5-09-06 Latest News

Tolkien Course at Honolulu Community College
Xoanon @ 10:22 am EST

LeiLani Hinds writes: I've been a daily visitor to your website for the past four years, love the films, and today have a piece of news that your readers might be interested in.

I am an English professor who has been a huge Tolkien fan since 1967, and this fall I will be teaching a course on Tolkien for the first time at my college, Honolulu Community College in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Students can earn 3 credits of transfer-level college credit for taking English 257L J. R. R. Tolkien. The course will focus on The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, with parts of The Silmarillion brought in to provide background for a fuller understanding of The Lord of the Rings. We will look at Tolkien's themes, characters, images, and symbols and see how his childhood, his interests in languages and Anglo-Saxon England, his wartime experiences, and significant cultural and historical events of the twentieth century contributed to creating his masterpiece.

We will also study the recent films by Peter Jackson and analyze how well they interpret Tolkien's books. As well as discussing the storyline, characters, and themes of the films, we will also pay attention to the music, costumes, art, and settings Jackson uses.

If anyone would like further information on the course or registration at HCC, they may email me at leilani@hcc.hawaii.edu . I will be delighted to answer any questions.

Congress for Medieval Studies 2006
Xoanon @ 10:13 pm EST

CLM writes: This afternoon I had the pleasure of attending a conference session featuring Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey at the 41st International Congress for Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, MI.

The topic of the lecture was forging the national epic, using "forging" in both the sense of forgery and of creation. Mr. Shippey gave a fascinating and sometimes humorous talk about the national claiming of and identification with epic stories, sometimes involving claims on the same story made by multiple nations, and the process of definitively locating those stories based on examination of people and place-names. At one point Dr. Shippey mentioned Tolkien's historic essay on "Beowulf and the Critics," applying Tolkien's attitude that scholars and nations alike share possession of a marvelous poem and should ideally be happy with it, rather than arguing over its origins and its national ownership.

Moviechat This Weekend -- Star Wars!
Demosthenes @ 8:57 pm EST

Hello Folks!

This week in #moviechat we will be getting together to watch George Lucas' seminal blockbuster, 'Star Wars' (1977).

Join us this weekend Saturday May 6 on our IRC server a little before 5:30 pm EST when we pop our copies of the film into the DVD player. After the usual confusion, at around 5.30pm EST we'll all press play on our individual players and proceed to cheer and jeer (or discuss and argue, if you like!) the finer points of the film.

We plan to take a break midway through the film, to allow for stretching of fingers and backs. Barliman will be on hand to serve drinks and snacks (and to enforce the house rules).

Date: Saturday May 6
Time: 5.30pm EST
Place: #moviechat on the TORn IRC server.

Time zone conversions

Not sure what time the chat will be where you are? Check this little conversion table out for some help.

America:
5.30pm (New York)
4.30pm (Chicago)
3.30pm (Salt Lake City)
2.30pm (Los Angeles)

Europe:
10.30pm GMT (London)
11.30pm CET (Paris)

Asia-Pacific:
6.30am AWST (Sunday) Perth
8.30am AEST (Sunday) Brisbane
9.30am AEDT (Sunday) Sydney
11.30am NZDT (Sunday) Wellington

Where?

Movie Watch happens on #moviechat on irc.theonering.net -- the TORn IRC server. You can connect instantly via our java chat client that works inside your web browser (find
it here!) or choose to install a dedicated chat program such as mIRC on your computer.

To find out more about using mIRC to connect to TORn IRC server, check out these instructions.

See you all then!

'One Morning Long Ago' with Ted Nasmith
Xoanon @ 2:11 pm EST

Andrew writes to let us know about "One Morning Long Ago" Art Exhibition at The Redesdale Hall, in Moreton in Marsh Gloucestershire from Saturday 20th May until Tuesday 23rd May.

This features the briliant work of Ted Nasmith and contrasting Styles of Ruth Lacon and both the artists are attending throughout.

This is the largest display of Ted's work and there are visitors booked worldwide with 3-4000 expected over the 4 days. A full programme of events has been arranged including live Tolkien inspired song cycles, readings, educational talks, Tolkien Tour Guide (covering Barrow Downs, Three Farthing Stone, Amon Hen, Bag End, Malvern Hills, St Mary's Immaculate at Warwick, Eagle & Child and other Oxford sites).

The Tolkien Society are attending and the exhibition also has large biographic displays on JRR Tolkien and the artists. Various Tolkien experts are on hand and a very large display or rare antiquarian books, (including songs for the Philologists, signed copies of the Hobbit, Farmer Giles of Ham, 1st printings of The Lord of the Rings, Beowulf, various letters).

The Live Eagle should be interesting (largest I have ever seen). Entry is free and complimentary refreshments are served.

I am promoting the exhibition at Sarehole and have staged this Art exhibition for the week after the Sarehole Tolkien weekend. [adcbooks.co.uk] [tednasmith.com]

More Fun in The Shire Park
Xoanon @ 10:22 pm EST

Ian Collier at The Tolkien Society:

More Fun in The Shire Park: 13th-14th May 2006

This is the seventh Tolkien Weekend event, and the theme for this year's event is “The Shire” is now an annual item in the Birmingham calendar. Sarehole Mill itself was the “original” for the Mill at Bywater in the Shire in The Lord of the Rings and is a central point in the Shire Country Park that covers the River Cole, Chinn Brook, as well as Moseley Bog, the Dell and the Dingles where JRR Tolkien played as a child.

Entertainments and Activities for visitors include:

• Displays from The Tolkien Society and Birmingham Libraries about Tolkien’s life and works within the mill itself which will have a miller demonstrating his craft with the mill's greater wheel running

• Shire Productions will perform excerpts from The Hobbit in the new Performance Arena, which is also the location for watching the Re-enactment Societies and the Morris Dancers

• The Tolkien Tent will feature Birmingham Central Library's new exhibition “Tolkien's Boyhood in Birmingham”, Elvish lessons (speaking Sindarin and writing Tengwar), displays from Isengard (the Birmingham Tolkien Society group), Games Workshop games and Philip Coker reading The Scouring of the Shire.

• The Unexpected Party Café is opens to serve teas, refreshments and entertainment from: the Green Man Storyteller; folk musicians; Stuart Estell and Allan Recardo (former Birmingham Poets Laureate); Chris Adderley reading from Beowulf and “Open Mic” sessions with Paul Woodward. Write Fantastic, a group of SF writers including Stan Nicholls, Chaz Brenchley, and Mark Chadbourn will be interviewed about how J.R.R. Tolkien has influenced their work.

• The Ent on the green behind the Mill is the starting point for the many popular themed walks, each with their own expert guide, around The Shire Country Park, taking in Moseley Bog, the River Cole, Moseley School, around themes of wildlife, Tolkien's childhood haunts, nature or archaeology.

• Discover the Birmingham’s Two Towers, Perrott’s Folly and the Water Board Chimney by vinatge bus plus there are two new locations to visit on the Tolkien Trail. On Saturday the destination is The Oratory where the Tolkiens attended Mass (as well as the magnificent church, there's a tour of Cardinal Newman's Library). On Sunday there is a rare opportunity to visit King Edward's School and see their Tolkien archive display, his name on the Honours Board and the chapel built from the stones of the old school that he attended in central Birmingham.

• You can shop in the Craft Marquees or at the award winning Moseley Farmers' Market. There is a Children's' Activity Tent with a wand workshop, henna/temporary tattoos and a willow workshop and out on the field there are amusements for younger children, train rides, treasure trails, archery, a coconut shy, woodland crafts, Wythall Radio Society and the Ranger Encampment.

This unique event now attracts 10,000 visitors and offers a weekend of fun for all the family. 11 am - 5 pm Admission free both days.

Visit birmingham.gov.uk or tolkiensociety.org/t_wend

David Wenham's "Three Dollars"
Xoanon @ 10:18 pm EST

Garfeimao writes: I was quite surprised at how much I liked "Three Dollars". I'd heard of the film, but was not sure if it was a story I was going to like, but it was quite charming. It's a real basic family drama, but is wonderfully acted by David as the husband, Francis O'Connor as his wife and an adorable young Joanna Hunt-Prokhovnik as their daughter. The little girl was just so natural and the two main adults worked so well together and with her that it felt like a real family. That was the charming bit.

The drama was fairly typical, but very well done. My one gripe would be that in the flashback sequences, that they tried a bit harder on hair and clothes to really get the feeling of being in the past. Because they didn't do much with hair or make up or costuming, the flashbacks weren't always obvious enough to pick up on what timeline we were in. Oh, and any film that ends with Joy Division is worth the price of admission alone.

The crowd turn out wasn't what was hoped for, but with a 5pm screening on a Tuesday, it was nice to see more than 20 people there. David Wenham came up and introduced the film and his history working with the director before. It seemed like the audience enjoyed the film, and they should have, it was quite a nice little gem to discover at the festival.

The pictures included are of David alone, David with Gregg Schwenk, the Director of the Newport Beach Film Festival and the man who offered free entrance to anyone who came from TheOneRing.net's post about the film, and then the last pics are David with me and Elisa, a fellow Ringer. For those who were unable to make it, I can not tell you if "Three Dollars" will ever get a release in the US, but you should definitely be on the look out for it if it does.

On a side note, the Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation, which screened on Monday night, was absolutely amazing. I can not even begin to describe just how amazing this film is. It's not high tech, it's not even good quality film, having been done 20 years ago on Betacams, but it's just a marvel to see. I guess the best way to describe it is to say it's a 'Love Letter' to the Magic of Film. You can't help but feel joy while watching it, it reminds you what it was like to be a kid, playing in the yard, acting out your favorite films or TV shows. These kids did the same thing, only with a camera, an attempt to make costumes and sets, and the absolute belief they could do everything Lucas and Spielberg did. And to qoute one audience member I overherd "These kids were fearless", which is proven by one being set on fire and others climbing around on a moving truck. If this fan film ever screens in your area, run, don't walk, to the theater and get ready to relive the innocent years when your imagination would let you believe you could be Indiana Jones.

See David Wenham's Latest Film for FREE!
Calisuri @ 10:21 pm EST

Ringer staffer Garfeimao, just rang from the Newport Beach Film Festival with great news for LOTR, Faramir and David Wenham fans!

The first 200 people to arrive at the Lido Theater (Newport Beach, CA) with a printed copy of this story will be admited for FREE to see David Wenham's lastest film 'Three Dollars.' David will introduce the film as well as stick around for a question and answer session afterwards.

The film will show as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival, Tuesday at 5pm at the Lido Theater.

There will be a special TheOneRing.net line in which the first 200 people will be taken into the theater.

And just so we are clear... all you need to do is to print this story - yes, the one you are reading right now (at this url: http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1145931662) - and bring it as proof that you heard about this exclusive opportunity right here at TORn!

If you need directions to the Lido theater, check out Garfeimao's line party page for complete details. [Click here]

Good luck!

Movie Chat tonight: 'Goblet of Fire'
maegwen @ 4:10 pm EST

Hello Folks!

To make up for the short-noticed 'Goblin of Fire' movie watch of last month, and to allow our Australian friends (who finally have GoF on DVD) to join us, we are going to have a SECOND 'Goblet of Fire' viewing tonight, April 2snd!

Join us tonight on our IRC server at 5:30 pm EST when we pop our copies of the film into the DVD player. After the usual confusion, at around 5.30pm EST we'll all press play on our individual players and proceed to cheer and jeer (or discuss and argue, if you like!) the finer points of the film.

We plan to take a break midway through the film, to allow for stretching of fingers and backs. Barliman will be on hand to serve drinks and snacks (and to enforce the house rules).

Date: Saturday April 22
Time: 5.30pm EST
Place: #moviechat on the TORn IRC server.

Time zone conversions

Not sure what time the chat will be where you are? Check this little conversion table out for some help.

America:
5.30pm (New York)
4.30pm (Chicago)
3.30pm (Salt Lake City)
2.30pm (Los Angeles)

Europe:
10.30pm GMT (London)
11.30pm CET (Paris)

Asia-Pacific:
6.30am AWST (Sunday) Perth
8.30am AEST (Sunday) Brisbane
9.30am AEDT (Sunday) Sydney
11.30am NZDT (Sunday) Wellington

Where?

Movie Watch happens on #moviechat on irc.theonering.net -- the TORn IRC server. You can connect instantly via our java chat client that works inside your web browser (find
it here!) or choose to install a dedicated chat program such as mIRC on your computer.

To find out more about using mIRC to connect to TORn IRC server, target="_blank">check out these instructions.

See you all then!