Re: Change UFO? What is the main premise?

Marc Martin <[hidden email]>
wrote:
>I'm always amazed that when many people talk about UFO remakes, the
>first thing they want to do is make some major change to the premise.

Yes, Marc.  I agree with you.  UFO can't be made in today's society without
a LOT of major changes being made to its original premise.  Hollywood would
never accept it as it was originally done, even though it still holds up as
one of the best science fiction series of all time.  Whatever they do ---
with new actors and/or new aliens --- it won't be what it once was.  And
fans will have to accept that or just not go see it.
Yours,
Denise

Harada357 Writes:

UFO Movie - UFO Series UPDATE NEW SERIES

I believe it is possible to UPDATE the UFO Series, add some exciting new
features - but maintain the original theme and premise. Now the question is
...WHAT would define the central theme and premise to be true to the original
series. Does someone have a sort of "writers guide" to the UFO universe that
defines limits, characters, and themes that would have to stay constant to
maintain the stories UFO original series integrity? Thanks. Gordon.  






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

To my knowledge I've never heard tell of a UFO writers' handbook. Trek had
one set out by GR back in the 60's and I am only assuming the other parts of
the franchise had their own writers' manuals. Maybe someone SHOULD create a
UFO handbook! In it can be set out the most important aspects of all the
characters, the aliens and their mysteriousness, the hardware (with possible
updates on this of course - time does march on and so does our technology!),
and the original premise - which IMHO was: aliens from a dying planet have
targetted planet Earth as their best source for natural resources, human
bodies and other things they need to stay alive. SHADO is there to stop
them, and it operates secretly through the Black Budgets of a dozens of
different nations around the world. We never did really find out who SHADO
answered to (was it the UN, who?), but that could be open for conjecture.

Any takers on this idea? Pam

> To my knowledge I've never heard tell of a UFO writers' handbook.

There was a series of memos written in the months prior to UFO's
production, which were transcribed and published in an old issue
of Fanderson's FAB magazine. The contents of these memos were the
equivalent to a UFO writer's guide. However, the contents of these memos
didn't always agree with what was seen on-screen, so I think the series
was in constant evolution.

>Maybe someone SHOULD create a UFO handbook! In it can be set out the
> most important aspects of all the characters, the aliens and their > mysteriousness, the hardware

Yes, but what ARE the most important aspects? I think you'll find some
disagreement here. Also, probably things which may have been important
in the original series may need to be excluded for a new series just
because the times have changed.

Marc

--- In [hidden email], harada357@a... wrote:
> Marc Martin <marc@u...>
> wrote:
> >I'm always amazed that when many people talk about UFO remakes, the
> >first thing they want to do is make some major change to the premise.
>
> Yes, Marc. I agree with you. UFO can't be made in today's society
without
> a LOT of major changes being made to its original premise.
Hollywood would
> never accept it as it was originally done, even though it still
holds up as
> one of the best science fiction series of all time. Whatever they
do ---
> with new actors and/or new aliens --- it won't be what it once was.
And
> fans will have to accept that or just not go see it.
> Yours,
> Denise
>
> Harada357 Writes:
>
> UFO Movie - UFO Series UPDATE NEW SERIES
>
> I believe it is possible to UPDATE the UFO Series, add some
exciting new
> features - but maintain the original theme and premise. Now the
question is
> ...WHAT would define the central theme and premise to be true to the
original
> series. Does someone have a sort of "writers guide" to the UFO
universe that
> defines limits, characters, and themes that would have to stay
constant to
> maintain the stories UFO original series integrity? Thanks.
Gordon.
>
>

So even my lurking has been sporadic, but I've been thinking about UFO
and what such a film would look like.

First off, something in an updated version has to give. For example,
its absurd to paint SHADO on the side of your terrestial search &
destroy vehicles when this is supposed to be an ultra secret
organization whose very mention above ground makes Ed Straker reach
for an antacid pill. Admittedly, this is a nit in the art direction
area, but there are similar issues, just look at the discussion about
Sky1's form of propulsion. And don't even get me started about where
the budget comes from for the moon shuttles and permanent lunar human
presence.

So here's my take on the original question.

The original premise, co-adopted by the Men In Black franchise is
fairly valid. Until the alien threat is understood well enough that
some/most/all governments have a plan with a high liklihood of
success, SHADO will need to be secret. It was hinted at in "The Long
Sleep" (have I got the title right?) but if Earth annoys the aliens
too much, they can just lob nukes at us until we're sufficiently
pacified for harvesting. So there is no reason to panic the general
populace with a public organization, no matter how well funded or
equipped.