I asked a question on another forum, and was directed here. Clearly this is where the cool people hang out.
original message: http://forums.adventuregamers.com/showthread.php?p=139764&posted=1#post139764
I asked for advice about the Zak McKracken Movie project. AGA said "There are a couple of guys in the AGS community who make their own amateur movies. Maybe try asking there..."
Here is the original question:
Does anyone have experience making indie movies? I need advice.
I'm corresponding with a guy who wants to make a movie based on Zak McKracken. For copyright and practical reasons, I think this would only work as a super-low-budget production. But Zak was always character driven, not SFX driven, so I think this could succeed. But I have almost zero experience of independent film production. Does anyone here have any experience? I'm not asking for volunteers (though that would be nice!) just for advice.
I am encouraged by that British guy who shot a movie for 400 quid and was selected for this year's Cannes competition.
For the record, I think a successful Zak movie would be like a cross between Scorsese's Taxi Driver (strange loner with a vague purpose) and Blair Witch (super-low budget mystery excursion). For copyright purposes we could even avoid mentioning his name at all. I don't think a straight game-to-movie would work, but I do think the core story and characters are very strong if given a slightly darker edge.
What do you think?
QuoteClearly this is where the cool people hang out.
Heh.
I'm pretty sure AGA was talking about m0ds (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?action=profile;u=30). He has sent some of his movie clips here (http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=20056.0).
I'd like to see Bruce Campbell as Zak.
If it's being shot in the UK then there's quite a lot of solutions I can help you with, and it wouldn't even have to look super low budget...
This year I hope to work on a movie based on an AGS game, if you want to discuss your project with me further then send me a PM, I'm happy to help.
Thanks! I'll PM you right now...
I've added a page to the Zak site to give general information: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tolworthy/zak/zakmovie.htm
Bruce Campbell? Given, he's cool, but Zak is supposed to be weedier. Totally. Absolutely. I know what I'm talking about here. Don't you get that feeling? I do. Not really weedier, but I don't picture him wth any bulk, really. Bruce is a bit too kickass for Zak.
If you're including Annie though, make her cuter than her sprite because she always struck me as way too prudish and boring.
Hey, include the broom alien too! That should be a pretty cheap character right there.
I look at the box cover and I don't really see a weedy guy:
(http://hawknest.stacken.kth.se/c64/images/zak.jpg)
I see Campbell. In fact, the reason why I said Campbell was cause of that bigass chin and that smile. In the game, Zak always has this smirk that looks very Campbellish.
I reckon Zak is kickass. In the game he does many kickass things:
- murder a two-headed squirell to get its nest
- cheats the national lottery out of several thousands of dollars
- can fry his fish in his lamp, or send it down the garbage disposal (if I remember correctly)
- be an asshole to the baker next door by ringing his bell over and over
- steal a big fucking bobbypin sign from a hair salon
- light fires in Nepal to distract a guard
- And more...
I see your point, but I guess I think of Bruce on a higher level of 'buff' and 'kickass'. I agree with the grin though, and the chin, except Bruce's chin is even bigger than that.
(I'm such a perfectionist)
It's great we're discussing a situation that will never arise though :P
Quote from: Kinoko on Thu 12/05/2005 02:56:04
If you're including Annie though, make her cuter than her sprite because she always struck me as way too prudish and boring.
You obviously haven't seen the Japanese version of the game :) These are pictures of the girls were included in the FMtowns box:
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tolworthy/zak/zak256_files/zak_card_annie.jpg)
Or maybe I am thinking of Leslie...
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tolworthy/zak/zak256_files/zak_card_leslie.jpg)
Well, I always suspected Leslie was a babe. Annie's much cuter in the Japanese version, as is to be expected... even so, she's still too bookish/women's lib for my tastes. I wanna see a sexy Latino love-goddess Annie with flowing black, wavy hair and big... curves.
(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tolworthy/zak/zak256_files/zakjp.gif)
Hehehe... How ironic... The GUI is in Japanese and the fish's name was actually 'Sushi'...
Where can I get the Japanese version? @_@
A bit off topic, but seeing as people are talking about Japanise versions of Zak... Has anyone managed to get the FM-Towns version of the game working in ScummVM, with proper OGG sound? I can get the game working, and I got the OGG files from Soundfont island, but I can't get them to play during the game even after renaming all the files like they say. Any ideas?
Also: is Zac McKraken actually any good? It's the only Lucasarts adventure I've never properly played, but no one seems to feel the need to talk about it much.
Zak was the first Lucas adventure I'd ever played -- prolly got it for the Atari ST around '89... and I loved it.
Just something to nore about your movie: Remember that Zak was a comedy adventure, and the styles of Taxi Driver and Blair Witch aren't exactly comic. I actually see Zak as more of an Indiana Joneish adventure. With space aliens.
I have the FM Towns version. Unsure if the Japanese and English versions are both included. I played it in English.
PaulSC: Zak is awesome, probably my favourite adventure ever. It's so underrated.
Quote from: PaulSC on Thu 12/05/2005 12:25:35
A bit off topic, but seeing as people are talking about Japanise versions of Zak... Has anyone managed to get the FM-Towns version of the game working in ScummVM, with proper OGG sound? I can get the game working, and I got the OGG files from Soundfont island, but I can't get them to play during the game even after renaming all the files like they say. Any ideas?
Also: is Zac McKraken actually any good? It's the only Lucasarts adventure I've never properly played, but no one seems to feel the need to talk about it much.
I have the files as MP3 files... Dunno if this makes a difference. This is my directory listing:
00.LFL
01.LFL
02.LFL
03.LFL
04.LFL
05.LFL
06.LFL
07.LFL
08.LFL
09.LFL
10.LFL
11.LFL
12.LFL
13.LFL
14.LFL
15.LFL
16.LFL
17.LFL
18.LFL
19.LFL
20.LFL
21.LFL
22.LFL
23.LFL
24.LFL
25.LFL
26.LFL
27.LFL
28.LFL
29.LFL
30.LFL
31.LFL
32.LFL
33.LFL
34.LFL
35.LFL
36.LFL
37.LFL
38.LFL
39.LFL
40.LFL
41.LFL
42.LFL
43.LFL
44.LFL
45.LFL
46.LFL
47.LFL
48.LFL
49.LFL
50.LFL
51.LFL
52.LFL
53.LFL
54.LFL
55.LFL
56.LFL
57.LFL
58.LFL
59.LFL
98.LFL
99.LFL
list.txt
track1.mp3
track10.mp3
track11.mp3
track12.mp3
track13.mp3
track14.mp3
track15.mp3
track16.mp3
track17.mp3
track18.mp3
track19.mp3
track2.mp3
track20.mp3
track21.mp3
track22.mp3
track23.mp3
track3.mp3
track4.mp3
track5.mp3
track6.mp3
track7.mp3
track8.mp3
track9.mp3
ZAK.EXP
It's definitely a fantastic game. It's true that most people talk about your Monkey Islands, King/Hero/Space/Police Quests, Maniac Manions and Indiana Jones' here. I actually have to remind myself about Zak occasionally and it's always a happy reminder. Even though I forget about it from time to time these days, it was honestly one of the most influencial adventure games I ever played. I adored it, and I still love going back to it every now and again. I wish it got the credit it deserves.
Quote from: Kinoko on Thu 12/05/2005 11:14:33
I wanna see a sexy Latino love-goddess Annie with flowing black, wavy hair and big... curves.
You did know that the girls are based on real people, didn't you? (The wives and girlfriends of the programmers. Annie Larris is David Fox's wife). She may well be a sexy Latino love goddess, but I am too polite to ask. :)
Quote from: PaulSC on Thu 12/05/2005 12:25:35Has anyone managed to get the FM-Towns version of the game working in ScummVM, with proper OGG sound?
I did what the site said (renamed the files and placed them in the same directory as everything else) and it worked fine. Sorry I don't have any other suggestions.
Quote from: PaulSC on Thu 12/05/2005 12:25:35is Zac McKraken actually any good? It's the only Lucasarts adventure I've never properly played, but no one seems to feel the need to talk about it much.
This is why I think it's the best game ever created (in my humble opinion): http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tolworthy/zak/links.htm#whygood
This is what other people say: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tolworthy/zak/random.htm
These are the only complaints I have heard: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tolworthy/zak/mazes.htm
Hey, this is great! We're discussing my favorite game on the AGS board! And it's totally on topic because the first Zak sequel was made with AGS. And the latest one is as well. :) :) BTW the next sequel is due out at the end of the year and it looks like being amazing: needs 2 CDs, has 20 movie cut scenes, made by a serious bunch of dedicated Germans... you KNOW it will be good :)
Aha, all I needed to do was rename the tracks "Track5" etc and it figures out the format by itself - i'd been writing .ogg afterwards. Thanks for trying to help, though. I didn't want to try out the game properly without it being in its best form, and now it is.
Now all that's left to do is track down the FM-Towns version of Loom!
Quote from: tolworthy on Thu 12/05/2005 18:56:28
You did know that the girls are based on real people, didn't you? (The wives and girlfriends of the programmers. Annie Larris is David Fox's wife). She may well be a sexy Latino love goddess, but I am too polite to ask. :)
Not quite (http://www.electriceggplant.com/images/Annie_Fox_181x268.jpg).
Quote from: Kinoko on Thu 12/05/2005 06:34:28
Hey Kinoko,
It could happen,i was thinking Johnny Depp but i`m really into this Bruce Campbell idea,or maybe he`s too old now??
He could be like a huge fan who based his entire personality on zak`s character after being absorbed at an early age.
I`ll dig up some cack on Bruce and blackmail his ass so he has to do it,i bet he`s got some really nasty hobbies.
Quote from: tolworthy on Thu 12/05/2005 19:04:37
Hey, this is great! We're discussing my favorite game on the AGS board! And it's totally on topic because the first Zak sequel was made with AGS. And the latest one is as well. :)Ã, :) BTW the next sequel is due out at the end of the year and it looks like being amazing: needs 2 CDs, has 20 movie cut scenes, made by a serious bunch of dedicated Germans... you KNOW it will be good :)
Can you possibly provide more info on the newest sequel? Like a website or something? I hope they release it in English as well. I'm already drooling :)
Ah.. the great LucasFan
http://people.freenet.de/lucasfangames/maniac/index_eng.htm
Quote from: Scummbuddy on Tue 24/05/2005 18:28:29
Ah.. the great LucasFan
http://people.freenet.de/lucasfangames/maniac/index_eng.htm
Ah, its these guys. Awesome. I played their New Adventures of Zak McKracken but haven't checked their site in some time. Didn't realize they were working on another sequel. Sounds great! ;D