Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation

jonerik writes "Ain't It Cool News has an article on one of the more fascinating fan film projects ever conceived: A shot-for-shot remake of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" filmed in Biloxi, Mississippi between 1982 and 1988 by Eric Zala, Jayson Lamb and Chris Strompolis. What's particularly amazing is that the trio began filming the project when they were twelve and finished six years later when they were eighteen. Now, fifteen years after the project was completed, word of the film's existence has gotten out and audiences who have seen it have reportedly been stunned by the trio's ingenuity, with none other than "RotLA" director Steven Spielberg giving Zala, Lamb, and Strompolis a big thumbs-up. The complete film isn't available online, but a trailer that gives a bit of the feel of the finished project can be viewed. The Austin Chronicle also has a story on the project."

Holy shit!

[Anonymous Coward]

They did this with Betamax and VHS? That must've meant linear editors - I don't envy them that task...

Re:legality

[Achoi77]

Huh? Have the MPAA go after a buncha ppl that made a shot-by-shot remake of an 80's movie taped on a video camera, when they were 12 years old? That's just plain mean, and besides, nobodys made any money out of it.

I don't think this film was even meant to be distributed around. It was one of those flukes that floated around the web, sorta like the Star Wars kid. [teamabuse.com] I am VERY instereted in seeing how they pulled it off. Anyone got a copy?

Re:others were supressed, nice to see this one liv

[silentbozo]

I'd think it wouldn't be Spielberg who'd make trouble - after all, he got his start as a punk kid making films at a very young age. If anything, he probably be supportive. It's the numerous monied interests who own various bits and pieces of "intellectual property" who would sue the pants off of anyone they thought might "reduce the value of the asset", despite the fact that many fan-derivived works serve to sustain interest in the original property, thus ENHANCING the value of the asset...

Re:Copyright Violation!

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, I give it about a week before George Lucas and Lucasfilm release the "Special Edition" DVD of it and charge $40....

How in the world did they get . . .

[jrl87]

... the first kiss, get a girl to strip and put on Marion's dress while they filmed it in the mirror.

They are in my opinion quite obviously geeks, not that that's bad, considering how they had to make it, but when your a geek it's hard to get a girl to do anything (personal experience).

Re:others were supressed, nice to see this one liv

[hoggoth]

> How about this: if I create, with my own hands, a piece of furniture

The very next day I could legally create, with my own hands, a nearly identical replica of that piece of furniture. Thank you for the excellent example.

Re:I hope someone posts it on Kazaa

[Scudsucker]

once great directors who can't seem to put out a decent movie

Herm? Did you miss SPR and Minority Report?