Recently, Creative Audioscape's Dany Pepin pointed us to a curious item online. It appeared to be promoting an audio drama for the James Luceno Star Wars novel, Labyrinth of Evil, set just before Revenge of the Sith. However, this drama (and the sites where one could find information) were all in German.
We passed this information along to Falk T. Puschmann of Star Wars: The Cantina (which, you may recall, was presented in both English and German) to see if he could track down what it was that we were seeing.
As it turns out, this is not a fan-made audio drama, as one might have expected (or perhaps hoped). It is, in fact, a three-part official German-language audio dramatization of the novel which has been produced by Universal Music Germany.
We'd urge German speaking fans to check out this surprise foreign release.
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MORE INFO:
"Labyrinth des Boesen" is an official STAR WARS audio drama produced in German language. It consists of three CD's:
- Part 1: Gunrays Geheimnis (Gunray`s Secret), 56 minutes
- Part 2: Darth Sisious auf der Spur (Following Darth Sidious' track), 58 minutes
- Part 3: Angriff auf Coruscant (Assault On Coruscant), 56 minutes
Part 1 and 2 were released on 15th December 2006, Part 3 on 16th February 2007.
The audio drama is produced by the German label „WortArt“ (WordArt). Director and author Oliver Doering was also responsible for the German audio dramas of EPIOSDE 1 – 6. For „Labyrinth des Boesen“ he used the original STAR WARS sounds and music. The voices of Obi-Wan, Anakin and all the other well-known heros and villains are from the original German dubbing speakers of the EPISODE 1 – 3 cinema versions.
You can view the CD covers and a production video here (for the video click on „Videodownload: Hier klicken“):
www.starwars-union.de/index.php?id=shownews&rubrik=literatur&mrubrik=literatur&newsid=8215
You can read an interview in German with director and author Oliver Doering on starwars-union.de: www.starwars-union.de/index.php?id=interview_oliverdoering
In the following I try to translate a part of the interview into English. I translated for your readers the questions/answers which are interesting for international fans. The questions and the complete interview are from starwars-union.de staff member Dennis Alack. If you are interested in publishing the following, perhaps you should ask him for permission. I have a fan cut portal on starwars-union.de, so they should know me. Contact: staff@starwars-union.de
An Interview with Oliver Doering:
Q (Dennis Alack): Please tell us about you and your work.
A (Oliver Doering): Since 1998 I am author and director of audio dramas. Originally I worked for radio stations as journalist and comedy maker. I produced for example the new John Sinclair dramas, the Ghost thrillers and of course the audio dramas of the STAR WARS movies.
Q: (Dennis Alack): Who was responsible for the idea of making the audio dramas of the STAR WARS movies? Does Lucasfilm ask WortArt or does WortArt ask Lucasfilm or was it your idea? Could you please describe the way of production?
A (Oliver Doering): In fact it was my idea. After the big success of "Sinclair" – we reached the longplayer charts – I feeled that it was time to work on my "Lieblingsthema" (favourite theme) STAR WARS. WortArt and me contacted MR-Merchandising, they said it would be a great idea and arranged a meeting with Paul Southern, the "Director Of International Licensing And Marketing" from Lucasfilm. Well, I was very excited. Mr. Southern was very kind and mindful of my ideas. I proposed to produce the audio dramas of the movies first. If the result would please all involved parties, more "real" radio dramas should be produced. I think, he feeled that I am a STAR WARS fan of the first hour.
Q: (Dennis Alack): You created the text for the narrator. Does Lucasfilm make any restrictions or controls?
A (Oliver Doering): There were no restrictions in the preproduction. I was able to start writing directly after the contracting. After translating the text (from German into English) we have sent it to Lucasfilm for approval.
Q (Dennis Alack): In June 2006 WortArt announced that you will produce audio dramas of two popular STAR WARS novels: "Labyrinth des Boesen" and "Dark Lord – The Rise Of Darth Vader." Please tell us the beginning.
A (Oliver Doering): The audio dramas of the STAR WARS movies have become a success, the fans liked them. The door for "big" audio drama production was open. I had a long list of themes which were perfect for production. I proposed these two titles because EPISODE 3 was in everyone’s mind. Another reason was the fact that the German dubbing speakers have worked on EPISODE 3 only one year ago.
Q (Dennis Alack): The difference between the novel audio dramas and the movie audio dramas is clear. The dialogue and sound effects of the movies are present. For the novel audio dramas you have to produce from beginning. How do you and your team work and do you get support from Lucasfilm?
A (Oliver Doering): In the beginning of each production there is the manuscript. If I have adopted the novel, then Casting begins, then the recording, then the post production. Even while writing I could ask questions to Lucasfilm. The collaboration with Lucasfilm is extremely professional and effective. Also while the castings I could always ask Lucasfilm for advice. For example I didn’t really know whether Palpatine’s red guards also have been clones before EPISODE 3. This is only a detail concerning a very short text in the script but after the "Yes" of Lucasfilm I knew that only one person for this speaking role will be the right one. In this case Martin Kesser.
Q (Dennis Alack): Did you shorten a lot of scenes in order to fit the novels into the audio drama format? How do you decide which scene should be shortened or completely removed?
A (Oliver Doering): It was clear that I have to shorten the story. But I tried to be as close as possible to the original by shortening only things which were not essential for the story. For example some dialogue are shortened or instead of five droids there are now only two droids involved in a fight. Action helps to compress because in my audio dramas I tell very much by using sound (effects).
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Info & translation of the interview by Bernd Doetzer
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