Tomb Raider / Lara Croft inspired scenes (suggestion for all producers)

[dlodoski]

I thought a producer did a scene with Kristine like this...am I mistaken? Was it Robert of PamelaRose Productions, or Kaol?

I wouldn't be surprised. Robert is tops when it comes to self motivated wardrobe originality and creativity. (Michael is also very wardrobe centric, but I'm thinking along the lines of costumes).

Maybe he'll see this and jog our memory for us.

[Fred588]

We use a lot of costumes. Some are assembled from our general collection, which occupies 40 feet of hangar space, from costumes purchased from costume companies (most of which do not last long), costumes contributed by customers and even models sometimes, and some very fine costumes made by Dart Mau. I have the feeling that doing a Lara Croft sort of character might be more about the accessories (guns and so on), with the emphasis of the actual clothing being more about sexiness than design or color combinations.

[Fred588]

On a related note, I rather vaguely remember a TV program called "Relic Hunter" that was, to me, a sort of Tomb Raider variation. I suppose there might have been others also. At least the premise was the same, that of a female adventurer (a professor in this case, who went on searches for artifacts. And, of course, there was Indiana Jones. I do recall a PRP scene in which Robert (I think) used the line, "I hate snakes."

[Kinky Desires]

I thought a producer did a scene with Kristine like this...am I mistaken? Was it Robert of PamelaRose Productions, or Kaol?

I wouldn't be surprised. Robert is tops when it comes to self motivated wardrobe originality and creativity. (Michael is also very wardrobe centric, but I'm thinking along the lines of costumes).

Maybe he'll see this and jog our memory for us.

I don't recall anyone doing a Lara Croft Scene, but Robert did use Kristine for a 'Matrix' inspired scene!

the_matrix_bogged_down.mp4_snapshot_03.20.jpg

[Viridian]

Kaol did a "Laura Krofft" video:
https://kaolumbia.umd.net/download_info ... and_raider

Unfortunately for me, this is the reason why I'm awfully cynical about video producers doing parodies and inspired works. Don't get me wrong: the video wasn't bad. To me, however, it was cringe-worthy. Wooden acting, obnoxious script, and hardly any relevance to the source material. These would be my main concerns if another producer were to do a Tomb Raider-inspired video. It's not enough to put on a costume and fall into quicksand - I can already imagine that in my head, write in a story, illustrate it or play the game (in my case, I've done all of the above). I'd be looking for an experience that is something that, within reason, could be believable in the universe of the source material. When the actors, models and producer have zero connection or experience with the source material, it's a fan disservice and you may as well just create something original.

[quagmire_uk]

Great to see this suggestion get a positive response and lots of discussion!

Kaol did a "Laura Krofft" video:
https://kaolumbia.umd.net/download_info ... and_raider

Unfortunately for me, this is the reason why I'm awfully cynical about video producers doing parodies and inspired works. Don't get me wrong: the video wasn't bad. To me, however, it was cringe-worthy. Wooden acting, obnoxious script, and hardly any relevance to the source material. These would be my main concerns if another producer were to do a Tomb Raider-inspired video. It's not enough to put on a costume and fall into quicksand - I can already imagine that in my head, write in a story, illustrate it or play the game (in my case, I've done all of the above). I'd be looking for an experience that is something that, within reason, could be believable in the universe of the source material. When the actors, models and producer have zero connection or experience with the source material, it's a fan disservice and you may as well just create something original.

It's true that it helps if the video producer and/or actress has a little familiarity with the source material, and there's a decent script.

Though the main factor is the knowledge the character is badass and resourceful. As already mentioned, "look and attitude is what needs to be there".

Some of the quicksand scenes made by the producers here have had great scripts - some done by the producers, others come up with by the actresses themselves! And some scenes might not have had much script, but certain actresses are great at getting into character and ad-libbing.

Since many quicksand videos feature a couple of minutes of scene-setting where the actresses are walking in a forest etc, it's a great opportunity to sell the Tomb Raider / jungle-explorer premise, by having a voiceover narration where the heroine talks about her quest. (During the voiceover she can be occasionally consulting a map, using a compass or GPS device, and even writing in her journal, and thus explaining the source of the narration.)

"Two weeks ago an old friend uncovered the whereabouts of an ancient city in Bolivia. Once an offshoot of the Tiwanaku empire, the city was abandoned when the Tiwanaku were conquered by the Incas. While the lost city is of great historical interest, I was especially fascinated by the stories of their ancient rites and ceremonies. Legends claim that whenever the tribe was in danger of dying out due to famine or war or disease, the high priests and priestesses would perform special rites using a sacred icon, making the next harvests plentiful, and also causing great fertility - and amorousness - amongst the population. But when the priests and priestesses tried to use it for their own personal gain, rather than the good of the people, they were cursed and met a sticky end. Could these legends hold some truth? Might these people have possessed an artifact that held some magical power? My previous experiences mean I cannot disregard that possibility. My suspicions are further aroused by the fact that rival treasure hunters on the same trail, unfortunately my source was not very discreet. But now, after weeks of hiking through treacherous jungle, I am less than a day's walk from the lost city. I am excited to reach my prize, but I must also be on my guard..."

That's just an example of something I came up with right now. Anything along those sorts of lines would sell the idea that this is a Tomb Raider / Indiana Jones/ type adventure and the type of characters we are dealing with.

(Hmm, in fact, I might enjoy writing a story along those lines just for the fun of it... here's hoping I can find the time!)

An excellent thread about a much neglected character. Assuming the right performer could be found then what should she look like? Over the years she's sported a few wardrobe changes but the consistencies have always been form fitting clothes, boots, and accented with nylon web for the requisite survival tools like guns and knife. In more recent years she acquired a techie bow and arrows when it was popularized by The Hunger Games. In fact her latest incarnation has her looking less voluptuous, less heavily armed, and more clothed. She's become a bit more feminist I guess. That bow has become this "Diana" like symbol that's okay with women now - Hunger Games, Wonder Woman, and the like.

They've been very clever with the recent Tomb Raider reboot. The last couple of games - and the new movie - are starring 'young' Lara, during her first adventure. While the classic games/movies/comics feature an experienced Lara who is a reckless thrill-seeker, and who dresses very sexy. So the new 'feminist-friendly' version of Lara doesn't erase classic sexy Lara, they can exist in the same continuity, at different stages of her life.

Also, recent spin-off games still feature classic sexy Lara, although with less voluptuous body proportions. Rather than being called 'Tomb Raider' they are called 'Lara Croft and...', such as 'Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris'. They are lower-budget games that are cheaper to buy, but they are actually very well made and loads of fun. They are about her going on some random adventure rather than a big dramatic plot about her origins. They are made by the same developer and publisher, so it's a conscious choice to concurrently keep both versions of Lara alive, and have feminist-friendly Lara star in expensive blockbuster games and movies with dramatic plotlines and have sexy Lara star in less-serious games about having a bit of fun.

Given the age of most of us and the general lack of feminists I think we've got to go with the very short shorts, jungle boots with the ever present calf length socks, a wide belt, thigh strap holster, big knife, etc. But what about the top? Cleavage and mid-riff baring spaghetti straps or the bondage like high collar sleeveless look?

The exposed cleavage and a bare mid-riff was from the era when they were trying to make Lara even sexier than she already was. Personally I always thought that was silly, she was already sexy, and actually put people off that might otherwise have been interested. The early games like Tomb Raider 1 and 2 were popular with adults and kids, boys and girls, but when they decided to make Lara even sexier it became a teenage-boys-only thing.

However, what might be "too sexy" for a mass-appeal videogame shouldn't apply when making quicksand fetish videos! When making erotic scenes with beautiful models, why not show their bodies off?

So I'd be equally happy with the exposed cleavage and mid-riff look, or the early Tomb Raider 1 and 2 look which was tight-fitting but didn't expose her chest or belly.

Those recent spin-off games I mentioned do a great compromise, she has a top that shows off a little cleavage, but she doesn't have an exposed mid-riff. In my first post in this thread, the T-Rex image and the one with her fighting alongside Egyptian characters are from those spin-off games, and I think it's a great look for her.

[Fred588]

This is a reply to quagmire_UK, done without quoting it for simplicity. The voiceover is well-written. I would encourage you to do more of these but perhaps to send them directly to a producer, myself or another.

As an alternative I will make one suggestion. The best actresses are often not the best at reading a voiceover. To set up a story this way requires the same actress to do the voiceover as plays the part. Therefore, if it can be done using a narrator or a second character somehow there would be a good deal more flexibility in getting something filmed.

[Duncan Edwards]

Great to see this suggestion get a positive response and lots of discussion!...

"Two weeks ago an old friend uncovered the whereabouts of an ancient city in Bolivia. Once an offshoot of the Tiwanaku empire, the city was abandoned when the Tiwanaku were conquered by the Incas. While the lost city is of great historical interest, I was especially fascinated by the stories of their ancient rites and ceremonies. Legends claim that whenever the tribe was in danger of dying out due to famine or war or disease, the high priests and priestesses would perform special rites using a sacred icon, making the next harvests plentiful, and also causing great fertility - and amorousness - amongst the population. But when the priests and priestesses tried to use it for their own personal gain, rather than the good of the people, they were cursed and met a sticky end. Could these legends hold some truth? Might these people have possessed an artifact that held some magical power? My previous experiences mean I cannot disregard that possibility. My suspicions are further aroused by the fact that rival treasure hunters on the same trail, unfortunately my source was not very discreet. But now, after weeks of hiking through treacherous jungle, I am less than a day's walk from the lost city. I am excited to reach my prize, but I must also be on my guard..."

And the voice-over exposition has been used a few times in the past with varying levels of success. Fred is correct in that it takes the right performer and a little time to get it. Kymberly Jane was great at it years ago. Maybe we just look over her shoulder as she writes in her journal or an email to a friend -

...I'm nearing my destination ahead of my rivals. Legend has it that the corrupt leaders of Tiwanaku met a sticky end after pissing off the gods. I'll be cautious to avoid a similar fate.

It sets the stage for her struggling through swamps and swinging from trees. I can see her hiding silently in the reeds with her gun drawn and ducking under at the sounds of a tribe running by or a wild animal roar. Many possibilities here.

[quagmire_uk]

Ah, great points, both of you!

Duncan, that brief narration works great. Rather than an actual voiceover, she can be talking out loud as she writes the last couple of sentences in her journal, just giving the viewer the essentials if a scene doesn't require lots of backstory.

As you say, physical actions and sound effects can do a great job of setting the scene. Loving the ideas of struggling through the jungle, and her taking cover and sound effects like animal growls, tribal drums, or the shouts of a group of rival treasure hunters or sinister mercenaries.

Fred, you're right, if a scene does need detailed narration/exposition, that could be done by someone else - a man or a woman - if there are difficulties with the actress doing it. (Which could be due to there being some doubts about the actress' ability to perform it, or there simply might not be enough time for her to record a voiceover).

The games and movies don't normally have some kind of omniscient narrator, but having someone else do the voiceover could be justified by Lara reading someone else's journal. The voice-over is in the voice of the person who wrote it.

(The first game had a bit where Lara reads the journal of a medieval monk, she reads the first few words and then it fades into the monk's voice.)

The narration could be research done by an archeologist, or the old journal of an explorer or historian or conquistador from hundreds of years ago, talking about local legends. Or even the journal of some other treasure hunter who went before Lara, who presumably met an unfortunate fate, and Lara is following in his or her footsteps.

Sometimes when Lara encounters traps in the games, there is a skeleton or two that indicates Lara wasn't the first to find the place, and they fell victim to the traps that you are currently trying to avoid. (And it's a way of justifying putting some supplies of health or ammo there! Or for our purposes, a journal.)

Also, for an erotic scene where Lara has already got the artifact and now it is has having some magical effect on her, a journal entry works great to explain what is happening to her.

If the actress herself is able to do the voiceover, then it's "After weeks of hiking through treacherous jungle I've found the blah blah blah" and then gives its backstory, with some comment that she avoided the traps and retrieved it without difficulty... but is now feeling somewhat strange... "has the artifact put me under some sort of spell?"

And if instead you need a voiceover done by someone else, then can have Lara come across the journal of some other failed treasure hunter, and he or she talks about how "If I can figure out how to avoid the traps, there is still one other danger I must contend with... the curse. Having deciphered the ancient writing, it appears that if anyone takes the idol without first performing the sacred ritual, they will be overcome with an insatiable lust that can only be abated by returning the artifact or giving it to another..."

And that person got killed by a trap or wild animal before they ever found it, and Lara has come across their belongings and journal several hours after finding the objects, and she did not perform the ritual!

[Viridian]

Just while we're on topic, it's been announced that Tomb Raider 1, 2 and 3 are being remastered.

https://www.pcgamer.com/tomb-raider-1-2 ... originals/