The Opening Scene

[tirian_son_of_erlian]

The opening scenes for both "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Prince Caspian" were impressive. They set the stories into swift motion, each with lively action that quickly introduced a multitude of characters. Giving it serious thought, how would you like to see "The Voyage of the Dawn Treador" begin? :confused:

Before I compose my own opening, let me recall how I hoped the previous two movies would begin. Prior to the release of "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," I hadn't given much thought to its opening. At least not before I saw its 9-minute supertrailer, which showed all of the bombing and most of the frantic shots in the Pevensie household and the departure at the train station. At that point, I assumed that those scenes virtually constituted the opening of the movie. :)

For "Prince Caspian," I hoped the movie would begin in Narnia. I was delighted to find out it did. However, my opening sequence consisted of three scenes: First, a high-energy scene set during a foggy night showing pirates of our world landing on an island, attacking natives, and retreating into a cave during the fight. Second, Miraz striking down Caspian IX in a remote part of Narnia. Thrid, the Pevensies awakening at a country railway station remembering they are waiting for a train. :rolleyes:

Well, I still have not come up with a satisfactory opening for "The Voyage of the Dawn Treador." I will post one when I do. In the meantime, I am eager to hear other peoples' ideas. :o

[Solya]

I hope that they start with Eustace... showing how horrible he is in the beginning of the story... perhaps someone shouting at him "you almost deserve to be called Eustace Clarence Scrubb!"... ;) Then the next scene shows the arrival of Lucy and Edmund and the consecutive drawing of all three into that painting.

[Sven-El]

I hope that they start with Eustace... showing how horrible he is in the beginning of the story... perhaps someone shouting at him "you almost deserve to be called Eustace Clarence Scrubb!"... ;) Then the next scene shows the arrival of Lucy and Edmund and the consecutive drawing of all three into that painting.

That would work actually. I think though when Lucy and Edmund arrive there should also be something like this.

[Interior day Lucy and Edmund are in Lucy's room, sitting on her bed, talking.]
Lucy: I don't like it here.
Edmund: Neither do I.
Lucy: ( sighs) Why'd mum and dad even have to go to America and take Susan in the first place? Dad just got home from the war and now he had to leave us again.
Edmund: Dad went on business. You know that.
Lucy: But why take Susan?
Edmund: I don't know .I guess they thought she'd get more out of it than us.
Lucy( mumbles) I bet it's because every one says she's prettier.*
Edmund: What was that?
Lucy: Nothing, Ed.Remember the last time we went some place? I mean all of us.
Edmund: You mean to Narnia or the professors?
Lucy: Either one! Oh, Edmund, I don't see why we couldn't just have gone with Peter and stayed with the professor over the holidays.
Edmund: you know as well as I do, Lucy, that the professor is helping study for his exams and neither of them would be able to spend any time with us. The professor did loose that big hosue in the fire you know* and lives in something much smaller. There would be no room for us.
Lucy: I guess.
Edmund: Well, I will say this, with that little blighter Eustace, we have certianly fallen on our backs. But at least you don't have to room with him. I do.
Lucy: ( smiles playfully at her brother) You have my pitty.
Edmund: Believe me I think I'd rather face the Telmarines again then deal with him.
[There spirits begin to pick up as they speak of Narnia)
Lucy: You know it's funny now that you mention Narnia. I wish we could go again.
Edmund: Me too. That picture on your wall reminds me of Narnia. It looks like a Narnian ship.
Lucy: Me too!
Eustace: Well, well, well, what have we here. Are the Pevensies talking of lands they found in dresser drawers again? Have you gotten to talk to that magical talking kitty cat again?
(They turn and see him leaning against the door way, sneering. )

* It mentions in the narration of VoDT that "everyone thought Susan was prettier" This line is here to establish that and to help set up Lucy's temptaion with the magic book.

*It's mentioned in the Last Battle that Professeor Kirke's big house was destroyed. I'm also establishing that here.

[inkspot]

I think they will have to get to some action quicker -- but it won't make any sense to have the ship/picture scene first. I don't know how they should open it. I am thinking maybe Solya has got it, and the first scene should establish Eustace as a rotten kid by having him doing something obnoxious that will draw the younger audience members into the story. What tricks to bad kids do in England back in the day?

[Xenithar]

I personally think they should somehow show how the picture ended up at Eustace's in the first place, even though in the book it's not much talked about where the picture comes from. It just seems to me that it would be awkward to suddenly have the characters sucked into this random picture that viewers of the movie have no idea about, especially if they haven't read the book(s).

[BarbarianKing]

I personally think they should somehow show how the picture ended up at Eustace's in the first place, even though in the book it's not much talked about where the picture comes from. It just seems to me that it would be awkward to suddenly have the characters sucked into this random picture that viewers of the movie have no idea about, especially if they haven't read the book(s).

Excellent idea! We don't know much about the origin of the picture, but IT WAS a Narnian ship. How did it end up in Eustace's household? I know it was given to them as a present but by whom? Where did that person first got his/her hands on it? It would be cool to solve that mystery.

[Sven-El]

Excellent idea! We don't know much about the origin of the picture, but IT WAS a Narnian ship. How did it end up in Eustace's household? I know it was given to them as a present but by whom? Where did that person first got his/her hands on it? It would be cool to solve that mystery.

I always hoped it was POlly Plummer from the Magician's Nephew. Aside from being in TMN and the Last Battle, she didn't really do much. Actually in Last Battle she just seemed thrown into the mix.

the picture frame was made from what little wood was left of the tree in Diggory's old back yard that hadn't been used for the wardrobe ( hence the magical properties.). The picure itself was an old favorite of hers, so she mounted it in her favorite frame as it "just seemed to belong with Narnia." She had to get rid of the picture when she was forced to move into a smaller house, and rather than justy toss it out, or sell it she had to give it to them as a wedding present.

Why the Scrubb's? As it turns out she is actually Alberta and Mrs. Pevensie's great aunt. ( It never is specified which parents are related. It can't be the fathers as they have different last names.) It was also Polly who suggested to Mrs. Pevensie, and to Diggory to take the four Pevensies indurring the Air Raids. ( hence, the line from Mrs. MacCready, of "Small favors.")

[~Lava~]

I think the movie should open in Eustace's bedroom, either with him happily perusing a reference book or him having a triumphant "gotcha" moment as he skewers a bug for his collection.

Black screen fades into a shot of Eustace struggling with a giant bettle that he hasn't taken the time to kill yet. Suddenly, he takes a big pin and stabs it in the abdomen, uttering "Gotcha" as he does. He stares at his dying bug with a look of immense satisfaction and suddenly:
"Eustace Clarence! Eustace Clarence, where are you?"

He ignores his mother long enough for a narrator to say the first paragraph of Dawn Treader. And then she bursts into room.

She leaves the room and before Eustace goes back to his bug they flash to his face as he says "Excelent" with such a look on his face as to display that he was already thinking of all the ways he could make them miserable while they were there.

EDIT: A couple of notes- I chose the name Helen for Mrs. Pevensie because they have to keep continuity. As much as I would hate to be named Helen Scrubb, I think that I would prefer that to calling Alberta my sister, so I chose for Mrs. Pevensie to be related to Harold [probably a man with a weaker personality who married a woman with a domineering personality (note from the book: only Alberta thought the change in Eustace was not an improvement)]. As to Alberta calling her Helen Pevensie, we know that he did not use proper terms for his parents so he probably did not call Mr. and Mrs. Pevensie Aunt and Uncle either; Pevensie simply distinguished her from all the other Helens that Alberta knew.
"Eustace, I just got off the telephone with Helen Pevensie. Edmund and Lucy are coming to stay while their parents are in America."

[BarbarianKing]

I always hoped it was POlly Plummer from the Magician's Nephew. Aside from being in TMN and the Last Battle, she didn't really do much. Actually in Last Battle she just seemed thrown into the mix.

the picture frame was made from what little wood was left of the tree in Diggory's old back yard that hadn't been used for the wardrobe ( hence the magical properties.). The picure itself was an old favorite of hers, so she mounted it in her favorite frame as it "just seemed to belong with Narnia." She had to get rid of the picture when she was forced to move into a smaller house, and rather than justy toss it out, or sell it she had to give it to them as a wedding present.

Why the Scrubb's? As it turns out she is actually Alberta and Mrs. Pevensie's great aunt. ( It never is specified which parents are related. It can't be the fathers as they have different last names.) It was also Polly who suggested to Mrs. Pevensie, and to Diggory to take the four Pevensies indurring the Air Raids. ( hence, the line from Mrs. MacCready, of "Small favors.")

and how did you figure all this out?

[Sven-El]

and how did you figure all this out?

Actually it was an idea I had back in the year 2000 whilst suffering from writers block while working on a story for class and deicded to cure my writers block by thinking of how I'd adapt all seven Chronicles. I hung onto the idea much to say.

[BarbarianKing]

well, it does sound very plausible. If it was like that it would be fun. Did you ever write that story up?

[!charlie*luvs*Will&Dudley]

wow theres a lot of good ideas :)

x

[MrBob]

Tirian, it seems we are both at imdb as well.

There was a discussion there about the movie starting in Narnia. After thinking about that, I think it could work. They could show Caspian starting off his journey, talking to Trumpkin about taking care of Narnia while he was gone.

The big send-off leads to showing the Dawn Treader on the open seas. They freeze frame the shot and morph it into the painting on the wall of the Scrubb house.

MrBob

[tirian_son_of_erlian]

Tirian, it seems we are both at imdb as well.

Yeah, I'm Brock over there.

The big send-off leads to showing the Dawn Treader on the open seas. They freeze frame the shot and morph it into the painting on the wall of the Scrubb house.

Perfect!