Percy8 Unregistered
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Post by Percy8 Unregistered on Aug 13, 2008 16:17:30 GMT
What do you do to the series?
I-
Bring back old music 35 mm Bring back old characters who were very major to the series. (Duck, Oliver, Bill and Ben(bigger roles), Donald and Douglas (bigger roles)) Give new or old characters that had one shot episodes more episodes. (Murdoch, Neville, Fergus, Dennis, etc) Not add as many new characters. Do half the season as RWS stories, and the other half as original stories. Make the engines shiny like in the first 5 seasons. Give the engines back there original personalities (Toby isn't a coward, Emily isn't a moody engine, etc.) Have the engines not jump to conclusions. Bring back old locations.
And you?
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Post by Simon A.C. Martin on Aug 13, 2008 16:23:11 GMT
What do you do to the series? I- Bring back old music 35 mm Bring back old characters who were very major to the series. (Duck, Oliver, Bill and Ben(bigger roles), Donald and Douglas (bigger roles)) Give new or old characters that had one shot episodes more episodes. (Murdoch, Neville, Fergus, Dennis, etc) Not add as many new characters. Do half the season as RWS stories, and the other half as original stories. Make the engines shiny like in the first 5 seasons. Give the engines back there original personalities (Toby isn't a coward, Emily isn't a moody engine, etc.) Have the engines not jump to conclusions. Bring back old locations. And you? Me? Cancel it and put it out of its misery!!! Nah, probably keep it as model over CGI and fire the writing staff...and hire ME. ;D
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Post by Rusty Red Scrap Iron on Aug 13, 2008 16:24:55 GMT
If I was the Director:
I would bring back the old music (But then, it also depends on what O'Donnell and Campbell are doing and who owns the rights to the old music). Make the rest of the Seasons RWS Stories as it was suppose to be, and perhaps introduce the Small Railway Engines and do a special about the Mountain Engines. Get SiF members who write Extended Railway Series stories adapted to the show also and even their own stories.
And old locations also, and I'd probably stick with the models with no CGI as it looks better.
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Percy8 Unregistered
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Post by Percy8 Unregistered on Aug 13, 2008 16:25:38 GMT
AH! That's what I forgot!
Keep it as Models!
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Post by Jim on Aug 13, 2008 16:58:41 GMT
Hmmm... As director I'd: Be advocating multi-part episodes and series cliffhangers - all using models of course!
Extend the target audience age group from pre-school up to 10-11 in terms of story writing and content.
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Post by stuart7 on Aug 13, 2008 17:32:21 GMT
Right, let's see:
Have each series mature with the audience - at least, that's how it was working from Series 1-5.
Ask O'Donnel and Campbell very kindly if we could use their music. Borrow themes off The Old Bean, who could certainly give O'Donnel and Campbell a run for their money.
Perhaps hire David Maidment back as consultant - he was great in Series 5.
Scrap the 'Steam Team' rota, and share out episodes between characters.
Tone down Thomas to five or six episodes a season.
Expand the characters' personalities, rather than focusing on one characteristic.
Mix comedy with action, drama and maybe a bit of dark.
Make entertainment the stories' focus, and the morals more subtle.
Rather than repeat the same old 'Steamies (ugh!) vs Diesels' conflict, why not expand it to explore the replacement of old diesels by newer ones and electrics. It worked well in the ERS volumes 'Thoroughly Modern Engines' and 'East Coast Engines', it should still do in the TV series.
Add a few more exciting crashes, not the dopey ones of today (like in Series 5, but with more of a variety.)
Re-instate railway realism - or at least the drivers fireman, guards, etc.
Explore on lesser-known characters where possible, adding new ones only if it is absolutely necessary, beyond all reasonable doubt.
Bring back characters neglected since Series 4, 5 and 7.
More creative storylines.
Improve scenery.
Bring back the models - or, failing that - find the best methods of CGI that our generation can provide.
Have loads stored in proper wagons, etc.
Lower down on catchphrases.
Have one or two episodes dedicated to Sir Topham Hatt and his family, like in Series 5. If you ask me, the Fat Controller was at his best here.
Make more use of road/off-rail characters like Terence, Bertie, Trevor, Caroline, etc.
Experiment with new narrators once every three or four seasons. Stephen Fry and Rik Mayall are some good choices, or how about hiring some of our narrators.
Have the old 'few years gap', so that writers can think up ideas on a less rushed basis.
Perhaps get Britt Allcroft back on the writing side.
Perhaps even use some of our writers.
Use whatever Railway Series stories that can be used up without being technically impossible.
Here's an original suggestion - hire Gerry Anderson, the king of all animation. He'd be just as good as David Mitton (who he once worked with) if not better.
Stuart
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Post by Adam Dowds on Aug 13, 2008 19:17:14 GMT
I thought it was the Executive Producer who decides what goes on. Here's what I'd do...
1. Have more excitement, like in Series 5, there was never a dull moment in that series! Possibly more explosions. 2. Bring back Boco, and have him working with Bill, Ben and Mavis again. 3. Have each episode be centered around a different character. Thomas would make appearances in 5-7 of them. 4. Have 28 episodes each series, but only have them every 2 years. 5. Give Dennis some more roles 6. Cut the intro, and scrap the Engine Roll Call on each episode. Just have it on the last episode of the series. 7. Use the full versions of the music videos, and cut out one interactive game every 2 episodes. and finally number 8, stop re-using old titles, and use more inventive ones, like in S6 and 7.
I think that's what I'd do.
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Post by Nicholas on Aug 13, 2008 20:04:34 GMT
- Limit Thomas to 6-8 episodes - Slowly re-introduce older characters. Starting with Duck and Boco, then Oliver and Duke, etc. - Stick with the new cameras and 7 minute episodes [yup, you read correctly] - Less interactive parts. Have the first episode, maybe stick with the 'place on Sodor' or 'Fun times with whoever', have a 'classic episode' and then a song before the final episode. - Stick with the Steam Team getting an episode each every series, but after a series or two, start giving others one as well, such as Duck, Molly, Harvey, Bill and Ben, Donald and Douglas, and then others, and revolve this every series. - Lessen the number of new characters each series. Reduce it to three, then two, then stick with that, but have a series where no new characters are introduced now and then. - More original storylines - Stick with the static faces, and use CGI for elements difficult for the model builders and film crew. - Use a combination of the new and old music. - Similarly to the collaboration project, have writers from here write episodes for the series alongside the current writers. More us, though.
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Post by trainzfan on Aug 13, 2008 21:18:18 GMT
1. Cut down on Thomas 2. Use models 3. Re-instate drivers, firemen, guards, brakevans etc. 4. Show the correct UK headcode for ach type of train-ie. a scene involving Henry, hauling the express (Class 1) passing Gordon on a Class 4 express freight, whilst Donald, on a class 9 slow goods train, waits in a loop line.
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Post by Evening Star on Aug 14, 2008 1:26:01 GMT
In all respect...Isn't Campbell dead?
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Jim Prower
Passenger Engine
Now as Sir Handel!
Posts: 803
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Post by Jim Prower on Aug 14, 2008 14:56:22 GMT
Build permanent sets in either a large warehouse, or even outdoors. Preferably, the sets would form one giant model railroad, but this may prove to be impossible. If I can...Free operating sessions on Thursday nights! Bring your DCC-equipped models!
Use Models, of course. However, instead of straight DC operation, I think DCC might prove better to implement, with more features, like constant smoke and on/off lanterns.
Hire SiF members for storylines and adaptations. Also see about hiring Chris Awdry, too.
Fix and elaborate upon personalities. Rosie may get the repaint and gender change to the ERS's Brad, Neville could be more like Quinten, and I may introduce Sodor Castle.
Sodor shall not be isolated, but will connect to the mainland like it should. Brendam will not be TUGS II, that role shall go to Knapford.
Will DEFINITELY do the Thomas NRM series.
I can't think of much else to say that hasn't already.
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SRapi
Main Line Engine
Pronounced: Ess-Are-Ay-Pie.
Posts: 1,543
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Post by SRapi on Mar 5, 2016 17:43:55 GMT
I think there's already a thread for this subject, but eh. Here we can go crazy with the unlikely. -Bring back the models (create the NWR in a large scale so that it would be feasible to go all the way down to the Arlesdale Railway in model format, and perhaps build the NWR at a variety of scales for forced perspective shooting; plus, we have all kinds of new tech like 3D printing to make highly realistic models cheaply, though I'd want as little plastic and as much metal as possible) -Shoot on IMAX film (keep the narrower aspect ratio, it'll be worth it) -Go back to one narrator (or maybe just a couple of very skilled VO artists to do everybody) -Cut out any CGI characters (because I said so) -Adapt the rest of the RWS stories that need to be made (we've got a bunch) -Keep as much railway realism as possible (already starting to do that) -Cut down on Thomas-centered plot (sorry Thomas, love you but don't need you) -Keep it in the UK (both literally with production, and character-wise; I want most of the characters to be from the UK, exploring the various accents and customs of different regions of the UK; at the most, bring characters from Ireland and Europe, but keep it Euro-centric) -Try to work in more of the Sudric language into it (why not?) -We should be taught more of Sodor's history (it's too rich and detailed to ignore) -Keep it all practical effects if possible (goes into the model comment earlier, but I can't stress it enough) Like I said, I know there's another thread for this (which is probably nobody has commented here in so long), but I think here we can go nuts with ideas that are hopelessly impractical yet fun.
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Rexeljet
Passenger Engine
Red dude with attitude
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Post by Rexeljet on Mar 10, 2016 21:46:00 GMT
- Get rid of every character except Bash, Dash and Ferdinand.
Done.
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Post by lewrexgta4 on Mar 10, 2016 22:19:55 GMT
-Throw in Spider-man
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ThomasandMatt
Goods Engine
Proud Bartender of the SiF Bar Car
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Post by ThomasandMatt on Mar 11, 2016 1:45:25 GMT
-Reintroduce BoCo, Duke, and introduce Bear and Pip and Emma, and introduce the Culdee Fell Railway, and the Peel Godred Branchline (for the pure and utter lols).
- Convince Ringo Starr to narrate at least one episode of the series, as a special never-before-seen episode. When that doesn't work, give him an offer he can't refuse and hope he takes it.
- Have an episode where Gordon has broken down before he goes to take the express out, which provides opportunities to have Pip and Emma take over the Express for him that day, and later have the Fat Controller explain to Gordon that he has to share Express duties with Pip and Emma, whether he likes it or not.
- And last but not least, have Diesel 10 tell every one that the Mainland/the Other Railway is slowly moving steam away from mainline service and having Diesels take over various parts of the line, until steam is completely gone, and that there is nothing they can do to stop it, thus planting his roots as a villain he so rightly deserves!
And later the Fat Controller tells everyone that British Rail are also selling off steam engines to people who want them, thus keeping the kids watching it from having total nightmares over it. He also will tell them that Conner and Caitlin have been bought by him to help with passengers and goods; mostly fast paced trains mind, and find other ways of introducing characters that haven't been seen since the model years, like Murdoch, Arthur, and many others.
So those are my choices for if I were the director of the tv show.
***EDIT***
Just now though of this....
- Eliminate every single one of Sharon Millers ideas, like Misty Island, and its pointless inhabitants. Some can stay, as they often made sense.
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douglas
Main Line Engine
Posts: 2,256
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Post by douglas on Mar 12, 2016 5:41:20 GMT
Since it's all in CGI, make every story from the Railway Series that never made it to TV.
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Post by J. S. L. Jones on Sept 8, 2016 7:13:30 GMT
-Create a full line of book-based mini-specials to follow up from "The Adventure Begins" and use these to go back in the show's history and blend it with even greater RWS influence. Each special would tackle two or three books' worth of material at a time, thus taking about twenty years to complete. Use the ending of "Thomas and his Friends" as the implied ending of the show, but expand greatly upon it and turn it into a finale special by itself. Have it noted that this takes place years in advance of the regular timeline of the show as to avoid confusion when the regular show continues on after the specials have closed.
-Establish a timeline with certain stories as reference points e.g. "The Great Race" takes place in, say 1968 as an example (one year after "Enterprising Engines). This would force continuity between both the books and the show. Characters from the books would then be introduced in the show according to the dates they were shown in the books, thus the "floating timeline" becomes unnecessary and progression is evident.
-Make callbacks to episodes from every era of the show in order to solidify them having occurred at certain times. For instance if an episode from Series 10 wasn't known to take place at any given point, have a new story make reference to it, add enough material to say it happened in "x", and use that as a starting point for more information to be provided. This will break down the barriers between seasons as well as eras.
-Re-establish not the main eight, but the main twelve as the core characters everyone should be familiar with. Numbers 1-11 stay as is aside from tweaks to suit their individual models and personalities, and Emily becomes #12 with an official number.
-Make note of the increased amount of locomotives with more stories involving sheds. After 1-12 are reinstated, have Duck, the Twins and Oliver make their residence at Tidmouth again with an expanded Shed set. Newer characters such as Ryan, Stanley, Rosie etc. may take their old sheds; same with Toby, Percy and Thomas at their old three-stall shed and Flora receives the shed on Toby's branch line.
-Establish a core cast of diesel locomotives. This includes Diesel being recognized as part of the NWR with the default number "D-0". Daisy keeps D-1, BoCo D-2, Bear D-3, et cetera. This is taken up through Diesel 10 as his name is his number, "D-10". Assuming the Works Diesel is still relevant, give him the name "Wendell" and a number. Also use this opportunity to either acknowledge Mavis as "FQC 1" or assign her an NWR D- number. Do the same with Bill and Ben as either SCC 1 and 2, or sell them to the NWR as 13 and 14.
-Explore the blended histories of the Skarloey Railway and Mid-Sodor Railways much more. Reassign engines from MSR (including the ones only ever seen on Awdry's private layout) as SR engines once the former has closed. Give all former MSR engines new numbers, and use this to clear up confusion about characters that may have connections to both a la Freddie, Mighty Mac, Bertram, etc. Also explain why both Ivo Hugh and Freddie share the #7 (and yes, I do have a good reason in mind for this). Also give Skarloey his gold funnel band again because he's fabulous.
-Divide the SR into two distinct sections with two groups of locomotives to handle it. Skarloey-Rusty are taken off of BMQ work aside from occasional visits and once again handle slower passenger work on the lower line with Duncan and Ivo Hugh, along with Duke and Fred. This provides nine locomotives for one half. Bertram, Freddie, Mighty Mac, Proteus (who is a real character and not just a ghost) Luke, Millie and the remaining MSR engines take the top line. Use this as a chance to rebuild Stanley/Smudger and give him a proper job once again.
-Discuss the Culdee Fell Railway in greater detail, including getting to know each of its eight engines. Craft stories for every one of them, and explain the confusion about Godred as an event that actually happened, but which Culdee was under the impression of being a fable. Godred himself was mostly scrapped down to the boiler and frames, and the last bit of him would still be alive in a shed away from sight of the others for years. Have him be rebuilt better than ever a la Glynn and Stephen and reinstate him as CFR 1. Give him a gold funnel band like Skarloey.
-Properly develop each and every vehicular character from both the books and show, rail-bound or otherwise, with at least one or two episodes each. This would include RWS obscurities such as Sixteen and all those one-shot diesels, as well as TVS token new guys who have shown up along the years such as Neville, Hank, etc. Assign as many of them proper roles as possible. For those who might not fit into one specific place or line, rotate them as a story needs to give them adequate exposure.
-Cement each place an engine works based on all relevant information about them. Assign the Great Waterton line to Stanley and have some others there to run the line with him for example. Murdoch and Arthur can run the Norramby line with Arthur handling the shunting and shorter trains, and Murdoch running them out to the main line. Establish a schedule for Connor and Caitlin's trains to and from the Mainland, and when the year comes for Pip and Emma's introductions, have them play parts against one another also.
-Establish the director's cut version of TATMR (the one Allcroft had first hoped for) as more canon than the theatrical version and make it fit into Sodor's history and/or lore accordingly. Establish Lady as the engine in charge of the Conductor's Railway at the bottom coast, and find a way to fit her "magical" story elements into Awdry's vision of what Sodor was meant to be. Also bring back Splatter and Dodge at the same time.
-Animate any and all missing locations in CGI in order to completely map the whole of Sodor, and use that as a starting point for stories on every point on the island. Rebuild the harbors at Tidmouth and Knapford and make Brendam as big and cluttered as it was in the classic era. Use locations from the RWS first and locations from the TVS second as much as a story allows for. Areas I'd particularly like to devote attention to are the new Arlesburgh-Harwick line, ex-MSR terrain and the new Arlesdale Railway track surrounding it, and the highest peaks of the CFR. Bring greater attention to the northern half of the island. Also expand Crovan's Gate to its Series 4 glory.
-Find a way to redeem and rebuild Misty Island and its inhabitants. I know most people don't like the MI trio and neither do I, but they're kind of canon whether we like them or not. Make a special about a reconstruction project that sees the three engines finally learn sense and redeem themselves, build their island to where it's properly functioning, and establish its geography as it relates to Sodor and its dynamics. Don't focus on them as characters much beyond this point, but acknowledge they are there. Less-liked characters that might not otherwise have a job or function may be sent to Misty Island in a bid to keep Sodor free of excessive locomotives.
-Use Sodor Tramways from Series 12, as well as the lower tracks at road level seen at Vicarstown, to create a subplot involving tram engines. Toby, Mavis and Flora can be the lead characters behind this effort, but only in addition to their normal duties as stories permit. Bring small new trams to run the new "Sodor Tramways".
-Make sure all characters and lines are gauged properly. Fix the characters whose designs have suffered (looking at Oliver and Duncan first) and make sure the narrow-gauge lines are at proper width. Make the MSR/SR tracks narrower than they are in CGI in order to accomplish this. Fix all improperly-rendered characters also. I'm up for an entire redesign of Flying Scotsman myself, although I'd also like to do this with several others.
-Have characters age properly. Establish the hierarchy of the Hatt family according to the books and highlight how the role of "The Fat Controller" has passed down over the years. Explain the connection between the Thin Controller of the books and the Thin Controller of the show. Show children aging in real-time rather than staying static forever. Establish that characters can be born and characters can die.
-Show the Rev. Wilbert Awdry, George Awdry, Christopher Awdry, the Rev. Teddy Boston and their families as some of the most important players in Sodor's history. Find ways to acknowledge them all as both people and characters, and have their work shine through more than anyone elses' including my own. Toward the tail end of the series, bring Richard Awdry in and have him be implied to be the one to carry on the legacy, though not explicitly told so as a way to leave the Sodor Universe's fate up to interpretation.
-Modify characters' looks as appropriate to more closely resemble RWS portrayals. Redesign Henry and Gordon in that fashion using an appropriate story, probably James also. If a character's face covers their entire front, reduce the face to the smokebox if applicable. If a character from the TVS had garish paintwork, make subtle changes to make them seem more RWS-esque (think darker running boards and detailing on Billy, for example). Give Percy an official locomotive basis along with any other hybrid characters.
-Create storylines that are more obviously intended for older children or young adults to be featured alongside stories intended for the younger crowd. Throw as many bones as possible in for the older fans including much older fans such as parents or grandparents who knew the stories from decades ago. Slightly longer seasons of thirty episodes each might work toward this goal.
-In addition to the RWS mini-special line mentioned at the beginning, keep the line of annual one-hour specials but do more to spice them up. Feature additional characters such as Edward or James as the lead sometimes instead of Thomas or Percy. On anniversary years such as the 75th or 80th, feature a full-length 1.5-2 hour long film instead of a standard special along the lines of what was intended for "The Adventures of Thomas".
-Take focus away from having tons of new characters added every year and minimize them to no more than 1-5 at the most. Rotate through previous characters instead and be willing to discard characters after their story arc completes a la Gator, the International Engines, etc.
-Also in years of special significance, make increased use of throwback to the series' golden era. Redesign the original opening as closely as possible in CGI for the 25th season, but don't use it again until the 30th season and next time, make it even better. Find a way to match RWS anniversary years with years of significance in the TVS (e.g. Series 25 takes place during the 75th Anniversary or something like that). Make the original theme music even more revered both in-show and out of it than any of the music that has followed since, once again reaching a point where every character has their own distinctive theme to be remembered by with priority given to the Mike/Junior music.
-Create enough of a legacy within the show and any continuing books that follow to the point where my successor cannot seriously damage our teams' work without impacting what the franchise has become. I want the "Thomas" franchise to be every bit as great or even greater than it was during the time of The Railway Series and the Classic Series. Create a formula to where success grows even when my staff and I are gone.
...
And now that I've exhausted my brain cells and anyone who's bothered reading this if they come in this thread at all, I'll stop for awhile. I'll probably add more to this once I think of something else, but I think that covers a lot of what I want to see accomplished. If anyone knows where I can bring up some of these in a more populated thread, I would appreciate a notice of where to go with my ideas as I love discussing my hopes for the future even if none of them ever come to pass.
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Post by Darkknight55 on Jul 6, 2020 11:13:10 GMT
If I had unlimited control over the series, I would: Not make Thomas the narrator. As an addition, he won't be in every episode. Adapt more Railway Series episodes, 8 per season. Bring back some older characters like Boco, Derek, Edward, Henry, etc. Give The Skarloey Railway focus episodes again. Have more episodes that focus on side characters, not just The Steam Team.
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Post by thomasfandomfan on Jan 21, 2021 23:01:09 GMT
If I were the director of the series, you say? Hmm... I got it! 1. Kill the reboot design and go back to using models 2. Use any character only from the Model Era or the Brenner Era (sorry jbs fans) 3. Adapt the rest of the RWS 4. Adapt some annual stories and some magazine stories 5. Bring any exclusive characters from the RWS, annuals or magazines into the show and the merchandise only characters too
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tobiasmaguire
Shunting Engine
Do not oppose me mere mortal
Posts: 54
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Post by tobiasmaguire on Jan 22, 2021 18:12:11 GMT
Yes. I would do all of this and also give some RWS and TV characters bigger roles. Maybe even thrown in magazine characters while I'm at it.
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