Question about the Anorak Zone Forum

[Ginandtonic]

Evening all or good morning depending on where you're reading this.

Does anyone know much about the Anorak Zone Forum? I don't want to cause world war 3 by asking this, and I've read somewhere that a few posters here post there also, but I'm a little curious about the nature of the posts on it.
I heard some shows get ripped on there, and recently heard there was some pi$$ taking of the 'The Avengers Return' a tribute to the original Avengers series. I know it's not going to appeal to everyone, that a bunch of unknowns are trying to bring it back, but it's fifty years old and it's a shame as well as a shock that ITV or BBC haven't bothered to celebrate it on TV with a special epsiode with different cast or a decent documentary on it's anniversary year.

I want to keep clear of that forum, but was wondering if there was anything to worry about, at the end of the day we're trying to encourage new fans as well as current fans to the original to support the endeavour.

PS if the mods want to cancel the thread, incase it causes any conflict... completely understand.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

The best way to find out what's going on somewhere is to go there.

I'd never even looked at Anorak. I just went over and did a word search on "Avengers" - it returned 27 posts in which the word appears, and all of them refer to the Marvel comics superhero group except for one noting that Martin Freeman's mother once appeared on The Avengers.

 

[Silvercrest]

For a second I read that as "Martin Goodman's mother" and thought, "Would that be a conflict of interests?"

 

[Bones2]

Sorry, you're bothered by the Rak Zone because some people over there haven't liked some Avengers tribute (not that I've noticed it mentioned)? I mean...so what?

For what it's worth, I consider it my main place, especially since I've been made to feel unwelcome here recently (hence bunging it in my sig in case the worst comes to itself). It's full of funny, insightful people if you look beyond the often coarse humour (which doesn't bother me personally, though I can see why it would some people).

What's your issue exactly?

 

[Kinggodzillak]

Does anyone know much about the Anorak Zone Forum?

Yep. It's pretty much the only cult tv/film forum on the entire net where you can post without being afraid someone might come along and tear you to pieces for daring to have a different opinion. Your opinion might not be agreed with by everyone, but it is respected. Like Bones, it's become 'home' for me after being made to feel pretty unwelcome on a few other boards.

I heard some shows get ripped on there

Not some. All. One of the great strengths of the Zone is that nothing and no-one is above ridicule. It's a wonderful way of keeping things equal.

Of course that does give outsiders the impression that it's a load of bitter angry fanboys ranting about absolutely everything, but that isn't the case. We praise the good stuff just as much as we trash the bad stuff. It's not a deliberately negative place, it's just being honest.

It also means that you don't get any self-appointed 'pro-fans' coming in insisting that they know best about everything in sarcastic tones and making the place unbearable, or heavy-handed mods handing down proclamations from on high, or any of the other nonsense you might find in other forums.

To get on in the Zone, you have to have a sense of humour and be willing to laugh at yourself as well as others. A lot of people don't understand that, but it really does level the playing field for those who do.

and recently heard there was some pi$$ taking of the 'The Avengers Return' a tribute to the original Avengers series.

No, not really. The question 'is it really necessary' was raised, to which there were about an even number of posts for and against, and then it went on to a general discussion about the series itself, but that's about it. It's difficult to take the piss out of something we haven't actually seen yet.

Of course, that doesn't stop some people.

at the end of the day we're trying to encourage new fans as well as current fans to the original to support the endeavour.

Admirable. And it's some of those current fans that have opted for a 'let's wait and see' attitude to the project.

I want to keep clear of that forum, but was wondering if there was anything to worry about

Why not join and have a look? If you don't like what you see (which is entirely possible) there's no-one forcing you to stay, but maybe you could provide a bit more info for the doubters?

And at this point, if the film is already shot, what's worth worrying about?

 

[Stevil2001]

I was about to complain that I miss the actual Anorak Zone website (never really gone to the forum), but I see that it's back now. Huzzah! No more using archive.org to get Richard Callaghan's Blake's 7 ep guide.

 

[Ginandtonic]

Thing is I’m one of the people behind ‘The Avengers Return’ hence the ‘Ginandtonic’ username here as I’m part of the company making that ‘fan’ tribute, (legal reasons when I say ‘fan’) it’s not being made for money we’re just trying to build a portfolio of ideas, scripts, concepts, including video clips of what a revival of the Avengers could be like (there’s a lot more technical info that will go in the portfolio, it’s a well researched project). If fans like, the tribute videos, great, if Canal doesn’t like it after we’ve pitched it to them, well then that will probably be the end of it, and it will just be a short fan film, like so many others based on TV, film, comic book characters/shows etc… At least G&T is trying, no one else is.

Join Anorak, mmm, not sure that would be such a great idea. We’re on various other forums, and have explained till we’re blue in the face what we’re doing and why… gets tiring after a while. We are thick skinned, you have to be in film, and 95% of the time we’re getting good feedback, or constructive feedback (which always helps) and positive support, even from those that are dubious, but if ‘all’ shows are getting ripped to pieces on Anorak, there’s not much point in a little un-renowned film company making a case on there, as it won’t make any difference, especially when really polished shows, by big studios are getting tore up.

It’s cool if every demograph has a forum on which to voice their opinion (subtle or extreme), if it’s founded, but making ill judgement of something that hasn’t been finished yet seems pointless. Look everyone’s entitled to an opinion, but as one of many hard working people involved in film and television, it’s really galling that our hard work is ripped to shreds on web forums. Still it’s a tiny, tiny minority of people so why should I care, and I shouldn’t, but if ‘your’ hard work was pissed on, how would any of you feel?

Happy for mods to close this thread as think I have my answer now.

 

[ice]

I'd avoid if I were you.

On the plus side, it can be very informative. The sections on the alterations to "classic Who" DVDs is pretty invaluable if you like your genre TV unfiddled with. The Anorak himself is a funny guy, and his reviews (even if you disagree with them) are very entertaining.

Mostly though, it's a lot of wannabe trendy liberals swearing at each other. It can be funny if you're not looking for much else, but different poster's nerves fray at random times. And while they also like to think of themselves as "above" other forums, in that they can have a laugh at each other, they really AREN'T; there's some insecure losers on there who, if you criticize the forum itself, or dare to suggest there's a clear majority opinion, will descend on you like flies around shit. I left there ages ago, and haven't missed it at all.

 

[Kinggodzillak]

if ‘all’ shows are getting ripped to pieces on Anorak, there’s not much point in a little un-renowned film company making a case on there, as it won’t make any difference, especially when really polished shows, by big studios are getting tore up.

Maybe 'ripped to pieces' isn't the right phrase, it's just that even the best shows have their crappy episodes and dodgy moments, and those are trashed just as much as the good stuff is praised. There's no agenda to 'rip things to pieces', we just try to be honest, and if we happen to have fun along the way poking at the problems in a certain show/film then so be it. It doesn't hurt anyone.

So, for example - and I realise this is a bit of a controversial one for this board, but it is also relevant - you'll find several long and generally positive review threads on the Zone for TOS, TAS, the latter years of DS9 and the movies. So that's around 200 Trek episodes most getting a thumbs-up, with even the bad stuff being analysed rather than just mindlessly torn apart.

Of course, it doesn't always go like that - you won't find anything positive on the Zone about Voyager or Enterprise, for example, but there's still time...

It’s cool if every demograph has a forum on which to voice their opinion (subtle or extreme), if it’s founded, but making ill judgement of something that hasn’t been finished yet seems pointless. Look everyone’s entitled to an opinion, but as one of many hard working people involved in film and television, it’s really galling that our hard work is ripped to shreds on web forums.

But it isn't. Nobody's saying that 'oh, that scene with the hotel doorman stealing Steed's umbrella is crap', or that Emma's car looks stupid, or whatever, because nobody's seen it yet. You just said yourself that it isn't even finished. So why worry about a 'tiny tiny majority of people' that you don't want to talk to not criticising an unfinished film that they haven't even seen?

I think it's more that the idea of bringing The Avengers back - because that was all it was when the thread started back in December, vague mumblings of something happening - got the initial negative reaction, rather than anything being specifically directed at your project. And it needn't have been The Avengers, it could have been The Saint or The Man from U.N.C.L.E., and the reaction would have been the same. Let's face it, when it comes to remaking old shows there have been a fair few disasters along the way, and it's understandable that people are going to wonder what's the point of bringing back a 45 year-old show, how it's going to be changed to suit a 'modern audience', etc etc.

It's since emerged that you're doing more of a tribute rather than a full-on pilot, fine, good luck with it, but that wasn't clear back in December.

 

[Capt_Pickirk]

Have we really given up criticising things on our own forum that we have to start doing it about another one?

Sheesh!

 

[Ginandtonic]

Yes we are doing a tribute, but we're still hopeful we can persuade them to licence an attempt at a pilot. If the pilot isn't up to scratch, and gets declined, legally no one is going to see it, we're certainly not going to break the law, and it's not going to cost them anything, other than their time to see what we have to offer.

We're shooting a few standalone pieces lifted from the scripts that have been originally written for a pilot episode and following 3 episodes.

The first piece is a 1 minute glimpse into the relationship between Steed and Peel, the second is 2 minute short, a mini adventure of Steed and Peel dealing with a case of mistaken identity, and the third the actual main tribute mini-episode is about 10 minutes in length.

There is a good reason for this... as we haven't been licenced to produce an hour long pilot epiosde yet, and anything associated with 'The Avengers' is like stepping on egg shells you tread carefully, and acknowledge the legal situation. The tribute clips, from a legal and technical standpoint are fan based, and are being produce as our contribution to the 50th anniversary celebrations, but to take this further, after being made available online (non-commercially) will become part of a portfolio that will be presented to Canal+ to ask if they could licence a pilot episode to be filmed. The footage whilst being presented to the fans in a non-commercial light, become a good solid working demonstration of aspects from the scripts, production design, and the general vibe of the show, to echo the original, and bring it to a new audience.

If Canal granted us a licence, the pilot wouldn't be screened unless it met with their approval, and further to that if a suitable outlet can be found that would be intersted in picking it up.

Alot of changes could occur in that time, Canal could turn us down. It's down to us to produce a significant product that get's people talking in a positive light, as this would be encouraging with our case. We have since been informed of what has been discussed on the Anorak forum, and while I understand the question, I don't understand the reasoning behind it, 'Why bring the Avengers back?', well why not, it's like saying 'Why do Shakespeare's plays?' they are often adapted for TV and film, despite being a product of their time.

It has to be said some of the comments on there aren't entirely kind. There are good hard working professionals involved, whether people think this is a vanity project or not... at least we're trying, unlike ITV or any other studio who should have picked up the ball 15 years ago, instead we got a film that on it's own wasn't the best, and put the spanner in the works for revisiting the show... but as someone pointed out, the Batman series recovered from 'Batman and Robin' and we got Batman Begins, and that (as quoted elswhere) came from humble beginnings also.

If someone's prepared to put in the hard work, put their balls on the line, do a solid job, and make it happen fair play. But taking a swipe at people 'The vanity project', or the 'numberplate' line aimed at Matt Hudson, isn't nice.

So the leads are unknowns... and... thing is it's not always to say that casting well known stars in a production is any guarantee of success... oddly enough we were advised that going with unknowns was the right decision, as it allows the characters to breath in a revival and become the focus, not the people playing them.

Anyway if any mods are reading this maybe the thread should be closed now. As I'd rather discuss 'The Avengers Return' on our thread. And the question here has been answered.

Cheers,

G&T

 

[Sindatur]

Regarding the negativity of "Does this really need to be done", I wouldn't take any personal offense at that, every revival, reboot, re-imagining goes through it's fair share of those comments, regardless what project it is.

Spiderman being rebooted after only a couple years of Toby McGuire series ending, and Dark Shadows Movie from Tim Burton, both rec'd such comments on this very board.

As intersting things come about, people start to gain interest, if the project is interesting