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The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

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Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#51
post #4

There's something to be said for the focused nature of older technology. If you were to set me the task of writing something long-form, and told me the faster and better I did it the more I would be rewarded, I'd be doomed with a modern laptop or a smartphone. My favorite writing tool is, frankly, an IBM TransNote from 2001.

This is why I like my Kindle so much (and other e-readers are the same presumably). It does one thing very well, and not much else. I could read the same book on my phone but it's always popping up alerts and buzzing and so forth, breaking my attention.

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#52
post #16
post #8

The screenplay was the worst part of the new Dune movie

Nah Zimmers atrocious score was at least a tad worse.

I haven't seen the movie yet but I assume it has that dramatic orchestral reverbed bass that often covers dialogue?

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#53
post #25
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was considering to watch it this weekend. So you advise against it?

I think if you've read the book, it's a good watch. But the movie does very little character building, or maybe it tries to do too much of it too fast. Without the preset idea of what the characters are about, I could see how the movie might be a bit flat.

Too fast? The movie is longer than the original and only part of the story is included. How much slower can they make the story playout?

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#54
post #4

There's something to be said for the focused nature of older technology. If you were to set me the task of writing something long-form, and told me the faster and better I did it the more I would be rewarded, I'd be doomed with a modern laptop or a smartphone. My favorite writing tool is, frankly, an IBM TransNote from 2001.

In terms of sheer productivity for an uninterrupted, expert user it's hard to beat the pre-Windows office suites. Yes it would take you weeks if not months to master WordStar or Lotus 1-2-3 and it was quite expensive and not everyone in the company could have it on their machines. But those who did would leave today's Google Docs users in the dust for any data entry task longer than 15 minutes.

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#55
post #25
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was considering to watch it this weekend. So you advise against it?

I think if you've read the book, it's a good watch. But the movie does very little character building, or maybe it tries to do too much of it too fast. Without the preset idea of what the characters are about, I could see how the movie might be a bit flat.

That was my one major complaint. Many of the secondary characters don't get the screen time they deserved. But, I assume doing so would push play time from 2.5 hours to 3+, or cause a split into 3-4 parts instead of 2. Worthwhile sacrifices, I suppose. After all, for anybody who wants more, there's always the book.

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's fantastic. Go see it in Imax if you can. Going to the theaters will help to get part 2 made.

they really did a number with this. they are getting regular old joes to ask other people to go to the theaters on HBOs behalf. i really gotta figure out how they did that, its pretty remarkable.

they made a good movie worthy of imax.

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#57
post #46

I'm amazed that the screenplay for a 150 minute movie, based on a ~400 page novel, fits on 40 pages.

As mentioned in the article, he aims to make each act fit in 40 pages, not the entire screenplay. > Roth also said the 40 page limit helps him structure his screenplays.“I like it because it makes acts,” he said. “I realize if I hadn’t said it in 40 pages I’m starting to get in trouble.”

Darn, that's what I get for skimming the article quickly. And makes WAY more sense.

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's fantastic. Go see it in Imax if you can. Going to the theaters will help to get part 2 made.

I was so disappointed after spending like 12 hours watching this film to it ending without telling the complete story. Never mind the Part 1 title card at the beginning. I just assumed they were going to expand upon the story not cut it into pieces. Then to find out that they didn't already green light the rest of the story being made. WTF? Who does this in today's movie universe? We get the full story approved to ma…

Disney. marvel. it's not new.

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#59
> Nobody can get on the internet and get this

The screenwriter seems to be under the impression that running a DOS prompt under XP will protect him from having his script leaking, which is obviously not true if the computer is itself connected to the internet. In fact, connecting your XP computer with your secret screenplay to the internet in 2021 might be the fastest way to have it leak…

Re: The ‘Dune’ Screenplay Was Written in Movie Master on MS-DOS

#60
post #11
post #8

The screenplay was the worst part of the new Dune movie

I was considering to watch it this weekend. So you advise against it?

It’s 80% as good as it could have been. Of course you have to do less in a film than a long book, in some cases details and characters were diluted too much. It also leans a bit heavily on visual style at times. But it is still quite good.

Almost as good of an adaptation as lord of the rings was.

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