Obviously at some point we are going to need to break down this story episode by episode. For now, we'll still working out big picture storyline stuff, rather than figuring out which elements go in which episodes. We have definitely not yet gotten to the point of figuring out if something is the cliffhanger at the end of one episode or the opening of another episode, etc.
So, just as a matter of breaking down the content, here is one possible approach:
Basically, if you take the summary of the chapter 'Of Beren and Lúthien' on Tolkien Gateway, and break down what needs to happen into 13 episodes, this is roughly what you would end up with.
Obviously I didn't include details. So, for instance, Daeron isn't mentioned here, but that doesn't mean he's not playing an important role. Likewise, I didn't mention Thingol at any point, but obviously he is the one demanding the quest. Etc. The point of this breakdown is to see how many episodes it would take to tell the story, and to get a feel of what needs to be condensed, and what has room to be expanded a bit. I worked from the beginning and the end towards the center....so you will see that there is one 'blank' episode in the middle. Based on this break down, there is some slight room to expand content a bit. The question then becomes...do we want to give more time to the beginning content (which looks very rushed), or do we decide that the later content is more dramatic, and we'll want the additional screentime there?
Just based on the first glance, I would be in favor of stretching the content earmarked for the first episode into 2 episodes. Give Sauron time to take Tol Sirion, while also establishing why Barahir's band is a threat in Dorthonion. Then, episode 2 covers Beren's errand, Gorlim's betrayal, and the death of Barahir. Leaving Episode 3 for lone vengeful Beren who eventually heads South. Not sure that helps, but that would place Lúthien taking down the tower at Tol Sirion as the end of Episode 7. Which isn't terrible, but that does mean that the earliest Beren and Lúthien would be on screen together would be the end of Episode 3, when Beren has just stumbled into Doriath. Their actual getting-to-know-you scenes would be in Episode 4. Is that too long to wait? And is it helpful to invest the early screentime in those other things? What would we do with Lúthien for three episodes in Doriath before she meets Beren?
I am putting this thread here so if people have GANTT chart relevant thoughts, there is a good place to share them. For instance, ideas concerning which storylines should overlap, or happen before/after particular events. But that also includes working out the pacing of the season.
So, just as a matter of breaking down the content, here is one possible approach:
Basically, if you take the summary of the chapter 'Of Beren and Lúthien' on Tolkien Gateway, and break down what needs to happen into 13 episodes, this is roughly what you would end up with.
Of Beren and Lúthien
Of Beren and Lúthien is the nineteenth chapter of the Quenta Silmarillion section within The Silmarillion. It tells of the love between the Elf-maiden Lúthien and...
tolkiengateway.net
Obviously I didn't include details. So, for instance, Daeron isn't mentioned here, but that doesn't mean he's not playing an important role. Likewise, I didn't mention Thingol at any point, but obviously he is the one demanding the quest. Etc. The point of this breakdown is to see how many episodes it would take to tell the story, and to get a feel of what needs to be condensed, and what has room to be expanded a bit. I worked from the beginning and the end towards the center....so you will see that there is one 'blank' episode in the middle. Based on this break down, there is some slight room to expand content a bit. The question then becomes...do we want to give more time to the beginning content (which looks very rushed), or do we decide that the later content is more dramatic, and we'll want the additional screentime there?
Just based on the first glance, I would be in favor of stretching the content earmarked for the first episode into 2 episodes. Give Sauron time to take Tol Sirion, while also establishing why Barahir's band is a threat in Dorthonion. Then, episode 2 covers Beren's errand, Gorlim's betrayal, and the death of Barahir. Leaving Episode 3 for lone vengeful Beren who eventually heads South. Not sure that helps, but that would place Lúthien taking down the tower at Tol Sirion as the end of Episode 7. Which isn't terrible, but that does mean that the earliest Beren and Lúthien would be on screen together would be the end of Episode 3, when Beren has just stumbled into Doriath. Their actual getting-to-know-you scenes would be in Episode 4. Is that too long to wait? And is it helpful to invest the early screentime in those other things? What would we do with Lúthien for three episodes in Doriath before she meets Beren?
I am putting this thread here so if people have GANTT chart relevant thoughts, there is a good place to share them. For instance, ideas concerning which storylines should overlap, or happen before/after particular events. But that also includes working out the pacing of the season.