64 replies to this topic

[crossplain pilgrim]

Interesting. I googled "British TV Conan Production" and got a hit on Tortola BVI's post on this forum. I realized I had missed his March 7th post in which he explained where he obtained his info on the possible British film. So it's a little more than a rumor, though Tortola didn't make any claims beyond a treatment in the works. Sorry, for overlooking your explanation, Tortola. And, Darthgall, I take it all back, anyway.

I would also hope that someone at CPI would notice how much attention we have devoted to this long shot of a Conan production and toss a little information on the Millennium film our way. We could generate some heroically positive vibes.

[Skarthi]

As Budgie points out there has been no mention of this over here and with the TV companies on the brink of financial meltdown i reckon this is the biggest load of crap i have heard in a long time...sorry

[?sir]

Jorvik! I was just reading about the dig at Coppergate (Cupmaker street). What a coincidence. Too bad if what you're saying is true about the tv production.

We should drop by and raid your town some day.

[amster]

I noticed this bit of information at the bottome of the Conan: Red Nails website.

Website ?2007 Swordplay Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved. CONAN?, Conan Red Nails and related logos, names, and character liknesses are trademarks or registered trademarks of Conan Properties International LLC. Robert E. Howard™ is a trademark or registered trademark of Robert E. Howard Properties Inc. All Rights Reserved. Swordplay Entertainment, Inc. Authorized User.

So, apparently CPI claims to hold the trademark on the name Robert E. Howard as well.

[Kortoso]

With all due respect, that's not news. Copyrights run out, trademarks don't and you can buy a trademark.

...And thereby hangs a tale.

[amster]

With all due respect, that's not news. Copyrights run out, trademarks don't and you can buy a trademark.

...and with respect to you, people have been arguing that the project in question would be legally untouchable as long as the name "Conan" was not in the title (ie. Robert E. Howard's Devil in Iron). My point that that would be trademark infringement as well, at least from CPI's point of view. I don't recall someone else making that point already.

[Skarthi]

Jorvik! I was just reading about the dig at Coppergate (Cupmaker street). What a coincidence. Too bad if what you're saying is true about the tv production.

We should drop by and raid your town some day.

I think the Danes beat you to it by fair few years mate

[?sir]

Jorvik! I was just reading about the dig at Coppergate (Cupmaker street). What a coincidence. Too bad if what you're saying is true about the tv production.

We should drop by and raid your town some day.

I think the Danes beat you to it by fair few years mate

Hehe. No, that was the..

..off topic..

[budgie]

Jorvik! I was just reading about the dig at Coppergate (Cupmaker street). What a coincidence. Too bad if what you're saying is true about the tv production.

We should drop by and raid your town some day.

I think the Danes beat you to it by fair few years mate

and William Wallace too.. speaking of which expect about 10 scots bikers down there sometime around september.. always a good run, we are having an overnighter this time so no crossbows please, its a friendly visit this time

budgie

[TortolaBVI]

With all due respect, that's not news. Copyrights run out, trademarks don't and you can buy a trademark.

...and with respect to you, people have been arguing that the project in question would be legally untouchable as long as the name "Conan" was not in the title (ie. Robert E. Howard's Devil in Iron). My point that that would be trademark infringement as well, at least from CPI's point of view. I don't recall someone else making that point already.

Bingo. Sorry for leaving you all hanging, so i'll try and give you as much information as possible. The production is being mounted by Gareth Neame and Todd London. The treatment for the television drama is by a certain Mr Milius, who would be the writer of the script if greenlit. I'm hoping to be involved with editing duties having cut my teeth on a number of Rome episodes. And yes, we have conditional finance available, with the proposed budget in the area of Hogfather. That's all i can tell you as of now.

Jonathan Taylor, TortolaBVI.

[Almuric]

The Great Cataclysm has begun.

[amster]

The treatment for the television drama is by a certain Mr Milius, who would be the writer of the script if greenlit.

...Milius...

[crossplain pilgrim]

This is pretty interesting. I even googled "Hogfather," not having the slightest idea of who or what it was. I discovered it was a TV production of a Terry Prachett "fairy-tale" that first aired in the UK in 2006. It screened here on the ION cable channel last year. But I digress. What piques my curiosity is why would a production company proceed with a project if they did not have clear legal title to the material? Which, of course, brings back memories of Warners' incredible legal misstep on "Watchmen," which netted Fox all that money for doing nothing. Embarrassing mistake for a mega-corporation with an army of lawyers. So, is history repeating itself?

I hope not. I'm pulling for all of this to be real, and if Tortola is willing to provide his name, well, he gains quite a bit more street cred with me. Of course, I don't see how the British producers can slip around that trademark impasse. I took a another look at darthgall's explanation of copyrights and trademarks and it seems to me that CPI has a solid grip. Maybe the British team will get a patriotic judge who'll want to stick it to the bloody Yanks (or Swedes, as the case may be). If that gets the project a green light, then "Rule Britannia!" (Did I mention I' a huge Patrick O'Brien fan?)

As far as a screenplay by Milius, I hope we won't descend into that bottomless pit of shrill vituperation again. At this point in the game, with the Millennium film seemingly stalled, is there any of us who wouldn't welcome a production that is based on an actual REH story? Milius has proved many times he is a gifted screenwriter, and if he was working within the framework on one particular Conan story, I think he would do well. Besides, as shaky as this project is at present, is it worth drawing blood over the relative merits of John Milius? We should all be whishing the Brits and CPI can cut a deal. Which even to me, sounds likes like wishful thinking.

[crossplain pilgrim]

I should have added this to my previous post, but according to IMDb Jonathan Taylor was indeed an editor on Rome and has a pretty good resume in TV and film work. Mr. Neame and Mr. London both have been producers on an extensive list of notable projects, including the soon-to-air HBO mini-series "The Pacific," also "Rome," "Mad Men," "Carnivale," and other well-known productions. You can check IMDb. These are real film makers, not a bunch of guys operating out of their mother's garage.

[Waldgeist]

Wow Milius.. that actually gives me hope! He is a very gifted screenwriter and has good sense of drama and more importantly he can tell a story through images, a quality that is very important for a Conan story. I am not really worried, because he fullfilled his dream of making "a viking movie" with the last Conan and this one is not based on all that is Conan, but precisely on one short story.

I have my hopes up .. to be honest more than on the Conan Movie

Edited by Waldgeist, 22 March 2009 - 01:06 PM.

[crossplain pilgrim]

Let me be clear. While the gentlemen named in this possible production are obviously experienced film makers, and they may be sincere in their desire to make a Conan film, I rather doubt they can do it. I still can not see how they could get around the copyright and trademark issues.

I would love for this film to be made, but only with the cooperation of CPI, and can anyone see that particular outcome? If you can, I would like to hear your reasoning, because I would love to see it happen.

[thundarr]

I have been following this thread, but have refrained from posting or commenting as it all doesn't sound quite right to me. If Tortola's claims are legit, then I applaud him for keeping us posted and I must say he certainly has a Cimmerian-sized pair of c@jones to come over to a site run by CPI and dangle them in their face!

I find it odd that I have not heard anything about this production from any outside sources like Aintitcool or Variety, especially with the supposed involvement of John Milius. John Milius mounting another Conan project sounds like big freakin' news to me! I will say right now that I actually love the Milius Conan Film, even if it strays a bit far from the real REH Conan. Which leads me to another question, how could JOHN MILIUS actually adapt Conan using only one of the short stories? That would seem a bit confining to a writer such as Milius. If Milius were to stray too far from the "legal" public domain story, he would then surely run into some legal trouble involving copyright.

Milius' character of Conan from his original film is so different from REH's, why not re-christen him as your own with a new name so that you could actually own him and do whatever you want and reap all the rewards with NO legal worries! Even if these guys were to mount a successful Conan film and win all their legal battles, then they've only opened the door for others to make Conan films and profit for themselves. Create a knock-off Conan character and then you won't have to worry about anything, and if it's succesful you can make a ton of money off of your own licensing.

If this rumor is legit, I could definitely see it going this direction in the end. You attract attention (and investors) by announcing a Conan production mounted by the people behind the Rome series, including JOHN MILIUS who directed the original Conan film, claiming all is well and good as the original Conan stories are clearly in the public domain. Once you've got their attention (and their wallets loosened) you tell them, "Hey, wouldn't it be great if we just went off in our own direction and created our OWN barbarian fantasy hero? Then we could license and market toys and books and more and build our own franchise!" It's the old classic bait-and-switch!

Well anyways, these are just my own personal thoughts and unsubstantiated theories. For the record, I would like to see this production come to fruition as all the info Tortola has thus shared with us seems very promising and intriguing. I do share Crossplain's sentiment though that they actually get some cooperation or permission from CPI so as we do not end up with a multitude of low-budget "Roger-Corman"-esque Conan films based on the original stories.

[crossplain pilgrim]

Some very thoughtful points, as usual, thundarr. This situation puts me in mind of the 1983 James Bond film, "Never Say Never Again." It was a remake of the 1965 Bond film, "Thunderball." I vaguely recall that the second film only came about after a lengthy legal battle between the "NSNA" producers and the owners of the original Bond film franchise. I recall that part of the agreement was that the second film could not diverge significantly from the original script (and in fact it was very close). I am wondering if that legal decision provided any sort of precedent for the current Conan entanglement. I am assuming it was rendered in a British court.

[duaneshadow]

Some very thoughtful points, as usual, thundarr. This situation puts me in mind of the 1983 James Bond film, "Never Say Never Again." It was a remake of the 1965 Bond film, "Thunderball." I vaguely recall that the second film only came about after a lengthy legal battle between the "NSNA" producers and the owners of the original Bond film franchise. I recall that part of the agreement was that the second film could not diverge significantly from the original script (and in fact it was very close). I am wondering if that legal decision provided any sort of precedent for the current Conan entanglement. I am assuming it was rendered in a British court.

and alas. never say never again was total b*ll*cks

[War Song]

With all due respect, that's not news. Copyrights run out, trademarks don't and you can buy a trademark.

...and with respect to you, people have been arguing that the project in question would be legally untouchable as long as the name "Conan" was not in the title (ie. Robert E. Howard's Devil in Iron). My point that that would be trademark infringement as well, at least from CPI's point of view. I don't recall someone else making that point already.

Bingo. Sorry for leaving you all hanging, so i'll try and give you as much information as possible. The production is being mounted by Gareth Neame and Todd London. The treatment for the television drama is by a certain Mr Milius, who would be the writer of the script if greenlit. I'm hoping to be involved with editing duties having cut my teeth on a number of Rome episodes. And yes, we have conditional finance available, with the proposed budget in the area of Hogfather. That's all i can tell you as of now.

Jonathan Taylor, TortolaBVI.

If Milius is penning the script, I hope he has learned to be more faithful to Robert E. Howard's material than he was with his Conan the Barbarian (1982) and King Conan: Crown of Iron scripts. When writing Conan, Milius strangely borrows more from Harold Lamb than Howard.

Edited by War Song, 23 March 2009 - 05:15 AM.