How did you become interested in Tolkien and Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit? What drew you to them and what do you like about them?
Ben P: I remember first reading Tolkien in high school after my sister got me into The Hobbit. Tolkien’s distinct style drew me into the epic journey as I fell in love with the characters along the way. The movies are also a family favorite as we’ve watched them countless times, especially the battle scenes.
What was the first original piece you constructed? What do you think of it now?
Ben P: My first original piece inspired from Tolkien was Rivendell. I still wonder what I was thinking when I started this massive project.
With all the possibilities, what made you decide to build Rivendell?
Ben P: I’m obviously a big Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan. From Tolkien’s artwork, the natural serenity and Elven architecture in Rivendell always captivated me.
After watching The Hobbit An Unexpected Gathering, I was inspired to recreate Rivendell as portrayed in the movie.
In Peter Jackson’s films, Rivendell is intricate and highly detailed. How did you recreate this with LEGO?
Ben P: I found a visual effects video from Weta Digital which gave me insight of Rivendell never released in the movie. With these behind the scenes images I was able to create every minor detail including the landscape, the location of the buildings, and even the moon runes which all light up.
I also studied Rivendell scenes in “The Hobbit An Unexpected Gathering” regularly to map it out. Weta Workshop was equally satisfied with the outcome as they featured it on their website.
