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Rank: Master's Mate
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/8/2008
Posts: 5
Points: 15
Location: Australia
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I was very impressed by the BF adaptation of POTO, especially as it stuck to the original novel. I could never quite come to grips with the Phantom as a romantic lead in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical having known the Gaston Leroux novel since I was a teenager.
I bought the download version as soon as I saw it was available. The CD wasn't available at the time and I would have preferred that, but I've listed to it three or four times now on my PC and my MP3 player.
It would be great if BF could look at adapting some other classic science fiction novels. Okay, I know POTO isn't science fiction but you know what I mean.
Audio adaptations/radio dramas have always seemed the next best thing to reading the book to me as they give you the story and sound effects, but your imagination fills in the blanks, and you can imagine a lot more than anything that can be portrayed on the screen no matter how much is spent on special effects.
A case in point is The Lord Of The Rings. The recent movie adaptations were great, but the 26 episode radio adaptation by the BBC in 1981 is I think much more satisfying, at least to me personally, and I listen to it at least once a year.
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Rank: Commander
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/6/2008
Posts: 115
Points: 345
Location: Tolono, Illinois, USA
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I'm REALLY considering this. It looks like a great package. I didn't realize part one was only a $1! That's great. I'm going to go sample it now. But if I get the full thing I'd really like the CD. There's just nothing like having a physical object. I am also a sucker for handsome packaging (which as a designer you'd think I'd be less susceptible to... but I'm actually MORE susceptible I think.)
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Rank: Master's Mate
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/30/2008
Posts: 7
Points: 21
Location: Oregon, USA
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jonwes wrote:I am also a sucker for handsome packaging (which as a designer you'd think I'd be less susceptible to... but I'm actually MORE susceptible I think.) No that makes sense; you can appreciate it more. I'm a seamstress (well, fashion/costume student) and I'm the same with clothes. Sure I can make stuff myself but I buy far too much clothing ...
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Rank: Big Finish
Groups: Big Finish
, Member
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 289
Points: 238
Location: UK
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blueroses wrote:As a huge POTO fan, I have to say that this was by far the most brillant radio adaptation I have ever come across. I give it 10 stars and recommend that anyone who is also a fan or "phan" buy it. :D
~Rachel Thanks, Rachel. It's extremely gratifying to know that Phantom 'phans' appreciate this adaptation. We wanted it to be a landmark release - a true-to-the-novel adaptation which had never been attempted before.
Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.
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Rank: Big Finish
Groups: Big Finish
, Member
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 289
Points: 238
Location: UK
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Davros10 wrote: It would be great if BF could look at adapting some other classic science fiction novels. Okay, I know POTO isn't science fiction but you know what I mean. That's certainly the intention. We just need Phantom to sell 800 more copies and we're in business - so tell your friends!
Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.
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Rank: Lieutenant
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/5/2008
Posts: 21
Points: 63
Location: San Jose, CA
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For anyone considering buying this, I really recommend giving it a try. It is a very faithful adaptation of the novel (which I was inspired to read by listening to this adaptation), and is really well done.
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Rank: Commander
Groups: Member
Joined: 8/6/2008
Posts: 115
Points: 345
Location: Tolono, Illinois, USA
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Well I listened to the download of Part 1 today and really enjoyed it! I'll be getting the CD as soon as I can. I've never read the book, so I can't compare. But I will say I already like it better than the recent big-screen musical version. I felt like the voices for the characters were very spot-on. Nary a rubbish accent to be heard. :)
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Rank: Master's Mate
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/1/2008
Posts: 8
Points: 24
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Finally had the chance to listen to The Phantom of the Opera and I really enjoyed it.
I hope Big Finish are able to adapt more classic novels in the future.
Cameron
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Rank: Lieutenant
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/4/2008
Posts: 22
Points: -31
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Barnaby wrote:That's certainly the intention. We just need Phantom to sell 800 more copies and we're in business - so tell your friends! 799 more sales required now...
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Rank: Big Finish
Groups: Big Finish
, Member
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 289
Points: 238
Location: UK
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GregM wrote:Barnaby wrote:That's certainly the intention. We just need Phantom to sell 800 more copies and we're in business - so tell your friends! 799 more sales required now... Hurrah! And thank you!
Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.
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Rank: Master's Mate
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/30/2008
Posts: 7
Points: 21
Location: Oregon, USA
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Well, I've listened to the first part, and I was quite impressed. I'll purchase the rest as soon as I get back to my own computer.
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Rank: Lieutenant
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/4/2008
Posts: 22
Points: -31
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Barnaby wrote:GregM wrote:Barnaby wrote:That's certainly the intention. We just need Phantom to sell 800 more copies and we're in business - so tell your friends! 799 more sales required now... Hurrah! And thank you! Have you got the quota yet? The Phantom of the Opera was good, so I'd like the next one, please!
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Rank: Lieutenant
Groups: Member
Joined: 3/10/2008
Posts: 11
Points: 33
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GregM wrote:Have you got the quota yet? The Phantom of the Opera was good, so I'd like the next one, please! Seconded. I'd love more Classics! Any news yet?
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Rank: Big Finish
Groups: Big Finish
, Member
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 289
Points: 238
Location: UK
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The quota has still not been reached, I'm afraid. But as it takes most of our Doctor Who titles two years before they go into profit, I'm not that worried. We'll get there, never fear!
Thanks once again for all your kind comments and enthusiasm. I'm just as keen to do more Classics titles as you all are. Fingers and toes crossed...
Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.
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Rank: Lieutenant
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/4/2008
Posts: 22
Points: 66
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Are the BBC planning to repeat it over christmas as I think that would help it reach a wider audience as my mum loved this but is not a doctor who fan but asked me all about big finish after enjoying this so much and has now got into dark shadows.So far have only seen big finish advertised in sci fi related magazine and although phantom would appeal to sci fi fans it would also appeal to lots of people who are not. It is such a great production that it needs to reach as wide an audience as possible.
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Rank: Big Finish
Groups: Big Finish
, Member
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 289
Points: 238
Location: UK
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h3l3n3 wrote:Are the BBC planning to repeat it over christmas as I think that would help it reach a wider audience as my mum loved this but is not a doctor who fan but asked me all about big finish after enjoying this so much and has now got into dark shadows.So far have only seen big finish advertised in sci fi related magazine and although phantom would appeal to sci fi fans it would also appeal to lots of people who are not. It is such a great production that it needs to reach as wide an audience as possible. I agree with everything you say. Phantom is our first attempt to dip our toes into the literary audio market and we're still very much on a learning curve. Without a massive marketing budget, it's hard to break into the mainstream press. Although it would be easier to sell a range of, say, four CDs, which is why I'm keen to do more BF Classics. As for the BBC7 repeats, the initial deal gives them a number of repeats within a couple of years of the first transmission, so I'm sure you'll be seeing it reappearing on the schedules before very much longer.
Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.
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Rank: Lieutenant
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/4/2008
Posts: 22
Points: 66
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Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post I will keep my fingers crossed that you get the numbers required to do more big finish classics.(Dont tell anyone but I actually enjoyed this and the sapphire and steel range more than a lot of the doctor who releases)To be fair this may be my personal taste and also that with doing so many doctor who stories a year it is a challenge to keep these fresh and this is a challenge that is risen to reasonable well on the whole.
Will keep searching the bbc 7 sight and the radio times for future repeats so I can publishes this to my friends.
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Rank: Big Finish
Groups: Big Finish
, Member
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 289
Points: 238
Location: UK
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h3l3n3 wrote:Will keep searching the bbc 7 sight and the radio times for future repeats so I can publishes this to my friends. If I hear anything, I'll let you know.
Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.
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Rank: Lieutenant-Commander
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/28/2008
Posts: 51
Points: 153
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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I finally listened to The Phantom of The Opera. It was very good indeed. Barnaby, I have two questions for you: 1) You said that you retranslated the novel from French to English. Did you actually produce a complete translation as a novel? If so, will it be published or released in some form? I would love to read it! 2) Why did you choose the four-episode format? It seemed epic enough to be one two-hour audio with a quasi-cliffhanger at the end of disc one. Thank you for creating this wonderful piece of audio fiction!
Brian from Canada, co-host of British Invaders, the podcast all about British Science Fiction Television. |
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Rank: Big Finish
Groups: Big Finish
, Member
Joined: 1/28/2008
Posts: 289
Points: 238
Location: UK
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bdoob wrote:1) You said that you retranslated the novel from French to English. Did you actually produce a complete translation as a novel? If so, will it be published or released in some form? I would love to read it!
2) Why did you choose the four-episode format? It seemed epic enough to be one two-hour audio with a quasi-cliffhanger at the end of disc one. Answers below: 1) Much as I'd have loved to, it would have been too time consuming to translate the entire novel and then work from the translation. What I did was to work directly from the French text (in this case, the Livre de Poche edition), translating as I went. Gaston Leroux has a very distinct sense of humour, which I didn't feel came across in any of the translations I'd looked at before. Naturally the script is an adaptation and not a slavish word-for-word translation, but I tried to keep the style and some of the best lines intact. Lots of the Mme Giry narration is verbatim Leroux, including the very first line ("The Opera Ghost really existed" - "Le fantôme de l'Opéra a existé"), although her character is nowhere near as foregrounded in the original novel as it is in this dramatization. 2) The hope was to get it aired on BBC7, so we adopted a format that suited them. I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the compliments!
Please note that the views expressed by Barnaby are his own opinions and do not reflect official Big Finish policy. They may also be daft.
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