Archive for the ‘MrCere in New Zealand’ Category
April 10, 2012 at 6:57 pm by Cliff Quickbeam Broadway
We have much to celebrate at TheOneRing.net as our intrepid reporter MrCere arrives today in the heart of New Zealand to visit THE HOBBIT set; and our show today will likewise cover some exciting territory! Come re-live the wild animation of the 70′s on our *live* webcast today (affectionately known as TORn TUESDAY!). We will explore the works of animation trailblazer RALPH BAKSHI and consider his contributions to “The Lord of the Rings” history. We look forward in time as well, anticipating the newest wizard of Middle-earth to arrive, and so sink our teeth into Quickbeam’s recent editorial “Where Exactly Art Thou, Radagast?” As always, you can join the *live* chat today and present your questions to show host Clifford Broadway (Quickbeam)! Today’s webcast launches at 5:00pm PDT — There’s a built-in Barliman’s chat room or come in via Skype in TheOneRing.net’s Stickam page. Check out our LIVE Event section right here every week! [LIVE Event Area] (See All Times)
Posted in Barlimans, Fans, Hobbit Movie, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, LotR Movies, MrCere in New Zealand, The Hobbit, TORn TUESDAYS Live!
April 7, 2012 at 1:29 am by admin
| Discuss |
TheOneRing.net is pleased to announce it is headed to an embedded set visit in Wellington, New Zealand during the filming of “The Hobbit: There And Back Again,”. The site and writer Larry D. Curtis accepted the invitation from Warner Bros. and Wingnut Films. The production is currently filming the second of the two films in studio, so all of the content from the visit will reach audiences in 2013, after this year’s release (December 14) of the first of the pair of films, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”
The films are a two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” celebrating its 75th year of publication in 2012. Peter Jackson is directing the films after helming a three-part adaptation of Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” book that appeared in print 17 years after “The Hobbit.” Jackson scripted the films with his writing team of Phillipa Boyens and Fran Walsh with the addition of one-time-director Guillermo del Toro. Fans will remember the many agonizing delays before the film’s start that eventually forced del Toro to bow out.
Curtis, reporting from the film set, is part of TORn’s Senior Staff, a writer and photographer known to the TORn community at MrCere. He has contributed to TheOneRing.net for more than a decade in a variety of roles. In December he visited and toured New Zealand including an exclusive report from the Hobbiton Movie Set after being granted permission to publish impressions and photos from the site, rebuilt for “The Hobbit.” The location can be visited as a fully dressed film set accessible to by tour. The first block of filming on “The Hobbit,” included production from the site, set on a working livestock farm near Matamata, New Zealand. (more…)
Posted in Fans, Fran Walsh, Guillermo Del Toro, Headlines, Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie FAQ, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, LotR Movies, MrCere in New Zealand, Old Spy Reports, Original TORn, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Studios, The Hobbit, TheOneRing.net Announcements, Warner Bros.
March 16, 2012 at 10:28 am by Cliff Quickbeam Broadway
Greetings all Ringers! By now you now that WonderCon has moved for 2012 down to Anaheim, providing a new opportunity for the dedicated volunteer staff of TORn to bring their sunny best to a rainy weekend in Southern California!
We open the festivities with our much anticipated panel on THE HOBBIT at 12:30pm today… check out the Programming Schedule here:
“12:30-1:30 TheOneRing.net Hobbit Movie Insider’s Preview— Ringers everywhere are eagerly awaiting Peter Jackson’s new Hobbit films during the 75th anniversary year of the book’s publication! Staff writers and scholars from TheOneRing.net web portal invite you to join this lively panel revealing film production surprises and a zealous shredding of rumors! Led by Clifford Broadway (Ringers: Lord of the Fans), Josh Rubinstein (Star Trek: TNG Blu-ray), Cathy Udovch (Cruise to Middle-earth), and Mike Urban (The People’s Guide to J. R. R. Tolkien). Room 207 ”
We are also joined by the legendary Larry Curtis - MrCere – who recently went down to visit the New Zealand production and has a first-hand account. With tons of juicy bits and some fun surprises, you’re sure to get your Hobbity fix on your first day at WonderCon! Come join us in Room 207!
Posted in Billy Connolly, Casting Rumors, Conventions, Director news, Events, Fans, Headlines, Hobbit Cast News, Hobbit Movie, Locations Sets, MrCere in New Zealand, Peter Jackson, Production, Rumors Spy News, The Hobbit, Uncategorized, WonderCon
January 1, 2012 at 4:47 pm by maegwen
| Discuss |
What a great year! And things are about to get even more exciting! As we begin 2012 with anticipation that will continue to grow and grow, TORn staffer Justin takes us on a tour of all the events and activities TORn fans participated in during 2011. Read on!
(more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Blu-Ray, ComicCon, Contests, Conventions, DragonCon, Events, Fans, Film Screenings, Hobbit Movie, Locations Sets, Merchandise, MrCere in New Zealand, New Zealand, NYCC, Other Events, Production, Television, The Hobbit, TheOneRing.net Community, TORn TUESDAYS Live!, Warner Bros., WETA Cave, WETA Digital, WETA Workshop
December 30, 2011 at 5:24 pm by MrCere
Sunset near Twizel, New Zealand on the day of our story.
TWIZEL, NEW ZEALAND — Not every conversation I had in New Zealand is fair game for publication at TheOneRing.net. If they all were, people would have spoken with me a lot less and a lot less openly or maybe just have not spoken with me at all.
During one such private meeting, a shared photo led to a side conversation that led to a revelation about an act of kindness that hit me, and still hits me, in my core. Somebody I knew, not in New Zealand, had heroically withstood some of life’s trials and others, in New Zealand, had selflessly performed a service for them. I can’t relate the story here because it was unmistakably not an interview situation and even the people on the receiving end of the generosity have kept it to themselves.
I was amazed by the revelation at the time and I was on the road much of the next 24 hours, meaning I was alone with my thoughts; Despite having a lot to ponder, this bit of unselfishness stayed with me for the entire drive when I wasn’t distracted by things like getting lost or finding a place to stay. (more…)
Posted in Hobbit Movie, MrCere in New Zealand, New Zealand, Peter Jackson, The Hobbit, TheOneRing.net Community
December 29, 2011 at 6:29 pm by newsfrombree
| Discuss |
Sohaib Awan from the radio show Fictional Frontiers also does a segment on SUVUDU that focuses on fantasy and science fiction books, movies and comics. He spoke with our own MrCere this week about his trip to New Zealand including Weta Workshop and Richard Taylor. They talk Hobbit of course, Hobbit trailer insights and a lot about travel possibilities for anybody. Listen to the segment right here.
Posted in Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie FAQ, MrCere in New Zealand, New Zealand, Richard Taylor, Tours, WETA Cave, WETA Workshop
December 13, 2011 at 4:13 am by MrCere
Our story so far: Peter Jackson made three Middle-earth movies and people loved them. Now he is making two more and people already love them too. MrCere, Senior Staff, Writer and Photographer at TheOneRing.net (around since 1999) went to NZ to see what he could see. Landed in Queenstown, found lots of LOTR stuff, drove north to see the people of the ring, visited Hobbiton visited Wellington, center of NZ’s cinematic empire, and will soon leave NZ. However, much more content will follow.
I haven’t seen an insect weta before in my travels (until this trip, but not this story) but I have plenty of experience with the folks who run and work at the special effects shop who identify themselves as “wetas”. Several Comic-Cons, (including the 2011 edition in San Diego) lots of emails and various TORn functions have made the crew at Weta Workshop friendly acquaintances if not just plain old friends.
My time in Wellington would need to include a visit of some kind with the very busy people who are working on The Hobbit, but as I have often joked (even though it is at least partially true) Weta’s second best talent is making special effects for movies. What they are really best at is keeping secrets from TheOneRing.net. I had no illusions that anybody was going to tour me around the workshop (I asked anyway, just in case) during the height of The Hobbit production, but they were kind enough to invite me along to a group they were hosting from a cruise ship that included one of our own message board members. (Her identity is her own to reveal.) (more…)
Posted in Collectibles, Crew News, Daniel Falconer, Events, Fans, Hobbit Movie, Locations Sets, LotR Movies, LotR Production, Make Up, Meet Ups, Merchandise, Models, MrCere in New Zealand, Production, Richard Taylor, WETA Cave, Weta Collectibles, WETA Digital, WETA Workshop
December 12, 2011 at 1:45 am by MrCere
| Discuss |
Millions line up at Universal Studios in L.A. for a chance to pull back the curtain and see behind the illusions of Hollywood films and television. At the Hobbiton movie set in Matamata, tourists pour into the area for exactly the opposite reason: they want to step into the illusion of a film, walk around and stay there awhile.
Pure magic.
It may be the only location in history where fans can visit a dressed film set before the movie is released. The first of two films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is due to hit theaters almost exactly a year from now but at the smallish village found between Rotorua and Hamilton, the pastoral, fictional Middle-earth is definitely open for business. TheOneRing.net is pleased to have the opportunity to bring you the first images allowed from the now dormant set. (more…)
Posted in Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie FAQ, Locations Sets, MrCere in New Zealand, Production Q&A, The Hobbit
December 11, 2011 at 12:23 am by MrCere
Our story so far: Peter Jackson made three Middle-earth movies and people loved them. Now he is making two more and people already love them too. MrCere, Senior Staff, Writer and Photographer at TheOneRing.net (Forged by and for fans since 1999) went to NZ to see what he could see. Landed in Queenstown, found lots of LOTR stuff, drove north to see the people of the ring, visited Hobbiton set and now is in Wellington, center of NZ’s cinematic empire.
It is pretty important while in Wellington for me to participate in what any visitor might and especially activities with a Lord of the Rings slant. The city is one of my favorites around the world, situated as it is on a bay of great natural beauty. I like the size because it feels pretty easy to get to know, but it has the advantages of a big city’s variety with excellent food and lots of travelers and plenty of full-time residents and all kinds of attractions.
This trip I enjoyed walking around the city and thumbing through vinyl records (ask your parents if those foreign objects are unfamiliar to you) checking out a variety of automobile dealerships including an upholstery shop with some interesting old cars, a comic book shop and a burrito joint with great architecture and melted candles. The nightlife here is crazy, including the Saturday morning I woke up early and discovered the Friday night revelry with its thumbing bass and cocktails hadn’t ended as I sought out breakfast.
It also, with its proximity to Peter Jackson’s filmmaking empire, was an important area in the making of The Lord of the Rings, but not just because of the production and effects studios across the harbor. I ended up heading out with
Wellington Rover on its half-day tour to make a visit to filming locations. (more…)
Posted in Fans, Locations Sets, LotR Movies, LotR Production, MrCere in New Zealand, New Zealand, The Hobbit, Tours
December 8, 2011 at 8:19 pm by MrCere
Our story so far: Peter Jackson made three Middle-earth movies and people loved them. Now he is making two more and people already love them too. MrCere, Senior Staff, writer and photographer at TheOneRing.net (around since 1999) went to NZ to see what he could see. Landed in Queenstown, found lots of LOTR stuff, drove north to see the people of the ring, visited Hobbiton set and now is in Wellington, center of NZ’s cinematic empire.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — I thought, and it makes me chuckle now, that when I landed in Wellington I would finally be based in one place long enough to really crank out some copy. Ha!
Instead, Wellington has been a whirlwind but that is a great thing, not a bad thing. I often contemplate cancelling one of the events here so I can spend hours writing and posting photos but I haven’t cancelled anything yet and each time I go to do something, I find that I am very glad to have been along.
Some of those events have tourism ties and then end up having direct ties to things here at TheOneRing, even when I think they will not. Other things, like spending the day with the kids at Weta, are directly tied in. None of them so far have been worth sacrificing and time is running out fast. But stories I have in some stage of ready:
* Hobbit set visit with images
* An exclusive with Richard Taylor (more…)
Posted in Andy Serkis, Hobbit Movie, LotR Production, MrCere in New Zealand, Production, Richard Taylor, The Hobbit, WETA Cave, WETA Workshop
December 7, 2011 at 9:05 pm by MrCere
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — In what may be a first, I am sitting in the Weta Cave next to TORn co-founder Erica / Tehanu, and we can confirm absolutely that the rumor of a delay of the first Hobbit film until 2013 is complete, uh, shall we say, balderdash. It is interesting to imagine where the rumor came from but the source here is beyond question. While I hate to drive traffic to the start of the confusion, here it is just in case. In case it wasn’t clear, this is completely untrue.
UPDATE: Dan Fellman, President, Domestic Distribution, Warner Bros. Pictures has also given a definitive statement on the matter as well:
“Contrary to inaccurate reports – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is being released on December 14, 2012.
Posted in Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie FAQ, MrCere in New Zealand, The Hobbit
December 6, 2011 at 4:47 pm by MrCere
Just a really quick check in while I juggle the logistics of being a lone traveler: I know many readers have visited the Hobbiton movie set, but it is currently quite pristine after serving for The Hobbit and they may wish to go back. I was there yesterday and have a lot to write and say about and I will be allowed to publish some photos as well. Those who haven’t been, well, it is a prime experience. Wellington is rainy and chilly and full of friends of TheOneRing.net but I am here for a few days and should be able to buckle down and blog until my fingers bleed so stay tuned!
Posted in Hobbit Movie, Hobbit Movie FAQ, Locations Sets, Lord of the Rings, MrCere in New Zealand, Production
