Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

LoTR Fan Film — The Hunt For Gollum

Posted by timothy on from the is-gollum-even-in-season? dept.

stevedcc writes "This weekend sees the release of The Hunt for Gollum, a Lord of the Rings fan-film. It'll be available on the web for free. The BBC are running an article about the making of the film, with a budget of £3,000 (spent mostly on costumes and make-up). There were 160 contributors involved, many over the internet." I hope it lives up to the trailer (linked from the BBC story); the finished film is approximately 40 minutes. memoryhole supplies links to YouTube for both the full trailer and a second trailer. Reader jowifi adds a link to NPR's story on the film, writing, "NPR discussed the legality of this type of creation with EFF lawyer Fred Von Lohman, who said it's not clear if such a production violates the copyright for Tolkien's work."

7 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. Seems like Tolkien is playing nice. by FlyingBishop · · Score: 5, Insightful

    We got in touch with Tolkien Enterprises and reached an understanding with them that as long as we are completely non-profit then we're okay. We have to be careful not to disrespect their ownership of the intellectual property. They are supportive of the way fans wish to express their enthusiasm.

    Looks like tim is trolling just a bit.

    Though, in general, LotR should be public domain. It's a definite part of our cultural heritage, and these sort of copyright issues are about as insulting as someone claiming copyright on the Shakespeare Canon.

    1. Re:Seems like Tolkien is playing nice. by DinDaddy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Why exactly should he be able to keep it from being used as the name of a hydrofoil?

      "I was going to buy a copy of Lord of the Rings to read, but I got this cool hydrofoil called Shadowfax, so now I don't need to."

  2. Say what? by westlake · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "NPR discussed the legality of this type of creation with EFF lawyer Fred Von Lohman, who said it's not clear if such a production violates the copyright for Tolkien's work."

    It's as clear as a pane of glass.

    The character is recognizably Tolkien's creation.

    The universe he inhabits. The voices. The dialog. The languages.

    The maps. The character designs.

    The story.

    The film can't honestly be described as anything other than a derivative work.

  3. Re:Skeptical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The cool thing about fan films and fan series is that you don't have to like them or even watch them if you don't wish.

    As opposed to big budget Hollywood films where you better watch 'em, and you better like 'em, or else some guy comes for your knee caps?

  4. It is clear by MojoRilla · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That the technology revolution has almost overtaken feature films. The trailer looks almost as good as the real thing. Pretty soon it will be hard to tell fan fiction from the real thing. Hell, some of the fan fiction might end up being better than the real thing.

    Than won't Hollywood and the RIAA be in a bind.

  5. Not so clear. by pavon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The character is recognizably Tolkien's creation.
    The universe he inhabits. The voices. The languages.
    ...The character designs.

    The film can't honestly be described as anything other than a derivative work.

    None of those things are covered by copyright, and thus cannot be a derivative work. Some of them could be covered by trademark, but that is an entirely different matter.

    The dialog. The maps. The story.

    These are covered by copyright, but they are not being used (maybe the maps are I don't know). It is a fan-flick: a new story with new dialog based on the characters and word created by Tolkien.

    1. Re:Not so clear. by Nazlfrag · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Well that shouldn't be too hard. According to New Line Cinema, none of the original movies made a profit either.