Kelvarhin: What are your thoughts on superstring theory?

MrCere: Well, theoretical physics isn’t quite my area of specialty, mostly because math is my own personal Durin’s Bane. But like others, I am troubled by the five different string theories. However, I buy into some of the possible crazy, theoretical ramifications of the theory, especially when dealing with the eternal nature of intelligences.

Wait – that question was a joke, wasn’t it? (Kelvarhin: Paging Demosthenes )

Kelvarhin: Which is your preferred form of transport; Planes, Trains or Automobiles?

MrCere: The correct answer is, “It depends” but for purposes of getting to know me better, I will say that money makes all the difference when it comes to transportation and I don’t have much these days.  To really answer I need to know: Am I driving a Bugatti or riding in a crowded Pinto or driving through a hurricane with Quickbeam, Justin and Grimlock?  If I have top-notch rail accommodations, “train” is my answer. Windows and scenery and freedom to move or recline are pretty great and the point of the journey is not always to arrive.

Having said that, I never fly first class but due to the kindness of one person, one time, I have. And wow, that was a great experience. I have travelled a lot in the last three years and I enjoyed some of each but the more money a person can spend on transportation, the better it is.  There is nothing wrong with a bicycle or a bus.  Thinking a bit, I think in the last three years I have more miles behind me than the rest of my life combined.

Kelvarhin: Do you buy any of the movie related Collectibles?

MrCere: Is this another trick question? [Kelvarhin:  Now would *I* do anything like that? 3:) ]

Assuming that Middle-earth movies are what is being asked about, yes. I was a heavy collector during the LOTR days and I also did freelance writing for Sideshow Collectibles, which allowed me to pick up items way beyond my reach otherwise.

I find the high-end collectibles of Middle-earth monsters to be much more satisfying than the character figures.  I love, love, love the series of mini-helms that Sideshow made and Weta Workshop now releases. I have many, including some really rare ones (the crown of the Witch King and King Elessar’s crown) but I am missing a few in the line and they are all but impossible to get now. They are all displayed and look cool.

I also bought all the LOTR action figures, and family literally gave them to me as Christmas presents, but they are boxed and in storage and I should sell them. I display some LOTR things in my Man Cave other than just the helms. The most dramatic piece I have is a large armoured Sauron figure that is displayed with a different piece, his mace, and a large, heavy and metal helm that might be 1:4 scale so I guess it is a shrine to Sauron on one shelf. I have a sweet Lurtz and a few others.

Now I really only collect Middle-earth books, including Tolkien books, because I am a student instead of a working man and there is no disposable income. I haven’t picked up Weta’s Hobbit movie books yet but I saw them in the production phase and they are mind-alteringly good. How can everybody not want those?

Really crazy pop-culture stuff still entices me though. For example I have a two full sets of the Burger King FOTR toys; one set opened, one set still in individual plastic bags. I had to eat a lot of Whoppers to get those. When the LOTR Pez sets came out, they were a must-buy.

What I really collect are comic book character Daredevil items which has been a life-long effort, but nobody here wants to read about that.  I am a hopeless collector is so many ways.

Kelvarhin: How did you find TORn and why did you stick around?

MrCere: Well, the short version is Chris (Calisuri) adopted me. A couple of face-to-face exposures to him and he invited me to contribute, which changed my life. I love being part of a team that I feel is working for a good cause and I admired and still admire the TORn staff for doing what they do because of passion and not money. I also was really passionate about TORn Line Parties for the LOTR films.

But, before being asked to join the staff, I read the message boards from very early on but didn’t contribute for a long, long while and then contributed a lot. I am back to not contributing these days because my exposure to the Hobbit films is such that anything I type there can and will be used against me in a court of law and because I don’t quite feel like I fit in with all the speculating that goes on. I make it less fun for others I suspect.

Kelvarhin: And how is it to be invited by WB to attend the world premiere of The Hobbit? How much stress does it bring along? Can you do anything fun or is it just being ordered around where you have to be for the next press moment?

MrCere: Warner’s invitation brought zero stress with it. I was a journalist for much of my adult life and covering things like that event are pretty easy. I was very anxious before the invitation came because I felt strongly that TORn should be there and should be reporting and needed to not only regurgitate other news agencies but understand the fan’s viewpoint in our coverage.

This might be too much disclosure but that was shortly after the death of my father and so in real life perspective, covering a studio-generated event to generate press for its film is super easy, even relaxing and fun.

The real stress started when the logic board on my laptop died on the day of the premiere, which means I had no way to send news back to TORn. I had to beg and borrow time on others’ computers to even post what I managed to post. I hated that and felt that I let the site down and fans down. There was abundant coverage, but not doing all I could, as well as I could, left me heartsick. However, we had the live feed, so that was better than anything I could write.

The saving grace? I had a video camera and friend Dan who paid his own way to be there, to shoot it and edit it. So, there was things like this I could share later.

Also, the rest of the TORn staff killed it that day, so no readers suffered.

I did some other stories from the same trip.

The answer to the second part of the question: Nearly all my time was scheduled, which was absolutely fine with me. We visited and reported on a lot of the people who made the films, not just the one-day event.

TheOneRing.net, following a long tradition of getting fans together in real life, have set up Line Party events around the country. Companies like Badali Jewelry, with its commemorative Line Party Pins, ReadD 3D glasses, Guardians of Middle-earth video games, HMH book publishers and Denny’s have all made donations that have been sent to select lines around the nation.

Grauman’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, photographed by the line that gathered 24 hours early to get in line for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”

TORn’s Line Party in Atlanta, Georgia received media attention today, led by our own staffer Deej, also known as Rebecca Perry. The Atlanta Journal Constitution features a story with Deej and many of the site’s friends and DragonCon’s Tolkienites. They even used photos from the subjects of the story to full effect.

Other notable lines are in Boston, scattered around California and appear in virtually every state and many countries around the world.

Meanwhile, the Salt Lake line party, led by this young writer here, is taking a low-key approach. For LOTR:Return of the King we privately purchased 1,400 tickets so this year is a quiet gathering to build momentum for the next two Hobbit films. However, we are throwing down the gauntlet and will turn next year’s event into a friendly rivalry. Just you try to out-do us in 2014!
You too can participate in Line Party events now and in the future. Check out our lines here and look for more and better in 2014. Also, we will print limited t-shirts to commemorate our fourth Line Party effort. Called the LP4 shirt, look for it soon! Thanks to all the Line Party leaders for your efforts and to fans: ENJOY!

Today, Dec. 31 is the final day these pins will be for sale.

It is cast in solid bronze. It retails for $30 and is only available until December 31 in very limited quantities. Ordering today will likely get the pin in your hands before Line Party events on 12/14/2012. After that, the pin will stand a permanent reminder of participation in a world-wide celebration of Tolkien fandom.

You can order the pins directly from the source at http://www.badalijewelry.com/lineparty.htm and we at TORn want to thank them for years of association, support and friendship. Check the ordering page to see the schedule for delivery by Christmas. Remember, numbers are extremely limited and to wear them for December 14, act today.

Badali also crafted the “good luck” pins from TheOneRing.net to Peter Jackson and his team wore to the Academy Awards and are visible in footage and in photos from that night. Badali holds the license to make jewelry from Tolkien Enterprises, as it has for many years. NOTE: This previously listed the item as gold plated which was an error for which TheOneRing.net apologizes.

Finns queue in zero temperatures for tickets to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The tickets for the very expected Unexpected Journey were released early yesterday morning in Finland. A long line of people, hobbits and what looked suspiciously like Shadowfax were waiting outside the doors of one of the bigger cinemas in Helsinki before the sale started.

The people in front of the queue had arrived on Thursday, and were camping out in sleeping bags and tents. However, the majority of the people (and hobbits) lined up on Friday to get the queue numbers that were handed out at 22:30 that evening.

Arriving with only a couple of hours to spare, I had exactly 300 people in front of me, and at least as many behind. Those with cloaks had good use of them to keep the warmth in the slightly chilly weather. Others had brought warm tea, and I am certain one or two of the elves brought Miruvor with them.

Tickets for the Helsinki debut of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

After receiving the queue numbers people could walk around as they pleased. A big lot chose to spend the night watching the Extended Editions of the Fellowship of the Ring and the Two Towers, which were shown in the cinema. Apparently the audience was very familiar with music videos from youtube, since solemn lines like “tell me where is Gandalf, for I much desire to speak with him” were met with cheers and applauds. The noise after “they are taking the hobbits to Isengard” was almost more deafening than the explosion at Helms deep.

After Gollum´s Song had tuned out it was time to line up again to finally buy the tickets. The sale was very effective, and the staff at Tennispalatsi deserves a lot of kudos for organizing everything so well! Just a couple of minutes after 8 in the morning the people were wearing big smiles while sleep deprived eyes watched the precious tickets. Now we just have to wait until December 12 to get use for them!

‘Look3D, along with Warner Bros. and RealD, have created these ‘Middle-earth’ inspired 3D Glasses specifically for the new Hobbit film!  Look3D has only created 5,000 units of the limited edition packaging, and these will be available for a limited time on Amazon.com in the US, and through www.look3d.com.  The limited edition pack comes with the 3D glasses and branded soft cloth bag.’

There are a few ways you can get your hands on these fabulous glasses.  They are available at ‘Made in Middle-earth: Wellington’s Hobbit Artisan Market’ - so those of you lucky enough to be in New Zealand for the Premiere can head over there and snap up a pair.  We’re also excited to let you know that the good folks at Look3D have given us pairs to give away at some of our Line Parties – so if you come along to one of TORn’s Line Party events, you may win a pair of these glasses.  Click here to look for a Line Party near you.

If you’re NOT in Wellington and you don’t want to chance your luck on winning a pair, don’t despair – you can order online at Amazon.com!  The glasses are only $10 – order your own pair now, and watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in style!  Click here to order.

The Hobbit is the first film to be released in theatres in seven formats: HFR 3D, IMAX 3D, IMAX, standard 3D, and 2D, accompanied by Dolby Atmos 64-channel audio or Standard Dolby Surround. Over the last couple of weeks we’ve been updating our list with dozens of reader submissions and updates of different theatres round the world that are screening The Hobbit in the HFR format.

Peter Jackson intends audiences to see it in HFR 3D with Dolby Atmos — the way he filmed it. When deciding to purchase your tickets, you might like to look for these theatres!

If you have an update to the list HFR list, drop us a line.

Download PDF

Please send us any updated info from your local theatres around the world, and remember to join your local Line Parties here!

If you are familiar with Line Parties, we have a primer (Line Party 101) to give you the basic info on how to start or participate in an event near you. In 2003, with the momentum of three LOTR films, our line party organization reached well over 10,000 sign ups which usually represents only a small fraction of those actually attending. We know of people attending events in 2012 that have purchased 20 tickets but with only one sign up. We supported the most active lines with gifts or items from corporations or individuals as the opportunity arose. The largest lines, in Utah and Arizona, numbered more than 1,000 people and brought great costumes and media attention with them.

2001 was ‘The Fellowship of the Line’

2002 featured ’2002 Towers’

and 2003 was LP3: The Return of the Line. We also declared, on a shirt and way before it was an internet meme, “One does not simply walk into theaters, there are geeks there that do not sleep.”

In fact the line party movement shares a common theme with Star Wars fandom, known for its weeks-long commitment to camping out and waiting in lines to be the first to see new installments of that franchise. Keep your eyes peeled for these to go on sale and thanks for all of your support. Join today!

“Through the help of Sir Peter Jackson and Matt Dravitzki and also Sarah Meikle of Positively Wellington Tourism, tickets to the 48fps, 3D, Atmos sound, main auditorium, first day midnight screening have been provided for those dedicated fans. Members of Welly-moot were also among the disappointed last night, and one of those members, Jack Machiela, has volunteered to try to track down people who were in the line and get those tickets to them. According to Sarah Meikle, this will be a very exciting party – apart from the obvious reasons – and she does not want those die-hard fans to miss out.

“So, if you were one of those 50-60 people in line (or know someone who was and have been listening to them crying all day), get in touch with Jack at jack@pobox.com, tell him where you were sitting, and enclose any photos you have of yourself in the line. They won’t be able to give out large numbers of extra tickets; expect one or two tickets per person. This is a big job Jack has taken on, but he is one very big fan who wants things set to rights. Our Jack, however, is nobody’s fool, and the few who have contacted him through other sites with ‘I was there in spirit, can I have a free ticket, too’ are wasting their time and his, and I know nobody here has time to waste – we all have line party costumes to make.

“Peter Jackson has always said that the making of these films has been about the fans, and he is one of them.  I’d say this is what you’d call walking the walk.”

Cheers, Lissuin

Tehanu: Guy from Prague and your friend, I’ve got your back. Here’s a pic of you both – now contact Jack with a corroborating photo and he’ll get you your tickets. Four Spanish-Speaking Latino-Looking Guys behind me – I noticed you but didn’t get a picture. You were the last in line. Hope you have a pic of yourselves – maybe I can verify it for Jack.

Also if the Stansborough guys got pics of anyone modelling their Gandalf cloaks and scarves – see if they have those pics to prove you were in line.

Guy from Prague at the Embassy line pary

Next to me in line at the Embassy 

People next to Tehanu at Wellington Line Party