Alltare2 wrote:
"Dejael, I hope that when the audiobook is released, you'll post a note over at the TIE discussion board. I'll certainly buy a copy. I assume that Amazon, etc., will carry it, no?"
Yes, it will be widely available. We have already had our application with Amazon.com approved as an independent producer. I am acting as creative consultant and associate and publicist with Rex Reason in this worthwhile endeavor. We are planning a preliminary pressing of 1,000 copies, all numbered and signed, and I fully expect them to sell out quickly. This will be followed by another 1,000 copies, and another, until we have about 10,000 copies on the market. I expect they will sell well to libraries and universities around the world, since audiobooks are a popular format in libraries. I would think there must be at least a few thousand sci-fi fans around the world who would like to have a copy of this in their collections of memorabilia.
"What I would REALLY like to see (hear) is an unabridged audio dramatization/adaptation of the movie, as opposed to an audio book. I find such productions to be much more enjoyable than the simpler book-readings. Surely the mechanics of such an effort wouldn't be that difficult. CBS Mystery Theater managed to produce a new hour-long episode every night of the week, well into the late 70s or early 80s, and BBC and NPR still do it today. If Rex made his unique voice available, the other characters could easily be played by lesser names, I think. Maybe if the audiobook sells well, Rex will give the other format a shot."
Rex has already recorded both an unabridged audiobook of the original 1952 SF novel by Raymond F. Jones, NOT the Universal movie script; and a full Orson Welles-style radio drama version of Jones' novel with sound effects, music and other performers in the various parts was in the works when he got the bad news that the copyright permission was suspended by the Raymond F. Jones family estate trust. Rex has assured me he will go ahead and finish it anyway so that whenever the copyright permission is restored to him, he or his family estate trust will release it. Rex's fine basso profundo baritone bass voice still sounds like it did back in his Hollywood days, and he has been on a healthy diet and exercise program to keep himself fit, and his voice sounding youthful and relaxed, like any other film actor worth their salt.
"I have no idea how this largely visually oriented movie would translate into an audio production, but I would also be at a loss as to how to convert the book into a movie. That's why we have Hollywood, I guess."
In this case, Rex is not involved with Universal Studios in any capacity, so his audiobook is solely an audio-format recorded version of the original, unedited novel. This has nothing to do with the Universal movie version of 1955, so there are no copyright conflicts to resolve with the studio.
After five years in planning and development of this project, Rex, his wife Shirley, and I are most disappointed that after negotiating with lawyers for over two years over the copyrights, we have sadly reached an impasse, and must put the project on hold, on the shelf for now, regretfully.
Beyond these remarks, due to our confidential business agreement, I am not at liberty to discuss this project at this time.
Dejael
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