WATCHMEN

The 12 Part Mini-Series

It is 1987. I am being handed a copy of Watchmen by my brother, who has all the coolest graphic novels.

It is 2014. I am opening a package from Amazon containing a new copy of the Watchmen graphic novel.

It is 1989. I am presenting to my fellow students about the rise of the comics industry, suggesting that the current crop of great graphic novels will fuel the creative industries for years to come.

It is 2008 and I am hearing about the upcoming Watchmen movie. I talk with friends and we all agree it should be a 12 episode miniseries.

It is 2010 and I wondering why Snyder went to all that trouble and didn’t include a giant psychic squid, yet refused to compromise over the glowing blue penis.

It is January, 2021. I am feeling real fucking smug about that presentation I gave in ‘89.

It is 2020 and I am watching the episode of the Watchmen series where they use the correct number of psychic killer squids in New York.

It is 2021 and I have just completed editing the Ultimate Cut, the Director’s Cut, the Black Freighter, Under The Hood and the Watchmen TV Series into a 12 part mini series.

I was really hoping that someone else had already done this project - taking all of the Watchmen content and re-editing it to match the comics. This would make for a perfect series to run into the HBO series, it would eradicate some of the problems the movie carried with it, plus it would perhaps allow the footage of the alien squid attack to be reintroduced. Then all would be well again.

I thought that no-one had managed this, but after cutting the first draft, I found that Joshua Wille (PhD, donchaknow) had already edited WATCHMEN: MIDNIGHT. He can explain it here: https://wille.tv/watchmen-midnight/ 

Although this does a great job of making a single film that matches the comics, the neccesseties of editing it all into one flowing piece brings with it certain compromises that I didnt think would be required if it the work was split.

CHANGE LIST

GENERAL CHANGES

General Changes:

  1. The first part of the task was to take the Ultimate Cut edition and slice the film into sections, grabbing scenes and orgnaizing them to fit in with the comic issues.
  2. In order to have these twelve sections and match the issues, I had to set up the following:
    • a clock countdown
    • an opening sequence
    • 'header' titles for the chapter,
    • a big fat Chapter marker similar to the first panel of each issue.
    • a quote panel at the end of each issue.
  3. The Under The Hood documentary was split into eleven sections, with their own intro and outro - set to run alongside the end credits.
WATCHMEN CHAPTER I - AT MIDNIGHT ALL THE AGENTS...

Opening track: Desolation Row (Alternate take) – Bob Dylan

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Cut the opening fight scene and used it to intercut with the investigators.
  2. Removed the scenes where Rorschach is discovered by the police officers.
  3. Cut the opening scene where Dan meets with Adrian.

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER II - ABSENT FRIENDS

Opening track: The Comedians – Elvis Costello

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Shortened the burial scene and used it to intercut with Lorie's discussion with her mother.
  2. Removed the Silk Spectre saucy pamphlet from the scene.
  3. Removed the towering Dr Manhatten in Vietnam scene, and used a really pulled edit to fade from Jon.
  4. Overlaid red onto the flash backs of Eddie's demise.

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER III - THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH

Opening track: Pirate Jenny – Nina Simone

Montage: Using the same title sequence but focused entirely on Dr Manhatten. Mainly because I wanted to get that towering Vietnam scene in and couldn't easily edit it into the main sequence of this episode.

  1. Greatly reduced fighting prowess from Dan and Lorie, including gratitous violence.

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER IV - WATCHMAKER

Opening track: Blowing In The Wind – Bob Dylan

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Cut the extra gore hanging from the ceiling of the gangster's restaurant.

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER V - FEARFUL SYMMETRY

Opening track: I'm Your Boogie Man - KC and the Sunshine Band

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

So many cuts and reordering here, but it follows the comics and uses the Ultimate Cut.

 

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER VI - THE ABYSS GAZES ALSO

Opening track: Talkin' World War III Blues - Bob Dylan

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Removed a gratuitous head strike from Rorschach.

 

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER VII - A BROTHER TO DRAGONS

Opening track: You’re My Thrill - Billie Holiday

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Trimmed that sex scene waaaay down.
WATCHMEN CHAPTER VIII - OLD GHOSTS

Opening track: Neighbourhood Threat – Iggy Pop

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Removed most of the fight scene of Lorie and Dan at the prison.
WATCHMEN CHAPTER IX - THE DARKNESS OF MERE BEING

Opening track: Hard Rains Gonna Fall – Bob Dylan

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Gathered all of the conversation between Jon and Lorie into one sequence.
WATCHMEN CHAPTER X - TWO RIDERS WERE APPROACHING...

Opening track: All Along The Watchtower – Jimmy Hendrix

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

  1. Slightly shortened Dan beating up on the Top Knot.
  2. Removed the mention of developing Dr Manhatten's energy process.

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER XI - LOOK ON MY WORKS, YE MIGHTY

Opening track: The Times They Are A-Changin’ - Bob Dylan

Montage: Using the title sequence from the film to use any segment where titles could be removed/cut. Narrowed down to only those that reflect the main characters and not the New Minutemen.

Plays through uninterrupted.

 

WATCHMEN CHAPTER XII - A STRONGER LOVING WORLD

Opening track: Soundscape creation.

Montage: Using the scene of the psychic squid attack from episode 5 of Watchmen on HBO (Fear of Lightning) to show the devastation of New York.

  1. Removed any mention of it being Dr Manhatten's fault.
  2. Trimmed the scene with Jon and Lorie surveying New York, because we had just established the non explosion, psychic squid version of events.
  3. Cut down the scene of Nixon blaming Dr Manhatten.