5-01-01 Latest News

June Edition of Empire Magazine
Calisuri @ 2:59 pm EST

Ringer staffer Strider sends this in:

In the June edition of Empire Magazine, which was released today, Lord Of The Rings gets another mention as Empire goes through a quick review of the big Winter films this year. The most noteworthy thing about this interview, despite a huge image of an Elven army bearing arms which took up more than half the page, was John Rhys-Davies's comments about the movies themselves.

Extract from Empire:

"Last, but not least, there is the firest episode of Peter Jackson's little trilogy. And with a Christmas release for The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring creeping ever closer, early footage is said to be out of this world. "I've se en some of it and it blew me away," says John Rhys-Davies. "So look, let me hang my head on the line here, which I've done right from the word go with this film. These are not only going to be the biggest films of all time, they're going to be your favourite films of all time. Ten years down the line, you'll think, 'Lord Of The Rings.......I could watch that again. IT WAS INCREDIBLE!'".

Pretty strong words there from John....

Weekly Cast Watch
Xoanon @ 9:12 am EST

Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn)

28 Days (2000)
Thin Red Line, The (1998) UK
Perfect Murder, A (1998) UK
Psycho (1998) UK
Portrait of a Lady, The (1996)
Prophecy, The (1995)
Passion of Darkly Noon, The (1995)
American Yakuza (1994)
Ruby Cairo (1993)
Boiling Point (1993) UK
Young Guns II (1990)
Fresh Horses (1988) UK
Witness (1985)

Liv Tyler (Arwen)

Dr. T and the Women (2000)
Cookie's Fortune (1999) UK
Plunkett & Macleane (1999) UK
Armageddon (1998)
Inventing the Abbotts (1997) UK
Empire Records (1995)
Silent Fall (1994)

Ian Holm (Bilbo)

Last of the Blonde Bombshells, The (2000) (TV)
Bless the Child (2000)
Simon Magus (1999/I) UK
eXistenZ (1999)
Alice Through the Looking Glass (1999) (TV)
Sweet Hereafter, The (1997)
Madness of King George, The (1994) UK
Dance with a Stranger (1985)
Return of the Soldier, The (1982)
All Quiet on the Western Front (1979) (TV)
Juggernaut (1974)
Fixer, The (1968) UK
Bofors Gun, The (1968) UK

Sean Bean (Boromir)

Black Beauty (1994)
Stormy Monday (1988) UK

Marton Csokas (Celeborn)

Halifax f.p: Swimming with Sharks (1999) (TV)

Hugo Weaving (Elrond)

Matrix, The (1999) UK
Babe: Pig in the City (1998) UK
Interview, The (1998)
Babe (1995) UK
Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The (1994)

Karl Urban (Eomer)

Heaven (1998)

Miranda Otto (Eowyn)

What Lies Beneath (2000)
Jack Bull, The (1999) (TV) UK
Thin Red Line, The (1998) UK

David Wenham (Faramir)

Boys, The (1997/I) UK
Cosi (1996)
No Escape (1994)

Elijah Wood (Frodo)

Bumblebee Flies Anyway, The (2000)
Black and White (1999)
Faculty, The (1998) UK
North (1994)
Good Son, The (1993)
Forever Young (1992) UK
Paradise (1991)
Avalon (1990)
Internal Affairs (1990)
Back to the Future Part II (1989) UK

Cate Blanchett (Galadriel)

Pushing Tin (1999) UK
Ideal Husband, An (1999) UK

Ian McKellen (Gandalf)

Gods and Monsters (1998)
Apt Pupil (1998) UK
I'll Do Anything (1994)

John Rhys-Davies (Gimli)

Secret of the Andes (1998) UK
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) (V)
Great White Hype, The (1996)
Cyborg Cop (1994)
Sunset Grill (1993)
Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992) (TV)
King Solomon's Mines (1985)
Nairobi Affair (1984) (TV) UK
Victor/Victoria (1982)

Andy Serkis (Gollum)

Among Giants (1998) UK
Mojo (1997) UK

Harry Sinclair (Isildur)

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Bruce Spence (Mouth of Sauron)

Sweet Talker (1991)
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981)

Sean Astin (Sam)

Kimberly (1999)
Icebreaker (1999)
Dish Dogs (1998)
Bulworth (1998) UK
Long Way Home, The (1997) UK
Encino Man (1992) UK
Memphis Belle (1990)
War of the Roses, The (1989)
White Water Summer (1987)
Like Father, Like Son (1987)
Goonies, The (1985) UK

Christopher Lee (Saruman)

Sleepy Hollow (1999) UK
Tale of the Mummy (1998) UK
Jinnah (1998) UK
Stupids, The (1996)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Mio min Mio (1987) UK
1941 (1979)
Return from Witch Mountain (1978) UK
Killer Force (1975)
Wicker Man, The (1973) UK
Creeping Flesh, The (1973)
Nothing But the Night (1972)
Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, The (1970) UK
Scream and Scream Again (1969)
Curse of the Crimson Altar (1968) UK
City of the Dead, The (1960)
Battle of the River Plate, The (1956) UK
Crimson Pirate, The (1952)
My Brother's Keeper (1948) UK
Scott of the Antarctic (1948) UK

Bernard Hill (Theoden)

Criminal, The (2000) UK
True Crime (1999) UK
Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1999) UK
Ghost and the Darkness, The (1996) UK
Wind in the Willows, The (1996/I) UK
Mountains of the Moon (1990) UK
Shirley Valentine (1989)
Chain, The (1985) UK
Runners (1983) UK
Gandhi (1982) UK

Brad Dourif (Wormtongue)

Shadow Hours (2000)
Urban Legend (1998) UK
Nightwatch (1998)
Amos & Andrew (1993)
Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein (1991)
Body Parts (1991) UK
Hidden Agenda (1990)
Mississippi Burning (1988)

Jim Rygiel (SFX)

Star Trek: Insurrection (1998) UK
Alien³ (1992) UK
Batman Returns (1992) UK
Ghost (1990)
Last Starfighter, The (1984)

Howard Shore (Composer)

High Fidelity (2000)
Cell, The (2000)
Analyze This (1999) UK
eXistenZ (1999)
Game, The (1997) UK
Se7en (1995)
White Man's Burden (1995) UK
Single White Female (1992) UK
Prelude to a Kiss (1992)
Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
She-Devil (1989)
Moving (1988)
After Hours (1985) UK
Gilda Live (1980)

Peter Jackson (Director)

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

To get more information, use the sites I use like:

mydigiguide.com, tv-now.com and IMDB.com

2001: Tolkien Odyssey
Xoanon @ 2:31 pm EST

Pippin Skywalker sends along this great story of his adventure in what many would claim to be the REAL Middle-earth! Read his amazing tale and check out the great pics!

2001: A TOLKIEN ODYSSEY Part I

Introduction

The 2001: A Tolkien Odyssey project is a collection of photographs and commentary provided for the general viewing pleasure of the public. This article and the pictures enclosed are Part One of a two part series. The month of May should see me back in Oxford, where I will take more photos as well as video ( a documentary). All pictures have been image edited, and effects added to give a “Dreamlike” “Tolkien” feel. Many thanks to the team at Isle of Sky Productions (my new company J ).

I boarded a train from Paddington Station to Oxford at almost quarter past one in the afternoon with my dad. I hid my lightsaber in my rather large hobbit pack so as not to worry the security guards (poor blokes..need a vacation). After boarding, I eventually got to writing in my field journal. Here is the first passage:

Today is Saturday, March 3,2001, and the time is 1:27 in the afternoon (British Time). This will be my written account of my time in Oxford, and Part I of the project entitled: 2001: A Tolkien Odyssey. I will visit all sites pertaining to and concerning the late Professor J.R.R. Tolkien. I will visit where he lived, worked, went to church, and places he just had a grand old time with friends. I will take as many photos as possible. These are provided for the viewing pleasure of the public and the memoirs of Pippin Skywalker. Commentary and notes will accompany each photograph, giving explanations of the site, thoughts and reflections on my part , and bye George! Perhaps there will be wit!

I am pleased to be one of the blessed few who are able to SEE “Tolkien’s” Oxford. It will bring new life and joy to watching the films. And as I gaze upon the swiftly passing fields that disappear with speedy grace, I bid my farewell for now.

Over and Out at 2:07 PM.

Unfortunately, I wrote very little in my field journal after this. Perhaps next time I will be able to provide a more detailed account.

Pembroke College

We arrived at Pembroke at around 4:00 PM. Nearby is what used to be a bookstore/café where C.S. Lewis had tea. This is what I believe to be a “Phantom” site on the Tolkien site seeing map. I believe that he probably visited here as well due to two things (1) He was good friends with Lewis and (2) It is right at Pembroke.

Magdalen College

After a nice meal and scribbling down some notes we headed of to Magdalen. We walked past some old gates (like ones into some great city ) and arrived at the entrance. There stood a most forbidding sign, which read something like this:

Due to the recent foot and mouth , and for fear for spreading it to the deer, no visitors.

This was like Sam and Frodo seeing some dire warning on the gates of Mordor . But being a Jedi hobbit mind tricks work well on security.....so.….we got in. J

It was a very Grey cloudy day and also it was getting towards evening. The grounds were beautiful beyond compare….think of every great book, every great film that has to YOU, really made you yearn for the English countryside. This was like walking into a book…..it was marvelous.

The grass is a very rich, healthy green, and the buildings with all their glorious elegance look like either castles or old English houses. One looked like an old mill in hobbiton, another like Barliman’s Inn. Then there was this “Minas Tirith” looking building with a tower (see photo captioned: “Sauron’s hand reaches towards Minas Tirith). Eventually we reached a gateway….it was the entrance to Addison’s walk. It was here Tolkien and Lewis walked together and the latter was converted to Christianity. We walked down the path and snapped pictures; some for this project, and a few test screen shots for a book-turned-film project I am working on called The Cruel Tempest. As I walked down this path I imagined what it was like for Tolkien himself to be walking there. The path was very long, so we did not walk the whole way; if you remember that song “The Road Goes Ever On and ON.” Then you’ve got the idea. J

We saw the building that was the meeting place of the Inklings, and also what I believe is what is known as “Tolkien’s Favorite Tree.” (an immense one…..if THAT was not the origin of the idea for ents……May Bill Ferny steal all your mushrooms!).

The striking thing about Magdalen was its character. The place was very quiet and still , with a placid, beautiful even melancholy air….

We came to this gate (near the hobbiton mill) behind which were all the deer. On a wall beside it is a plaque with a moving poem by C.S. Lewis called Early In The Year. I would post it here and now exept it is not Tolkien related and above all I have much yet to write. But trust me it is lovely.

Finally we walked out of the college with simply the most innocent hobbit looks you could ever imagine whilst passing security. Poor blokes…..must have been a caffeine and donut overdose.

The Adventure In The Park, And The Hunt For The Two Trees.

The next place we hopped a cab to was the University Parks, where the famous two trees Telperion and Laurelin ( planted in honor of the Professor, near which is a bench bearing his name.) were supposed to be. As you may be postulating, it was getting dark, and worst of all we didn’t have a clue as to where EXACTLY in the park they were. Imagine trying to find an anthill in Mordor. We met up with a nice hobbit lady who seemed to sort of know where they were…but not exactly. Night was descending like a flood. Our search for the trees was well….leafless. I took a slim tree branch to use as a walking stick, and held my lightsaber aloft (both for lighting and defense purposes. Heaven forbid that we meet any orcs.) We walked across a wide field, and were obviously getting nowhere. Plus there had been a dire warning of the park being closed; gates locked and everything. Naturally two hobbits at night in a place where there were probably barrow wights, and balrogs and every other pile of evil scum you could think of (did I mention orcs? Oh! Good Heavens I did! By George!) was NOT that appealing. We were told we could climb the walls and we even asked this fellow, (nice chap, must be a relative of Faramir) what was the best and lowest place to scale. Fortunately such knowledge was not necessary, and we escaped a band orcs. They didn’t seem to be that interested in us…..they were just involved in such sick topics like how good the garbage was in Oxford, and Bishnak’s smelly feet (can these creeps ever talk about anything normal like…the weather?). Another band (Saruman’s Gang) were talking about how nutty Saruman gets when he rides around in his white Mercedes convertible (don’t ask me, I don’t work there). Ah me.

Tolkien’s Grave

After that nasty scare we hailed yet another cabby (they are very cool over here) and asked to go to Wolvercote Cemetary. The driver, (to my amazement) had to be an elf guide or….something….. He said he had had another person ask where Tolkien’s Grave was also. Strange.

By this time it was almost fully dark, and night had spread its ebony cloak over the welkin raiment of heaven (sorry, poetic outburst, hot chocolate will cure it) . After some trouble as to the exact location, we arrived at the forbidden gates (er sorry…the cemetary). The cab drove right in and we got out and asked him to wait.

Now I want you all to visualize this. Here we are two hobbits, Tolkien fans with the highest degree of courage, with just ONE weapon between us. Its dark, and we are in a graveyard. And to top it all off we had to HOPE this cabby dude would stick around. Oh, and did I mention the place was suppose be locked up at 6:00 PM? (I think you all can guess WHAT time we got there. J ) So here we are….alone…IN A GRAVEYARD (hang on…. I said that already) A pretty large one too. Time was precious. The air stood still. What would become of our beloved, courageous hobbits? Would they ever find the Professor’s grave and find there way out? Tune in next week for the next episode of “When Hobbits Lose Their Way In Dark Places.”
Seriously…..to my great wonder we walked a little ways and saw little stones saying things like “JRR Tolkien, Author” with arrows pointing us in the right directions. Ah….amazing what some good old knowledgeable rocks will tell you J.

Finally the stone stood before us. We found Beren and his Luthien. As an 8 year old reading the Hobbit, I NEVER in my wildest dreams could have imagined this moment. That was eight years ago….. how time flies.
I sat down on the edge of the stone and peacefully took it all in. We took some pictures and I called my grandmother on a cellphone. She thought it was neat (she is looking forward to the films, and I told her I would take her.) We talked for a while, took some more pictures, and then departed. Our faithful driver waited nearly half an hour for us (fine fellow) and we got in and told him our next destination:

The Eagle And Child (a.k.a. House of EXTREMELY Cool Dudes)

This was our last stop of our Tolkien tour, and the last photo shoot for this project. I was greatly looking forward to visiting this legendary site, and even hoped to work on a little of my own novel in this place where great writers had gathered (there turned out to be no time for this). First we scouted out the interior trying to find the actual room where the Inklings met. I think they met upstairs. I took out my camera and snapped away. All the blokes sitting around having their pints had to be either annoyed or amused at these little paparazzi haflings. “Crazy Americans” was probably what was going through their heads. I squeezed between two tables to get to a magnificent black and white photograph of Tolkien. The guys must have thought I was nuts. We did manage to walk out peacefully however, with no complaints.

There was this place next door called Giles Café (see picture). Sounds a little like….something J
That basically sums up the travels and adventures of Pippin Skywalker. As much as I would love to sit by the fire in a comfy chair and tell more tales to all you fine lads and lasses…..alas….. I can not. J

2001: The First Odyssey

Now I would like to make something perfectly clear. This is the FIRST odyssey. No, not just because it is part one; two other chaps from Barlimans Nazfyratu and Sylvanes will be visiting Britain as well. Well, I just want to say in front of the whole world: I was here FIRST ! J I talked to the former (having already been here for sometime) and found out that he is first trekking to India, then London in May. I expect Sylvanes to be here in June. Copycats. (j/k) J I myself however (so far) have been here ALL of 2001. Sorry gentleman. J Nevermind,nevermind….their fine chaps. J

Credits:

Director of Photography: Pippin Skywalker

Photographers: Pippin Skywalker and Nikoliavich

Graphic Design/Optical Effects: Hannagrafx and Pippin Skywalker

Photo Scanner: Jetilife

Camera: Canon

Design Program: Adobe PhotoShop 5.5

Title: 2001: The First Odyssey provided by Pykendil of Barlimans (A capital fellow! Thanks lad! J )
I have to say my time in Britain so far has been just wonderful. We even had Star Wars Episode 2 filming about 25 minutes away from us in Ealing (No, I did not get any pictures…….and plus those would be for a different site ;) ) What better year to be in Jolly Old England than this one!

"The Price of Milk" and why you should care.
Tehanu @ 7:34 am EST

This just in from John:

"THE PRICE OF MILK directed by Harry Sinclair and starring Karl Urban, starts a run to day in Chicago."

If you've never seen a Kiwi film, this isn't a bad place to start. It'll surprise you. And get a load of the cast - it stars Karl Urban, who'll be Eomer in LOTR. And the director Harry Sinclair, is a friend of Peter Jackson - and he plays Isildur in LOTR. Screenwriter Fran Walsh helped on the script, and PJ's WETA workshop did some of the effects. It's a closely-knit world here.

Most of all, see it because it's got this crazy blend of human detail and magical realism which will make you wonder if there is an NZ 'school' of film-making, and what these consistently offbeat films should make us expect from LOTR. Is it going to follow the standard blockbuster formula, or will it also have this strange magic about it?

MediaWatch: Liv and LOTR
Calisuri @ 1:40 pm EST

Liv is all over the place as "One Night at McCool's" opens in the US.

Ringer Paul sends in this from CNN.com:

"Hey there. Just saw an article on Liv Tyler's performance in "One Night at McCool's" on CNN.com, it mentioned her role in FOTR, as well as the fact that TTT and ROTK are coming in '02 and '03." [More]

Ringer Tim sends in these mentions from the UK:

"First off,Total Film has a "I'm-reading-this-for-McCool's,honest" interview with Liv Tyler. A couple of quotes:

"Peter did not lose his cool once.And I've never seen that happen.Not even on a normal film....I was just so impressed."

She says acting as an elf "...has f**cked me forever because I now sound English and I want to sound like a New Yorker!"

Also,next month's Deamwatch magazine is due to have an interview with Liv. PURELY about LOTR... "

Thanks guys for sending in this info!

In Bet on Sequels, New Line Films Three 'Rings' at Once
Xoanon @ 4:28 pm EST

By TOM KING
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

The summer movie season may be just about to kick off, but in Hollywood, thoughts are turning to Christmas.

Christmas 2003, that is.

As moviegoers settle into theaters for "Pearl Harbor" or "Tomb Raider," many will be greeted by a trailer for one of the biggest movie gambles ever: Not one, not two, but three "Lord of the Rings" films, coming to theaters each December between now and 2003. Usually studios make Rocky I, say, before Rocky V. But all of these "Rings" have already been shot, put in the can and are ready for postproduction.

Why would anyone make three hugely expensive films at the same time, when they don't even know if there's an audience for one? Turns out the studio, New Line Cinema, isn't alone in making this kind of bet. Before audiences ever lay eyes on WWF star Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in "The Mummy Returns," Universal Pictures has already given him his own $60 million movie. Warner Bros., meanwhile, is currently making two sequels to "The Matrix," its Keanu Reeves hit of 1999. And the producers of the Jackie Chan action movie "Rush Hour" are talking about "Rush Hour 3" -- "RH2" doesn't hit theaters until August.

But at a time when moviegoers' tastes seem to change faster than Gwyneth's boyfriends, the "Rings" movies are by far the riskiest. Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy classics, not only do the movies have a combined price tag of $270 million, they'll also be going up against the first "Harry Potter" film. Both movies, plus Disney/Pixar's "Monsters, Inc.," will be battling for the same family audience, in the theaters and also in the toy stores. Beyond that, we're talking about a studio trying to create a franchise without any input from ticket buyers. Aren't they supposed to have some influence?

Bob Shaye, New Line's co-chairman, has an answer. He says the Tolkien books have a dedicated fan base, and besides, making three films at once is cheaper than making them individually.

Sequel Economics

Here's how: When studios make sequels, the costs always go up for special effects, for sets and costumes and -- especially -- for actors. Mike Myers got just $3 million to star in New Line's 1997 hit "Austin Powers." For the 1999 sequel, "The Spy Who Shagged Me," Mr. Myers's price jumped to almost $10 million; he's getting a whopping $25 million for "Austin 3." And when Dino De Laurentiis tried to get Jodie Foster to return as Clarice Starling in "Hannibal" last year, he says she wanted $20 million (she is believed to have gotten about $1 million for "The Silence of the Lambs"). The producer hired the much less expensive Julianne Moore instead.

For the "Rings" movies, New Line also had to build just one enormous Middle-earth set (in New Zealand), not three. And it had to pay the fees and salaries of all the technical crew just once, before anyone's won an Oscar and before it's a blockbuster, when the studio had the most leverage. The other company co-chairman, Michael Lynne, says the studio estimated it might have cost almost twice as much to make the "Rings" movies individually.

Then there's the lesson in sequel reality that New Line got from "The Mask," the 1994 blockbuster starring Jim Carrey as a bank clerk turned super-hero. When the studio wanted to make a sequel to it, Mr. Carrey balked, not only wanting more money than New Line was willing to pay, but also not sure he wanted to revisit the character. The result: A potentially big hit never got made.

In the case of the "Rings" movies, Mr. Lynne also insists the studio has limited its financial risk by selling off nearly all the foreign rights and driving some hard bargains on merchandising. He says New Line is on the hook for only about $60 million of the films' $270 million cost. (Others say the number is more like $90 million.)

Still, if the first "Rings" film bombs, the studio -- which was founded as a niche player making movies on the cheap -- could be left with two very expensive sequels that nobody wants to see. That's hardly inconceivable, given that for every "Star Wars" or "Jurassic Park" out there, there's an equally expensive bomb that studios once claimed could be a franchise movie. Remember "G.I. Jane," "Last Action Hero" and "Howard the Duck"? But, says Mr. Shaye, New Line is investing in an event, and "one of the very few that you'd decide was worth it." Still, he concedes, "anything could happen. I'm sitting here crossing my fingers."

'Ishtar' Again?

But why worry about the future when the present is even scarier? This weekend, New Line finally opens its troubled Warren Beatty comedy, "Town & Country," the most fabled runaway production in recent memory and a film that's already being compared with legendary disasters like Mr. Beatty's "Ishtar."

'Town & Country' Publicity Proves an Awkward Act

Originally slated to open in April 1999, the movie has had its release date changed 13 times. Initially given the green light at $55 million, industry executives say the film ended up costing closer to $85 million due to what Mr. Shaye calls "logistic" issues.

That's a pretty frightening number given the film's cast. Besides Mr. Beatty, it has Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton, all of them over 50 and none of them with great appeal for the core young moviegoing audience these days. Plus, "Town & Country" arrives with the baggage of a long and tortured backstage drama (shoots, reshoots, and then more reshoots) well known among the public. The main problem: The movie started production without a finished script.

Mr. Shaye says despite its troubles, the movie is "sassy and funny and definitely worth your nine bucks." That may or may not be true, but, most incredibly, he adds, New Line isn't going to incur huge losses on the film the way the studio did with last year's "Little Nicky." "I think we're going to get out in one piece."

Whatever happens, the studio, part of AOL Time Warner , recently announced that it was going back to making fewer -- and cheaper -- movies.

Liv Tyler again and again...
Xoanon @ 2:14 pm EST

Suffice it to say that the marketing folks for 'One Night at Mcools' have done a great job shopping Liv Tyler (Arwen) around to every reporter in the known galaxy, here are a few more articles about lovely Liv, she does mention LOTR quite a bit:

From: mrshowbiz

MR. S:OK, tell me about your role in The Lord of the Rings.

LT: It's been expanded from the books. There's a big appendix at the end with a large chapter about Arwen. Basically, there wasn't enough female presence in a lot of the film, so they took the appendix and used that story and placed it throughout. We shot all three movies at once. It took a year and a half, back and forth to New Zealand.

From: Metro (via AP)

TYLER PLAYS A FEMME FATALE IN 'ONE NIGHT AT MCCOOL'S'

With everything she already has in the can, Liv Tyler could sit back and coast yet still have a high profile in movie theaters over the next three years.

First up, Tyler essentially plays three different roles as a femme fatale in the black comedy "One Night At McCool's." Then, for the next three Christmas holidays, she's playing the same role in three different movies--the trilogy of J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings," shot simultaneously from late 1999 through last December in New Zealand. Tyler, who plays the elf Arwen, co-stars with Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Ian Holm.

Except for re-recording dialog, Tyler and the rest of the cast have their work done on three film releases through 2003.

"That is an incredible idea, for sure," Tyler said. "I keep thinking, well, I don't have to worry. I've got three years of movies done already.

"That is nice, but there's a part of me that's kind of anxious to get into another role, because 'Lord of the Rings' was so spread out for me. I didn't get the sense of working every day consistently for a period of time. And at the same time, I'm not the main character in those movies."

Sideshow Press Release
Xoanon @ 9:31 pm EST

For Immediate Release: Sideshow Toy & Weta Workshop Create Unique Partnership for New Line Cinema’s Lord of the Rings

Sideshow Inc. of Westlake Village, CA has partnered with Weta Workshop of New Zealand to develop multiple lines of polystone collectibles based on the upcoming film trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. Weta Workshop is the Special Effects Company that created the effects for all three Lord of the Rings films. The Sideshow / Weta collaboration will be responsible for the development and marketing of five lines of polystone collectibles: statues, busts, miniature weapons, miniature armor and helmets, and wall plaques.

The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is a New Line Cinema production and is based on the J.R.R Tolkien classic fantasy series of books. The films are currently in post-production in New Zealand with the first film; “The Fellowship of the Ring” slated for a December 2001 release. Peter Jackson, a native New Zealander, whose credits include “Heavenly Creatures” and “The Frighteners”, is directing the trilogy. The international cast features Sir Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Liv Tyler, and Elijah Wood.

The Sideshow / Weta partnership bring together two respected and talented organizations. Sideshow is the creative force responsible for the highly praised line of figure collectibles based on the Universal Studios Classic Monsters. The Sideshow team has been recognized for its ability to consistently achieve character likenesses in both collectible toys and statues. Weta is New Zealand’s foremost Effects facility, which was established fourteen years ago to support New Zealand’s fledgling film and television industry. Among Weta’s credits are several of Peter Jackson’s earlier films and also television’s popular Xena and Hercules’ series. Weta is comprised of a group of artists united in their love of art and film – from blacksmiths to leatherworkers, skilled prosthetic technicians, miniature makers, painters to wigmakers, casting and molding experts, engineers and swordsmiths.

The Weta Workshop has been immersed for more than four years in the conceptualizing, creation and the on-set operation of the creatures, miniatures, armor, weapons and special make-up effects for the three epic films. Weta’s focus has been to create a unified look throughout the three films while capturing the very essence of the books that are held so dear by millions of readers around the world.

It is the same Weta designers and technicians that have created the different armies and creatures within Middle Earth that have chosen to create the high quality collectibles under the Sideshow / Weta brand. The integrated experience that these designers and technicians have had in the creation of the films and their unique relationship with the actors and director will result in the most authentic figure and miniature collectibles possible. A preview of the upcoming collectibles can be seen at www.sideshowtoy.com where regularly updated info about the collectibles will be available.

The Sideshow / Weta collectibles will be released over a period of eight months beginning with Series I due to be in stores in September, 2001. Each additional series will be released at approximately 45 day intervals. Sideshow / Weta plan to release 24 statues, 32 busts, 16 helmets (also known as helms), 7 environments, 7 wall plaques and 14 assorted weapon sets based on the first film. Each of these items have been meticulously crafted, expertly reproduced to the highest standards, and are meant to bring the discerning collector a lifetime of enjoyment. Series 1 product, as well as future releases can be viewed now at www.sideshowtoy.com.

Founded in 1967, New Line Cinema is 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 AOL Time Warner Inc., operates several divisions including in-house theatrical distribution, marketing, home video, television acquisitions, production, licensing and merchandising units.

© 2001 New Line Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
“The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of The Ring and the characters and the places therein, TM The Saul Zaentz Company d/b/a Tolkien Enterprises under license to New Line Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.”

Primere Magazine Talks LOTR
Xoanon @ 5:57 pm EST

From: Saint

Just got the new issue of Premiere Magazine in the mail today (May Issue), and there are two small LOTR mentions. Well, one, and this other kinda related thing...well, read and see.

The main article this month is the 2001 Power List, that is, the top 100 most powerful people in Hollywood. It has this little sidebar "Dead, But Not in Showbiz", about people that are deceased, but are still showing much Hollywood power. One of them mentioned is our dear Professor, J.R.R. Tolkien. It says this:
J.R.R. Tolkien: New Line's decision to spend $270 Million to make the Rings trilogy must make [George] Lucas nervous: Star Wars was a rip-off!

LOL....I like that.

The other kinda related bit: Number 32 of the top 100 Most Powerful People is Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne, the two new heads of New Line (I believe). Amongst other things, it says this:

".....They bet on the $270 Millon on LOTR."

It also says: "Their Weaknesses: If the first installment of of RINGS tanks, all bets are off."

Montreal LOTR Play
Xoanon @ 10:42 am EST

From: Marwën

Today I went downtown to buy my first English version of LOTR (the black boxed set) and the nice guy from Paragraphe Bookstore gave me a bookmark/flyer of a play called "Towards Valinor", by Cory Fantie and the Elysian River Theatre. According to that, it's an epilogue to LOTR, it seems really interesting, I'm absolutely buying my ticket!

Here's what the flyer says:

Elysian River Theatre
One Ring was to rule them all
One Ring was to bind them
One Ring was to bring them all
And in the darkness bind them...
But now...
From the creative minds behind Surviving Wor(l)ds, Molly Sweeney and Much Ado About Nothing comes the dramatic epilogue to the greatest work of mythological fiction of the 20th century

J.R.R. Tolkien's LORD OF THE RINGS
TOWARDS VALINOR
by Cory Fantie
Directed by: Lowell Gasoi
Original music & sound by: Ray Muller
Designed by: Geneviève Genest, Mitch Jamieson
With...

Daniel Goldberg as Frodo
Richard Orlando as Gandalf
Jesse Todd as Elrond
Melissa Holland as Galadriel
Giancarlo Caltabiano as Sam
Angela Murphy as the Shadow
Stage Managed by Amanda Corber

"Follow Tolkien's wonderful characters as they continue their journey towards Valinor and face their final test of faith and endurance. A fantasy for all ages."

April 26--29, May 1--6, 2001
at 8:00pm (Matinees to be announced)
Geordie Space
4001 Berri St. at Duluth
Metro Sherbrooke, Bus 24
Montreal

Tickets on sale now:
$15 Adults $10 Students/Seniors
$7 children under 12
514-814-0781

There is a website about the theatre company (Elysian River). It's really nice. It doesn't say much more, but there are a few nice pics of Frodo and Gandalf.