Matchstick Man Creates Minas TirithDaniel writes: Patrick Acton, the Matchstick Man of Iowa has posted three new photos at his website of the progress on his matchstick re-creation of Minas Tirith. The photos were posted on March 1st, 2009. Enjoy! Here is the link.

One of Horton Foote’s last works is adding cast and moving closer to production. Producers on “Main Street,” the late playwright’s new and final screenplay, are in negotiations to cast Orlando Bloom and have signed Andrew McCarthy ahead of the project’s planned April shoot. The pair join an ensemble that already includes Ellen Burstyn, Patricia Clarkson and Colin Firth. It has yet to cast the central character, a young-girl role. Foote’s drama centers on a group of people in a small town in North Carolina whose lives are shaken up when a stranger arrives. Bloom will play a small-town policeman, while McCarthy will play a Lothario business manager. Orlando Bloom heads to ‘Main Street’

Howard ShoreEva writes: Fantastic news. Howard Shore is going to do a talk before the Albert Hall Concert on Tuesday, April 14. I booked my ticket in October and got this email on March 26: From the Newsletter – Thank you for booking your tickets to the live UK premiere of ‘The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring’ at the Royal Albert Hall on Tuesday 14 April 2009.

In related news Howard Shore will be at the Radio City Music Hall event this fall in NYC. Watch FOTR with a 300 member orchestra and Howard shore! Tickets Available at Radio City Music Hall or Ticketmaster.com

Continue reading “Howard Shore Talk Added to Royal Albert Hall Event”

Sean Kirst from The Post-Standard writes: Another Tolkien Reading Day is upon us, as discussed in today’s column – attached in “extended reading.” We’re holding this year’s version Sunday at 1 p.m. on the second floor of The Palace Theatre in Eastwood. Admission is free, and the focus is participation, not fundraising, especially in these tough financial times. But if you want to throw any change into a hat, all proceeds will go toward a couple of local literacy projects: The Ted Grace Reading Grove, and a GED program at the Learning Place. We’ll be reading from “The Hobbit,” and we’ll go for as long as everyone holds out. Right now, we’re thinking three pages per reader. The point is certainly to honor Tolkien, but it’s also to recall the sheer joy of reading. Retired English professor Tony Annunziata, the focus of today’s column, recently noted that Tolkien exemplifies the power of reading: His work demands an intense creative process for anyone who flips open the books, and the payoff is a lifetime bond. Syracuse Tolkien Reading Day II

Reclaiming the BladeTheOneRing.net is teaming up with Galatia Films to celebrate the DVD release of ‘Reclaiming the Blade’ by giving away the ‘Late 15th Century Bastard Sword’ from Albion Swords! A prize worth nearly $500! Entering the contest is super easy – you don’t even need to answer any questions! ‘Reclaiming the Blade’ is narrated by John Rhys-Davies and features appearances by many LOTR veterans: Viggo Mortensen, Karl Urban, Bob Anderson, John Howe and Richard Taylor of WETA Workshop. The DVD will be released on March 30th, but you can place your pre-order today at the Galatia Films website. So after you enter the contest, secure your copy of the DVD today! [Contest Page] [Pre-Order the DVD]

Legolas Premium Format Figure

Tomorrow at 10am PT, Sideshow Collectibles.com will launch their latest Lord of the Rings Premium Format Figure – Legolas Greenleaf. According to their website, the piece is based on Legolas as he appears in the Mines of Moria, with the exclusive edition featuring an orc skull. With a pretty striking sculpt of Orlando Bloom as Legolas, and a limited edition of 500 pieces, they expect the exclusive to sell out very quickly. For more information, check out SideshowCollectibles.com! [Learn More] [Full Gallery and Description]