Saul Zaentz dies at 92

[timb]

On the anniversary of JRR Tolkien's birthday (3 Jan) we have lost the owner of Middle Earth Enterprises, who licence out the Hobbit/LOTR to companies like Turbine (Lord of the Rings Online), Sophisticated Games (who work with C7 to produce TOR) and Fantasy Flight Games (LOTR Living Card Game).

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/oscar ... 201025366/

Will this have any effect on the licensing of the Hobbit/LOTR since Zaentz was well known for his robust defence of his properties?

[James Harrison]

Interesting timing in his ending, feel nicely poetic.

God bless,
james

[Beran]

Aged 92 he lived a good long life. Earned his rest, he has (RIP).

"Will this have any effect on the licensing of the Hobbit/LOTR since Zaentz was well known for his robust defence of his properties?"

I guess this all depends on how he influenced his successor. But, with the money involved here I doubt we will see any change. If we do they probably will be stricter with the properties, rather then more lax.

What was Mr. Zaentz's relation to Tolkien? How did he get to his postion of power in the franchise?

[farinal]

Did he actively work at that age and control licenses? I doubt it will have any effect.

[Boneguard]

Did he actively work at that age and control licenses? I doubt it will have any effect.

Doubtful indeed that there will be any major impact as the article indicate he suffered from Alzheimer's disease. So it's very likely someone else is in control.

[timb]

Sorry, I didn't post more on the "relationship" partly since I assumed we all knew on here, from previous talks about who owns what

Basically. Middle-Earth Enterprises has no connection to the Tolkien Estate. ME Enterprises was Tolkien Enterprises, a division of Saul Zaentz Company. Back in 1968* Tolkien sold the film, stage and merchandising rights to United Artists who then sold those rights onto the SZ Company. They license out those rights through ME Enterprises - to Sophisticated Games (who work with C7 to produce TOR), Fantasy Flight Games, Turbine and others.
Tolkien Enterprises became Middle Earth Enterprises back in 2010.

This bit from wiki puts in mind what happened here with C7, the issue of digital rights -

In November 2012, the Tolkien Estate, trustee and publishers sued Middle-earth Enterprises (in addition to Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema) for infringing Tolkien's copyrights by producing casino and video games using his characters. The original license to Tolkien's works was limited to the right to sell "tangible" products such as "figurines, tableware, stationery items, clothing, and the like", but did not cover "electronic or digital rights, rights in media yet to be devised or other intangibles such as rights in services". Tolkien's estate claimed that the defendants actions had caused "irreparable harm to Tolkien's legacy".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth_Enterprises

As for how involved Saul was with the company, I think he was quite involved with the Tolkien Estate suing M-E Enterprises over digital distribution, even up to last year. I guess it all now depends on who succeeds him and the stance they take with M-E Enterprises.

* I am sure I read in an official biography this was to get money for his two sons going to University, though another source recently said it was to pay off an outstanding bill, but no info on what the bill was for.

[Beran]

That turned out to be an unfortunate arrangement. By the sound of it.

[Mim]

Yes, Mr. Zaentz had a profound impact on adapting Middle-earth to the screen, & he will be missed.

BTW, following the publication of LOTR, Tolkien grew increasingly disillusioned at attempts to adapt his books to film & with dealing with film industry people.

One of the earliest attempts occurred (in 1958!) before Mr. Zaentz became involved & Tolkien commented on the "Story-line" in ways that demonstrate that they offended him - his comments are both tragic & amusing:

Gandalf, please, should not 'splutter'. Though he may seem testy at times, has a sense of humour, and adopts a somewhat avuncular attitude to hobbits, he is a person of high and noble authority, and great dignity...

Rivendell was not 'a shimmering forest'....It could not be seen from Weathertop: it was 200 miles away and hidden in a ravine.

Strider does not 'Whip out a sword' in the book. Naturally not: his sword was broken...

The Balrog never speaks or makes any vocal sound at all. Above all he does not laugh or sneer...Z may think that he knows more about Balrogs than I do, but he cannot expect me to agree with him.

Humprey Carpenter, Ed., The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2000, pp 270-74.

Some of you have expressed interest in the background of converting Middle-earth to the screen, & this has an excellent summary:

Christina Scull & Wayne G. Hammond. The J.R.R. Tolkien Companion & Guide Reader's Guide. New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2006, pp 8-23.

[Beran]

Interesting.

I did like the little snort the Balrog gave after the "You shall not pass" line in the movie. Thought it was a nice touch...showed complete and utter disdain for Gandalf without showing too much human emotion.

[Angelalex242]

Ya know, for all this talk about a court case...

What I haven't heard is:Who won the court case? I assume Middle Earth Enterprises won, or the Hobbit movies couldn't be released.