-06-2008, 06:22 AM
Concerning Aragorn, that's actually what I don't imagine him like: "commanding", as you say. He's just a Ranger, as Frodo said, and especially in this part he seems rather quiet and dark, so to say.
Hmm, maybe "commanding" wasn't the right word. Of course he doesn't order people around (yet). What I rather meant was a kind of natural authority, one that, within the fellowship, nobody except him and Gandalf has. But unlike Gandalf, Aragorn rarely has long monologues or loses his temper. He doesn't have to explain or shout in order to have people listen to him. Yet his authority is always clearly felt when reading, even already at this point, I think. I missed that a little.
As for Gandalf, I think my voice is not "old enough" for him, but then, who of us would be... but mainly the horde of lines :eek: Anyway I could try it - but depends on what others think.Gandalf actually only appears in rather few chapters, but when he does, he's usually hard to silence. :D
Hmhmm... I liked the way Legate spoke out Gandalf's line. If it's not too hard for you, Leggie, would you do him?
Btw. if you Volo have time feel free to visit my place to try Gandalf. It should not pend on a fact that you have no good mike as you can easily visit me to try / do it...
Thanks, but I honestly think that even editing my voice wouldn't make a Gandalf. There are others who could take the role, aren't there? I think I'd be a much better Frodo. I could visit you - when would it be ok? - to try out though.
Legate of Amon Lanc
05-06-2008, 01:47 PM
Hmm, maybe "commanding" wasn't the right word. Of course he doesn't order people around (yet). What I rather meant was a kind of natural authority, one that, within the fellowship, nobody except him and Gandalf has. But unlike Gandalf, Aragorn rarely has long monologues or loses his temper. He doesn't have to explain or shout in order to have people listen to him. Yet his authority is always clearly felt when reading, even already at this point, I think. I missed that a little.
Yes, I know what you mean, but I simply have another view on Aragorn: here he seems like a silent and pessimistic person to me :) And no "natural leadership" is shining through at these moments (maybe when he is a little happy after finishing the wolves, or when says to the others that they should follow a leader when they have one).
Hmhmm... I liked the way Legate spoke out Gandalf's line. If it's not too hard for you, Leggie, would you do him?
Well if people agree on it, I could. I would actually find it more interesting to make than the others, as it features some interesting way of acting. But only if others are comfortable with it and my youthlike voice doesn't seem disturbing there.
MatthewM
05-06-2008, 01:56 PM
I liked Legate's Elrond as well.
On Gandalf- I'm not sure, let's see what Nogrod thinks. I think Gandalf needs to sound older, like Nogrod's voice.
MatthewM
05-08-2008, 10:26 AM
What do you think Nogrod? I love Nogrod's Gimli, very much so, but Gandalf needs to sound in the same tone as Nogrod does...so I think it would be wise, if it came down to it, to cast Nogrod as Gandalf/Bilbo instead of Gimli/Bilbo if we had to. Again, let's see what Nogrod would prefer, and what everyone else thinks.
Also- I had an idea the other day. I'm not sure how many of you know about FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com - but it is a website, kind of like MySpace (although I think it better) where you can sign up and make your own page. Facebook used to be just college networking, but now anybody can join regardless of age. It is spam-free, unlike MySpace, and what I like most about it right now is the ability you have to create a Group. I already have two groups dedicated to two of my other main interests, and I was thinking that once we have a full cast and start the project it would be nice if we created a Facebook Group for our project. Not to sell it, only to share it and it also could be used as a secondary communications device aside from the BD. I was thinking of calling it something like "The Lord of the Rings - The Ring Goes South - A Barrow-downs Production". Don't worry about copyright laws, because there are countless Facebook groups dedicated to LotR and Tolkien already in existence.
Incase you aren't familiar with Facebook Groups, you can assign people in your group certain titles, and those show up on the side. For example, we can list every person involved and under their name display their title (ex: who they play in the production). I already have all of the details for the group worked out so if I get the approval of all involved I can commence, and then I will send you all the link via e-mail.
So, does everyone like this idea? Let me know!
Gwathagor
05-08-2008, 10:57 AM
Because Nogrod's Gimli is so good, I think we should exhaust all other possibilities before we decide to cast someone else in the part.
Thinlómien
05-08-2008, 11:24 AM
Because Nogrod's Gimli is so good, I think we should exhaust all other possibilities before we decide to cast someone else in the part.
Yes, Nogrod is a great Gimli and he likes doing it, so I say he should do it. It's about having fun, after all.
I listened to Legate's voice clip today (in school, and actually was late for a lesson because of that :rolleyes: :D). I think he makes a very good Aragorn. Really. (Maybe it's because his voice and tone resemble a little those of the actor who played Aragorn in a Finnish miniseries in late 80's or early 90's and who was very good in his role...) He'd make a good Elrond too, and I think he'd not definitely be bad as Gandalf either - although, it's a bit difficult to say because Gandalf doesn't shout all the time after all... ;)
MatthewM
05-08-2008, 12:05 PM
Well I wasn't implying to switch Nogrod's role, because like I said it's totally up to him. I think he is brilliant as Gimli, maybe I worded it wrong. I was just trying to say that we should be careful with Gandalf because his role is extremely pivotal.
Who is in the run for Aragorn? Gwath and Legate? (correct me if I forgot anybody)
Frodo? Volo and Mac? (again , correct me if wrong)
Are these two characters, along with Gandalf and Elrond,the only ones that have not been casted?
Thinlómien
05-09-2008, 03:33 PM
Are these two characters, along with Gandalf and Elrond,the only ones that have not been casted?I think so.
Also- I had an idea the other day. I'm not sure how many of you know about FACEBOOK - www.facebook.com - but it is a website, kind of like MySpace (although I think it better) where you can sign up and make your own page. Facebook used to be just college networking, but now anybody can join regardless of age. It is spam-free, unlike MySpace, and what I like most about it right now is the ability you have to create a Group. I already have two groups dedicated to two of my other main interests, and I was thinking that once we have a full cast and start the project it would be nice if we created a Facebook Group for our project. Not to sell it, only to share it and it also could be used as a secondary communications device aside from the BD. I was thinking of calling it something like "The Lord of the Rings - The Ring Goes South - A Barrow-downs Production". Don't worry about copyright laws, because there are countless Facebook groups dedicated to LotR and Tolkien already in existence.I wouldn't have anything against that, but I know at least one anti-facebookist in this project group. ;) But I too think we might need some external site through which we could operate this as the Barrow-Downs' possibilities of sharing stuff seem quite limited - it's a discussion forum after all. (PS. Matthew, you might like to check this (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2204573651) out...)
Nogrod
05-09-2008, 06:06 PM
I wouldn't have anything against that, but I know at least one anti-facebookist in this project group. ;)I think you're referring to me Lommy... I'm no "anti-facebookist" but I just haven't found any reason to start a facebook account. I mean really I have just a limited number of hours on any given day... And to make a facebook account would mean that you should have the time to throw those beavers to one and another not-seen-in-twenty-years-old-friend... :rolleyes:
But I too think we might need some external site through which we could operate this as the Barrow-Downs' possibilities of sharing stuff seem quite limited - it's a discussion forum after all.If everyone else is in the facebook and the site has a great (easy, limitless and easily accesible) interface to share audio-files I might join facebook just because of this project.
But we might as well create a shared account to any of the net's audio sharing sites. Like xanga or any other sites there are. We just create an account with a name and password we can share between ourselves so that anyone inolved can get into it?
Nogrod
05-10-2008, 06:50 PM
Volo's latest can be heard here (http://audio.xanga.com/Nogrod/966182210828/audio.html).
I will make a trial for Gandalf the next week just to get a comparison...
McCaber where are you? Have you done the parts to the elves and hobbits in Rivendell or are you doing it in the first place? Or Caradhras... or the getting out from there - meeting the wolves or other?
I'd just like to know what you're doing so as to see which are the settings I could / should try myself.
MatthewM
05-10-2008, 10:21 PM
Nice reading Volo. Thanks for that, Nogrod.
I personally think Volo would be a good Frodo.
I personally think Volo would be a good Frodo.I think so too. Better use my youthful voice as a strength and not a weekness. But I also think Nogrod would be better as Gimli.
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