Zak McKracken movie - any amateur movie makers here?

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

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?

[Ubel]

Clearly this is where the cool people hang out.

Heh.

I'm pretty sure AGA was talking about m0ds. He has sent some of his movie clips here.

[dgunpluggered]

I'd like to see Bruce Campbell as Zak.

[m0ds]

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.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

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

[Kinoko]

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.

[dgunpluggered]

I look at the box cover and I don't really see a weedy guy:



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...

[Kinoko]

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

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

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:

Or maybe I am thinking of Leslie...

[Kinoko]

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.

[dgunpluggered]

Hehehe... How ironic... The GUI is in Japanese and the fish's name was actually 'Sushi'...

[Kinoko]

Where can I get the Japanese version? @_@

[PaulSC]

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.

[dgnpluggered]

Zak was the first Lucas adventure I'd ever played -- prolly got it for the Atari ST around '89... and I loved it.

[dgunpluggered]

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.

[AGA]

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.

[Hobbes]

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
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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
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track22.mp3
track23.mp3
track3.mp3
track4.mp3
track5.mp3
track6.mp3
track7.mp3
track8.mp3
track9.mp3
ZAK.EXP

[Kinoko]

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.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

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.

[EnterTheStory (aka tolworthy)]

Has 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.

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.

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