Alien Franchise Rule Book: for Members by Members
dk
MemberTrilobiteMar-31-2017 1:36 PM“The Scified Alien Covenant Unified Rule Book for Future Movies in the Alien Franchise”
I ran this thread from 23-30 March. I may have edited to maintain flow so I hope it somewhat orderly.
I would first like to thank contributors alphabetically: Apex_Predator, BigDave,, Blackwinter-witch , chadsbrothermatt, Dk, Grinning & Dropping Linen, IRaptus, LV226, ninXeno426, and Parkerparrot
Here is the original link: http://www.alien-covenant.com/topic/43788
Rules in no particular order:
- to have characters written and developed well with no wishy washy whimsical religious zealots.
- Do not put too much emphasis on technology like holograms and such.
- No romance whatsoever in any alien movie.
- No stupid characters such as fifield and milburn (posted X 2)
- No time travel (mentioned X 4)
- Put Chris and BigDave on the pay roll as consultants/writers with possible cameos. (Dave chose a mutated Jabba)
- No more than 3 rewrites of the script. Pick an idea, flesh it out, and make the best version of that idea possible rather than trying to incorporate old versions into some new vision by some new writer. (mentioned X 2)
- there is no place for corny over the top cheesy/corny dialog and sequences in this film universe (aka anything similar to Resurrection would be banned)
- No predators in the alien film universe, they are both cool but tonally too different to share a film and it be worthy of either,,save that stuff for the comic books (mentioned X 2)
- not everything has to be explained ,keep some mystery in this universe so we have something our minds can run wild with (mentioned X 2)
- NEVER turn it into an Avengers where our protaginists are just taking our hordes after hordes, it would be silly....even though Aliens went with the action/war vibe it still kept some of the bleak tone and impending doom and terror
- Ripley is done, done done never again shoehorn her into a sequel or prequel
- Keep the main focus on morphing and mutating as the genesis of the species but still allow an occasional queen ...there is just more ghastly horror to play with when it comes to mutation, but the queen IMO is limited, she looks good our hero fights her thats it, having her on the screen dosnt really open up any storytelling doors for us other than a cool action scene
- Im fine with tech but make it look used or serviceable, if its too "bright and shiny" it takes away the tone and feel of the movie
- I do not ever want to see Weyland Yutani weaponize the xenomorph.If you want to know why,just play Colonial Marines.Enough said
- R rating only (mentioned X 2)
- No main character kids
- Defined chest-burster gestation period(s). To paraphrase, consistent time lines yet allow some wiggle room for hosts with mentioned physical conditions that may explain gestation time variations.
- Xenos not used as cannon-fodder that run around in open spaces, or broad daylight; Ambush/stalking predator only.
- No quotes from Ripley as a fanboy nod to her like 'that's not exactly out of the manual' or 'get away from her, you bitch'.
- Stay true to H.R Giger and his nightmareish world and design.
- No comedy. (Dark humor is OK here and there but not to the extent of Resurrection)
- Never, ever again a newborn or anything that resembles that abomination. (I am fine with neomorphs though..) (mentioned X 2)
- No "up in the blue, infantile dopehead" ideas in scripts or drafts like wooden planets ur sutch. Alien worlds yes, but please not stupid.
- No fan boy service other then set pieces and or details about the alien universe that serves to expand the world
- Never 100% CGI, always a mix of practical effects
- Dont rely on Ripley storyline
- Don’t have more than 2 years between movies.
- I just hope they have it all planned out A-Z even if we dont see every part of A-Z as long as they know what a A-Z would be and stick to things that wont contradict it, and so also to tidy up the mess that has been left before.
- Projectile weapons preferred, yet allow for Laser-based weapons as they are making steady progress with them in the real world
- NO stupid-looking weapons like the blue and orange (present-day Target-match pistols) weapons seen in PROMETHEUS. They looked like kid's toys.
- NO MORE FLAMETHROWERS!! At least not pre-assembled ones in the armory/ready-for-use ones like we saw in PROMETHEUS. It is the absolute height of mindless and suicidal stupidity to fire one aboard a starship, they're cliche`, have no real practical use aside from menacing an Alien, and the last thing you want is an alien running amok, on fire, acid bleeding from multiple and increasing places where it's skin has burned through/sloughed off, and setting even more of the ship on fire and burning holes in the ship all along its path.
- Do NOT even TRY to 'Star Trek It Up'...this is the ALIENverse, it has its own distinct feel, flavor and mien. There is NO Central Monolithic Unchallengeable Federation of Planets as The Prime Authority...and there NEVER will be. There are NO Government starships out 'patrolling the sector', and when you're between star systems, you're on your own.
- Characters should act and inter-relate like people do in reality, not by way of artificial/idealized 'Niceness'. Watch ALIEN for some great scenes between Ripley and Parker and their friction-points in personality
- People drink beer, some likely carry whisky/liquor flasks, they smoke, and have pin-ups all over the place. These are people, not Idealized Human Federation Citizens
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 8:51 PMWell, I still need to fix some errors caused by Dyslexia, and Feline Involvement, also it needs some work so as to not leave splinters in people's eyeballs. But TY for saying, and I can totally relate on trying to find time to Write!! I'll look up your works, or could I pester you for a link?
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 8:52 PMAgreed, also Outer Limits is quite good for such storylines as well!
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 8:58 PMI'm going to look for a link!Thanks BlackWater Witch!Agree on the Twilight Zone and the human condition dk.Yesterday I was Watching "The monsters are due on Maple Street"and it shows just how horrible and paranoid mankind can get when you turn off a few lights
Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
dk
MemberTrilobiteApr-02-2017 9:01 PMIndeed. Outer Limits is cool. I also like the newer versions of both shows from the 80s-90s.
On an unrelated note-
T10-
Spoilers for AC are creeping in. I hope that the Trilobite Ten would be respectful not to drop any spoilers on this thread.
We all like to have fun and shoot the shit and get deep about some things, but anything spoilery would seem like a breech of conduct. If contributors have an inside track or juicy facts, please do not post it on this thread.
Staff is already tracking spoil sports- let us not be among those individuals.
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 9:19 PMNothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 9:23 PMI certainly won't,you can count on that.Blackwinter witch,that above is the link(I hope)my story is in amongst many others.It can be pretty messy in there,i'm thinking about copy/pasting it all and giving it it's own thread
Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
dk
MemberTrilobiteApr-02-2017 9:27 PMGavin responded to my spoiler question. Pretty clear cut. Thank you.
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 10:04 PMYou're welcome and Ty for the Link :) Unfortunately it came up 404.
I LOVE spoilers, BUT I know the majority do not. I won't post anything spoilery to be sure, I do not wish to harm my fellow fans with such inconsiderate releases of info.
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 10:15 PMDamn!Lemme try again
Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 10:30 PMNothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 11:29 PMBlame the techno-gremlins, it's what works for me :D
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-02-2017 11:34 PMLol!Will do BlackWinter Witch!
Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
Parkerparrot
MemberFacehuggerApr-03-2017 8:48 AMI say JA to the vetting and 7:th of April,11.59 sounds good.
"Bees have hives, man"
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-07-2017 1:41 PMBUMP!Tonight is the deadline guys
Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
dk
MemberTrilobiteApr-07-2017 4:04 PMThanks for bumping nin. Looks like 4/9 in favor of vetting rules unless BigDave jumps in to make it 4/10.
dk
MemberTrilobiteApr-07-2017 9:24 PMThis was an interesting exercise and I appreciate everyone who got involved because it was about member participation and having fun. I don't know where to take it from here or if it should- I have run out of ideas.
ninXeno426 has it now and will take it where he sees fit or just let the idea die- his choice.
I would like to thank everyone who got involved on this fun thread.
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-07-2017 10:31 PMWell, there's no rush and who knows what ideas any of us might have in the future? Inspiration happens on it's OWN schedule :)
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
BULL ALIEN
MemberOvomorphApr-08-2017 12:15 AMhmm don't agree with this list. To many missed opportunities by bogging everything down and trying to paint this franchise into a corner.
I would elaborate more but writing it all out on a cellphone would drive me up a wall.
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-08-2017 12:33 AMI'll do my best to run this!Thanks dk!
Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
ninXeno426
MemberPraetorianApr-08-2017 1:03 PMQuick bump.Later on I'll be initiating a new thread regarding the rule book,in the mean I'm looking forward possible new contributors.Any one interested or have any new suggestions?I'm all ears
Nothing the God of biomechanics wouldn't let you in heaven for
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-08-2017 2:44 PMHave no ideas as-yet, but if something bubbles up from the basement of my mind, I'll let ya know. :)
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
dk
MemberTrilobiteApr-08-2017 9:04 PMGood call nin. This thread is so long that members new to it might not even bother wading through 6 pages of it.
Ingeniero
MemberPraetorianApr-09-2017 8:29 PMGreat job again dk.
"5; People drink beer, some likely carry whisky/liquor flasks, they smoke, and have pin-ups all over the place. These are people, not Idealized Human Federation Citizens."
That's what I loved about Alien Blackwinter-witch.
Dallas had to listen to employees complaining about pay before he had Ash threaten their "shares" in order to get them to agree to go down to LV-426. And if spliffs were suddenly outlawed on the Nostromo, you're mutiny faction would instantly begin with Assistant Engineer Samuel Brett and Chief Engineer Dennis Parker.
If Dallas were to toss out their basil, then that ship would screech to a halt in space.
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-09-2017 8:35 PMSame here, I loved the 'Human' aspect of it!
Also, I think Brett was just a roll-your-own type of man regarding cigarettes, as there was NO mention of it being anything 'special' and his method of smoking them sure didn't match up to them being anything but normal smokes.
Then again, we can never be sure, so your theory is valid I'd say, and a fun thought. :D
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
Ingeniero
MemberPraetorianApr-09-2017 8:49 PMBlackwinter-witch, I saw Samuel Brett was in and out of rehab facilities most of his adult life (Weyland-Yutani Report) and thought it might be an allowance on the Nostromo (or not a violation at all after the year 2100).
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-09-2017 9:02 PMI can't say about the W-Y Report, but someday I will have a copy! :)
But, yeah, an allowance, perhaps even medicinal-use, which is possible.
But given his smoking style, it just seems more appropriate to tobacco vs marijuana.
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
S.M
MemberXenomorphApr-09-2017 9:13 PMBrett had problems with alcoholism and then suffered brain damage in a detox program.
Blackwinter-witch
MemberPraetorianApr-09-2017 9:42 PMI've heard, yeah, but never had a chance to get my hands on a copy of the W-Y Report.
I DO know enough pot smokers (recreational and Medicinal) to know there's a significant difference in how people smoke a cigarette and how people smoke marijuana. :)
Marijuana also involves a lot more giggling. :D
IN SPACE THERE IS NO WARNING
Something Real
MemberTrilobiteApr-09-2017 9:45 PMBLACKWINTER-WITCH - To each their own Ambrosia and water of Styx. :)