(EDITOR’S NOTE: The classic cult fantasy film Hawk the Slayer could live on in audio! British entrepreneur Graham Richards is currently crowd-funding the first installment of ‘Hawk the Slayer’ on a loaded, sound effects laden and character filled audio CD. If this endeavor succeeds, he’s indicated that he plans to complete the trilogy with Hawk the Hunter and Hawk the Destroyer to follow. Graham graciously agreed to a interview with Paint Monk’s Library about this exciting venture.)

By WALLY MONK – Paint Monk’s Library Editor

If you’re a fan of swords and sorcery and were into cinema in the 1980s, you’ve no doubt seen the B-movie Hawk the Slayer. From it’s futuristic yet oddly appropriate soundtrack, to Crow the elven archer and a dramatically cliché and twisted Jack Palance, the film made its mark with fantasy enthusiasts across the globe.

Sadly, a Kickstarter project to produce its movie sequel, Hawk the Hunter, failed in 2015 and the film project seems to have been shelved. But never fear – you may still get your chance to hear a remastered and re-envisioned version of the original movie in audio. And if that’s successful, the other two planned installments of Hawk could eventually make their way to fans too!

As someone who loved the original movie, I have enthusiastically backed the new Hawk the Slayer audio project – and I’m hoping some of our readers and friends will jump aboard for the ride, too. I’ve reached out to Graham Richards, the British mind behind the new project, and he graciously agreed to an interview with this lowly monk. You can check out the Hawk the Slayer Audio Kickstarter project by clicking here!

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WALLY MONK

Thanks for agreeing to share your project with our library readers! Can you tell us a little about yourself, your experience working with audio media, and your reason for choosing “Hawk the Slayer” for an audio remastering and release?

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“I’m just a product of my own mad schemes, with a wonderfully tolerant wife who helps with design, packaging, and all the really important things, plus a bunch of cherished friends who’ve stuck by, despite, or because of, my reluctance to do ‘normal stuff’. All invaluable and go towards making me who I am.

My love for audio began when I was 8 years old. My sister had a big ole’ portable stereo that I used to sneak away to record stories on, recording myself as all the characters, then passing the tapes around at school. I never really stopped doing this, and went on to rope anyone I met into this odd ritual.

From school, to college, to the working world. It wasn’t long before it was no longer a solo venture. I still have most of the tapes. It’s essentially the same to this very day. Most people I bump into I’ll try to wrangle into my audio madness. The difference is, that the stories have become more ambitious, and the people I’ve dragged by the hair are now seated along-side hired actors. As for Hawk, well, I hate unfinished business when it comes to story-telling.

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We’ve been denied a sequel to Hawk for so many years now by various cruel turns of fate, that I couldn’t rest unless I’d made some attempt to put that right. As a completest, I need to start at the begining. There’s no point in starting with Hawk the Hunter as it’ll look odd to have your CD box-set sitting next to your DVD (Or Blu-ray, or VHS, or Laser Disc. Note to Self: I want a Laser Disc of Hawk. Was it even released on Laser Disc?!) It needs to exist as a complete medium, at best, a trilogy of CD box-sets, and that’s certainly feasible. “

WALLY MONK

What did you enjoy most about the original Hawk the Slayer film? You mention that you’re making a tremendous effort to preserve the Hawk that fans know and love, but that some additions will be made. Can you elaborate on some of those?

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“It’s the definitive D&D movie. It just gets the characters so right, even in their awkwardness and unfamiliarity (as a stereotypical tea-drinking Brit I’m looking at you here, Crow, with your rugged manliness and sharp American accent.) I also love its sincerity. It takes itself pretty seriously and I adore that. It’s a bold move, and it pays off, as amid all the theatrics, matte-paintings, and glowing ping-pong balls, is a film that is shouting at you, ‘This is just like that game you like playing, only it’s real!’

“(Hawk the Slayer is) the definitive D&D movie. It just gets the characters so right, even in their awkwardness and unfamiliarity….(it’s) a film that is shouting at you, ‘This is just like the game you like playing, only it’s real!'”

Graham Richards, Project Creator

Everyone really acts their socks off to make sure it’s perfect for the viewer. No one gives a half-hearted effort. No one within the cast sends it up for the sake of it. The humor is honest and perfectly balanced, ensuring that the time you invest in the story is going to be well-spent. Kudos to the entire cast and production team for that. It’s unique.

As for additions, we’re mainly trading the path of the book here, so if you’re familiar with that, then you’ll have an idea of the extras. In audio we also need to be carefully led into some of the scenes, paint a bolder picture if you will. To elaborate on just one, we have the battle at Ranulf’s village fleshed out and scored.

It just wasn’t enough to have some music, some huffing and wheezing, then some chap collapse at the Abbey. We need to be introduced to Ranulf, hear the approaching threat, understand what they are capable of, and how Ranulf deals with it. It’s not a long scene, but necessary to keep the flow.”

WALLY MONK

Have any of the original cast members or people affiliated with the original Hawk film agreed to take part in the project, or have they offered their support? It would be interesting to have some surprises like this in an audio production

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“There’s still the potential for this manner of support here, but it depends on how well the Kickstarter perfoms. I could have introduced cameos and such as stretch goals, but it’s no certainty, just a possibility. Albeit a promising one. If it only just-about funds, I’d say, “Don’t discount the possibility.”

WALLY MONK

While Hawk was a commendable movie that has achieved “cult” status, there were some silly yet memorable moments – such as Voltan assaulting a loaf of bread to demonstrate what he’d do to his younger brother Hawk. How – or will – you attempt to keep moments like that in an audio format, when much of the fun came from the visual?

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“I’m happy that the fans will know that the loaf is being helpfully cut when they hear it, and it wouldn’t add anything to over-elaborate on those events. We don’t want to inadvertently create a parody. This may mean that some of audio Hawk will come across as being “slightly more serious” to some, but there are some cheeky lines to enjoy and the dialogue is so delicious anyway that you should feel steeped in Hawk’s unique mythos throughout its duration. “

WALLY MONK

One thing that stood about the original Hawk film was the odd yet compelling futuristic music. You mention in the Kickstarter campaign that you have received the blessing of the property’s estate to use the soundtrack. How will that play into the final audio product, and what if any changes will be made?

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“For this to work well, the score has to fit the play, not just be tacked onto it (we tried that and it felt quite false, or empty with no surprises) so we are recording the score as we create the scenes, always taking our cues from Harry Robertson.

We want to maintain the overall familiarity with the score, but naturally progress it into the new territory. We want listeners to smile when they recognize certain things, but we want them to be able to take a different look at other aspects of the story.

We’ve most recently been working on the Mindsword track. It’s an odd, ambient piece with some really harsh sounds in there. We’ve included the most recognizable sounds to paint the scene, how they rise and fall, and due to additional dialogue, have broadened the soundscape with… ah, you’ll have to listen.

We used Voltan’s main theme for the audio trailer. In the drama this is heard early on, and is, for the most part, a direct translation from the original soundtrack. Again you’ll find more dialogue in the audio drama, and in this case, the theme is joined by a Peckinpah, Wild-Bunch(ish) inspired march. It feels like a lost track from the original Hawk soundtrack. That’s what we want from this. “

WALLY MONK

Despite the failure of the Hawk the Hunter movie Kickstarter that you were not associated with, it’s clear that Hawk the Slayer still has a fan base. How committed are you to finishing the trilogy in audio form once this project is funded?

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“It’d be the right thing to do. My fingers are poised already to type that email to Terry Marcel and the Harry Robertson estate to say, ‘Heya. The Slayer was funded. Now about the next two…'”

WALLY MONK

I’m a religious monk and my full name is Walter. If you need a monk for Voltan to harass in one of the monasteries for the audio recording, I’d gladly pay a pledge level to have someone address “Walter Monk”. Just saying….thoughts?

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“Sounds great as a pledge. We currently need £628. How important is this scene to you? ;)”

WALLY MONK

Thanks once again for taking the time to talk with me and share your project with our readers. As I ask these questions, your project is already over 75% funded with over 20 days left. Is there anything you’d like to tell Hawk fans out there, or my readers in particular?

GRAHAM RICHARDS

“Seriously, if you’re a fan of Hawk the Slayer, then this is the best way to ensure its future. Please pledge and let’s see this thing through to the end, together.”

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The Hawk the Slayer audio recording Kickstarter ends on Dec. 4th. The Paint Monk gives it a hearty thumbs up! Click on the image or link below to go directly to the project page.