Phew! This HAS been a day!
"The (space) journey, metaphorically, is about a challenge to the gods," Scott said. But Scott's ambitions with Prometheus go far beyond simply restarting a hit franchise. The British director said the film's storyline, and script by David Lindelof, was partially inspired by the writings of legendary Swiss sci-fi writer Eric van Daniken.
Van Daniken, author of 1968 bestseller Chariot of the Gods, is best known as the first proponent of the so-called ancient astronaut theory, which holds that aliens kick-started civilization on earth. "NASA and the Vatican agree that is almost mathematically impossible that we can be where we are today without there being a little help along the way," Scott said. "That's what we're looking at (in the film), at some of Eric van Daniken's ideas of how did we humans come about."
Space Jockey's kick-starting civilization on Earth is a plot device from the Harvest script, or at least very similar too it, provided they don't just retread other Ancient Astronaut stories. In Harvest, it is insinuated that the planet being 'harvested' by the Space Jockey's may in fact be Earth, but it would have to be removed from the Derelict's plot, unless that crash is still present. Its very curious and this may be how Spaihts' ideas remained a prominent idea in the later drafts.
Also Riddles confirms the ship is named 'PROMETHEUS' which also is similar to SHADOW 19, but then again, nothing else is indicative of SHADOW 19, thus far. He also states that the use of the word, as a reference to myth is quite deliberate.
"Scott also confirmed, as we've previously only speculated, that Prometheus is the name of the ship in the movie and that the ship is sent out into space by a large company much like the "company" (Weyland Yutani) we know from the Alien franchise."
SOURCE:
alienprequelnews.com
and etc.
I remember reading CHARIOTS OF THE GODS when I was younger and there is still a lot of speculation now, regarding this type of stuff.
What I dont like is that this is very much also the plot of STARGATE and hope we don't have to deal with anything similar to that.
Interestingly enough, I found this on WIKIPEDIA:
"A 2004 article in Skeptic magazine[1] states that von Däniken plagiarized many of the book's concepts from The Morning of the Magicians, that this book in turn was heavily influenced by the Cthulhu Mythos, and that the core of the ancient astronaut theory originates in H. P. Lovecraft's short stories "The Call of Cthulhu" and "At the Mountains of Madness"."
This is a good point, that I would not have noticed when I read CHARIOTS, because I hadn't yet read much, if any, of Lovecraft's CTHULU MYTHOS. At least, not until later.
Many of us have noted and admired the way influence of the CTHULU MYTHOS on ALIEN. So I think we should all love that we are seeing more of that here.
I was actually wondering if AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS, didnt get cancelled, in part, due to similarities with PROMETHEUS.
I'm smiling.
Bring on the dancing horses!
its a little more than a coincidence as shadow 19 was also written by Spahits.
I Hope they are taking more elements out of that script if its true, i liked it.
Those are both brilliant scripts. SHADOW 19, more so, I think. But then again I doubt Harvest was anything more than an early draft, and if so, also incomplete.
Isnt there another Spaihts adaptation coming out soon? DARKEST HOUR, maybe?
darkest hour? isn't Timur Bekmambetov directing that one.
Quote from: Pn2501 on Jun 29, 2011, 05:01:59 AM
darkest hour? isn't Timur Bekmambetov directing that one.
Some other guy. I wish it was. That guy's stuff is awesome.
F#@K Van Daniken, he was a charlatan, a kook, a fraud, and a hack...and he stole all his so-called "theories" from the literary work of H.P. Lovecraft. And if this is the "hard" Science that Ridley was allegedly going for...then I have to laugh. And not in a good way, because I was really looking forward to this film. But this article gives me all sorts of pause.
I just can't imagine any intelligent, scientifically-literate person getting any inspiration whatsoever from the likes of an Eric Van Daniken.
Quote from: deuterium on Jun 29, 2011, 05:30:25 AM
F#@K Van Daniken, he was a charlatan, a kook, a fraud, and a hack...and he stole all his so-called "theories" from the literary work of H.P. Lovecraft. And if this is the "hard" Science that Ridley was allegedly going for...then I have to laugh. And not in a good way, because I was really looking forward to this film. But this article gives me all sorts of pause.
My biggest gripe with this, POTENTIALLY ANYWAY, is that it's kinda been done to death. B/w Indiana Jones, and Stargate, it just goes on and on...I hope they dont f**k it up.
Anyway, ALIEN is pretty Lovecraftian, as is Giger's work so...It could be okay man. Im optimistic.
Quote from: CainsSon on Jun 29, 2011, 05:35:56 AM
My biggest gripe with this, POTENTIALLY ANYWAY, is that it's kinda been done to death. B/w Indiana Jones, and Stargate, it just goes on and on...I hope they dont f**k it up.
Anyway, ALIEN is pretty Lovecraftian, as is Giger's work so...It could be okay man. Im optimistic.
I hear ya', and I will keep my fingers crossed. Without getting into any teleological arguments/discussions, I guess I really get frustrated with the whole "life didn't evolve on Earth" or the direct or indirect "Panspermia" theories...as these theories do NOT answer any of the questions of Life's origins, but simply shift them someplace else. If one can't accept the theory that Life started here on our Pale Blue Dot (Earth), then I don't see how it "helps" or enriches any argument by hypothesisizng it began elsewhere and was either directly (intelligently) or indirectly seeded here. It only begs the question...well, where did that non-terrestrial Life arise? And then, you end up, potentially, in an infinite regression of agencies and causes. I am not saying that panspermia couldn't happen, I am just saying that, unless proven otherwise, the simplest operating hypothesis should be that terrestrial Life started right here on good 'ol Mother Earth.
P.S.-- the conceit that an advanced, intelligent race "kick-started" homo-sapiens into a techological civilization has also been done to death. The most famous example being 2001: A Space Odyssey.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ridley-scott-michael-fassbender-noomi-206321 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ridley-scott-michael-fassbender-noomi-206321)
The source article. Well get it up ASAP. Work filters block AvPG. :/
I really, really dislike the idea of exploring the Pilot species from Alien. I just can't stand that idea and every time anybody talks about this film and confirms that it's going to "explore the Pilot species" I lose slightly more faith in this film. The whole point of surrealist art is that it's speculative and unexplained. Explaining it takes away the surrealism of Alien, and that I think is a terrible thing.
Don't like it, don't see it.
Surrealist art? You know that the only reason things weren't explained in Alien was that they couldn't afford to film the sequences. Giger himself dismissed Alien as 'art'. It's a film ['It may pertain to art for some of its details, but on the whole it is essentially an entertainment film,' HR Giger, Cinefantastique, 1979].
The hints of aliens bringing about and influencing human life is reminiscent of 2001, a film that Scott has lauded for decades [and a film which, upon release, was slammed for being a half-baked shaggy God story - which you wouldn't get away with saying now].
"NASA and the Vatican agree that is almost mathematically impossible that we can be where we are today without there being a little help along the way"
Oh Christ NO!
I think the main thing you're all forgetting is Ridley Scott is doing a Sci Fi movie.
Quote from: 180924609 on Jun 29, 2011, 01:17:49 PM
"NASA and the Vatican agree that is almost mathematically impossible that we can be where we are today without there being a little help along the way"
Oh Christ NO!
Has to be bullshit. Hell would freeze before the Vatican admitted what he's implying.
Quote from: Vulhala on Jun 29, 2011, 04:23:01 PM
Quote from: 180924609 on Jun 29, 2011, 01:17:49 PM
"NASA and the Vatican agree that is almost mathematically impossible that we can be where we are today without there being a little help along the way"
Oh Christ NO!
Has to be bullshit. Hell would freeze before the Vatican admitted what he's implying.
I think NASA are thinking space germs via meteor, and the Vatican mean God. One way or another, it's a 'little help,' they can agree on that much :laugh:
Quote from: Vulhala on Jun 29, 2011, 04:23:01 PM
Quote from: 180924609 on Jun 29, 2011, 01:17:49 PM
"NASA and the Vatican agree that is almost mathematically impossible that we can be where we are today without there being a little help along the way"
Oh Christ NO!
Has to be bullshit. Hell would freeze before the Vatican admitted what he's implying.
I don't know that this quote means that the Vatican admits aliens must have helped us. In their case they most likely mean to say that evolution doesn't make sense and so we must have had some help from God.
Im not saying evolution doesnt make sense though.
Also, this Ancient Astronaut theory is not at all well regarding in academic circles. It's straight up pseudoscience and is kinda laughable. I hope they approach it the way it was given in Harvest, where you don't realize that's whats happening in front of your eyes. Otherwise, w/o that subtlety...
I think they must have something special or why would Ridley be excited by this?
As a side note: As detached as they say this is, Im willing to be we get the Derelict crash at some point. Maybe just in passing, as part of a greater whole.
The whole Von Daniken thing fails because he bases his theories on his own translation of the Bible.
Some light debunkage. (http://www.debunker.com/texts/vondanik.html)
Sounds real interesting
I like the idea of connection between Human race and Jockey race.
That would explain the similarity between the Jockey and the Human bodies(one head,two arms,5 fingers,etc...) and the Giger designs(human body mixed with machine parts). :)
In my opinion, when you start eliminating the piles of literary wierdness, Lovecraft included (it was supernatural fiction, right folks?) and study the evidence of ancient man having access to or implying advanced technology, there is definitely some case for investigation. You guys seem to be casually linking fiction with anthropological and archaeological data, however, which is a destructive thing to do even though we're only talking about a science-fiction film. You don't want to blur those lines.
I think Discovery did a series called "Ancient Aliens" that does a nice job of collecting the bits of things already discovered and analyzing them. Worth a watch if your interested in the physical evidence that supports many of these theories.
Bringing it back to the scope of the movie, I really do hope Ridley Scott stays far away from the likes of 2001. I also don't see how the Cthulhu mythos could impact Prometheus, as the connections would have to be stretched quite thin to matter outside of the general "ancient alien god" idea. Also wasn't Harvest the comic series where they go to collect the royal jelly with the robot alien? I'm lost on that one...
The original Alien was fused with all sorts of Lovecraft mythos. Dan O'Bannon specifically wrote it to invoke the same feeling of cosmic ... horror? It would be fitting that Prometheus carries this tone.
Spoiler: The Jockey create man...Jockey is God. :o
Quote from: Ivymike on Jun 29, 2011, 05:18:47 PM
Spoiler: The Jockey create man...Jockey is God. :o
The idea of Ancient Alien Gods is Lovecraftian. His influence is so tangible that its hard to imagine the breath of it's impact. The Cthulu Mythos doesnt refer to specifics, but more to overarching ideas that ate their way through storytelling and have become so emeshed that its hard to separate it.
The criticism of CHARIOTS OF THE GODS is thus: it borrows it's ideas from the Cthulu Mythos. The Great Old Ones from space, in undefinable forms, that are indifferent to mankind and can easily destroy or in this case, play with and alter our creation/destruction.
That concept is 'the Cthulu Mythos'.
QuoteAlso wasn't Harvest the comic series where they go to collect the royal jelly with the robot alien? I'm lost on that one...
It's in regard to the leaked "alien harvest" script treatment.(unconfirmed leak)
Ok I have say that this is Ridley Scott making a return to sci fi and to the alien universe! With that being said I think we have something great to look forward to. Hey at least its not Jerry Brickheimer in the alien universe with ol smug George Clooney as the protagonist! Just be happy that this is not a reboot of Alien and Stellos on 300 is the robot.
Quote
Space Jockey's kick-starting civilization on Earth is a plot device from the Harvest script, or at least very similar too it, provided they don't just retread other Ancient Astronaut stories. In Harvest, it is insinuated that the planet being 'harvested' by the Space Jockey's may in fact be Earth, but it would have to be removed from the Derelict's plot, unless that crash is still present. Its very curious and this may be how Spaihts' ideas remained a prominent idea in the later drafts.
???
Where do you keep digging up these Alien Harvest inferences?!
There is NOTHING at all from the accumulated official information realeased so far that relates in any way to the Alien Harvest script! So far its looking like Shadow 19 was the blue print for the alien prequel.
I wonder if the Alien Pyramid will make it in then. Didn't Von Danikien ramble on about those?
The timeline isn't making much sense here at all.
Quote from: 180924609 on Jun 29, 2011, 11:00:49 PM
Quote
Space Jockey's kick-starting civilization on Earth is a plot device from the Harvest script, or at least very similar too it, provided they don't just retread other Ancient Astronaut stories. In Harvest, it is insinuated that the planet being 'harvested' by the Space Jockey's may in fact be Earth, but it would have to be removed from the Derelict's plot, unless that crash is still present. Its very curious and this may be how Spaihts' ideas remained a prominent idea in the later drafts.
???
Where do you keep digging up these Alien Harvest inferences?!
There is NOTHING at all from the accumulated official information realeased so far that relates in any way to the Alien Harvest script! So far its looking like Shadow 19 was the blue print for the alien prequel.
All I can do in response to this question is restate.
In Harvest, the Space Jockey's are terraforming a planet that it is insinuated is Earth, and the android-hybrid character is the same person in both timelines.
That is not nothing. Time Dilation is also in Harvest, the cast is similar in gender and size, as is the Space Jockey, and the Derelict, and geez. No one is saying anything is certain. It's just a possibility. If you want to ignore the possibility, go right ahead. But I dont see any reason to. Its not a matter of like or dislike, if the possibility is reinstated, so why get so bothered by it?
Why ignore the similarity? It's not a small one, its a very big thematic similarity for both scripts to feature Space Jockey's terraforming Earth. Why overlook that similarity when we know so many changes have been made even if... Its the exact same situation as SHADOW 19. That script obviously isn't going to be this exactly. It would have to have been changed drastically to fit what we already know. We shouldn't ignore that script either. That doesn't make sense, especially since there have been so many redrafts. I mean, why is that any different than discussing the Alien 3 scripts that didnt get filmed?
The whole idea of these threads is speculation, at this point.
Would have preferred a spoiler warning for the android thing, seeming as it was on frontpage news and not a forum thread.
Still, interesting news.
Quote from: CainsSon on Jun 30, 2011, 02:29:52 AM
Quote from: 180924609 on Jun 29, 2011, 11:00:49 PM
All I can do in response to this question is restate.
In Harvest, the Space Jockey's are terraforming a planet that it is insinuated is Earth, and the android-hybrid character is the same person in both timelines.
That is not nothing. Time Dilation is also in Harvest, the cast is similar in gender and size, as is the Space Jockey, and the Derelict, and geez. No one is saying anything is certain. It's just a possibility. If you want to ignore the possibility, go right ahead. But I dont see any reason to. Its not a matter of like or dislike, if the possibility is reinstated, so why get so bothered by it?
the terraformed world in alien:harvest is never insinuated to be earth.the 2 humans are captured from earth space vessels and taken to that planet for manual labor.also there isn't any android in that story,not on the planet.the space jockeys are manipulating via mind control humans not androids.
also what happens on that planet happens before the space chase between the humans and the alien ship.on the planetthat last captured human uses that substance thing to tag the ship so that it can be tracked in space.
you got to read to script again..
oh and hi this is my first post. i followed a few times this forum but now with prometheus coming i think i will visit it more often
I enjoy Von Daniken's early speculations as naive as some might be, it's almost like a form of surrealism and an exploration of all the associations he could make from readings, misreadings and mis-memories of what he read but couldn't get to his book. I like the work that he has done recently as well to try to push a stronger argument about his point of view. It was all interesting stuff back in the 1970s, I never read the book Chariot of the Gods until the later 1980s, but had been interested in the concept of ancient astronauts the amphibious Nommo that came from Sirius B which I read about in The Unexplained magazines in the 1970s and a book by Robert Temple had been written about it, and the Nommo may well have been connected with the Telchines from Greek Mythology.
I liked the way that Ridley had been talking about the Von Daniken related ideas in the Alien Laserdisc interview and have wanted to know more for the last couple of decades, no one seemed to be able to ask him questions about the matter. I ought to be interested in this film.
Quote from: zuzuki on Jun 30, 2011, 01:02:15 PM
Quote from: CainsSon on Jun 30, 2011, 02:29:52 AM
Quote from: 180924609 on Jun 29, 2011, 11:00:49 PM
All I can do in response to this question is restate.
In Harvest, the Space Jockey's are terraforming a planet that it is insinuated is Earth, and the android-hybrid character is the same person in both timelines.
That is not nothing. Time Dilation is also in Harvest, the cast is similar in gender and size, as is the Space Jockey, and the Derelict, and geez. No one is saying anything is certain. It's just a possibility. If you want to ignore the possibility, go right ahead. But I dont see any reason to. Its not a matter of like or dislike, if the possibility is reinstated, so why get so bothered by it?
the terraformed world in alien:harvest is never insinuated to be earth.the 2 humans are captured from earth space vessels and taken to that planet for manual labor.also there isn't any android in that story,not on the planet.the space jockeys are manipulating via mind control humans not androids.
also what happens on that planet happens before the space chase between the humans and the alien ship.on the planetthat last captured human uses that substance thing to tag the ship so that it can be tracked in space.
you got to read to script again..
oh and hi this is my first post. i followed a few times this forum but now with prometheus coming i think i will visit it more often
There is a human-android hybrid or cyborg in both stories that is described as being identical. It is hinted that Time Dilation may have reversed the order of the two stories and created a loop. So yes it happens before, but in a series of events the planet story also happens after for the Android hybrid, possibly. Its heavey-handed but still somehwat ambiguous. Read it again if you like. Those are the same people. There are clues to it. For instance at the beginning, the slave says to the hybird "Im surprised the pirates didn't pick you up (in escape pod)" and he responds "You'd have to ask them about that" Insinuating that the SJ the Arrowhead....Oh Im not explaining this anymore. Read it again, if you didnt catch this stuff. It's meant to be esoteric.
Good discussion, but I'm a bit behind here. Anybody have a link to this Alien: Harvest script? On another note, reading Shadow 19, and I'm very impressed. Hopefully thats good news for Prometheus.
Shadow 19 excerpt:
QuoteAs the view shifts, the ship's immensity becomes apparent.
Construction ships swarm over it like ants.
DIRECTOR MARBECK: Prometheus!
VANCE (awed): Nothing's that big.
The elderly Scientist Larson grins.
LARSON: Prometheus is. Half a kilometer across, with a mass of seventy
million tons. And history's biggest gravity drive running through its core. It's a magnificent monster. Marbeck indulges Larson with a smile of real affection.
DIRECTOR MARBECK: And the greatest secret ever kept.
VANCE: How many people aboard?
DIRECTOR MARBECK: None. The Prometheus has no passenger compartments, no cockpit. It's a super-intelligent machine designed to transform Erix into a new Earth.
VANCE: A terraforming ship.
;)
http://www.sendspace.com/file/dj979t (http://www.sendspace.com/file/dj979t)
Quoteancient aliens
(https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.arcturi.com%2Fsitebuilder%2Fimages%2F27537_142172979128247_8599_n-270x270.jpg&hash=13f17191ff9062fd3edbde4410819d17ef6af460)
Quote from: JaaayDee on Jun 30, 2011, 06:14:31 PM
Quoteancient aliens
http://www.arcturi.com/sitebuilder/images/27537_142172979128247_8599_n-270x270.jpg
Watched that documentary yesterday, funnily enough :laugh:
It seems like they are just giving us info that we already know. I just want to see the Xeno's designs and see how they will look like.
Quote from: JaaayDee on Jun 30, 2011, 06:14:31 PM
Quoteancient aliens
http://www.arcturi.com/sitebuilder/images/27537_142172979128247_8599_n-270x270.jpg
Lmao of all the people on the show, I definitely wouldn't have picked this guy if credibility is what you're going for. What the hell is up with that hair/face? Did he just get electrocuted?
I get the terraforming thing now, but it just makes me think of Titan A.E. :D (Not to mention a truckload of other stories, as the idea is a pretty established convention in sci-fi by now.)
In the bigger picture, I hope the ship itself isn't the main focus of the movie. I don't think it will be though, I just hope it's kind of background for the Jockeys.
@CainsSon
(1) "In Harvest, the Space Jockey's are terraforming a planet that it is insinuated is Earth, and the android-hybrid character is the same person in both timelines. That is not nothing."
>> What?! The un-named planet in AH is a totally remote planet, very far away from Earth! Also, the next planet where 'The Growers' intend to unleash their 'ant aliens' is 'Gleise 777' ie NOT Earth. Also, the whole Gunny/Karik thing is never fully resolved bar that single line about their haircuts - seriously! Which says to me that the author totally abondoned that plotline - AMATEUR!
(2) "Time Dilation is also in Harvest."
>> Time dilation is a consequentce of traveling very fast, and is a very real phenomenon. Most movies never touch on the subject. If memory serves me well though, the original Planet of the Apes movie (The Charlton Heston one) RELIES on it! So far, time dilation does not appear to be a factor of any consequence for Prometheus. Also, dont confuse time dilation with 'time travel into the past'.
(3) "the cast is similar in gender and size"
>> clutching at straws...
(4) "as is the Space Jockey, and the Derelict"
>> The ONLY other way a FRESH alien story COULD GO. Everybody knows this.
(5) "No one is saying anything is certain. It's just a possibility."
>> Yeah - thats why all of your posts contain the word 'Harvest'.
-----
In your defence...
The MOST INTRIGUING part of AH is the 'primordial aliens' concept and the fact that the 'ant aliens' are naively existing in some kind of 'latent hell' mode. That is the only part of AH that could have potentially spawned the movie that we will see in Prometheus.
Quote from: 180924609 on Jul 03, 2011, 05:55:37 PM
@CainsSon
(1) "In Harvest, the Space Jockey's are terraforming a planet that it is insinuated is Earth, and the android-hybrid character is the same person in both timelines. That is not nothing."
>> What?! The un-named planet in AH is a totally remote planet, very far away from Earth! Also, the next planet where 'The Growers' intend to unleash their 'ant aliens' is 'Gleise 777' ie NOT Earth. Also, the whole Gunny/Karik thing is never fully resolved bar that single line about their haircuts - seriously! Which says to me that the author totally abondoned that plotline - AMATEUR!
(2) "Time Dilation is also in Harvest."
>> Time dilation is a consequentce of traveling very fast, and is a very real phenomenon. Most movies never touch on the subject. If memory serves me well though, the original Planet of the Apes movie (The Charlton Heston one) RELIES on it! So far, time dilation does not appear to be a factor of any consequence for Prometheus. Also, dont confuse time dilation with 'time travel into the past'.
(3) "the cast is similar in gender and size"
>> clutching at straws...
(4) "as is the Space Jockey, and the Derelict"
>> The ONLY other way a FRESH alien story COULD GO. Everybody knows this.
(5) "No one is saying anything is certain. It's just a possibility."
>> Yeah - thats why all of your posts contain the word 'Harvest'.
-----
In your defence...
The MOST INTRIGUING part of AH is the 'primordial aliens' concept and the fact that the 'ant aliens' are naively existing in some kind of 'latent hell' mode. That is the only part of AH that could have potentially spawned the movie that we will see in Prometheus.
Yeah, I dont need your defence. Ive worked in the writing dept on several Hollywood films and that script is properly formatted. It's not fan fic. Im not gonna waste my time proving that. I dont particularly care how misunderstood I am on this AVP message board, but thanks I guess.
A more well trained eye realizes that all of that information is given to you by an unreliable, even crazy character that is motivated by a desire to exist on that planet without threat. It is unreliable. He doesn't know where he is. You need to read it again dude. Nothing is what it seems, you are taking it too much on face value. My posts include HARVEST often, because I really liked the direction it took. I would be really surprised and I do not think what we will see will be HARVEST. I've said that countless times. I suspect if anything it was an early draft. EARLY, as in rewritten many times and hopefully elaborated upon, if so. But certainly written by someone who knew the hows and why of industry level script writing.
FYI Ridley Scott himself mentioned that TIME DILATION was a major factor in the script several times,...several.
I find it hard to believe that you could have read that script without noticing the ambiguity throughout. HARVEST is loaded with it. Nearly every scene in that script is riddled in ambiguity. Even the infamous rape scene.
I can write a properly formatted script. As can many people. You ever heard of a online thing called virtual TV? Or virtual series? It's all fiction written and released in script format. And a lot of it's good too. And a lot of it is based on existing IPs.
Just because Harvest looked right, doesn't mean it is legit. SiL has written a better AvP script and that looked bang on too. Doesn't make it real.
And I sent Harvest to a script reviewer who had read and analyzed some of Spaiht's over work and said it felt nothing like his style. So I seriously doubt it'll be a while until we find out the truth.
Quote from: RagingDragon on Jun 30, 2011, 04:12:01 PM
Good discussion, but I'm a bit behind here. Anybody have a link to this Alien: Harvest script? On another note, reading Shadow 19, and I'm very impressed. Hopefully thats good news for Prometheus.
Alien Harvest
http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7660&start=0 (http://forum.alienslegacy.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7660&start=0)
To be honest I always thought Alien Harvest was originally a fan script, I know it's been a novel for some time... maybe I'm just confused with something else :)
Quote from: Corporal Hicks on Jul 03, 2011, 06:53:28 PM
I can write a properly formatted script. As can many people. You ever heard of a online thing called virtual TV? Or virtual series? It's all fiction written and released in script format. And a lot of it's good too. And a lot of it is based on existing IPs.
Just because Harvest looked right, doesn't mean it is legit. SiL has written a better AvP script and that looked bang on too. Doesn't make it real.
And I sent Harvest to a script reviewer who had read and analyzed some of Spaiht's over work and said it felt nothing like his style. So I seriously doubt it'll be a while until we find out the truth.
I'm not referring to style and I'm certainly not just referring format. A program can properly format a script for anyone, as could any paid third party.
I know I'm wasting my time here, but does NOBODY see the words IF and the shred of doubt in all my posts? Or is it just a deep need to discredit me? I just don't get it. Why should anyone give a damn if I like or promote this script? I'm certainly not the only person giving it credit out there. That alone makes it a viable topic; for this site. Or doesn't it?
That script does not have to be real for me to think it's credible, and for the 9,000 time, I don't think what we see will be anything like it...Even if I'd LIKE it to. My personal taste has nothing to do with its existence. I didn't write it. I didn't even like it, at first.
But I stand by my professional experience and have yet to hear any solid argument that makes it impossible or implausible. Including this one. The fact that someone 'could have' isn't what I was countering. I was countering those who say it looks like fan fic. Even if people make online shows and write those properly...That is not the case here. No one is going to try and make ALIEN HARVEST and online show.
Look at the very first ACTION in HARVEST as compared to SHADOW 19:
HARVEST:
Wide sky tinted mauve. Below are rolling hills, mustard hued and speckled golden.
SHADOW 19:
Saturn swims against the stars, its rings slicing the night. DIONE, a pale moon, looms in the foreground.
First, the timbre is identical. Even the amount of syllables he uses is quite similar. The sentences are equally as descriptive as they are vague. Lastly, and most importantly, there is little to NO DIRECTION. He doesn't describe moods, performances or tonality, unless he has to, for the purposes of the plot. He simply states what is happening leaving out all subtle hints and cues, and he does so with similar style,.. This is also why I think people missed a lot of whats going on in the text.
But this is also the MOST obvious thing about the script that tells me the author gets paid since in the industry, this is a major issue they take with spec scripts. Professional script writers know how to leave space, and write a skeleton and to do so they develop a particular formula.
You get to know this when you work as a script reader. Amatuers and people who are writing scripts for themselves to direct
do not know how to keep direction out of a script. in some cases they don't on purpose. I know this might sound frivalous but thats not the case. This is a very annoying part of the industry and it's a reason why people like me have to read and re-read the writers works. Anyone working in a writing dept has to scrutinize over this type of thing, and this is written by
somebody who knows how to do that. The author of HARVEST knew he was writing this for someone else to direct, but also
was no stranger to writing scripts.
Aside from that even if it was FAN-FIC I would still support it fully as the right direction for a prequel to alien, despite needing a great deal of adjustments. That's just my opinion.
How many people still talk about ALIEN PLANET? Or the nixed scripts for ALIEN 3? This is no different and I just cant see what the prejudice surrounding this particular mystery is, when compared to others. I just don't get it.
Furthermore, as I've been saying, anyone who thinks it isn't a mystery is in denial I dont choose t be in. It's still on the table until it isnt and even then I will continue to compare it, as will others to whatever we end up with, because people like it.
Im also aware that Im only responding to the combatitive questioning of others, by getting into any depth here to begin with, which I think is quite considerate of me. ;)
In the meantime, there are some pretty badass leaked set photos, Im way more interested in.