N2darkness wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 3:13 pm
What was the original pitch to the Tolkien estate? Something like the Game of Thrones book swords?
Yes, direct to the Estate. Basically like the GOT book license.
The line would have been my weapon designs based on the book descriptions, and a companion art print of a scene from the books would be included with each sword. Basically what I ended up doing with SOTA. I designed 4 or 5 swords for the proposal, as I recall. I designed Sting and Glamdring, but I don't think Glamdring was included in the proposal. What became the Sword of Vaelen was my Narsil design. My Sword of Darkness was in there too, but I can't remember now who's sword it was supposed to be. Probably the Witch-king or made up Sauron weapon. I know there was an early version of my Mithrodin sword in there, but I don't think I specified a character, just an Elvish sword. I wish I still had a copy of that proposal. It would be fun to look back on.
It turned out the Franklin Mint had gotten a proposal in before us, so they got the license. I remember hearing that one of the Hildebrandt brothers was going to design their swords, so I was not too let down. I had been a fan of theirs since their first Star Wars poster, which still hangs in my office. Had all their Tolkien calendars too. Then I saw the first sword FM put out, Glamdring. Uhg. It was horrid. I guess it was cool for the time it came out, but it just looked like any other glitzy Franklin Mint thing. I think that was the only sword they ever made.