Lights... Camera... ACTION!!: A Hollywood Quest

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Hi Magoose here one of the guys helping Duke.

So we have some bad news.

The quest has been canceled as duke does not want to write it anymore.

I'm going to ask if I can take over for it, because I like this quest, and it would be a shame to kill it
TBF, Mags, you have been doing a lot of the heavylifting for the quest, so this will be in good hands. :)

To be clear to everyone, this is just me burning out on imagination of the quest, since my muse has been hitting me over the head a lot with so many different ideas that I just can't find myself too interested in this.

I'll still hang out here, though, since this still does have a sepcial place in my heart.

I'd like to thank you all for making this a wonderful experience while it lasted.

I'd also like to thank @Magoose, @Fluffy_serpent, and @Martin Noctis for doing so much to help prepare and write this quest. I couldn't have done it without you all. :D

I'll see you all around.

With so many regards, Duke William Of.
 
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[]Skywalker Sound: George has basically thrown down the gauntlet on what sounds can do in the movies. There is almost nothing you can really comprehend on, but you instead looked at what he wanted. And what he wanted was a complete change of what is possible. You have no idea what it means, but it is something that makes you wonder just what you can do. (Cost 250 million. Creates Skywalker Sound, a company of Lucasfilm dedicated to creating the most imaginative soundscapes in the world, as well as being able to create sounds that do not exist in nature. +100 to all music rolls, as well as another +20 to all quality of the films, and TV shows.)

Can I suggest an alternative? How about we partner up with Bose Corporation and have them be our sound guys or something along the lines?

They haven't released the 901 series in quest as of now so they shouldn't be a commercial success until a year or so.

Lowkey have a soft spot for Bose brand and Amar Bose, the founder who donated majority of his company to MiT where he was a professor.
 
By the way @Magoose would this be allowed for the next turn?
[]Investments: You want to invest your hard-earned cash into something that you feel will be a good return on investment. And as well as diversify your assets DC: 0 (Linetail what you wish to invest in below this action, and the amount of money you want to invest in)
-[] Transfer 50 million dollars to the Warchest?
 
By the way @Magoose would this be allowed for the next turn?
[]Investments: You want to invest your hard-earned cash into something that you feel will be a good return on investment. And as well as diversify your assets DC: 0 (Linetail what you wish to invest in below this action, and the amount of money you want to invest in)
-[] Transfer 50 million dollars to the Warchest?
Yes.
 
Great...

And what about this @Magoose ?

[]Investments: You want to invest your hard-earned cash into something that you feel will be a good return on investment. And as well as diversify your assets DC: 0 (Linetail what you wish to invest in below this action, and the amount of money you want to invest in)
-[] A New Studio Lot: Sometimes you need a place in LA to work on, and there is some dead dilapidated construction on the outskirts of town that will never be used properly, so you went to the city and proposed to purchase it, to make it a Studio Lot for Lucasfilms. It may rub a few feathers... but you don't care. (Cost 175 Million dollars. Gain The Lucasfilms Lot in LA, and all production rolls there will have a +50 to their rolls, no matter what, and production problems are completely removed.)

I mean these options would be available as investments at the same price rates?
 
Great...

And what about this?

[]Investments: You want to invest your hard-earned cash into something that you feel will be a good return on investment. And as well as diversify your assets DC: 0 (Linetail what you wish to invest in below this action, and the amount of money you want to invest in)
-[] A New Studio Lot: Sometimes you need a place in LA to work on, and there is some dead dilapidated construction on the outskirts of town that will never be used properly, so you went to the city and proposed to purchase it, to make it a Studio Lot for Lucasfilms. It may rub a few feathers... but you don't care. (Cost 175 Million dollars. Gain The Lucasfilms Lot in LA, and all production rolls there will have a +50 to their rolls, no matter what, and production problems are completely removed.)

I mean these options would be available as investments at the same price rates?
No comment, until after the vote.
 
[X] Plan Mr. Beast? More like Mr. O'Brian
-[X]Animation Department: George does not understand your love for cartoons. Though he does see them as legitimate and cool, he also has only seen the ones made by Hanna Barbara. And he really hasn't like them that much. What he should see, is the old classics that changed the world. (Cost: 20 million. Begin an animation department and can start bringing in a stable to make some crazy cool animated stuff. Any Animated Film made by this one, once fully staffed... will gain a +40 to all their rolls.)
--[X]Name the department "DreamWorks Animation".
-[X]Skywalker Sound: George has basically thrown down the gauntlet on what sounds can do in the movies. There is almost nothing you can really comprehend on, but you instead looked at what he wanted. And what he wanted was a complete change of what is possible. You have no idea what it means, but it is something that makes you wonder just what you can do. (Cost 250 million. Creates Skywalker Sound, a company of Lucasfilm dedicated to creating the most imaginative soundscapes in the world, as well as being able to create sounds that do not exist in nature. +100 to all music rolls, as well as another +20 to all quality of the films, and TV shows.)
-[X]THX: Another Sound company, this time to make the theaters showing star wars the best in the world, and by making them work. It's less a system of recording and more a quality assurance for all movie theaters. Something that will make films better and a part of the experience. (Cost: 75 million. x2 to all Movie Profit rolls. Will stack with other modifiers)
-[X]ILM's Big Makeover: ILM has never really had a place to call home, besides its offices and warehouses. Now George wants to change it, making two entire warehouses in LA, and Sonoma County, titling them, Emerald, and Graffiti, after you, the Emerald Splash, and American Graffiti. It is going to begin pushing the boundaries of what is possible in movies for Effects, and so much more. (Cost 150 million. +100 to VFX and SFX rolls on all Lucasfilms films. Gain a Reroll on any VFX and SFX roll. Will passively make money through contracts to other movie studios with a d100 per millon roll done every year)
-[X]A New Studio Lot: Sometimes you need a place in LA to work on, and there is some dead dilapidated construction on the outskirts of town that will never be used properly, so you went to the city and proposed to purchase it, to make it a Studio Lot for Lucasfilms. It may rub a few feathers... but you don't care. (Cost 175 Million dollars. Gain The Lucasfilms Lot in LA, and all production rolls there will have a +50 to their rolls, no matter what, and production problems are completely removed.)
-[X]The Mike Eisner Division: The Brain Child of, of course, Mike Eisner, he wants it to become a monolith of producing hype, getting attention, and in the end, getting butts into seats at the movie theaters. Now, of course, it would require a huge amount of money, time, and effort to bring it to full operation, however, there is always something that people would need. Mike said he needs quite a bit, a new building in town that we need to Lease or buy out, hiring new people, intelligent people, who understand not marketing, but storytelling. And of course, he said that he needs your support to get it done because George is still a little hesitant to work on this when there were so many things he wanted to do to push the movie industry forward. (Cost, 45 million. Gain an Upgrade to the Eisner Division, where all Audience and Critical Rolls will now have a +50 to their rolls, in addition, there is one reroll allowed for the Audience roll. You no longer need to dedicate actions to excite movies, or make a trailer, as it is done automatically in-house. Will take effect in 1978.)
-[X]The House Of Ideas: For far too long the student filmmakers and the young actors are being subjected to what can only be described as Agism. Hollywood isn't taking risks anymore when making their films. And you want to change that. So let's start Green lighting projects that were ignored or told off. And let's see just how much money they missed out on. (Cost 10 million. All fictional pitches will automatically be given a Screenplay score of 50 and developing them further will include heavy bonuses)
-[X]Upgrading the Writers Room: Paul and company, need a better room. They need more space, people, and places. You will give them that. (Cost 20 million. All Scripts written by the Writers Room will now carry a +100 to their quality. Will now produce two scripts per six-month period, rather than just one.)
-[X] Invest $250 million to the Lucasfilms warchest

Okay so I think when it comes down to it everything is in one way or another necessary and will be critical to the formation of Lucasfilms as the undisputed leader of cinema. It's a damn hefty price tag with a sum of $745 million but this is what we need to play catch up and free our action economy and Omake priorities. With the cash infusion plus the warchest that will leave about near $140 million in the warchest, enough to fund movies and do operating costs for the rest of the year. For those also worried about us investing so much cash into Lucasfilms, we have two major income sources in the near future with Five Dates and Close Encounters releasing later this year which we will get 50% of the profits for both and we have a passive income for Star Wars toy sales.

@Magoose How much money does Bruce have within his personal bank account at the moment? If necessary I'll change the 250 to 200 million.
 
If we go for the Animation Department, are we using the new methods that were introduced with Katzenberg on Disney? I mean, before him they apparently wrote and drew as they went without any basic framework and without having an idea for the story, just some jokes and gags before having to fill the space in between.

I ask because that seems to have been the way Disney did movies before the changes, and I'm assuming everyone just followed the model until Katzenberg came. So, if we don't follow said model, and start with a whole new one from the beginning then we would have another advantage, at least for a long while with Disney where they wouldn't be that keen to innovate.
How can they tax him... we spent literally all our taxable income on investing inthe company we helped found...

And the best part... we can write it off as a business expense.
I'm thinking that this will increase Lucasfilms reputations as insane mavericks willing to take risks, considering we're basically using everything we earned into the company and our movies.

...Damn, this must be what everyone thought of Lucas when he grabbed everything he earned from Star Wars and invested it into the sequel.
 
If we go for the Animation Department, are we using the new methods that were introduced with Katzenberg on Disney?
That depends, do you want Katzenberg as the head of your animation department?

Or someone else.

Because your answer may change that situation.
...Damn, this must be what everyone thought of Lucas when he grabbed everything he earned from Star Wars and invested it into the sequel.
Yes. This is exactly what everyone thought of Lucas.

In fact, after this turn, I am going to break my Rules for this quest, and do a single rumor mill about what everyone thinks of the stupid amount of money that we have spent on the company.
 
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That depends, do you want Katzenberg as the head of your animation department?

Or someone else.

Because your answer may change that situation.
Well, unlike with Disney there would be no jockeying or politics as everyone knows that there's only two people who truly run the company and they're in complete agreement on how it should be run.

A the same time...this is Katzenberg.
Yes. This is exactly what everyone thought of Lucas.

In fact, after this turn, I am going to break my Rules for this quest, and do a single rumor mill about what everyone thinks of it.
Awesome! Thanks!
 
They're owned by Paramount and, if Kaiser Chris' omake is anything to go by, they're already on the way for the Canon movies. As well as a TV revival a decade earlier than OTL.

Well I just put that as a narrative thread that Magoose can follow up on if he's interested in with rolls. In OTL, Paramount did immediately greenlight the Star Trek films based off of the success of Star Wars and I think no matter what that's going to be set in stone. Phase II is interesting because it was supposed to be greenlit and be the flagship of a fourth broadcast network called "Paramount Television Service" (PTS). What prevented both from existing was that Paramount's financial division predicted that they would get absolutely shit ad revenue and both Phase II and PTS were going to be money sinks for the company. So Paramount folded and the pilot episode of Phase II became "Star Trek: The Motion Picture".

Now this is where the fun begins. Star Wars is not just the biggest movie here, but it's the first Billion dollar movie and is a cultural juggernaught that is quickly establishing itself as an icon of American culture as a whole. Even if Paramount isn't going to make PTS, I think they would be very much motivated to go ahead with Phase II because the whole world is in love with Star Wars and Paramount already has an established franchise which can be considered the first true popular science fiction series and is the only brand that can stand on equal footing with Star Wars. So Paramount is likely to make Phase II and the movies will probably be following a different crew as part of a Saga or standalone. As for PTS, I guess that all depends on whether or not Paramount has great rolls since they've been doing decent but not Universal successful.

Okay, so, this movie was never made in OTL, and the only version that can be considered similar to it would be either the Pocahontas film of 1995, or the unfinished Disney film Little Hiawatha that from wat I've seen is a product of its time (but what a fun product it would've been if made!). The idea appeared in the Jim Henson Thread, and it was quite enjoyable as it was, so I figured "Why don't we try it before the supposed Renaissance?" and thus here we are.

I've tried to put Voice Actors that are Native Americans (Or those who worked in Pocahontas at least) but I've also added some Alternates in case we can't get the ones we want. Those are not Native American, but I think that by virtue of experience they can give an enjoyable experience and a good enough voice for the characters.

The movie would also have to be somewhat faithful to Iroquois mythology, if only to show respect (and because it's really fascinating!) so hopefully it endears us, and gives us brownie points, with the Native community as we show that we haven't forgotten completely the lessons they gave us; The Iroquois did influence the American Constitution more than one would think after all, not to mention the entire story of Hiawatha is amazing by itself.

With that having been said, I give you:

Movie Pitch:
Hiawatha


GENRE: Historical Drama/Comedy

SUBGENRE: Adventure/Romance

FORMAT: Movie (Animation)

Set Up: Based on Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem The Song of Hiawatha, and actual Iroquois Oral tradition and history, the movie tells the story of Hiawatha, a brave from the Onondaga tribe and his quest to "Unify the Five Nations" after the death of his parents at the hands of Tadodaho of the Bithwanikumbakumba. With his wits, club, and animal companion (and pain in the neck) Crow at his side, he embarks on a journey full of wacky adventures and self-discovery, meeting friends and foes alike as he fulfills his destiny.

Director: Ron Clements
Composer: Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman
Hiawatha: He's a young member of the Onondaga tribe who was prophesized on the day of his birth that he would "Unify the Five Nations". After the death of his parents at Tadodaho's hands he goes on a journey to avenge them and fulfill his destiny. During his travels he learns of his shortcomings and how violence and brute force are not always the answer. During his adventures he makes friends with Kwasind and falls in love with Minnehaha, marrying her at the end.

Played by: Gordon Tootosis
Alternate: Jonathan Frakes

Crow: He's Hiawatha's animal companion. He joins him in his travels giving him advice which sometimes work and sometimes doesn't. With a tendency to make fun of him or his ideas, Crow tends to help Hiawatha become more self-reliant and confident, while also puncturing his ego when it gets too big. In reality, he's one of the Thunderers from Iroquois tradition, and the enemy of Djodi'kwado, the Horned Sea Snake. He returns to its true form when Djodi'kwado is exorcised away from Tadodaho

Played by: Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman
Alternate: Robin Williams

Tadodaho/Djodi'kwado: He's the leader of the Bithwanikumbakumba who's been possessed, and is being influenced, by Djodi'kwado. With his magic spells and weapons he's set forth on a campaign of destruction and death in order to conquer the five nations and unify them. In the end Tadodaho is saved by Hiawatha and Minnehaha, and sees the error of his ways. Djodi'kwado does not however, and after being expelled from Tadodaho, returns to its true Giant Sea Snake Form to try and kill them all.

Played by: Wes Studi
Alternate: Tim Curry

Deganawida: The leader of the Mohawk, and "The Great Peacemaker" according to oral tradition. Deganawida does not have a good impression of Hiawatha at first due to his more bullish attitude, but he grows on him after Hiawatha grows a bit and saves his village from Tadodaho's summons. Deganawida is the father of Kwasind and Minnehaha, a man who tries to find a peaceful way to every disagreement, but is not afraid to fight in order to defend one's home.

Played by: Russell Means
Alternate: Keith David

Kwasind: Son of Deganawida, and the greatest warrior of the Mohawk. When meeting Hiawatha he's hostile as he sees him defeat an entire contingent of warriors using both cunning and guile. It does not help that he sees Hiawatha is clearly besotted with his sister, but overtime they grow as close as brothers thanks to fighting together to protect the village, and the growing respect between warriors. He dies fighting against Tadodaho near the end.

Played by: James Apaumut Fall
Alternate: Cam Clarke

Minnehaha: Daughter of Deganawida, she is the one that teaches Hiawatha the values of compassion and empathy as he was still consumed by his desire for vengeance against Tadodaho, as well as the one that creates the Wampum Belt that is so revered by the Iroquois. In the final confrontation against Tadodaho near his swamp, she is the one that stays Hiawatha's vengeful hand and heals Tadodaho, thus freeing him from the dark and the influence of Djodi'kwado.

Played by: Irene Beddard
Alternate: Susan Blu

Djodi'kwado: The "Horned Serpent Demon" from Iroquois tradition. It was known to abduct and eat maidens by disguising itself as a brave and handsome man. It possesses and influences Tadodaho to gain control over the five nations, and when expelled from him it turns back to its giant monstruous form. It is eventually defeated by the combined strength of Crow, the Thunderer, and Hiawatha. Once more in monstruous form he does not speak, but roars like an animal.
The Kenabek: The "Children of Djodi'kwado", they're summons that can be used by Tadodaho to spy, attack, or merge into a greater form to increase its power.

Chibiabos the Raccoon, and Iagoo the Hummingbird: Minnehaha's animal companions. Chibiabos is a troublemaker, while Iagoo tends to be more boastful.

A.N: Well, I just want to make an animated film about Native Americans that does not include Pocahontas (mainly because the Direct to Video Sequel ruined it for me) and I was watching in YouTube about the Little Hiawatha unfinished film that made me remember this. Hopefully we can use some interesting animation style that will make it fun to watch.

Looks Great! Seems like a very nice Disney-esque animation film that will be a lot of fun and be very accurate to Native American lore. I can easily see this being the equivalent of Kung Fu Panda to Mulan with high praise from the Native community and a great box office performance.

Well now...

Here's hoping that Universal fucks up badly the Heinlein adaptations as a nice, deserving legacy for the writer.

Just for trash talking Carrie, I hope that Starship Troopers fails so bad, people are now unambiguously angry about the film as a Neo Nazi propaganda outlet than what Paul Verhoeven did in OTL.
Verhoeven did , in my opinion, an amazing job with the film as the criticism was so subtle that even now, watching the film again, I can't seem to find I as I'm having too much fun.

With the Malus our enemies have at the moment, they will sink and burn the moment they try (I hope).
as someone who likes Verhoeven's film... I saw it at the formitive age where all the things he was critiquing went all over my head and still have trouble realizing its a critique

All I saw was a cool, gory action movie, where humans fought bugs with big explosions, lots of blood and action.

Hell, I didn't even know about the critiquing elements of it until I was in high school doing a few essays on it, as an excuse to watch the film.

And even to this day, I have actually become a fan of Henliens work because of that movie.

Moving forward there's going to be two paths for Universal to take with Starship Troopers considering it looks like they want it to be their Star Wars killer. Either they follow OTL and make a Verhoeven style parody as an absolute balls to the wall action film which critiques Fascism and yet is a fun jingoistic gunporn movie, or they go fully faithful to Heinlen's vision and make an unironic endorsement of Stratocratic Democracy and militarization. Considering Sidney is a Liberal Jew it could be the former, but the pursuit of money and drive to make something that's the complete opposite of Star Wars might make it the latter, will be interesting to see. Have to say though, the saddest thing about Starship Troopers being made this early is that you know Sidney isn't going to contract ILM so it's not going to have the VFX it needs to make it great.

George is willing to do other things, but not upgrading.

Hint, he's about to do something cool soon.

I'm going to take a wild guess and say that he's currently working with the boys from Pixar and is about to make some of the first computer animation. Pixar is set to form in two years and the Omake did have George make contact with them years earlier. Also y'all want to know something absolutely insane about Bruce's butterflies? So it's explicitly mentioned in Reputation that Bruce saved George's marriage, and OTL George's divorce with Marcia is what caused him to lose Pixar. George and Marcia didn't settle things smoothly and he was paranoid that Marcia would steal Lucasfilms, Skywalker Ranch and Star Wars from him. So in an act of desperation, he turned as much of his assets into liquid as possible to pay Marcia a cash only settlement of $150 million, which included selling Pixar off and making them independent. So us saving George's marriage means Pixar is a Lucasfilms division.
 
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