|
|
 |
|
|
|
register |
bbs |
search |
rss |
faq |
about
|
|
|
meet up |
add to del.icio.us |
digg it
|
|
|
|
Prize Magazine #9
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
THE PRIZE
Newsletter of the Watchers Of CIS
OCTOBER, 1629
ISSUE #9: DANSE DIABOLIQUE
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
NOTES FROM THE EDITOR'S CAGE
"You have reached the offices of Woodhull & Desmoulins Press. The Goddess is in
Denver committing unspeakable acts of mayhem and debauchery and can't come to
the phone right now, but She will return your call at Her earliest convenience.
BEEP."
We have received the list of the winners of the contest to design a new cover
for the HIGHLANDER shooting scripts:
First Prize: Beki Weight, Mobile, AL
First Runners-Up: Samantha Lynn, Harrison Twp., MI [but, but, that's --];
the Rev. Ronald E. Reaves, Westminster, MD
Runners-Up: Diane O'Keefe, Yervington, NV; Martin Vire/Marc Britten, Madison,
WI; Jill Blythe, Albuquerque, NM; Gale Edwards, Rochester Hills, MI
Special Runner-Up for "Most Humorous": Russ Herschler, Royal Oak, MI
The winners and as many entries as possible will be on display at The Gathering,
our convention in Denver; the runners-up will receive third-season press kits,
while First Prize winner Beki Weight and First Runner-Up Samantha Lynn will
receive their scripts bearing their artwork and signed by the cast at The
Gathering. (No word, alas, on the fate of Reverend Reaves.)
To the burgeoning list of our Officers we add Highlander director Mario
Azzopardi, who by distinguishing himself in the field of Film Education has
earned the right to be known as the "Headmaster".
In this issue:
Realizing that she would not be allowed back into the Virtual Hall without a
substantial bribe to her stay-at-home packmates, Barb Galler-Smith wisely took
notes at a most relevant presentation she witnessed during Worldcon.
With the new season upon us, the time has come to open the sealed envelopes in
the drawer marked, "How will they ever replace Tessa in Duncan's heart, or even
arms?"
And Highlander: The Animated Series has made its entrance at last, to somewhat
less than enthusiastic reviews.
We also have a brief definition of our various terms for "Hey, Harry, look, they
screwed up again!"
A list of the casting credits for the series is next on tonight's menu.
The friendly folks on the Internet have kindly passed along a list of names of
the first few episodes of season three.
For a few of us, the new season will mean scrambling around for Highlander's new
time or location; some field notes from our Watchers.
And, finally, the line to get in to claim a look at the set of first-season
tapes now making the rounds.
Bon appetit. Next month: reports from the front. Wanted, of course, are
anecdotes from The Gathering. Please note, however, that kidnapping and forcible
restraint are illegal in the state of Colorado, and be courteous to your
intended victims; interviews obviously obtained through the use of unreasonable
force will be returned with Our regrets.
-- Samantha Lynn, 73524,43
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
ADVENTURES IN STENO
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
BARB GALLER-SMITH returned from Worldcon with a notebook full of reports on the
future of HIGHLANDER in its various incarnations. Complete, and unedited...
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Hi all, As promised... Tidbits learned at the 2 hour Highlander session at
WorldCon in Winnipeg. I'll just give it as I have it in my notes. If you have
questions... fire away!
The 1993 Script Coordinator Gillian Horvath (now with Forever Knight) and the
1994 script editor Donna Lettow were presenters.
First, we watched the Gag tape -- shown at the season wrap up party... Memorable
scenes... AP wagging a Kurgan-like tongue at the camera, Alexandra falling back
on the mat, Duncan entering a hallway cautiously, his "senses buzzing" over
another immie -- when he suddenly pulls out his inviso-broom. There were lots
of shots from the series, credits, outtakes, and on set cutting up. (The
laughing at the end of Prodigal Son when they drink the wine is real... but I
can't recall if this was in the gag tape or later)
THEN: a 10 minutes trailer for Highlander III -- Release date firm at December
2... but rumour has it, it is still not finished! It is a direct sequel to HI
and occurs 8 years later. There is no Brenda. There is no Zeist. Co-starring
Mario Van Peebles and Deborah Unger.
A laser disc edition of a movie called Highlander II will be released. This
movie has NO references to Zeist, the original ending has been restored, along
with some nice non-Zeistian footage.
BEWARE: September 1995 [?] brings Quinton Macleod... the animated Highlander.
Placed 1000+ years in the future... it is really in a far far different
universe. There is no resemblance to either our beloved movie or series. BUT,
he has a pony tail and inside sources say he's very sexy... for a cartoon.
I SAW where they keep the inviso-swords... In France at least. Pierre is
keeper of the sword and hands it to AP when the camera isn't looking... Gillian
called him "the Inviso pocket" <hee hee>
Then we had a detailed outline of the whole scripting process. #7 is finished
for this year already, but the script office has finished #13 (already in
Paris). 22 scripts again this year, which is a standard number.
They use Canadian or French freelance writers only. Dave Tynan is the only
staff writer. No one American can write for the show.
Agents are required. No unsolicited scripts will be looked at (or even opened)
There are 22 productions in Vancouver right now... lots of work for local
writers... <big grin here from BJ!> Get an agent... pitch your work with ideas
and script.
We looked at a scene from THE FIGHTER. This was reworked a lot because Duncan
was originally supposed to do the rest of the scene, but AP was totally tired
and needed a break. They rewrote to use Charlie instead.
The basic scene ID and numbering is done (Beat sheet). It's about 4 pages, and
is a brief outline. Here's where they have to starts reworking because you
can't have instructions like "Duncan & Tessa are walking..." when Tessa is
already gone! <g> Later follows the detailed outline or detailed beat sheet --
about 10-12 pages long. This is where the subplots come in.
The first draft. This is what the writer uses to do the script. (ideas from
those already "pitched").
BTW: There will likely be Highlander merchandise in the US/Can coincidentally
with the cartoon show. Mostly games (Atari/IBM), pinball and... yes...
Highlander footwear. [Here the Editor cannot restrain herself from interjecting,
"GAWD."] Then -- about the sword. The official replicas are from MARTO -- which
we already knew. Noble owns Ramirez' sword. Phone 1-800 US MARTO.
After writing in house revision which takes about 2-3 weeks. This gives the
"Production Draft" which goes to cast and crew. At this point there is only 7
days until shooting. Here's where props and costumes have to hustle. At this
point already 6-7 weeks have gone by. The revisions II, III, IV, etc... each a
different colour, as everybody makes changes... director, cast, crew. These go
to Read Throughs. Some episodes get postponed. Example... Maury Ravinski's
episode was postponed for LEGACY.
Then there are emergency writes... when a bunch of writers work to get a script
out ASAP... called a Gang bang. 3 writers write 3 different acts, and the one
who's finished first gets no glory... but gets to write the 4th act! It works,
often very well. (Pay attention to the Cross of St. Croix... Duncan was trapped
in a room only MacGyver could have escaped from!)
Every script has a cover. A fan from Mobile Alabama won the cover contest.
It's lovely! The Highlander title in the same font as the series title... with
lightning bolts going from top to bottom in a stylish and artistic way. Very
nice and congrats if you're lurking!
Then come the "dailies", the video shots, what studios used to call rushes in
movies about movie making. The show is now out of the writer's hands. Post
production takes about 3 weeks -- cut/edit/and at last the credits.
<<<Spoiler bits follow >>
We saw dailies from THE FIGHTER. Then the final cut of the scene where Duncan
convinces Charlie to help Sully with his love life. We saw Jim (as Joe) singing
in his new place called Joe's Bar... what a fabulous voice!
Episode #1 this fall tells the story of Duncan's sword... we saw a clip.
<ahhhhh, move over jeans and tank top>
Richie will be around... some. Charlie will be going away cuz he got the girl
of his dreams... but he'll be back -- someday.
Questions from the audience:
Q -- Richie has a baby? Yes <eg>
Q -- Why did Tessa leave? She wanted to. More versatile than "Duncan, be
careful."
Q -- Why Richie? Boy sidekicks are common, sometimes necessary and he was meant
to be annoying. He is there to provide exposition... so Duncan can explain
what's happening... and friends are very useful, too, don't ya think?
Q -- HLI -- where does everybody come from? In spite of Joe's reference to the
Kurgan... the dates still don't match series to movie... Oops... a booboo.
There is really no reconciliation between them. But they do try to be
internally consistent. That is, the series won't contradict itself.
Q -- Is Joe still a watcher? Not as often.
Q -- Is there a soundtrack? No... Just Queen's album "A Kind of Magic"
Q -- Why is there a Quickening in every episode? Because fans complained when
they weren't. Fans like the Q's. <straight face from me>
Q -- What famous guest stars this season? Not as big... they want toooo much
money. No biggies as yet in 1-7. She didn't really know about the others. One
guy wanted more for one episode than the whole series costs!
Q -- More mortal villains (like Horton)? Not an emphasis.
Q -- Sean Connery? Only if he donates his time, I think... <g> No, too much
money.
Q -- Sword master? Yes, Bob Anderson has retired... but he may still turn up
from time to time. It was implied he seems to think Adrian Paul is fairly
proficient and perhaps can manage on his own. WOW!
Q -- How long is Adrian's hair? To the shoulder... the really short isn't his,
nor is the really long. But we could tell, couldn't we?
Q -- HL books? Not since the (yuck) novelization of the movie. The French
don't seem to understand this concept of marketing TV. BUT... the New York
folks have entered the picture... look for some better marketing.
Q -- why does the European version have different footage? because they don't
have as many commercials! So 3-4 extra minutes per episode... usually something
not too critical... all of a song, love scene, etc. Then Gillian made a remark
about how a swordmaster in "Dragon" <?> was removed from all footage (somewhere)
because he didn't have an actor's card!
Q -- Child immortal? hehehehehehe.... <SPOILER>
Camera cuts to blond boy, about 11, sitting on a crate breathing hard. He gets
us and walks toward camera. He raises a sword over his head and says... "There
can be only one, MacLeod, and it might as well be me." He swings the sword
swiftly down... CUT.
[From the 10/03 gag tape:
BOY: Four years ago. I was ten. My mom and dad took me to... <forgets line>
DUNCAN (OC): You have no idea where they took you?
BOY: <evil grin> My mom and dad took me to a gay bar.
If I have to turn this in late, I may as well take advantage of it.]
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
ANOTHER YOU
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
During the long, dry months of summer, we amused ourselves with trying to
imagine what the producers would saddle Duncan with for a love interest next.
<Seriously, though, I don't know *what* they can do for Duncan. Mortals are a
problem and the female Immies we've been shown all have some serious Problems.
I've asked before, I'll ask again: anybody got any guesses?>
Mike Dascenzo -- Ok, I'll bite... the new "Tessa" eh? <g> Hmmmmmm... I think
what we'll see someone more hard-bitten, less regal, than Tessa. Also, she
won't be as big a part of Duncan's life as Tessa was (I doubt they'd even live
together.) We'll see a relationship more closely mirroring the distance that
Duncan and Charlie enjoy. Charlie wasn't even in the Mako epsiode... and I
barely noticed. I think we'll see that in Duncan's new love... more distant...
less likely to be involved in the tribulations of immortal life... (I'd be
willing to wager they'll even keep the immortality a secret from her... just
like Charlie.) I doubt she'll be a professional... maybe she'll be a criminal-
type. I'm not really sure. One thing I *DO* know... if the writers have any
sense, they'll write this mystery woman more consistently than they did Tess
(HEY!! I can hope, can't I?!?!<bg>)
Well, until she shows up and steals Mr. All-This-And-Brains-Too's heart...<g>
Cathryn Bauer-Kahn -- Duncan simply has too much ...martial arts ability to
remain a secular celibate for very long. It wouldn't be believable. Neither
would the strong psychospiritual conversions that would be necessary for either
Amanda or Annie to be a lasting mate for Our Hero (but hey, those flying buttons
really WERE something). I think a totally new character, probably mortal.
Idea: I would like to see a woman who is basically strong, independent and good
but with some kind of deep wound she's working to recover from (such as being a
battered kid, sexual assault, having been in a recent war, etc.).
Barb Galler-Smith -- <<[to C B-K, not shown] I have a few hints from the forty
minutes or so I spent at the AOL conference. There will be a new love interest,
very different from Tessa, emphasis on human frailty (?)>>
Anyone, as long as she is exquisite and not a SACWOTW with bad hair. As for
human frailty???? what does that mean? Whose frailty -- his or hers? Maybe...
she's blind! That would be something!
Olivia Gaffney -- When the term "human frailty" was mentioned I immediately
thought his new love would be a prostitute. I have got to get my mind out of
the gutter.
Rick Anthony -- AOL says Duncan's new love interest will be totaly different
than Tess. I'm willing to place a losing bet (me lose) that this next mortal
will be a social worker dealing with kids. Just a losing hunch and thought!
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
and the reaction to Barb Galler-Smith's report from Worldcon:
Linda Walton -- Not blonde is good <apologies to those watchers who are blonde
but we dark haired lasses need more media>. Thin, doctor... hmmm ah well so much
for hoping she'd be a fiesty, Reubenesque, over 30, redhaired writer<g>... at
least she's a brunette in one of the more intelligent professions.
Maybe <oh please God or whomever is in charge of the script>, she won't be
reduced to crying "Look out Duncan!" or belong to the "Helpless female
kidnapping and abuse of the week club". Just once I'd like to see someone try
to put the bag on a woman who cleaned their clocks <at least a little> BEFORE
they drug her off deep into the woods or into some darkened Tudor mansion. I
personally think that if I were in that situation I'd fight like Hades. NO ONE
is going to use me as bait without at least losing a little skin.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
EVERYONE'S A CRITIC
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The eagerly awaited HIGHLANDER: THE ANIMATED SERIES has finally surfaced -- to a
resounding chorus of yawns:
Samantha Lynn -- And the verdict is <drum roll please...>: maybe if we ignore
it, it'll go away. <sigh>
I've gotten out of the habit of watching kidvid, so I dunno about the content,
but I was able to draw two conclusions:
1) They seem to have missed the point. At least H2 (gawd, I'm defending H2
because of TAS! Somebody shoot me...) was, if not good HL, in fact even terrible
HL, still recognizable as some mutant third cousin of HL. TAS... <scratching
head>
2) Who's their target audience? We have seen evidence that HL:TS appeals to many
age brackets, including t' wee bairns; why, then, is TAS necessary? If it were
more closely related to TS, then I can see it getting some of TS's younger
audience carried over; but from what I can see, TAS isn't appealing to the same
elements -- those who already think HL is cool because of TS aren't going to buy
TAS. Strangers? Well, maybe, but... aren't there enough cartoons already?
I dunno. It might get better, and I'm always a sucker for a redhead, but the
pilot's not enough to make me get up that early on a Sunday morning. So I guess
you can count my vote in the "apathetic indifference" column...
Sheri Richardson -- >> I'm always a sucker for a redhead
But did they have to make him have a perpetual bad-hair day?
FWIW, I had anticipated worse animation so I wasn't too disappointed.
I liked the Ramirez characterization, and appreciate the fact that they didn't
even try to explain his existence (which would surely be lame at best). The
voice actor actually sounded like Connery once or twice, and touched on
Ramirez's effete humor. ;j Another bad-hair day, however.
Quentin is too young and I anticipate that his younger sister (!) will pull the
same tag-along antics that have plagued cartoons since the original Speed Racer.
Argh.
The quickening was sickening. If you don't know Highlander, you won't get it. At
all.
But perhaps the biggest thing in this new entry is a door it throws wide open.
In the opening, all the immortals agree to lay down their arms and rebuild the
earth.
This is exciting stuff! It sets a precedent for Connor and Duncan, being the
last two (as we KNOW they'll be), to hang up their swords and decide that "there
can be only two", after all.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The Four Degrees of Blind Stupidity:
*Gawd*-We're-Dumb's: minor inconsistencies like Duncan's inviso-hat in BLESS THE
CHILD, the hyperactive shirttails of AVENGING ANGEL, the "fatal knee strike" of
PHARAOH'S DAUGHTER, and anything else that indicates that the film editor had a
rough night last night. (True YAHOO's are usually camera-angle and prop
problems, not just bad editing or blind continuity checkers.)
YAHOO: garden-variety odd problematical event, such as prematurely missing
heads, AWOL props, mysterious men on haystacks, and the like.
YAHBUT: any YAHOO that involves time-traveling thoughts, words, or objects --
Amanda's counterfeit plates, Tim Ramsey's "Dalton Gang" adventures, or a
screwtop bottle that has projected itself back in time to the 1890's.
YAHOOIE -- *real* stinkers, like the bit in THE SEA WITCH when Duncan falls into
the harbor and is completely dry by the time he reaches the deck of the boat
(this is too completely stupid to be a mere *gawd*-we're-dumb, although it is an
editing problem -- they coulda cut out the *dunking*, fergawd'ssake)
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
As the question has surfaced several times lately, Helva Peters provides the
following list of the credits for casting on the series:
Season I:
London: Simone Reynolds, Karen Lindsey Stewart
Paris: Nicole Agnes Cottet, Sylvie Brochere
Los Angeles: Mark Tillman, Russ Gray, Michael Orloff
Vancouver: Michelle Allen
Season II:
Vancouver Episodes: Trish Robinson
Paris Episodes:
Paris: Sylvie Brochere
London: Karen Lindsey Stewart
U.S. Pamela Basker, C.S.A.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Courtesy of Velia Tanner, here are the titles of the first few upcoming
episodes.
-------------------------------------------
94301 The Samurai
94302 Line of Fire
94303 The Revolutionary
94304 The Cross of St. Antoine
94305 Rite of Passage
94306 Courage
94307 The Lamb
94308 Obsession
94309 Shadows
94310 Swords, Lies, and Videotape (formerly "Evidence")
94311 Vendetta
94312 They Also Serve
94313 Blind Faith
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The scramble to find the beginning of the new season has turned up the following
reports of changed airtimes, air days, and stations:
WGN SATELLITE: 8PM Central, Sundays
SAN DIEGO: 6PM, Sunday, and 12AM Monday, on KTTY-69
DETROIT: 12AM, Sundays, WXON-20; no 9PM Sunday repeat
HOUSTON: Thursdays, 8PM, channel 39
WILD SATELLITE FEEDS:
Wednesday, 9:30AM ET G4/11
Saturday, 10:00AM ET G4/9
Thanks to Kim Crawford, Tim Beer, Daniel L. Ahearn, Clinton Pylate, and James
Leonard Hobby for confirming these with the stations.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
The First Season Tape Queue stands at:
1.) Jennifer Steneberg 70720,2671
2.) Robert Green 72652,1571
3.) Sheri Richardson 70703,2746
4.) Lynn Fernandez 74473,2063
5.) Patricia A. Ahern 72123,1224
6.) Brian L Chappell 73261,3205
7.) Mary Madi 74513,3567
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
THE UNCLASSIFIED ADS
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
In this library [SF & Fantasy #12, HIGHLANDER] -- HITIME.TXT: the latest
revision of Helva Peters's phenomenal series timeline.
In this library -- HL3STA.TXT -- list of stations carrying the third season,
with days and times.
In this library -- CN828A.TXT and CN828E.TXT: transcripts of split-session
Monthly Gathering. Topic: how close to HIGHLANDER can we come without *actually*
talking about it?
In this library -- HLDA10.SIT: Macintosh desk accessory containing the
Highlander information one is most likely to need at one's fingertips in a
hurry.
Now available from "various sources": the Further Adventures In Virtual Brazil,
starring Goddess, Keeper, Head Hacker, Cardinal Fang, and a legion of
suspiciously handsome men. Contact CATHRYN BAUER-KAHN [72734,1403] for ordering
information.
PEACE now has a European branch. SASE to James Thompson, "PEACE, the Adrian Paul
Fan Club", PO Box 519, Bromley, BR2 9WX, England.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
FINE PRINT
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
THE PRIZE is a house organ of the Watchers Of CIS. We are not funded by anybody
or sanctioned by anybody. If we get in trouble, I'm changing my name and
joining the French Foreign Legion.
The Watchers of CIS are a floating pool of HIGHLANDER fans on the Compuserve
Information Service. We make no claims to official status or knowledge, but we
know what we like.
We hereby absolve Compuserve Information Services of all blame for the content
of this newsletter.
THE PRIZE may be freely distributed in hardcopy form ONLY across the seven seas
of space so long as no alterations are made to the text thereof, save any
required translations into languages other than the original American English.
Any violations of this caveat will result in the wrath of the Goddess and more
importantly the wrath of CIS, so please don't spoil our fun.
The Watchers of CIS exist on the Compuserve Information Service. For info on the
network and the SF Forum (where the HIGHLANDER message-board section is), call
1-800-848-8990 and ask for representative 186.
THE PRIZE 1994 is a production of Woodhull & Desmoulins Press.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
Here are the addresses that will accept mail for the series:
Rysher TPE, 3400 Riverside Drive, Suite 600, Burbank, CA 91505
Please write Keith Samples at this address to express your support for the show.
SSA Public Relations, 15060 Ventura Blvd., Suite 360, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
This is the address for fan mail to the actors.
Gaumont Television, 24, Rue Jacques Dulud, 92200 Neuilly, FRANCE
This is the address if you speak French better than I do.
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
This issue's contributors:
BARB GALLER-SMITH -- 73733,1315
MIKE DASCENZO -- 70761,1103
CATHRYN BAUER-KAHN -- 72734,1403
OLIVIA GAFFNEY -- 74163,3250
RICK ANTHONY -- 74603,1577
LINDA WALTON -- 74452,2455
SHERI RICHARDSON -- 70703,2746
and myself, the eternal Goddess Samantha.
E-Mail - 73524.43@compuserve.com
Snailmail - c/o Judy Kunz, Kibby Labs, 25235 Dequindre, Madison Heights, MI
48071
Computers by Apple Computer
Ground transportation provided by Rent-A-Trabant
For Entertainment Purposes Only
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
HIGHLANDER, for those of you just tuning in (the rest of you could skip this
bit), is a television series based somewhat loosely upon a film of the same
name, concerning a man from 1500's Scotland who discovers that he is immortal,
and cannot die. There are others like him, he finds, and they are engaged in a
fight to the last immortal, for the power of the Prize. In the end, there can
be only one.
The movie and the series diverge at this point: in the film, our man is Connor
MacLeod (Christopher Lambert), and he lives at the time of the last days, the
Gathering, when all the remaining immortals are coming together for the fight to
the death.
In the series, however, our immortal hero is Duncan MacLeod (Adrian Paul)--
"Same clan, different vintage" -- and the Gathering is not yet at hand. Duncan's
task is to keep his head from week to week.
For that is the only way to slay an immortal. From any wound but one, even unto
death, they will recover -- but "if your head comes away from your neck, it's
over." So says Connor's immortal mentor, Ramirez (Sean Connery).
-- THE PRIZE, Issue #1
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
WATCH YOUR HEAD
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888888
|
|
|
To the best of our knowledge, the text on this page may be freely reproduced and distributed.
If you have any questions about this, please check out our Copyright Policy.
totse.com certificate signatures
|
|
|
About | Advertise | Bad Ideas | Community | Contact Us | Copyright Policy | Drugs | Ego | Erotica
FAQ | Fringe | Link to totse.com | Search | Society | Submissions | Technology
|
|
|
|
|
|
