Celebriel forwards this article on production designer Grant Major’s new short film, UNDERGROWTH. “Writing something, directing it, and making my own story is bloody awesome actually,” he says cheerily on the phone from Los Angeles. Grant won an Oscar for his art direction on LOTR: The Return of the King. More..

Hobbiton Set (file) Tyellas writes: The potter who did extensive work for the Lord of the Rings films, Mirek Smíšek, is currently having a gallery show in Waikanae, about 1/2 hour north of Wellington. This show reviews 60 years of his exceptionally graceful work, and shows us why he was chosen as the potter for Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth. Smíšek’s studio, which he shares with his partner Pamela Annsouth, who produces her own gorgeous works, can be visited by appointment, as noted here. More..

Take a look at TheOneRing.net’s extensive collection of over 150 photos from 10 years of the Hobbiton set in our one of a kind LOTR Scrapbook!

Peter JacksonComic-Con, a world showcase of pop-culture, has been trying to land Peter Jackson for the last decade since it was announce that he would helm the three-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of The Rings.” Jackson sent along video to the mega-show for both LOTR and King Kong but for the first time the now big-time director will make the show in person. Continue reading “Jackson, Taylor, Noble and TORn at Comic-Con”