Anyone who is free at that time and interested in Silm Film is welcome to join us! The recording will remain available on Twitch for anyone who is unable to join at that time, but would like to view the discussion afterward. It is a working session, and is typically over twice as long as a podcast session. If someone can only join for part of the time, that is welcome, too.
Here is a brief overview of the content of Episode 1:
For those new to the script discussion process, we will be crafting an episode outline, breaking the content down into acts and scenes.
What has already been discussed in some detail is the opening scene of Season 6. At the end of the Dagor Bragollach, a dying elf is greeted by Námo and offered the opportunity to go to the Halls of Mandos. We will use this scene to set up almost everything the audience needs to know about death and mortality in Middle-earth, so they are prepared for the scene where Lúthien confronts Námo later in the Season (Episode 12). (We will have some brief opportunities later on - the ghost of Gorlim, the death of Finrod)
The bulk of the plotline of this first episode is Sauron's desire to learn necromancy and apply it to the dead elf spirits who have refused the call to Mandos. Thuringwethil, soon-to-be revealed as a former maia of Námo, aids him in this endeavor. Towards the climax of the episode, Sauron and his army of dead spirits attack Minas Tirith at Tol Sirion, causing Orodreth and the other elves there to flee.
We did, however, discuss telling the story of the aftermath of the Dagor Bragollach in Beleriand from the elvish perspective as well, doing a sort of overview of important locations and checking in with the elves to know what they think about the situation...prior to the fall of Tol Sirion. This will give us the opportunity to set the stage, as well as to introduce the legend of Lúthien as seen by 'outsiders'.
Morgoth will be gifting Dorthonion to Sauron as a reward for taking the strategically important Tol Sirion and opening up East Beleriand to Angband. We may want to wait until Episode 2 to show that, though, unless it fits as a tag at the end of Episode 1.
(We will be leaving space for the Frame to be inserted later, but will not be discussing it during the first script discussion.)
If you have any suggestions for particular scenes that can help tell the stories we need to introduce in Episode 1, feel free to suggest them in this thread between now and April 1st!