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Halo Script Hawked To Studios
Gamespot has the story of Microsoft's crusade to sell the Halo movie script to a studio. They really went all out, apparently, with messengers dressed as Master Chief delivering the scripts to the major studios. From the article: "Whatever studio picks up the project would also have to relinquish 'strict control of development' to Halo developer Bungie Studios, who have written a 'bible' which any director and producer would have to follow. Variety's sources say the purpose of the 'bible' is 'to make sure any changes to the script don't alter the universe established in the first two Halo games that will continue in future sequels,' apparently further confirming Halo 3 is in the works."
It better had be 'in the works' otherwise I for one will not be even considering an XBox360.
Sorry, I missed the bit where we're all under the assumption that Halo 3 might not be happening.
Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
Screw the movie studios. They screwed up The Matrix when they went from movie to video game. They screwed up Tomb Raider when they went video game to movie. They screwed up Starship Troopers when they went from book to movie. They can't seem to do anything right anymore so let Bungie and Microsoft do it. Worst case scenario, if it bombs you blame Bungie and Microsoft for being 'too strict.'
First: I wish everyone would stop putting bible in quotation marks and, in this case, capitalizing it. It is actually a technical term in this case and is not referring to any scriptures of a particular relgigion. Any writer that develops a TV series creates a bible. If the intent is for a series of movies, or any series where there will be multiple scripts written by different people, a bible is a must. It describes the characters involved, the relationships between the characters, the standing sets, and, if it's a tech script, there will also be a tech guide, or tech bible that explains exactly what the different pieces of equipment can do, what their abilities are, and what the limitations are. When my agent first got the "go-ahead" that I'd be pitching to ST:TNG, within 2-3 days there were 2 Trek bibles on my doorstep as well as a stack of paper that was full of summaries of all previous episodes. One bible was the regular writer's guide (often called the series bible), the other was Okuda and Sternbach's tech bible. Even before I pitched to them, they wanted to be sure I had all the rules about the characters and gadgets right.
So, that having been said, I agree. Having a bible is a good thing. It will keep the, "That didn't work like that in the game," problems to a minimum. On the other hand, if the bible was written by gaming people, it could cause problems for a good writer who knows film and finds him or herself restricted by rules that force awkward or limited character development or create situations that don't play well in a 2 hour movie.
I don't think you give that movie enough credit. I think you should really try and see the finer points of Starship Troopers and not dismiss it because it didn't turn out to be what you wanted it to be. It's subtle and overblown at the same time. It's a great action movie and a satire of humanity at the same time.
The movie studios have done good work making movies from books and comics (I will admit video games seem to be more miss than hit, but if I was 10 years younger I probably would have enjoyed Tomb Raider) and it's unfair to proclaim anything else they make will be crap just because they dropped the ball on a few films.
This is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. My wife works in the feature film industry, and I can tell you that showing up at a studio dressed as a character and carrying a script is -not- what gets a script sold; it's what makes studios put you on an instant rejection list. Neither is showing up with a bible and saying "you can't violate this history when making the film" -- that just tells the studio the contracts have to get creative control away from you, lest you bog the whole thing down over the "accuracy" of the fiction.
If Microsoft really wants to see this thing made, they have the cash, and cash or publicity are the two possible ways to get a movie made these days. Generate a lot of publicity by deciding to go it alone, sign up the best production company that money can buy, and go nuts.
Oh, and I doubt the people who would watch a Halo movie are going to give a rat's arse about the backstory, any more than the people who watched resident evil. And hey, guess what -- if they do, it'll be the backstory OF THE MOVIE, not the game.
Okay, rant over. But it was a rant with a smile on my face, I promise. Hilarious!
..which you all should also be concerned with.
1. The voice actor for MasterChief in the games voices him.
2. The voice actor for Cortana voices her.
3. Two words, Sergeant Johnson.
Because of his armor, having one actor do MasterChief's movements and another his voice would work, ala Darth Vader.
Since Cortana would probably be computer generated, again, no issue.
And Sergeant Johnson rocks.
Thunderclone: ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE! ONE MAN ENTERS! TWO MEN LEAVE!
I think it did well at the box office, just that they had gone too far over budget. In my view it was quite a decent flick, and a successful satire.
i agree, smart chicks are hot.
the chicks in halo which for all of their intelligence not outrageously large chested and dont really wear skimpy outfits. if halo was made into a movie, i think this would be the first change hollywood would make.