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February 04, 2004 - February 10, 2004

2-10-04 Latest News

Master Replicas To Introduce LOTR Line
Xoanon @ 4:17 pm EST

MASTER REPLICAS PARTNERS WITH NEW LINE CINEMA TO CREATE ‘THE LORD OF THE RINGS’TM ELECTRONIC COLLECTIBLES

Quality, Expertise and Strong Success Cited

Los Angeles, February 10, 2004–Master Replicas announced today a partnership with New Line Cinema to create and market electronic collectible prop replicas for the award-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Master Replicas will introduce collectibles spanning all three movies beginning spring 2004.

Master Replicas has helped pioneer the category of official, licensed movie and television collectible prop replicas. The company creates a limited number of select prop replicas annually, adding to the uniqueness and value of each piece. To ensure the accuracy of its replicas, Master Replicas goes through a rigorous development process with an obsessive attention to quality and detail. This includes:


"The Lord of the Rings is a tremendous property, and we are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to work with New Line Cinema," said Scott Vogel, CEO and President of Master Replicas. "The initial products are already in the works, and we look forward to rolling out a line of merchandise that will exceed all expectations."

"Master Replicas has done an outstanding job developing their extensive line of The Lord of the Rings high-end electronic replicas,” commented Randi Goodman, Senior Vice President, Domestic Licensing & Merchandising, New Line Cinema. "We’re impressed with their technology and pleased to offer consumers a whole new dimension of The Lord of the Rings collectibles.”

About Master Replicas LLC

Master Replicas LLC is an industry leader in movie and television prop replicas. With an extremely experienced executive team, Master Replicas leverages an attractive combination of professional business management with extensive prop replica experience. Other licenses include Star Wars® and Star Trek®. Master Replicas produces only officially licensed products, with extreme attention to product authenticity, product quality, and customer service. For all the latest news about Master Replicas' official prop replicas, please visit http://www.masterreplicas.com.

About New Line Cinema

Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is among the entertainment industry’s leading independent producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures. New Line licenses its films to ancillary markets including cable and broadcast television as well as to international venues. The company, which is a subsidiary of Time Warner Inc., operates several divisions including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video, television, acquisitions, production, licensing and merchandising units. More information about New Line Cinema can be obtained at www.newline.com. For more information about the critically-acclaimed The Lord of the Rings trilogy, please visit www.lordoftherings.net

Annie Lennox to Perform at 76th Academy Awards
Xoanon @ 3:15 pm EST

Beverly Hills, CA - Annie Lennox will perform at the 76th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producer Joe Roth announced today. This will be the first time the singer has performed on an Oscar(R) telecast.

Lenox will perform the Original Song nominee"Into the West" from "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King." Lennox, Fran Walsh and Academy Award-winning composer Howard Shore are nominated for writing the music and lyrics for "Into the West."

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2003 will be presented on February 29, 2004, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland(R) and will be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5p.m. (PST) with a half-hour arrivals segment.

Information about the 76th Annual Academy Awards can be accessed on line. [www.oscars.org]

2-09-04 Latest News

There And Back Again: Part III
Xoanon @ 9:57 pm EST

There And Back Again: Part III

PippinSkywalker writes:

There is in every tale a beginning and end. To make any story complete however, it is necessary and indeed it is impossible not to have a middle. The middle of a story is the child of the beginning and the father of the end and so in this way carries great weight in itself. This tale that follows as well as the next can readily be documented as the middle of my adventures.

Tuesday, December 3, 2003 was for the most part a day of rest. Yours truly had stayed at the premiere party till 3:30 in the morning and couldn't get to sleep until much later. Tuesday was a rest day for the most part, so I will go ahead somewhat quickly to day 4 of my travels. However Tuesday night had in it QUITE an adventure which I simply must tell.

Remember the Hobbits adventures with Tom Bombadil and Old Man Willow and the Barrow Wights? That is in way what this part of the story is like. I went out in the late afternoon and took a cab to Mt. Victoria in Wellington hoping to see (foolishly without a guide) where the hobbits hid in the woods from the nazgul. I started out along with my trusty Samwise Gamgee of a friend (a friend of the family's) and we traveled to and stood on the very summit of the Mount. It is important to note to all my North American and other readers that the mountains of the New Zealand are more like hobbit mountains...to us the would officially be large hills. To the Big Folk that is.

After reaching the top we went down and found a strange path that led to the shadier part of the Mount. The trees grew tall and dark in great abundance. Their roots were gnarled and ancient in appearance. It was probably for precisely this reason that Peter Jackson and Crew decided to use this forested area for filming as the whole look of the place is very "Middle Earthy". We walked down the long winding paths just hoping to find the spot where the hobbits hid from the nazgul but we never saw it. Apparently there are different levels and different paths and we were not on the right one. Night was falling and trees just kept standing there tall and ominous (quite a scary place at night for hobbits). Then behind me I heard a sound and in a flurry turned and saw a Nazgul on mountain bike racing towards me. Yes that was definitely a "Get off the road!" moment and I warned my good Samwise (to save his life) to get out of the way. The biker passed in silence and with him most of my dread. Phew, that was close.

Frankly we weren't getting anywhere, just farther in and farther out (farther into the deep darkness of the forest, farther out from home and hearth). This was getting to be pointless and it turned out we had to be heading back since the next day we are getting on a very early flight from Wellington Airport to Queenstown for a looong LOTR flight tour. We headed back up the winding paths and unruly gnarled roots that were determined to trip us up. It was a hard road but thankfully we found our way back. And oh my good heavens...did I mention I was filming all this a lot of the time? Madness!

The next morning came quickly, and I swiftly gathered my things, and met my Guardian in lobby and with swift hobbitish care got into a cab and rolled off to the airport to catch the flight to Christchurch and from there to Queenstown. I must admit the flight from Christchurch to Queenstown was quite delightful once we came in sight of our destination. Real mountains and breathtakingly tall hills appeared with immeasurable beauty. Queenstown is a bonny little town and probably is considered to be one of the prettiest locations on the South Island. This is where a lot scenes of LOTR were filmed, primarily for TTT and ROTK but some was used for Fellowship too.

We went into Queentown's hobbit sized airport (really, and truly, it is small!) and looked for a sign that said Glenorchy Air (our transport for the day). We caught sight of it and traipsed over to where all these LOTR figurines and posters were.

Perhaps it will do to explain a bit about Glenorchy Air and what their role is in our tale. Glenorchy was primarily responsible for flying many of the cast and crew around to locations back in '99 and 2000. Some of the many cast they gave transport too were Ian Mckellan, Viggo Mortenson, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys Davies, and Dominic Monaghan. They even still had some ORIGINAL call sheets that they showed us of what time what actor had to be where, and the Lord of the Rings emblem was at the top (really cool!).

Our purpose today was to take a six hour flight tour of various LOTR locations (primarily where major scenes of Two Towers were shot)and there were to be two people from Weta on the tour with us! One of them was the Visual Effects On Set Supervisor. They were taking one last nostalgia tour of where LOTR was filmed-- something other Weta people had been doing in general.

So we all got on the same 7 person plane and flew over to the tufty fields of Rohan. We walked over to the spot where the Uruk Hai were carrying Merry and Pippin and Pip dropped his brooch for Aragorn to find. At this point I must admit I had some fairly "Tookish" mishaps. The tour guide was kind enough to point out to everyone to be careful of the marshy mud--WELL...guess what...I stepped in it ANYWAY! ACK! Fool of a Took! And my pant leg got mud along with my boot. So yes I had to walk about like that...

We continued on walking for seemed like miles across the golden grasslands that were Rohan. What a walk it was! As such a little hobbit I was in constant danger of getting lost (as my legs are shorter and mind you that group did NOT always stay together), and after some time my face got to be red a those strawberries Sam talked about in ROTK. On and on we walked until arriving to the spot where they had filmed the scene in the Two Towers of the Rohan village being attacked and burned. We approached this very large pond like thing, and they showed us the exact spot where the village had been. They pointed out a pile of old wood which had been torn down from the village set and I bold hobbit like I am took a piece to bring home as a souvenir (no small piece mind you, and I still have it too). We moved on to another part of the village where several of us took photos, and we could see on the ground the markings of where a Rohan building had been burned. We were fortunate enough to hear a story at this point from the Visual Effects Supervisor (forgot the fellow's name, sorry). He told us how when they were filming the orc extras actually got to burn a building...but these guys were having TOO much fun and got a little carried away and mind you scared the cameramen quite horribly. They added SO much wood to the fire to make it as big as possible that the fire got really big and got a little to close for comfort to some of the cameramen who were nearby filming with their cameras on some large rock face. You can imagine how much the poor cameramen scolded the extras...and how truly mad the latter were (they had to be prevented from just grabbing any old important prop and just THROWING it into the flames!). Some day on set, lol.

After all this we started heading back to the plane (a VERY looong walk mind you, and add to that the poor state of the cherry hobbit). I did have a very nice talk with the pilot and found outthat he knew who Erica Challis of TORN was and said he had been one of the Ringer Spies back in the early days! (Sorry didn't get his Ringer Spy nickname ;) ).

The next stop Rings location was the famed and glorious Edoras with its sweeping vistas and astonishing hill. We landed (much to my disappointment) a ways away from the actual hill so had to content ourselves at viewing it from a distance (and later flying over it). I must at this point mention that this hobbit decided to be a little adventurous and STARTED to meander over there but was stopped when our ride came to take us to the lodge. Mushrooms! Next time I'll go with Aragorn, since rangers go anywhere even difficult rocky long walks without a fuss. ;)

We all went to a local lodge in Twizel where everyone had their lunch except this hobbit. Who cares about lunch! I was in Middle Earth! I must mention that I STILL yes STILL had half a mind to walk up to that lonely but fascinating little hill where Edoras had been but it was just to far... My hobbit heart at that moment yearned for wings.

After lunch we got a ride back to where the plane had set down and took off to fly over that lovely, lonely hill. I took some nice pictures (especially because I was sitting up front that time.)

Our next and last major stop was--can you guess? Ok here comes the hobbit dreamer talk-- Our next stop was the BOLD, the GLORIOUS, the MAGNIFICENT, SWEEPING, dazzling, Pelennor fields!! (Ok I think that was enough of a build up to get everyone excited you can sit down and breath now. ;) ). Also in Twizel, this extraordinary field that became a field of battle in the last film was a truly magnificent site. There were small mountains and large hills all around, some of which were snow capped. The field was of course vast, and definitely large enough to have an army of thousands there (although only a few hundred were used for the films).

This was the great field where Aragorn, Eomer, Eowyn,Merry and others had all fought their greatest battles. This is where the nazgul had swooped down upon the armies of Gondor and the city itself, and seeing it all in real life was truly awesome sight! They showed us where the actual city had been digitally added against the side of a mountain, and gave us a heads up to keep our eyes peeled for bits of armor that might have fallen off during filming. They showed us where Theoden and his army had made their charge. We never found any armor, nor did we see any orcs (did we want to? lol), but it was an exciting adventure, and it was a truly exhilarating feeling to be standing where armies had fought for the freedom of Middle Earth. Gondor was there, though unseen, as were thousands of beloved characters from literary legend whose memory and deeds had been recorded by the greatest author of the 20th century. We will never forget them, or him, till the world ends.

So ends part III of There and Back Again, a hobbits tale by Pippin Skywalker (descendant of the great Took hero who fought and lived during the war of the ring in the Third Age of Middle Earth). So long my friends, and look for the continuation of this tale in parts IV, V, VI, and VII, and learn how Pippin of Sky went on various other adventures including going home to Hobbiton, and the GREAT STRUGGLE, which is surprise for part VII (I promise you will all love the tale).

Till then so long!

New Zealand Prepares for Life After 'The Lord of the Rings'
Xoanon @ 9:09 pm EST

by OTTO POHL

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The film's characters, in enormouslikenesses, loom from airport and theater rooftops. Postage stamps, coffee cups and airplanes are festooned with their pictures. Movie-related art exhibitions crowd galleries.

From the tourist industry to the film industry, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy continues to reverberate through this small island nation. The expected flood of Oscars will only confirm the success that people here have been celebrating for the last two years.

But even as "The Return of the King," the third and last of the movies made by Peter Jackson, works its way through theaters, New Zealand and its film industry are already scrambling to prepare for the post-"Rings" future.

In December the government approved a grant program intended to attract more movie productions to New Zealand. It will reimburse 12.5 percent of the production expenses of films that cost more than $10 million and that fulfill certain criteria about how the money is spent.

The first to qualify for the grant is a Hollywood version of another story set in a fantasy realm, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," the most popular book in the C. S. Lewis series "The Chronicles of Narnia." Instead of Middle Earth, New Zealand will star as Narnia. The director, Andrew Adamson, a New Zealander, was co-director of "Shrek" and "Shrek 2."He is expected to begin filming the live-action production in mid-2004, and if it is successful, more Narnia movies are to follow.

Mr. Jackson, another native son, recently began planning his $110 million remake of "King Kong," which like the "Rings" trilogy will be filmed entirely in New Zealand.

At Weta Digital, Mr. Jackson's Wellington-based special effects company, Joe Letteri, a visual effects supervisor, compares Weta with his former employer, Industrial Light and Magic, the powerhouse that George Lucas built on the strength of the"Star Wars" series.

Mr. Lucas founded ILM in 1975 in San Francisco, which at the time was considered light-years from Hollywood. But distance is a diminishing issue, Mr. Letteri said, since fiber optic cables can shrink the distance between Wellington and Hollywood.

"You have a mini Bay Area here," he said of Wellington, with all of the services but little of the sprawl. "New Zealand is just not as expensive as California."

The scale of the infrastructure built here to handle the "Rings" movies increases the pressure to find big-budget projects to sustain it.

But other films here don't have Hollywood-size budgets. The $330 million cost of the "Rings" trilogy dwarfs the estimated $100 million spent annually on production by the entire domestic industry.

"Whale Rider," the surprise international hit that earned the 13-year-old Keisha Castle-Hughes an Oscar nomination, was considered a big-budget film at about $6 million.

"The Lord of the Rings" trilogy had roughly 100 times as many crew members, estimated John Barnett, a producer of "Whale Rider."

That disparity goes a long way toward explaining why an entire industry — in some ways an entire nation — is reassessing its future. Yet some New Zealand filmmakers worry that big-budget movies from overseas will drive up production costs and further marginalize the domestic film industry.

"It should never be made a second fiddle," said Geoff Dixon, a partner in Silverscreen Productions in Wellington. "It has a danger of becoming that."

Others worry that an industry (and government) overly eager to develop glamorous overseas projects will allow domestic production to wither because of unfair competition for film services. "There's no point in bringing people here if there aren't services here," Mr. Barnett said.

Still, he credits the "Rings" trilogy with giving the movie business a general boost. Others go further.

"The whole perception of who we are as New Zealanders is changing," said Penelope Borland, chief executive of the New Zealand Screen Producer and Developer Association. Long regarded as pragmatic and down-to-earth, New Zealanders are being seen as creative and even high-tech, Ms. Borland said."Part of it is the sheer pride in `Lord of the Rings,' " she added.

In most places around the country, that pride has not eclipsed pragmatism.

New Zealanders are looking for ways to exploit the trilogy for as long as possible. The government set the tone two years ago by briefly renaming Wellington, the capital, Middle Earth to celebrate the premiere of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring," the first installment of the trilogy.

Now hotels, restaurants and movie theaters offer "Rings"-related promotions, and travel companies hawk "Rings"-theme tours, bolstered by research last year that found that almost 10 percent of international visitors listed "The Lord of the Rings" as one of the reasons for their visit.

In Matamata, Hobbiton, the only remaining set, has drawn thousands of visitors, each paying $33.50 for the short tour. Nearly 200 more come every day.

"Hobbiton has given us the opportunity to jump on the bandwagon," said Russell Alexander, whose family owns the sheep farm on which the set was built.

Sitting in a cramped office filled with souvenir shirts, pens and key chains, he ticked off the additional tourist attractions he wanted to promote to keep the bandwagon rolling: clay bird shooting, paintball, sky diving and golf.

"There's no more time for sheep farming," he said.

2-08-04 Latest News

Peter Jackson Q & A at the American Cinematheque
Xoanon @ 11:31 am EST

Asfaloth writes:

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – In December of 2000 Peter Jackson witnessed “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” premiere at The Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, California. On February 6, 2004 he returned to a sold out crowd and a warm reception as the American Cinematheque screened “Fellowship.” Fans started lining up at around 4pm for the 7:30pm screening which was followed by a Q & A with PJ hosted by Christopher Connelly

PJ seemed relaxed and pleased to be in a room full of fans. The legendary Forrest (Forry) J. Ackerman began the evening by presenting Mr. Jackson with a special award in the form of a permanent seat in the gloriously restored Graumann’s Egyptian Theatre. PJ explained to the audience how Forry’s former magazine “Famous Monsters of Filmland” inspired him by letting him know “that there were other people in the world like me.” PJ said “It’s so important to try to encourage the next generation.”

PJ later said that they didn’t have a cinema in the town where he grew up, and he couldn’t go to the movies until he was ten years old when his parents allowed him to take the train to the theater in a neighboring town. He credits “King Kong” as the film that inspired him to direct. (An ambition he acquired at age nine.)

On describing his choice of Howard Shore for composing the score of LOTR, PJ explained that “He does what I call dark beauty, very well.” PJ spoke of how he and Fran Walsh liked Shore’s scores for “The Fly,” and “Silence of the Lambs” and used bits of these scores as temporary tracks while editing the first cut of FOTR.

In answering a question from a fan, PJ elaborated on what “The Lord of the Rings” meant to him by saying that “ ‘The Lord of the Rings’ is a movie against enslavement [it’s] about finding your free will.”

Noro Lim!

Asfaloth

2-07-04 Latest News

Annie Lennox on The Tonight Show report
weetanya @ 2:05 am EST

Reported by Ringer Spy J.W.

If you're interested, here's a report of Annie Lennox on The Tonight Show
With Jay Leno, which aired Friday night.

Jay showed an ROTK CD with Viggo on the cover and introduced "Oscar
Nominated" Annie Lennox. A live string section along with an accoustic
guitarist performed with her. (The first violinist was so prominent he was
more or less doing a duet with her, very beautiful.)

Annie was dressed in lowcut white shirt paired with black slacks. She didn't
give her best performance of the song, being slightly out of tune once or
twice... but Annie's always been better tracked than in person. Overall,
though, the performance was good - especially from the string section.

Annie got a big ovation, and Jay said, "That was lovely!" and that closed
out the show.

Dominic Monaghan on Craig Kilborn Transcript
weetanya @ 1:57 am EST

Transcribed by Ringer Spy DiamondTook

Craig Kilborn (CK): Our next guest is a talented British actor who has made
millions of fans around the world as the Hobbit Merry in "Lord of the
Rings." Please welcome Dominic Monaghan.
Dominic Monaghan: (DM) [he enters, shakes CK's hand and sits down]
CK: Nice to see ya
DM: You too. Wow [at audience cheering] , SIT DOWN!
CK: How're you doing?
DM: I'm alright.
CK: So how did this movie change your life? If you just had to...
DM: Well I live in LA now
CK: yeah... [audience cheers]
DM: That's kinda different, yeah... well. Um, its weird, you know when
things like this happen it IS your life. So you don?t really have any
concept of things changing. You... [it] just is your life. Your cool with
all of the kind of things that are going on.
CK: [interrupts] Well your big in England because of the TV series right?
DM: Uh, yeah. I was kind of, y'know I was on a TV program so they knew me.
I was doing theater over there. Y'know, not in any way near the kind of
worldwide phenomenon that Lord of the Rings has become.
CK: [Interrupts again] Yeah. this is huge right?
DM: Kind of crazy.
CK: Yeah, and how did it go at... what was it the Golden Globes you were
at?
DM: Golden Globes! Yeah, Golden Globes was fun man. I, um [laughs] I think
I... I think I have a face that looks like I... I'm...
CK: [interrupts] trouble?
DM: ... up to mischief.
CK: Yeah, yeah!
DM: Causing Trouble...
CK: Security grabbed ya? Or what did you do?
DM: They... I went out on the night before with my mates and because you,
in LA you need to bring your ID out with you all the time, Y'know.
CK: Sure.
DM: Uh, I lost my ID [shrugs] , so I turn up at the Golden Globes without
my ID, and I'm consistently carded all the way through.
CK: Oh Boy...
DM: Uh, And I'm totally cool with it- y'know you guys have got a job to do-
it's ok but the people from NewLine that represented me are saying
[whispers] This guy's in Lord of the Rings!
CK: He's in what?
DM: [still whispering] He's in Lord of the Rings!
CK: Lord of the Rings, right.
DM: He's in one of the movies that is probably gonna win best picture
tonight d'ya want to let him through? [normal voice again] Ah no, no-
sorry can't do it. Can't do it.
CK: And what did you do? Did you loo...
DM: I just, you know, I smiled and, y'know kind of winked at the guys...
[gives a flirtatious wave- audience laughs]
CK: That'll go over big!
DM: [pulls back innocently]
CK: Yeah, I wonder...
DM: Challenge authority!
CK: Yeah, challenge authority.
DM: Challenge authority!
CK: So You would admit that you have a look that... is dangerous, up to no
good.
DM: I don't know about dangerous, I don't know about dangerous. But, you
know, cheeky...
CK: Cheeky.
DM: Uh, you know, I just... My mum always says, uh "Even if your not doing
something wrong you look like the guy who would be."
CK: Yeah, yeah you've got that look! [audience cheers] So, you mention LA.
Now the weather out here is tremendous...
DM: [interrupts] fantastic!
CM: Fantastic.
DM: Yeah, not today.
CK: Not today.
DM: It's more like Manchester today.
CK: Yes, but it is in general its wonderful. Do you like LA? Or are you...
DM: I do like LA there's... I have a few a, minor scruples.
CK: Yes, hit me with them.
DM: You guys can't drive!
CK: We cannot drive! [audience cheers]
DM: It's as simple as that.
CK: Why do you say that? [laughing]
DM: Well... drives me insane. You need to signal! When your turning right
or left... signal! [takes the innocent look again- audience cheers]
CK: Yeah?
DM: And, if your gonna stop- don't do it immediately! [emphatically smacks
hands together] Y'know? Like, give us a little clue that you're gonna slow
down.
CK: So we, what are we aggressive? Are we lazy not putting the blinker on?
What are we...?
DM: [interrupts] I would just say from an Englishman's point of view, I
would say you're inconsiderate.
CK: Inconsiderate? [incredulous- audience cheers] So you're
[indistinguishable]
DM: Not you of course! What do you drive?
CK: It doesn't matter does it?
DM: No it doesn't.
CK: No.
DM: It's a private question.
CK: It's a big-*** sedan! I like sed- this is my...
DM: Do you signal?
CK: What? I uh, uh yes.
DM: Good.
CK: I'm actually a safe driver but, I'm not from LA. Maybe the locals, and
that's the other thing about the locals. When it rains they don't know how
to drive.
DM: No they don't.
CK: No.
DM: I think because people drive so much in LA, they're so tired of being
on the road [acts exhausted and annoyed] that they don't want to signal,
they don't want to turn...
CK: No, and the traffic is bad here, correct?
DM: Yeah it is bad [nods].
CK: Yeah.
DM: Um, everything else I'm kinda cool with. Y'know like, uh: [counts off
on fingers] amazing food; uh y'know you can surf here which I really enjoy
doing; um beautiful women, a part of...
CK: What do you think of the women?
DM: I enjoy the women.
CK: Yeah?
DM: [nods] I enjoy them, think they're, uh, nice. [audience-mostly
women-cheers] Finally quashing those gay rumors about Elijah and I which...
[more cheering]
CK: Were there alot of those?
DM: Oh my God! There's a few of those! I mean we don't necessarily say no
or yes. We kind of go "hm" [inexplicable expression here, best described
as- as they say of the elves... "Do not go to the elves for wisdom, as they
will say both no and yes."] Ah but yeah I love, y'know I love ladies in
general but here they have that kind of strange swollen phenomenon.
[gestures to his upper half- audience laughs] Swollen breasts, swollen
lips...
CK: That's not as common over in England is it?
DM: Fake boobs are just starting to come into play, but not y'know the fake
lips and the kind of swollen cheeks and the eyebrows and the little
chipmunk [indistinguishable- but gesturing to these areas all the while].
CK: We don't like that.
DM: I don't like that either. I go for more the, the natural, cooler
looking music type...
CK: Sure.
DM: Girls.
CK: Yeah.
DM: Yeah.
CK: And [stutters] are they, can they be American. Can they be British?
DM: Sure. They can be A- no I don't go for British girls that much.
CK: Why is that?
DM: Because, cause I hear that, I've heard it for a long time and I'm used
to it. Something that I know.
CK: Oh you mean the accent?
DM: Yeah. Whereas American girls seem to be a little bit more glamorous. A
little bit more kind of, "Oh are you a cheerleader?" [audience laughs] You
don't know.
CK: [laughing] Ah that was classic. How old are you?
DM: I'm 27!.
CK: You're 27 your a kid. Now are you friends with Jack Osbourne? [the
previous guest]
DM: I am friends with Jack.
CK: You know Jack.
DM: I do. I know his family really well. So I should send all my love to
Ozzie [waves] and I hope that he's well, and Sharon of course.
CK: And you uh, you do an impression of Jack?
DM: No I don't do Jack! I do Ozzie every so often.
CK: Oh an impression of Ozzie?
DM: If I'm in a bad mood of if I want to get attention from one of my mates I
do "Sharon!" [Ozzie impression] But that's pretty much as far as it goes,
yes.
CK: Yeah.
DM: Fantastic television the Osbournes.
CK: Yeah it is, it's riveting.
DM: I hung out with Kelly at the Golden Globes and y'know they're just a
really, very very cool hip family. Regardless of what goes on in their
lives. They're just very nice people.
CK: Is that show on in England?
DM: Yeah. It is in England.
CK: It is yeah.
DM: We have this Queen's speech in England. You know that on Christmas day.
We had Sharon's speech a couple years ago- at the same time!
CK: Wow! That's huge.
DM: So the cool kids are watching Sharon and you know, going,
[silly/defiant expression] Sure beats watching...
CK: What's your next project?
DM: I don't really know man. I mean it's kind of, its pilot season here. So
as you know LA's kind of crazy at this point. Meeting with alot of people.
Uh, I want to work for the discovery channel at some point this year.
Making kind...
CK: Really?
DM: Yeah, natural history programs...
CK: Yeah, doing what? What do you want to do?
DM: I don't know like um, my kind of idea for a program is kind of: a third
nature program; a third kind of, tourist, a kind of tourism kind of
program; a third kind of um, environmental consciousness kind of thing. I,
my biggest influences growing up were- Sir David Attenborough. Do you know
this guy? He's kind of a...
CK: Say again?
DM: Sir David Attenborough
CK: Yeah yeah yeah... [nods]
DM: He's an English, natural history host...
CK: Yeah.
DM: So I just want to be back in that medium. I just want to do something
for my generation. Cause I love animals.
CK: That's great [audience cheers] very good! You ought to come back, we
ran out of time you gotta come back. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King,
let's get out and see that thing.
DM: Yes, cause no one else is! [audience tremendous cheering]
CK: Dominic Monaghan! We'll be right back...

2-06-04 Latest News

Hall Of Fire Chats This Weekend
Frode @ 9:34 pm EST

There are some enigmas in 'The Lord of the Rings' that we are never really given the answers to. Have you, for example, considered Gandalfs description of how the Balrog changes appearance after the fall from Durins bridge? It does make you think about the Watcher in the water in some ways. Could the Watcher in fact be the Balrog?

What about Old Man Willow? Is he a Huorn do you think? And how well does Aragorn really know Tom Bombadil? Join us in #thehalloffire as we take a look at these small riddles and maybe others that you wonder about.

Times:
Saturday Chat:
5:30pm ET (17:30)
[also 11:30pm (23:30) CET and 9:30am Sunday (09:30) AET]

Sunday Chat:
7:00 pm (19:00) CET
[also 1:00pm (13:00) ET and 5:00am (05:00) Monday morning AET]

ET = Eastern Time, USA's East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
AET = Australian East Coast

Do you have a possible topic for Hall of Fire? Drop us a line at
halloffire@theonering.net

Early Quenya Revealed!
weetanya @ 6:43 pm EST

TORn Green Books Staffer Ostadan writes: The long-awaited new issue of Parma Eldalamberon #14 is now available.


---------------------
PARMA ELDALAMBERON 14
-------------------------------------------------------
EARLY QENYA and The VALMARIC SCRIPT by J. R. R. TOLKIEN
-------------------------------------------------------

Order at http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma14.html

This issue has three sections containing newly published writings by J. R. R. Tolkien:"Early Qenya Fragments", edited by Patrick Wynne and Christopher Gilson; the "Early Qenya Grammar", edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Bill Welden; and "The Valmaric Script", edited by Arden R. Smith.Each of these has been prepared with the guidance of Christopher Tolkien and with the permission of the Tolkien Estate.

Of particular interest to scholars of the Ancient Tongue will be the "Early Qenya Grammar", Tolkien's first complete description of the inflexions and syntax of the Articles, Nouns, Adjectives, Adverbs, Numbers, Pronouns, and Verbs of that language.The essence of High-elven is already present here in familiar patterns ranging from the formation of the genitive, locative and ablative cases, to that of the future and past tense verb stems; while the diversity of Tolkien's great linguistic imagination is evident in many unexpected and indeed remarkable features in this lucid grammatical description of Qenya from the 1920s.

"Early Qenya Fragments" is a collection of Tolkien's tables and name-lists associated with _The Book of Lost Tales_, including early names of the Days of the Elvish Week and the Valinorian Fortnight, and names of the Valar and various Creatures of the Earth, as Tolkien conceived of them in his earliest mythology.Also included are paradigms of the Regular Qenya Verb conjugation associated with the _Qenya Lexicon_.Annotations and commentary are provided for all of the Early Qenya texts, detailing their interconnections and the evolution of the linguistic conceptions contained within them.

"The Valmaric Script" is an edition of various documents relating to an Elvish writing system devised by Tolkien in the 1920s.One example of this very elegant script has been published already in a drawing for the story _Roverandom_.This edition incudes various charts of the sounds represented by the letters, tracing Tolkien's experimentation with their forms and applications. There are also examples of the Valmaric script used for writing both Qenya and English, including an excerpt from the Old English poem _Beowulf_. Transcriptions of these texts and commentary on the chronology of the documents and their conceptual evolution are included in this edition.

Orders for Parma Eldalamberon Issue #14 can be made now at the cost of $25.00 per copy including postage and handling world-wide.

(Expect from 1 to 2 weeks for delivery, depending on the destination.)

Electronic payment by PayPal is available at the following link:

http://www.eldalamberon.com/parma14.html

Or send check or money-order (U.S. funds only) to:

Christopher Gilson
10646-A Rosewood Road
Cupertino, CA 95014
U.S.A.

2-05-04 Latest News

Mortensen's 'Hidalgo' Screening Report
Xoanon @ 12:43 pm EST

Rohavorn writes:

I just returned from a special Regal Cinemas screening of Viggo Mortensen's new movie Hidalgo. I'm going to do my best to keep this report spoiler-free and still give an outline of the film. As "horse movies" go, it is excellent. There were a few minor editing flaws (although I didn't notice them - but I was with a group of men who well...may not have been watching the HORSE as closely as I was ;) and were quick to point them out) and the plot is a bit "Disney-ish" in parts, but overall, outstanding job to all 2 and 4-legged actors.

The opening sequence is as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. The film flows quickly, allowing a clear sense of the characters without dwelling too long on any one point. The emotional climax of the film in the middle of the Arabian desert recalls the opening and brings the Frank Hopkins character full circle - although now, with the end of the Ocean of Fire race in sight and still in question, he finally accepts who and what he is. The film wraps on a semi-sad but positive note. All in all, definitely worth seeing, and in answer to some questions, it wasn't hard to get past "Viggo as Aragorn". More importantly, his love and respect of horses shines through every interaction with his co-star.

LOTR Class With Some Diehard Enthusiasts
Xoanon @ 12:17 pm EST

Dor-Lomin writes:

I am a student at Franciscan University of Steubenville, a small Catholic university (approx 2000 students) in Steubenville, Ohio. This semester our school is offering a 3-credit night class on the Lord of the Rings, which recieved an enthusiastic response. In fact, the course is being offered through teleconferencing to students in our schools "semester abroad" program, who are studying in the Austrian Alps. This group of students studying abroad has shown a particularly great enthusiasm simply in signing up for the class. Due to the time difference between America and Austria the class, which begins at 6:00 EST, begins for the Austrian students at midnight and ends at 2:40 AM.

2-04-04 Latest News

Empire Movie Awards 2004 Report and Photos!
Xoanon @ 7:49 pm EST

Empire Movie Awards 2004

Irascian writes: 'Lord of the Rings' won three prizes at tonight’s Empire Awards at The Dorchester Hotel in London. Best Scene went to “Ride of the Rohirrim” and was collected by Bernard Hill. Best British Actor went to Andy Serkis for his portrayal of Gollum. Best film went, for the third consecutive year, to Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson sent an acceptance speech he filmed of himself as he went around a rollercoaster, and Billy Boyd, Andy Serkis and Bernard Hill accepted the award on his behalf. Dominic Monaghan, who had also been expected to attend, was not present – presumably because he was suffering from jet lag having only just returned to the UK from LA.

In the press area where each recipient goes for a few minutes after winning their award Bernard spoke of the pride in the work process where he was able to influence the Rohirrim scene after seeing lots of spears in Weta Workshop and thinking of kids running with sticks along railings and being determined to get something similar into the movies. He praised the collaborative process that the film makers and writers encouraged. Andy Serkis spent much time explaining that good script writing won actors awards and that Gollum had done so well because of the script writing of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens. He claimed to have turned up to the awards not knowing he’d been nominated and appeared to be genuinely shocked that he’d won. He was asked again about “The Hobbit” (and referred questions to Peter Jackson, saying he believed there were problems not with making the film but with being allowed to distribute it) and also “King Kong” to which he replied he’d love to do it and would absolutely be up for it but nothing had been decided yet. Billy Boyd later answered questions about the differences between “Master and Commander” and “Lord of the Rings” (“one was six months long, the other was four years. One was very very wet, the other one wasn’t) and said that both being up for Oscars lowered the odds in his favour. He said the screenplay that he and Dom had worked on was now being written by David Greig and that the current title was “Fish out of Water” but that he was pretty sure the title would change before completion because it wasn’t a very good title!

Lots of other celebrities were in abundance (Ray Harryhausen and John Hurt were two of my favourites) but for me most gracious lady went to Sigourney Weaver who indulged the photographers far more than we deserved standing for a seemingly endless period turning this way and that and smiling with what looked like a heavy award. When asked what films she had really liked this past year answered “Lord of the Rings and In America”. Ray, although not a fan of CGI, paid tribute to Peter Jackson’s work and described Gollum as “amazing”. When asked about “King Kong” he said there could only be one original but that he thought Peter Jackson’s version would be “terrific.. wonderful”.

Photo's attached (three jpegs in zip file): Andy Serkis with his “Best British Actor” award, Bernard Hill with his “Best scene” award, Andy Serkis, Billy Boyd and Bernard Hill with the “Best movie” award.

Here's the press release about the awards detailing all the winners:


LORD OF THE RINGS, LOVE ACTUALLY and KILL BILL WIN BIG AT SONY ERICSSON EMPIRE AWARDS

WEAVER RECEIVES CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD; CORMAN CONFIRMS HIS INDEPENDENCE

Film fans across the UK showed their overwhelming approval for three films at the glittering ninth annual Sony Ericsson Empire Awards held at the Dorchester Hotel.

The Lord of the Rings: the Return of the King won the coveted Empire Award for Best Film ( the third year running for the trilogy), while Best British Actor was awarded to Andy Serkis (Smeagol). ROTK also won the Sony Ericsson Scene of the Year for the dramatic "Ride of the Rohirrim" sequence.

Richard Curtis' smash Love Actually won Best British Film and Best British Actress (Emma Thompson).

Quentin Tarantino walked away with Best Director for Kill Bill Vol. 1 (collected by one of his stars, Julie Dreyfus) while Uma Thurman kicked and slashed her way to Best Actress. The award was accepted on her behalf by comedian Johnny Vegas (looking fetching in a facsimile of The Bride's iconic yellow tracksuit.)

Johnny Depp sashayed and swashbuckled his way to Best Actor for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. The award was picked up on his behalf by Pirates co-stars Mackenzie Crook, Kevin McNally and Jack Davenport.

Hosted by comedian Bill Bailey, the Sony Ericsson Empire Awards are the only major awards bestowed by moviegoers, readers of the number 1 film magazine in the UK.

Sony Ericsson is the sponsor of the Empire Awards, and for the first time, the ceremony was broadcast live tonight on Sky Movies 1 at 8pm, with highlights and exclusive backstage interviews airing on Sky One Mix on February 5 at 10pm and on Flaunt on February 8 at 10pm. Sony Ericsson will also sponsor the Awards' coverage across the Sky channels.

Stunning and versatile Sigourney Weaver received the Empire Career Achievement Award from her "Alien" co-star John Hurt and the Michaelangelo of the B Movie, Roger Corman, received the Independent Spirit Award from funnyman Phill Jupitus.

Empire's website, Empire Online, will be the first place to find out who the winners of this year's Sony Ericsson Empire Awards are. The site will also be featuring video interviews with the stars, a behind-the-scenes report, a full picture gallery and soundbites from the speeches all of which will go live on the night of the awards www.empireonline.co.uk

Best Newcomer: Martine McCutcheon/Love Actually
Sony Ericsson Scene of the Year: Bernard Hill collected for Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for "Ride of the Rohirrim"
British Actress: Emma Thompson/Love Actually
British Actor: Andy Serkis/Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Best British Film: Love Actually
Independent Spirit: Roger Corman
Best Actress: Uma Thurman/Kill Bill Vol. 1
Best Actor: Johnny Depp/Pirates of the Caribbean
Inspiration Award: Ray Harryhausen
Best Director: Quentin Tarantino/Kill Bill Vol. 1
Best Film: Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Career Achievement: Sigourney Weaver

An Evening with Peter Jackson in Santa Barbara
Xoanon @ 6:43 pm EST

Arwen writes:

Quite appropriately in those times which many have been referred to as “The Year of the King”, the Santa Barbara Film Festival elected to honor Peter Jackson with their 2004 Modern Master Award. The sold-out event took place on Saturday January 31st at the beautiful Arlington Theater in downtown Santa Barbara. People started to line up early in the afternoon, and by 6pm the line of dedicated fans was going around the block, braving the chilly wind. Around 7pm the media and fan frenzy got ignited by the arrivals of Sean Astin and of the master himself, Peter Jackson. As always, Sean and Peter as well as producer Barrie Osborne gracefully juggled interviews with the press and requests for autographs and photos from screaming fans. The crowd slowly moved inside the theater, a huge old Spanish mission-style auditorium with a dark blue ceiling sprinkled with stars and a silver moon.

After the 2000+ audience finally settled down, the show got started with a few words of welcome by the Festival’s Director, Roger Durling, who invited on stage our favorite hobbit: Sean Astin. After a rousing round of applause, Sean talked about his admiration for Peter, and how getting to play Sam’s part in the movies had changed his life and his career. Sean was replaced on stage by New York Times’ Elvis Mitchell who acted through the rest of the evening as Master of Ceremonies. A montage of clips from all of Peter’s movies quickly followed, ending with the three LOTR movies to enthusiastic applause. As the last images from Return Of The King faded on screen, Elvis Mitchell announced “Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr Peter Jackson!” and Peter, who at that point was sitting in the front rows, stood up, made his way to the stage and received a thundering standing ovation.

Peter and Elvis sat down in comfortable leather armchairs, and from that moment on the audience was regaled with the rare treat of a live, casual interview of PJ, discussing his career from the rough but fun beginnings till today’s fame and success. Peter candidly spoke about his youth, his early love of film, his first jobs, and how his first movie “Bad Taste” got made. Each discussion was followed by a lengthy clip from one of Peter’s movies, from Bad Taste to Meet The Feebles, to Dead Alive (aka Braindead), Heavenly Creatures, The Frighteners, and finally The Lord Of The Rings. The clips from Peter’s early career, while famously gory, were quite hilarious (especially when the master himself acted in them as he did in Bad Taste) and often punctuated by humorous comments from Peter (for example, he explained that when he was 16 he was a geek and didn’t know any girls!). He also spoke about his first collaboration with Richard Taylor on Meet The Feebles, and explained that at that time Richard was a fledging puppeteer living in a small room - both his home and his workshop - which reeked of glue and chemicals! Peter really wondered how Richard could sleep there! While these quick peeks into Peter’s early movies were certainly funny, at the same time they were an undeniable testimony to the man’s mastery, imagination and creativity, and to his sense of storytelling.

Once the discussion got to the Lord Of The Rings films (a major undertaking after years of independent films made on a shoestring budget) Peter commented that in fact, it wasn’t that different, and quoted Elijah Wood as saying that “these films were the most expensive independent movies ever made”. He illustrated his point by narrating a funny story that happened in the first few months of filming. The whole cast and crew were scheduled to leave New Zealand’s North Island to go to a South Island location, and they were all to fly there together. When they arrived at Wellington’s airport, they were shocked to discover that their plane was nothing else than an old bomber from World War 2!!! Peter remembers Orlando Bloom exclaiming “I don’t f%$#@&% believe it!”. The plane’s pilot started asking them the weight of their luggage and equipment, with the warning that the plane could probably not take off with more than 1,000 pounds of freight (they had to arrange for some of their equipment to be shipped separately). Finally, the plane sped down the runway and painstakingly took off… but for a few meters only! before landing down again while in the cabin Orlando and the hobbits were going “Oooohhhh”... Anyway, eventually the plane managed to take off and they landed safely in the South Island. I don’t think my re-telling of this story does it justice, but in Peter’s words it was hysterically funny. Then came the anecdote which has been widely circulated, of Orlando and Sean driving together down the coast of the South Island and getting caught in a torrential storm, and being stuck for three days at the house of an 80-year old lady in the middle of nowhere…

The film clip for FOTR was most of the scene from the Council of Elrond, and for TTT, Theoden’s exorcism in Edoras, up to “Hail Theoden King!”. Before showing a couple of clips from ROTK there were a few interviews of various cast and crew members including Sir Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving and David Wenham, and Richard Taylor. From ROTK the clips were the charge of the Rohirrim on the Pelennor Fields, and the scene of Sam and Frodo on Mount Doom. Roger Durling then came back on stage and announced that the Festival had a surprise: Peter being a huge Monty Python fan, they brought in none other than John Cleese himself! He delivered a hilarious speech about New Zealand, and told Peter that in addition to the Modern Master he was giving him another special Award: the Kiwi Award – and pulled out a stuffed Kiwi toy which he gave to a beaming Peter, under yet another rousing standing ovation which didn’t seem to ever want to end.

Peter took the microphone and made his acceptance speech, thanking the Festival and his soulmate and partner Fran Walsh, among others. Throughout the speech he was holding the stuffed Kiwi and gesturing with it, and soon the audience started to laugh until he realized what he was doing. It was quite a funny sight and Peter playfully ran with the joke. The end of the speech marked the end of the ceremony itself, and a very pleased and elated audience left the theater… Yet another night to remember for LOTR fans!

Stay tuned for soon-to-be posted report of the Producer’s panel with Barrie Osborne on Sunday 2/1.

Singapore's FiRST Awards 2003
Xoanon @ 6:32 pm EST

Peiyu writes: The February 2004 issue of Singapore's FiRST magazine has the results of the FiRST Awards 2003.

There is also a report on the LOTR Motion Picture Trilogy Exhibition to be held in Singapore, along with an Animation Workshop.

THE LORDS WHO WON EVERYTHING

One ring can really rule everything, The big winner of the 2003 FiRST Awards is The Return of the King, the cinematic conclusion to the magnificent The Lord of the Rings saga. Championed by the remarkable director Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings is no doubt the epic of epics and the trilogy of trilogies, with victories in five of the six nominated categories [Favourite Movie, Favourite Director, Favourite Action Hero, Favourite Hunk, Favourite Screen Couple]. We all know that good things must ccome to an end. But we never expect that the end of this journey could be this good.

*FAVOURITE MOVIE: RETURN OF THE KING

Return of the King is our poll's Favourite Movie of 2003, beating blockbuster heavy weights like Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Matrix Revolutions and Internal Affairs with 83% of the votes.

Even with the extra long ending, the complex subplots and the smaller-than-life hobbit heroes, people still love ROTK. Every poll with a The Lord of the Rings nomination is extremely slanted. Our result tabulators complain why we even bother to have a poll for each The Lord of the Rings nomination. Other than the Award for Favourite Villian, the folks of the fellowship just walk over and took everything.

*FAVOURITE DIRECTOR: PETER JACKSON

It comes to no surprise that Peter Jackson is the Favourite Director in our polls. He dominates the poll with 60% of the votes, outshining even Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino.

Frankly, Jackson deserves all the glory he is getting these days. The hobbit-looking prodigy is already nominated for the best director at the next Academy Awards and it is easy to understand why. The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of cinema's most ambitious undertakings. New Line Cinema is practically gambling their very existence in the movie industry with this massive investment. Fortunately, Jackson delivered both financially and artistically, satisfying fans of both the book and the box office for three years in a row.

It takes a person with a masterful vision to weave together such a complex plot with so many characters, each of them an enigma with their own separate following.

*FAVOURITE ACTION HERO: ARAGORN

We may have skipped a heart beat when The Bride executed her moves so stylishly and so splendidly in Tarantino's hyper violent, ultra-gory, blood fest Vol. 1 of Kill Bill. We may have witnessed visual poetry in that rain combat sequence when Neo and Agent Smith face-off in The Matrix Revolutions. We may have even spilt our pop corns watching the bare knuckle ferocity of the Thai hero in Ong Bak.

But the truth remains: that we, the people of earth and Middle-Earth alike, prefer action at its most visceral. Nothing beats an old fashion horseback warrior engaging in one old school battle after another.

Meet the poll's most Favourite Action Hero and one of cinematic history's handsomest kings. No, he is neither elf nor dwarf, neither agent nor messiah. His name is Aragorn, and he is just a man. A very charismatic one who wields the Anduril, the infamous sword that is both big and brutal. And don't we all love men who can handle a massive weapon so single handedly and heroically. Remember how he charged down the plains with unprecedented gusto so elegantly before his cavalry in a classic case of heroic suicide. "... for all you hold dear!" he shouted. We just loved that scene.

Played by the once fairly unknown Viggo Mortensen, Aragorn steals the limelight from Elijah Wood's Frodo in this concluding saga as the other main protagonist - the eponymous king that will return. Underneath those sly eyes reads an everyman quality about Aragorn. This is the very eminence that makes the warrior a ruler worthy of everyone's respect.

All hail the Favourite Action Hero - King Aragorn.

*FAVOURITE ON-SCREEN COUPLE: LEGOLAS AND GIMLI

The tear-jerking romance between Neo and Trinity is moving but it is unmatched next to the chemical (not to mention, hilarious) relationship shared between an elf and a dwarf. Yes, Legolas and Gimli may look like the most inappropriate combination but it says in our polls that they are the Favourite Screen Couple.

Okay, we know what you are thinking. Just because one's a lithe elf and the other a short-bearded dwarf doesn't mean that both males are incapable of being strictly platonic bosom buddies. Just watch the way the bond between Legolas and Gimli deepends, be it enmity, friendship or slash.

Fans of the novel will know that before The Fellowship of the Ring, dwarves and elves don't get along. They just cannot stand the sight of each other. How then did these two Middle-Earth creatures become so tight a pair? Everything boils down to the ring and the mission to return it. It is the beauty of the shared mission and communal experience that brought them together. Both guys, although once enemies-in-kind, develop a mutual respect for each other. They understand from the battles that they have braved together, that both have a role to play to fulfil the ultimate mission. Isn't that sweet?

Here's a quote from the Favourite Screen Couple. Check out the hilarious exchange:

(During the Battle of Helm's Deep, Gimli has killed an Uruk-Hai warrior.)
Gimli: Legolas! Two already!
Legolas: I'm on 17!
Gimli: What? I'll have no pointy ear outscoring me!
Legolas: (shoots two more arrows) 19!

*FAVOURITE VILLIAN AWARD: GOLLUM or AGENT SMITH?

This is the toughest fight in our polls. Not since the last US presidential election have we observed such an unprecedented battle for votes. Agent Smith and Gollum run side by side in terms of popularity. Both are crooks fighting despicably for the Favourite Villain Award. Strange things have happened. One of our tabulators have been unplugged. Another has her wedding finger bitten off. The Eds are unflinching, they have called for their second re-count.

(And the final results are out. This is an account of what happened in the virtual fantasy-reality of the FiRST Award Ceremony.)
Presenter: Okay here goes. May the favourite villain win.
(The presenter proceeds to open the envelope.)
Presenter: The winner is Gol...
(Just then Gollum creeps from behind the presenter and hisses.)
Gollum: Back off! The pwehciouss is mine!!!
(Suddenly the presenter's eyes roll up. He starts to convulse and morph. There is electricity in the air. Sparks flew. Before anyone can say anything, a cinematic spectacle is witnessed. Standing in place of the presenter is Agent Smith.)
Agent Smith: Mr. Gollum, we meet at last. I have heard all about you.
Gollum: Smeagol do not play computer games. Smeagol do not know you. Gollum just wants the Award for Favourite Villain.
Agent Smith: Yes. Yes. Don't we all have wants. But I have seen it. I have seen your death. I have eradicated you. Wiped all your votes off the database... with some satisfaction, I might add.
Gollum: But Smeagol heard from the editors that we have won. The pwehciouss is ours.
Agent Smith: Don't you see. They set us up because they want us to do battle.
Gollum: But... but... these Masters are humans, not fat hobbits, they would never do anything to hurt poor Smeagol.
Agent Smith: Oh yes they will. They wants us to eradicate each other the way you Middle-Earthlings did for one ring. The temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify a battle that is without meaning or purpose. But why bother when the beginning points to the end.
Gollum: Smeagol is confused.
Agent Smith: I hate this place. This zoo. This prison. This reality, whatever you want to call it. I can't stand it any longer. Give me the award and I'll be off.
Gollum: Smeagol cannot give you the pwehciouss. Gollum will not let me. Do not force Smeagol. Smeagol has killed before and he will do it again. Back off.
(Agent Smith struts over and lifts the award off the table.)
Agent Smith: Why do you persist? You must know it by now. You can't win. It's pointless to keep fighting . All this is artificial. I will cure you of your pathetic existence. I will rid you of your feeble precious.
Gollum: No!
(Gollum lashes out at Agent Smith, wrapping his limps around the agent like a spider.)
Agent Smith: (coughs) Your breath stinks!
Gollum: I wantssss this pwehciouss!
(Indeed, Gollum's breath is too repulsive for the Agent. He chokes.)
Agent Smith: Arrggghhhhh!
(Gollum grabs the Award with his teeth and leaps off scrambling his way into the woods.)
Agent Smith: (dazed and disoriented) Wait a minute... I have not finished... I am supposed to have the last say.
Gollum: Not listening.
Agent Smith: Hey! ... This isn't fair.

*FAVOURITE HUNK: ORLANDO BLOOM

The King may have returned and the series may have ended but life is not over for the fair-skinned blondie who played the enigmatic Legolas in the LOTR Trilogy. In fact, life for the alluring Orlando Bloom has only just begun. This doll-looking hunk is fast becoming the most sought after supporting actor in Hollywood. He has already played the gallant Will Turner opposite Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean. Bloom will next play the legendary lover boy Paris in Troy.

It is no surprise that Orlando Bloom is the Favourite Hunk in our 2003 Poll. Whether he's sporting blonde braids or curly locks, Bloom is the hunk dujour. Even the dangerously beautiful Takeshi Kaneshiro and over-exposed bad boy Colin Farrell have to step aside to honour his blooming appeal.

Never before LOTR, would we expect (except to the fans of the book) that 'Elves' to be so sexy and romantic. Maybe androgyny is back in fashion. Move aside Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman wannabes!

Ringer Spy Lynne's Santa Barbara Film Festival story
weetanya @ 6:29 pm EST



View Lynne's images

Lynne writes:

Thanks to the Santa Barbara Film Festival's decision to honor Peter Jackson
with their Modern Masters award in a two-hour ceremony/interview/presentation
at the Arlington Theater last weekend, I had the opportunity to meet a few folks
we all know and love.

My husband and I headed out at 6 (yawn) AM for the 'fest. After a brief flinging
of the kid out the back door of the van along with a volley of diapers and some
shouted instructions to my sister-in-law in LA, we were hot on the 101, flying
up the asphalt to try and get to SB in time to catch the Screenwriters Panel
featuring Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens at 11 AM.

We get to a nice expensive parking lot in quaint little downtown SB at 10:30
AM. I'm trying to find my spare camera batteries in the back of the van when
my husband pokes me.

"Hey! I just saw Dom and Elijah walk by!"

(Yeah, right)

"I really did! I'm not kidding!"

This gets me outta the van fast and walk-jogging up the street he indicated
to see…some homeless punk-teens and an old man sunning himself in his unbuttoned
shirt in front of a café.

"What were they wearing?" I ask.

"Plaid!"

(Plaid?)

"I don't think Dom wears plaid. Elijah, maybe, but not Dom."

"No, the Elijah-guy was wearing plaid. I know it was him, he had a buzz
cut."

(Wrong again, last time I saw him, the boy had hair.)

"Everyone knows he's grown his hair out. Come on, aren't you on LJ?"

We ran a few blocks to pick up our passes at the press station and to register
for the Red Carpet at the Arlington for Peej, and took off back up the street
to the Screenwriters Panel in time to catch the last hour of Fran and Phil's
panel.

Both Fran and Philippa were quite funny when they both admitted they'd yet
to start on the script for King Kong. They'd written one years ago I guess,
but had thrown it out in favor of a better one, yet to come to them.

"We'd better get started before August," Philippa said, as that's
when they're due to begin shooting.

Both ladies were great and were asked a lot of questions, but in particular,
Philippa brought up herself the reason why they had Frodo send Sam away in the
script. She said basically it would make little dramatic sense to present three
characters who are in conflict with one another and then fail to let that conflict
reach a conclusion, or peak. What's the purpose of Gollum if he doesn't succeed
in breaking the bond between these two hobbits? You can have unresolved conflicts
in long novels, but it's death on film. (And, for the record, I agree with that.)

Then they were asked if there were any scenes they had written for the script
that they regretted losing in the final extended films. The answer was no, once
the ROTK EE comes out, you'll see everything they wanted to see on screen as
writers. Cool!

As the panel broke up, my hub and I moved to the front to stand below the stage
and tried to get Fran's attention since she was standing near the edge. Unfortunately,
she got swamped by wannabe scriptwriters who wanted to pitch her right then
and there ::rolls eyes:: so we saw a better shot was trying to call Philippa
over who was about to slip behind the curtain at the far left of the stage.

My husband called out to her and asked if she'd sign out FOTR poster (which
already had Richard Taylor and Sean Astin on it from Comic Con) and she generously
agreed, kneeling at the edge of the stage right in front of me. So as she was
signing, I spoke to her and told her what a great inspiration her and Fran were
for writers like me and that there are so few women scriptwriters that I was
thrilled for their recognition. She thanked me sweetly and wished me luck with
my own endeavors, adding: "We need more of you."

I then added that the Lord of the Rings was my early inspiration for wanting
to become a writer and that I was so very grateful how they had taken such very
good care of the story and created such a brilliant script from it. She was
very very thankful and I just about melted. I really do adore her! She's like,
writing goddess. But I kept that thought to my squeeful self.

We then tried for Fran who was still patiently listening to some dolt gabbing
on about his zombie film, when her handler came to her rescue and started to
pull her away, apologizing that Fran "needed to go."

That didn't deter us, of course, so we jumped on in there and got her attention
for a sec with the poster. She stared to reach for it/us when some other dweeb
got in the way and started to pitch his lame script and the handler came over
and grabbed our poster from us! I freaked for a sec, but then she asked us for
our pen and she took that and smiled nicely and said, "I'll get it signed
for you offstage. We don't want everyone coming up." Because sure as heck,
as soon as the great unwashed see somebody getting an autograph, they start
pulling out every parking receipt and dinner napkin they've got in their pockets
to get it signed by 'someone' famous.

The handler finally gets poor sweet Fran offstage and zoop! there goes our
poster off into the wings. My husband and I look at each other.

'You going to hop on up there after it?'

We wait for a few minutes and just as I'm bending over to give my hub a lift-up,
the woman comes back all smiles and delivers a freshly signed poster. Yay! The
writers!


So now we fast-forward to evening and the Peter Jackson main awards event!
Which was held at the Arlington Theater.

We got there one hour in advance and the line was around the block for the
general admission seating. A fan line was created for them on one side of the
red carpet, while us press-pass holding types got to slip in on the opposite
side. We got our spots on the "ropes" and prepared to wait.

Journalists continued to pour in. This was easily the most crowded red carpet
I've ever worked. You really had to hold on to that rope to not get trampled
by the 7-foot-tall TV camera crew persons, while the mag and paper reporters
are quite nice and considerate. I was snuggly tucked in between a reporter guy
from Hollywood and the official SBFF photographer. She was a wee little thing
and we talked to her quite a bit and promised her we'd step back whenever she
needed the shot. This friendship turned out to be a very good deal for us, as
you'll come to know in a second here.

The first up was Sean Astin who arrived to a chorus of fangirl shrieks. The
camera crews always descend first like wraiths with microphones, so us print
types know to get back further on the line and just wait them out until they've
gorged and leave the scraps for us. Otherwise, you'd get killed. And no footage
or sound bytes for the dead, no precious.

Sean began to slowly travel closer all smiles and charm, talking up an excitable
storm, looking handsome as all get-out with his lovely incredibly patient wife
Christine who was getting a little lost in all the shuffle. I always feel a
bit sorry for Hollywood wives. One of my best friends is one of them and she
gets shoved around all the time. It's really hard walking in fame's shadow,
but Christine held her own and I was determined to say something nice to her
as soon as they got close enough.

Sean stopped for the Hollywood guy and while he talked to him, we shot off
several pictures because he was like, inches away. Then the SBFF PR dude took
Sean by the arm and led him right up to their photographer on the right of us,
and while she was firing off those shots, I saw my "in" and reached
out to shake Sean's hand.

Sean takes my hand at the exact moment a fan breaks loose from the restraints
behind him and throws something at him so he turns around to find himself with
his arms suddenly full of squeeing fangirl. For his own part, Sean was doing
his best to work both sides of the red carpet, but celebs try to get all the
press first. The fans just start to go ballistic and whoomp, some of them escape.
It can get ugly, but Sean was loving it!

Needless to say my opportunity to say something to Sean and/or Christine was
interrupted. Dang! When he got himself turned back around to the press, he was
sucked up by a Star reporter. I thought, well, crap. At least I've talked to
him before and I already have his autograph. But my husband was not so deterred
and as soon as the Star guy finished up, my husband shouted:

"Mr. Astin! Will you take a photo with the editor of ----?"

Sean whips around. "Sure I will!"

Me: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Sean comes back up to me and I turn around and lean back toward him as much
as the ropes that separate us will allow. He come riiiight up behind me so his
shoulder is against my back and because it's so crowded, he gets his face right
up next to mine like he's peeking over my shoulder. (Oooh! Warm, snuggy Sean
is the best…….gah!) Then my husband lifts the camera to take the shot,
and Sean, being the control-guy he his (God luv 'im.) reaches his arm around
me to try and touch the camera, saying: "Wait, you need to open the shutter
this way…"

His male pride a bit bruised, my husband pulls back and says, "No, Sean,
I've got it!"

"Oh, okay, yeah, you've got it!"

I've since learned it's wise not to come between two men and a camera.

The shot is fired off and Sean is quickly swooped off to the next media representative.
My swooning on a happy Sean-cloud is soon interrupted, because Barrie Osborne
is already up to the Hollywood guy. We get a shot off of him, and my husband
steps forward to get the poster signed. For the record, Barrie gets just as
much fan screamage as the rest of 'em.

But, I was soon distracted by new screams and the lights of a car pulling up.
Somebody new had arrived. This unholy chorus of screams goes up and I think
to myself: I haven't heard a shriek that loud since Elijah escaped his handlers
at Comic Con. I turn to my husband who has a better vantage at the ropes. "Who
is it?"

He turns to me all certain: "It's Elijah."

I tell my husband to 'stay put' while I run up and leap into the air a few
times to see over the conglomerated mass of video, light, and boom that's suddenly
formed. Jump, jump, jump, all I see is camera flashes. Then I see this tall
guy nearby out of the corner of my eye who kind of looks like he might be Elijah's
fifth cousin thrice removed. He's wearing plaid. Uh-huh. Clearly, NOT Elijah
Wood. But rather the plaid-wearing imposter from earlier. It seems he works
for the SBFF and later I learned that Elijah was never expected to be there
in the first place. Sean was there to introduce the event. Oh, well. Mr. Wood
can't avoid me forever.

There's a shift in the mass of media and finally I get a clear peek at what
they've been huddled around--and what I see can only be described as 100% luvable
Kiwi: Uncle Pete himself swamped by camera men three times his height. He's
wearing the One Striped Shirt, shoes! and baggy un-ironed pants and a matching
(sorta) jacket. He's adorable and my heart just about stops when I realize THIS
is the person responsible for creating the single most precious film experience
of my life and I'd better get back in my place at the ropes and come up fast
with my plan of attack, because that swarm of technology ain't letting him go
a step without them all in tow.

Back at the ropes I nudge my husband to let me back in next to him.

"It ain't Elijah," I say. "It's HIM."

The squeeing fangirls are now screaming Pete! Pete! Pete! And somebody from
the local network turns on this 5,000,000 watt faux sun, and the whole corridor
is lit like Judgment Day. My eyes adjust as I wait and wait for Pete to slowly
make his way down the line, press building up around him like an electrical
snowball until he's stopped at Mr. Hollywood and the interview begins, but I
get my leg wedged in next to the reporter and dangle my mini-recorder over his
shoulder as CBS or whoever gets in there behind me, knocking me in the head
with their furry boom mike.

Here's some Pete quotes I picked up (direct transcript):

Pete: It's been a great week. After the nominations on Tuesday, we jumped in
the car and drove away so I've been along the coast to Monterey, Hearst's Castle,
for three or four days.

Reporter: (Asks about The Hobbit, if there's any news about doing a film.)

Pete: No, I think New Line is still just dealing with trying to get the rights.
Which they don't have all the rights to make it. I don't think New Line will
approach me about it until they're all secure with that.

Reporter: (Asks about King Kong.)

Pete: We're going to be making a version of King Kong that's going to be very
emotionally real. We're trying not to make it too much like a Hollywood adventure
film and much more like a drama I should think.

Reporter: (Asks Pete about perks.)

Pete: That's a very good question. You can tell when I've never been asked
a question before because I don't have an answer for it. (laughs) The perk that
means the most to me is just somebody coming up to me and saying, 'I really
enjoyed your movie.'

From there, Pete turns around to go embrace the fans who are coming apart at
every seam and his handler walks the press line asking: "Okay, photo-op,
photo-op, who's got a question?"

"Meeeee!" I scream.

"Okay, you," she says, pointing to me. "You're next."

I'm next, I'm next, I'm next. What the heck was I going to ask him??? Brain
dial tone kicks in nnnnnnnnnnnnnn, NO! Wait, idiot. Ask about the ROTK EE. That's
what you really want to know. Ask! Ask!


Pete is peeled away from the wooing fans and the handler introduces me to Peter
Jackson, Director of the Lord of the Rings, hero of my life (direct transcript):

Me: Congratulations on your recent Oscar nominations!

Pete: Oh, thank you so much.

Me: Could you tell us a little bit about what we can look forward to on the
extended edition of Return of the King-your favorite scene, perhaps?

(Husband meanwhile slips in the poster and nails the autograph. Go husband!
Then he resumes snapping pics of me interviewing Pete.)

Pete: Well, yes, the extended edition has 50 minutes of new footage. I finished
cutting it just before I came over here. And I like…well a scene that was
not necessary to the plot and we didn't use it in the movie, but I've always
been quite fond of it is…when Frodo and Sam end up in the orc army. It
wasn't essential, but it's kind of fun, and I've always been fond of it. That
was a hard one to cut out.

Me: That was the one scene I was most hoping would be back in!

Pete: Oh, good.

Husband (in background): Yeah, I was missing that one.

Me: Thank you so much! Can I get a photo with you?

Pete: Yeah, yeah!

(photo snaps)

Me: (Shaking his hand!) Thank you so much, I treasure your films.

Pete smiles. And….he's off! Bye, Pete! We love you! And, btw, he does
own shoes.

Weekly Presentations on Tolkien's Manuscripts
Xoanon @ 6:19 pm EST

True-Hearted Easterling writes:

I thought this might be of interest to TORn readers. Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which is home to the original manuscripts and multiple working drafts of The Hobbit, Farmer Giles of Ham, and The Lord of the Rings, is hosting weekly presentations on Wednesdays at 7 pm about the J.R.R. Tolkien Collection. Matt Blessing, University Archivist, says the presentations will be offered Wednesdays through May.

Beginning January 14, 2004, the Department of Special Collections and University Archives will host weekly presentations about the J.R.R. Tolkien Collection. The presentations, which run 30 minutes, will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Prucha Archives Reading Room, located on the third floor of the John P. Raynor, S.J., Library, 1355 W. Wisconsin Avenue. Various documents from Tolkien Papers, including pages from the actual manuscripts of The Lord the Rings and The Hobbit, will be available for viewing. A short question and answer period will follow. All presentations are free and open to the public, but visitors from off-campus must have a photo ID to gain entrance to the Raynor Library. [More]

LOTR Weekend Chichester Cinema at New Park
Xoanon @ 5:55 pm EST

Ellen writes:

Saturday 14th February - The Complete Trilogy
See All 3 Films in 1 Day
The Fellowship of the Ring (PG) 10am
The Two Towers (12A) 1.30pm

The Return of the King (12A) 4.45pmPre-book a Lord of the Rings Lunch just £6. Comprising deli sandwich, Tyrell’s finest crisps and gorgeous homemade cakes from Hornet Provisions Co. Drinks and snacks available from the bar. There will be an interval of 30 minutes after Part 1 and 15 minutes after Part 2.

Special offer: Book for all three films…
Tickets £14 (public)
£12 (Friends)
£10 (students/unemployed)
£8 (children under 15)

Individual Films: £5.50/£4.50/£3.75/£3

Sunday 15th February - Focus on Film Talks
Find out more about the Lord of the Rings

The Music of The Lord of the Rings

Howard Shore's music for The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been declared the Best Soundtrack of all time by Classic FM listeners. What is it about this music that has captured the interest of such an enormous audience? How did the composer and director conceive of such a mammoth task? All of this and much more will be considered and illustrated in an informal presentation hosted by film music critic Paul Tonks. Approx length: 1½ hours

Date: Sunday 15 February 12noon Venue: Studio 2

The Return of Middle Earth: there and back again

Lynn Forrest-Hill the Education Officer of The Tolkein Society will be discussing the transference of Tolkein’s trilogy from the page to the screen. Approx length: 1½ hours

Date: Sunday 15 February 2pm Venue: Studio 2

Ticket prices:

£4 for individual talks
£6 for both talks
£8 for one talk and the 4pm screening of Return of the King
£11 for both talks and the 4pm screening of Return of the King
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (12A) is showing throughout the week:

Friday 13 February 4.15
Saturday 14 February 4.45
Sunday 15 February 4.00
Monday 16 February 12.00
Tuesday 17 February 4.15
Wednesday 18 February 7.15
Thursday 19 February 4.15

Chichester Cinema at New Park
New Park Road
Chichester
West Sussex
P019 7XY
Box Office: 01243 786650
www.chichestercinema.org


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