Peter Jackson at Oxford

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Peter Jackson comes to Tolkien’s Oxford

Peter Jackson took part in Q&A as part of Exeter College’s celebrations of its eighth century, commemorating Tolkien, one of its most distinguished alumni. Some interesting comments, I thought.

[Inanna]

I'm curious about what they meant as an "Americanized" version of LOTR.


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GNU Terry Pratchett

[Primula Baggins]

I'm curious, too. I wonder if he's gotten more specific elsewhere.

I could probably guess the kinds of changes Miramax wanted, though. Changing at least one of the Fellowship to a female character? Giving Aragorn mighty thews?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

I don't believe I have ever heard that specific comment before.

Maybe I'll ask Kristin Thompson. She would know if anyone would.

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Kristin finds it puzzling, as well.

I'm away at a film festival in Italy and haven't had a chance to read the Q&A. But the comment is puzzling. I can only guess that he means that Miramax (i.e., Michael Eisner of Disney) cut the budget and insisted on a one-film version, as I discuss in my book. That might be "Americanising" to PJ. I've never heard of anything else that they wanted to do to LOTR. Of course, the original script seems to have been aimed at Hollywood executives rather than actual audiences, but Philippa seemed to suggest when I talked to her that that was their strategy for getting the film accepted and that they planned to change it later. But that in itself had nothing to do with the split.

[Primula Baggins]

Thanks for carrying the question further, Voronwë.

[Inanna]

Wow.


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GNU Terry Pratchett

[Passdagas the Brown]

Kristin finds it puzzling, as well.

I'm away at a film festival in Italy and haven't had a chance to read the Q&A. But the comment is puzzling. I can only guess that he means that Miramax (i.e., Michael Eisner of Disney) cut the budget and insisted on a one-film version, as I discuss in my book. That might be "Americanising" to PJ. I've never heard of anything else that they wanted to do to LOTR. Of course, the original script seems to have been aimed at Hollywood executives rather than actual audiences, but Philippa seemed to suggest when I talked to her that that was their strategy for getting the film accepted and that they planned to change it later. But that in itself had nothing to do with the split.

Odd. If anything, Americanization would involve turning it into six films, not one!

[Beutlin]

I can only guess Americanization refers more to things like the whole expansion of the Arwen story; or could it refer to the casting itself of several American actors? Is there a difference between Americanization and Hollywoodization?

PtB, you are certainly right that nowadays a Hollywood book adaptation nearly always means sequels, sequels, and even more sequels, but just back in 2000 a lot of high-budget films were produced where the movie stood on its own and possible sequels were at best (or worst?) something that could maybe happen if the movie succeeded at the box-office - not like today where you get a post-credits scene in every second film.

Not saying that bad/unnecessary sequels did not happen before 2000. But the sheer quantity/ratio of film franchises nowadays is simply astounding.

Does this assessment make me sound old?