Check out the Full article on Weta’s appearance: WETA TO ATTEND SUPANOVA SYDNEY AND PERTH IN JUNE

List of Middle-earth celebs making an apperance:

• John Callen – Oin the Dwarf
• Adam Brown – Ori the Dwarf
• Jed Brophy – Nori the Dwarf
• Karl Urban – Éomer
• Mark Ferguson – Gil-galad

What a fun movie! Dominic Monaghan (Meriadoc Brandybuck) came on board to be our wonderful narrator! Actually this film is a time capsule of many decades of pop culture history — giving us the full story on how the world has embraced Tolkien’s masterpiece THE LORD OF THE RINGS over 50 years and more!

Winner of the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival, RINGERS was produced in association with TheOneRing.net — this remarkable little film was forged BY fans and FOR fans, just like our website, with the production/writing talent of Clifford “Quickbeam” Broadway (who hosts TORn TUESDAY every week), Jeff Marchelletta, and supercool director Carlene Cordova. It was executive produced by X-Men/Transformers guru Tom DeSanto.

With a wonderful rock-driven score and detailing all the outpouring of love bestowed on Tolkien over many generations, this film is a must-have for your digital collection! Get it on iTunes now for only $9.99!

From the original Sony Press Release:

“RINGERS is comprehensive, entertaining and informative pop culture history.”
– The Toronto Star

“…Will always be a salient part of ‘LORD OF THE RINGS’ history…
See it, absorb it, love it.” – FilmThreat

Winner of “Outstanding Achievement” Award at the
Newport Beach Film Festival

RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS

FASCINATING DOCUMENTARY CAPTURES THE HISTORY, INFLUENCE AND PHENOMENON THAT IS LORD OF THE RINGS

CULVER CITY, Calif. (September 12, 2005) – Sony invites you to return to the Shire with the release of the feature-length documentary RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS, direct to DVD.  In association with the popular fan-site TheOneRing.net, Carlene Cordova produced, directed and wrote this award-winning film with executive producer Tom DeSanto(X-Men, X2: X-Men United and Transformers), which charts the incredible influence and ripple-effect that Lord of the Rings has had on worldwide pop culture over the past five decades.  Whether you are a fan or first timer, critics agree, RINGERS, stands as the most comprehensive film documenting the ongoing impact of J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary achievement.

Dominic Monaghan (star of ABC’s Lost and the Academy Award^® winning Lord of the Rings trilogy) narrates the documentary as it looks behind the curtain between Lord of the Rings and how it inspired so many artists of different mediums.  The film moves beyond “cult classic” and through different generations unearthing the way legendary rock musicians, filmmakers, professors, actors and authors all unite under the banner of ‘Ringer.’  Interviewees included in the film are Lord of the Rings trilogy filmmaker Peter Jackson as well as Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin and David Carradine.  Infused with a dynamic rock-driven score, irreverent cut-out animation (á la Terry Gilliam), and a centerpiece audience sing-a-long, RINGERS is a genre-busting documentary that shows how a single literary work continues to spark the minds and hearts of millions.

RINGERS continues the momentum of the motion picture trilogy Lord of the Rings, a winner of 17 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director for Peter Jackson, who made history as the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously. 

From the official synopsis:

Ringers: Lord of the Fans is a feature-length documentary that reveals the ongoing cultural phenomenon created by The Lord of the Rings.  Very funny and often moving, Ringers shows the hidden power behind Tolkien’s books — and how after 50 years a single literary work continues to spark the minds and hearts of millions, across cultures and across time.

Shot with groundbreaking new digital technology in 24P, Ringers explores the real foundations of Middle-earth; a community of true fans who share a common bond.  Moving beyond “cult classic” and over several different generations, the film unearths academics, musicians, authors, filmmakers, and a plethora of pop junkies — the people gathered under the banner of ‘Ringer.’  From the hippie counter-culture to the electronic age; from the Bakshi animated film to Jackson’s epic trilogy; this documentary brings together extensive footage from across the globe.  With units in Los Angeles, San Diego, Atlanta, Salt Lake City, Bonn, Germany, Wellington, New Zealand, and Oxford, England, our cameras capture the most fascinating “Ringers” and Lord of the Rings events.

What began as the private amusement of a tweedy Oxford professor has now become a new mythology for the 21^st century. Ringers: Lord of the Fans shows how an adventure story published in 1954 has had dynamic ripple-effects through Western pop-culture.  Ringers carefully pulls away the veil between Tolkien’s book and the creations of art, music, and community that have been inspired by it.

Check out the official trailer here:

Shows

We had a wonderful time in April, attending 3 shows in Melbourne and the Gold Coast of Australia, and our first visit to CalgaryExpo in Canada. It was exciting to meet some new and old Flamers in person for the first time. We were especially grateful for the kind donations of chocolate for the crew !
Most of us just got back to work on Monday, a bit tired, but ready to get going again. And of course, we are only 2 months away from the Big Show; San Diego Comic Con. Time flies, we can’t wait ! We will be in the same booth space (3513B) as last year. This has now become our own Weta booth, we are no longer sharing someone else’s space. We will have our largest ever team of Weta crew at Comic Con this year. We’ll be announcing names soon. Please come and say Hi We are shipping out a container full of goodies to San Diego at the end of May, full of confidential, new stuff. We still have lots of work to do, as there are always a handful of items packed in at the last minute.

The Hobbit – 1/6th scale polystone range

We have now launched the first seven pieces in the 1/6th scale range: Thorin, Gandalf, Bilbo, Dwalin, Balin, Bombur and Gollum. Thanks so much to all of you who have supported this range, we consider these to be the best quality sculptures we have created. This will be our signature line for The Hobbit trilogy of movies and we have several more outstanding pieces in production. A lot of thought has gone into the poses, and how the various characters could be displayed together. We expect this will become clearer over time. We will most likely unveil the next sculpture in the range in July.

Some of you have asked why there are no creatures launched yet ? The reason is that most of the creatures are created in digital form for the films, and the digital work is normally finalized very late in the film making process. So therefore we could not start work on these creatures until very late last year. But never fear, they are coming !

The Hobbit – Environments

We had hoped to have launched an environment by now. We were actually building a few pieces last year. But once the decision was made to change from 2 to 3 movies, we had to put them on hold until the second movie is released.

The good news is that we do have 2 new environments in production now, so you will be seeing them at some stage soon.

The Hobbit – New Polystone Product Ranges !

Over the next few months, we will be launching some new smaller scale pieces, priced under US$100, including a few special pre-releases from the upcoming movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Look out for these at Comic Con!

The Hobbit – Prop Replicas

Our Staves have been extremely popular. The first production of both the Staff of Radagast the Brown and the Staff of Gandalf the Grey, sold out even before they arrived in our warehouses. The second and final production run will take place over the next few months and we hope to release these final pieces before the end of 2013. We strongly suggest pre-ordering to ensure you don’t miss out.

The Key to Erebor is our highest selling item. We have sold out our stocks twice and are struggling to keep up with production

Daniel Reeve has had a great time creating hand made Contracts and Maps.

Jewelry from Middle-earth

Our new range of Jewelry from Middle-earth has been a huge hit, especially The One Ring in gold plated tungsten carbide, created by Jens Hansen Gold and Silversmith. We continue to struggle to keep up with supply for this item, the Evenstar and the Elven Leaf Brooch

We have a new Stone Pendant launching in the next week. Keep an eye out for it

The Hobbit – Maps and Art Prints

We now have a room in our office dedicated to storing tubes with all the Maps and art prints created by the artists who worked on the movies. We will continue to expand this range and would be grateful for a poll to vote on the scenes you’d like to see from LOTR and The Hobbit.

If you are coming to Comic Con in July, this would be a great opportunity to get some of these art prints signed.

You can also expect to see something new from Daniel Reeve soon too

The Lord of the Rings

There are a couple of items in production from LOTR.

The Fellowship of the Ring – Set 2 starts arriving in our warehouses over the next month, and will be followed up by Set 3 in a few months time. All three sets look fantastic displayed together, with a mirror set behind them, as we have done in the Weta Cave

We will also be releasing a new sculpture of Arwen soon, as part of the range of smaller scale pieces; Gollum, Gandalf and Strider

Next shipment

Our next shipments arrive in our 3 warehouses in the US, UK and NZ over the next month, including new pieces such as:

• The Fellowship of the Ring – Set 2
• The Pipe of Fili the Dwarf
• The Staff of Gandalf the Grey (already sold out)
• Gollum Enraged

Changing Warehouses in the US

In late May / early June, we will be changing our warehouse in the US. So if you are planning to make any orders in the near future, we recommend making your order in the next 2 weeks.

And for customers in North America, we will be announcing a range of special offers early next week, to help us reduce our inventory before we move to the new warehouse. Watch out for this in our next newsletter !

Cheers

Tim

Below are the full descriptions of each line from the Asmus Toys website:

Heroes of the Middle-earth will be the premier line of important characters. Presented by well know heroes such as Aragorn, Gandalf…etc, who will be built in top quality head sculpt, realistically accurate clothing, and mixed media accessories. Each hero will have its own custom base, and together they will be puzzled into a huge battle field diorama. Also, heroes don’t necessarily have to be the good guys.

Man of West and Army of Mordor will feature the soldiers from both side of the force. Some of the familiar faces we see in the movies but not as important as the heroes. Examples like Uruk-hai, Orcs and even Merry and Pippin.

Armors in the Battlefields is a series of products that will contain only the armors, weapons and clothing. Collectors can use whatever figure body you have at hand to custom a figure in a relatively cheaper price, in this way, collectors can put together an army in affordable budget. Examples such as Gondorian soilders, Orc armors..etc

If you’re a fan of Gondor then this next item is for you! During The Battle of the Last Alliance this shield was carried by soldiers of Gondor as they fought Sauron for the fate of Middle-earth. This amazing replica from United Cutlery captures the fantastic design we saw during the prologue sequence of The Fellowship of the Ring. This fantastic item measures 42 1/2″ x 20 1/2 and comes with a awesome Gondorian Banner. You can pre-order this item right now for $250 and it also shipping in July of this year.

People from around the world are online with one common goal: to virtually gather with other fans to watch all three films straight through. Geeky? Yes. Fun? Absolutely.

Please browse through our FAQ below, you’ll find the answers to many of your questions.

JOIN THE MARATHON

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

1: CHATROOM BASICS

1a: I’ve never chatted before. How does it work?

1b: How do I join the chatroom?

1c: That person with an @ or & in front of their name keeps telling me to read the guidelines. What are the guidelines?

1d: There is a lot of lingo. What is a “channel” or an “op?”

1e: I have a LOT of questions about how the chat room works. Where can I find answers?

2: THE MARATHON

2a: How do I watch the movies?

2b: I don’t have the extended editions, can I still take part?

2c: I just joined the marathon chat — how can I tell what part of the movie you’re watching?

2d: How long does the marathon last?

2e: What time will you be watching [insert movie name]?

2f: I don’t live in Eastern Time Zone. What time is the marathon in my time zone?

2g: Do you take breaks during the movies? Do you have a schedule for when you’ll be stopping?

2h: There are a lot of people in the room, how can I tell when an announcement is made?

2i: Have you done this before?

3: PROBLEMS

3a: I try to connect to the chat, but my connection is refused or I get an error message.

3b: Everyone seems to be at a different place than I am. What am I doing wrong?

3c: I joined the chat room, but nothing I type is posted to the room. Is it broken?

3d: How can I get a nickname? I want to call myself Frodo, but the chat won’t let me.

3e: Why can’t I swear/shout/be rude?

3f: Someone keeps messaging me and saying rude things. What should I do?

3g: I wasn’t doing anything wrong, but I got kicked out. Can I come back, please?

3h: I have a LOT of questions about how the chat room works. Where can I find answers?

3i: HELP, I’m hopelessly confused.

4: FUN STUFF

4a: People keep ordering drinks and barbecued Orc wings. How do I do that?

ANSWERS

1: CHATROOM BASICS

1a: I’ve never chatted before. How does it work?

Think of Facebook chat on a much larger scale. If you’ve never chatted before, think of the chat as a giant group instant message. Anyone is able to join the discussion and use the text entry box to post their comments to the “channel.” You read them and respond, if you choose. Or just post your own thoughts.

To take part in the chat, you need to sign on to an IRC client. You have your choice between our Web Chat or you can download an IRC client, such as mIRC. See the answer to question 1b.

Your best option is to test joining the chat room before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works. For the answers to any IRC question you can think of, visit our IRC FAQ.

1b: How do I join the chatroom?

To take part in the chat, you need to sign on to an IRC program. You have your choice between our Web Chat or you can download an IRC client, such as mIRC. Here are your options:

TORn WEB CHAT (Recommended for newcomers):
So simple your mom could do it
- Click on https://client01.chat.mibbit.com/#moviechat@irc.theonering.net
- Give yourself a name! Enter it in the box labeled “Nick”  (Info about nicknames)
- Click connect
- You are now in the chat room
- (it’s so simple your GRANDMOTHER could do it)

mIRC (Advanced):
If you’re looking for the optimum chatting experience, an IRC client is the way to go
- Dowload and install the mIRC program. (Windows only. For Mac, try installing X-Chat Aqua or Snak. But it might be easier to just use our Web Chat)
- Launch mIRC.
- Close the greeting screen, if one appears
- Go to the Tools menu, open it and select the Options menu.
- You should now see a page called “mIRC Options” with a menu list on the left side.
- Open the Connect menu, and you will see a page to input your name and nickname. It’s recommended that you do not use your real last name. Although we set a high standard at Barliman’s, it’s best to not share that info.
- Open the Servers menu and click on the Add button and you will get a window called “Add Server.”
- Fill in the description as you wish, then type in irc.TheOneRing.net as the server and 6667 as the port. Leave the other fields blank. Then click Add again. This will close the small window.
- Return to the Connect menu and click Connect.
- You should now be connected to the chat room and in a window titled “Status: [your nickname]” In that window you type the command to join the chatroom. To join the marathon, type /join #moviechat and Enter. You will now be in the channel.

If mIRC seems too complicated, you should stick to our Web Chat option. Your might want to test joining the chatroom before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works. Stop in and say hello! The regulars are quite friendly.

1c: That person with an @ or & in front of their name keeps telling me to read the guidelines. What are the guidelines?

The guidelines are pretty simple:

Be courteous. Boorish behavior will not be tolerated!

Use appropriate language. No swearing, cursing, harassment or other such foolishness.

To repeat: NO CURSING or sexual innuendo. If you can’t say it on Sesame Street (or Blue Peter, or the Wiggles), you can’t say it here. This is a family-friendly event and we find that civil discourse keeps everyone happy.

Think before you “speak”. Use common sense – this is a world-wide chat, with many cultures and age levels.

Respect others and their ideas. Be friendly and patient with each other. After all, we are just having fun!

No image banners or advertisements for other sites are permitted.

No bots… No spamming… No flooding!

The op is always right! If your behavior or language is deemed inappropriate by an op, you will be removed from the room. Frequent violations can result in banning.

1d: There is a lot of lingo. What’s a “channel” or an “op?”

Channel is another word for a chat room or a “room.” The words are interchangeable. An “op” is someone who runs the chat room.

TORn’s IRC server has a number of channels for users to congregate in. Movie Marathons take place in #moviechat. The main channel/room is #TheOneRing.net, affectionately know as Barliman’s. This is where general day-to-day conversation takes place and is usually the busiest.

Other available rooms are:
#Rivendell — test your Tolkien trivia knowledge with Elrond!
#Green_Dragon — general knowledge quizzes with The Gaffer!
#TheHallofFire, Home of moderated Tolkien and LoTR chats. There is a chat every Saturday afternoon at 5pm Eastern. Right now we’re holding a chapter-by-chapter discussion of The Two Towers — Come on by! Keep an eye on TORn’s Facebook page for announcements.

“Ops” are the moderators. You can tell them apart from regular chatters by the @ or & sign in front of their nickname. They help run the various registered channels (those listed above) – making sure people abide by TORn’s chatting guidelines. They will also help you with any problems you have running your IRC client and try and answer questions that aren’t answered here.

You can find the answer to anything else you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ.

1e: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?

We’re glad you’re curious! You can find the answer to anything you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ. Or, just ask! The regulars are friendly and happy to help.

2: THE MARATHON

2a: How do I watch the movies?

First of all, you need to HAVE the movies. We will not be watching a television or cable broadcast of the films.

Have your first disc in the player before 9 a.m.. The channel will be silenced around 9 a.m. so the ops can announce the start of the movie. No one will be able to speak while this happens, so no one misses the announcement! The ops will count down the time and when they write START! everyone presses Play. It’s pretty simple.

If you think you’re lagging or not in the same spot as the others, do not fear. We pause periodically to allow everyone to get back on track. Sometimes the confusion is part of the fun. Check the movie schedule for a general idea of when pauses and breaks will take place (to be posted by start of marathon).

Do you feel as if you just can’t keep up with the others or as if your DVD is running too fast? If you live outside of the U.S., see the answer to question 3b.

2b: I don’t have the extended editions, can I still take part?

We will be watching the extended editions of the films, but it will be possible to use the regular editions if you use the “pauses” to adjust to which chapter we’re on. If you don’t have the films at all, you can still participate in the chat — after all, we’re sure you’ve seen them before!

2c: I just joined — how can I tell what part of the movie you’re watching?

This question pops up a lot. A LOT. The ops will periodically announce what scene we’re at or what chapter we’re on. The clocked time is often announced, but the run speed on DVDs varies from region to region. The best and easiest way to catch up is to watch what others are commenting on and try to fast-forward to the right scene. There will be pauses throughout the film for people to meet up at the same chapter. If you have the booklet that came with your DVD, that will be very handy.

Of course, if you’re really confused, just ask. Someone will be happy to answer

2d: How long does the marathon last?

In years past the marathon has lasted a total of 12-13 hours, sometimes a bit more. We allow four hours for each movie, not including breaks. You’re welcome to come and go at any time, of course, as often as you like. For more information, see answer 2e.

2e: What time will you be watching [insert movie name]?

All times are approximate. We hope to stay on schedule, but “things” often happen!

Below are the run-times for each film, our projected starting time, and links to determine the time in your own time zone. We will pause periodically during the film so everyone can catch up. Pauses last little more than 30 seconds, and serve as pick-up points for people experiencing DVD burps. We take 15 minute breaks between discs and 30 minute break between movies so people can … do whatever takes a little more time. Cooking? Stretching? Napping? Your choice.

ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE

The Fellowship of the Ring
Total run time: 208 minutes
Start time 9 a.m. Eastern [When is that in my time zone?]

The Two Towers
Total run time: 223 minutes
Start time 1:30 p.m. Eastern [When is that in my time zone?]

The Return of the King
Total run time: 251 minutes
APPROXIMATE Start time 6:30 p.m. Eastern [When is that in my time zone?]

2f: I don’t live in Eastern Time Zone. What time is the marathon in my time zone?

The marathon begins at 9 a.m. Eastern. Visit http://timeanddate.com to check the time for your location or click here.

2g: Do you take breaks during the movies?

Yes. Lots. Keeping everyone at the same place in the movie is an impossible task. So we pause the movie periodically to let everyone catch up. We also take 15 minute breaks between discs, a 1/2 hour break between movies. 12 hours is a long time to not eat/drink/whatever.

2h: There are a lot of people in the room, how can I tell when an announcement is made?

When an important announcement is made — the start of a movie, a break, or some other problem — the ops will silence the room. When this happens no one other than ops will be able to “speak” or post a comment to the room. This is so what they have to say won’t get lost in the torrent of chatter. Be patient, the silence will be lifted as soon as they’re done.   Less important announcements will be made in bold face.

2i: Have you done this before?

Yes! We’ve been holding movie marathons since the “Fellowship of the Ring” DVD was first released. Following the ROTK DVD we began our traditional Trilogy marathon. Our marathons are often attended by well over 100 people. A great time is always had! You can read about our 2006 marathon here.

3: PROBLEMS

3a: I try to connect to the chat, but my connection is refused or I get an error message.

It’s possible, though unlikely, that the server will reach full capacity. If that happens, you will not be able to sign on. Keep trying and you will eventually connect. There shouldn’t be any problems.

If you continue to have a problem, it’s possible that you are behind a firewall that will not allow IRC port connections. If you are at work, school or a public hot spot, this is most likely the problem.

If you continue to have problems, you can e-mail barlimans@theonering.net, but please be patient, as ops will be busy running the marathon. Your best option is to test joining the chat  room before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works.

3b: Everyone seems to be at a different place than I am. What am I doing wrong?

DVDs often vary in speed from region to region. If you’re joining us from outside of North America it is possible that your DVD is running slightly ahead or behind. This is one of the reasons we “pause” the movie periodically, to allow everyone to catch up. You can read more about pauses in a number of other answers on this FAQ.

But, to allay your fears, you’re most likely not doing anything wrong. If the pauses don’t seem to help you, ask an op for help. They’re the persons with the @ or & in front of their name. If you double-click on their nickname, you can message them with your problem.

3c: I joined the chat room, but nothing I type is posted to the room. Is it broken?

Nope! See the answer to question 2h.

3d: How can I get a nickname? I want to call myself Frodo, but the chat won’t let me.

When you sign onto the Web Chat, you have the opportunity to enter a nick of your choosing in the “Nick” box, replacing the “mib” generic name. To prevent confusion, only one person on the entire server can have a particular nickname. So, if another Frodo beat you out to the chat, you will have to find a different nickname. Some nicknames are registered by regular chatters. If you try to use one of these the server will change your nick to Guest+random numbers. But, you’re free to try! Just have a backup nick in mind. For more information visit our IRC FAQ.

3e: Why can’t I swear?

Because it’s rude. We’ve worked very hard to keep TORn’s chatrooms pleasant for people of all ages and nationalities. We also like to think it’s a place Professor Tolkien might like to hang out, if he were alive and well today. And interested in modern technology. And not as cranky as he’s rumoured to have been.

If you persist in swearing, shouting or breaking the guidelines, an op will warn you. If you persist, you will get kicked. If you continue to persist, you will be banned. But we’re sure that won’t happen. We’re all here for the same thing: to enjoy the movies and talking to other fans.

Several words will result in an automatic ban by the bot. There is no contesting this. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Read more about our philosophy at the “Why Can’t I?” section of our IRC FAQ.

3f: Someone keeps messaging me and saying rude things. What should I do?

Tell an op immediately. Either say something in the main chatroom, or double click on one of the names with the @ or & in front of it, and tell them what’s been going on. If you’re able to copy/paste what they’ve been saying, even better. We are ADAMANTLY against such behavior and we will deal with it swiftly.

3g: I wasn’t doing anything wrong, but I got kicked out. Can I come back, please?

Our number one guideline is “The Op is always right.” If you’ve been kicked out, you are permitted to return but should consider it a warning. During an event as busy as a movie marathon, it’s possible that something you did was misconstrued or was done by someone else. Keep your sense of humor, come back to the room and all should be well.

Barliman will warn you two times for swearing. The third time you get kicked out. The next time you will be automatically banned. At that point, you won’t be allowed back. Sorry.

3h: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?

We’re glad you’re curious! You can find the answer to anything you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ.

31: HELP, I’m hopelessly confused.

Ouch. That’s not fun. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, you can ask an op for help. If you are already in the chat room, double-click on any nickname preceded by an @ or & and write out your question. They’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you are unable to sign in to the chat room, send an e-mail to barlimans@theonering.net. Please be patient, as ops will be busy running the marathon.

4. FUN STUFF

4a: People keep ordering drinks and barbecued Orc wings. How do I do that?

Barliman has many offerings and tasty items on his menu. Type !menu for the full list.

“If you’re shooting digitally…once you’ve got your camera, once you’ve got your memory card or memory stick then really there’s no cost, or very little, and that’s one thing that’s driving people away from film and more toward digital,” says laboratory employee Brian Scadden.

The article goes on to say, ‘Kodak and Fuji are the world’s largest producers of film stock, but because filmmakers are using digital more and more, Fuji’s already stopped and Kodak’s future is in doubt.’  [Read More]

Here is how Round 2 is shaping up right now…

The Shire Division

(8) Huan is being handed his walking papers by (1) Galadriel, while the most powerful of the Ainur (4) Morgoth has a solid lead over the eldest ent (5) Treebeard.  (6) Luthien seems poised to take down (3) Bilbo Baggins. But the closest story in this round appears to be the match between the Mirkwood Elvenking (7) Thranduil with a slim lead over the head of the White Council (2) Saruman.

The Erebor Division

The current Cinderella seed (16) Pippin is soundly beating ‘Hot Dwarf’ (9) Fili, can the Heir of Durin put in a late push? Last year’s champ (12) Samwise Gamgee is facing an uphill battle with (4) Beren. The owner of the Last Homely Home, (6) Elrond, is currently leading against (14) Eowyn, unless she can get some support from other Warrior Women. Can she make to the Sweet 16, possibly against Aragorn!? Speaking of (7) Aragorn, he is soundly trouncing the windlord (2) Gwaihir.

The Mordor Division

(9) Gil-galad, the high kind of Noldor, seems destined to lose to the number one seed (1) Smaug. The Dark Lord (4) Sauron is handily beating his dwarven opponent (5) Dain Ironfoot. (11) Fingolfin has a slim lead over (3) Thorin Oakenshield, where is his ARmy? (2) Beorn seems ready to send (7) Shelob packing. If things keep going this way, we could have Smaug and Sauron in the Sweet 16.

The Angmar Division

Not quite a fair battle, but (1) The One Ring seems ready to abandon (8) Frodo Baggins. The Eldar King (12) Manwe, has a very solid lead over a descendant of Girion in (4) Bard the Bowman. Some call him ‘creepy’  and ‘sneaky’ (3) Gollum, but he’s got a lead over the imposing dwarf (6) Dwalin. And last but not least, (10) Merry seems rather outranked and outclassed by (2) Gandalf the Grey.

Voting continues until tonight at 10pm ET. [Vote Now!]

That morning people from around the world will sit down at their computers with one common goal: to virtually gather with other fans to watch all three films straight through. Geeky? Yes. Fun? Absolutely.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

1: CHATROOM BASICS

1a: I’ve never chatted before. How does it work?

1b: How do I join the chatroom?

1c: That person with an @ or & in front of their name keeps telling me to read the guidelines. What are the guidelines?

1d: There is a lot of lingo. What is a “channel” or an “op?”

1e: I have a LOT of questions about how the chat room works. Where can I find answers?

2: THE MARATHON

2a: How do I watch the movies?

2b: I don’t have the extended editions, can I still take part?

2c: I just joined the marathon chat — how can I tell what part of the movie you’re watching?

2d: How long does the marathon last?

2e: What time will you be watching [insert movie name]?

2f: I don’t live in Eastern Time Zone. What time is the marathon in my time zone?

2g: Do you take breaks during the movies? Do you have a schedule for when you’ll be stopping?

2h: There are a lot of people in the room, how can I tell when an announcement is made?

2i: Have you done this before?

3: PROBLEMS

3a: I try to connect to the chat, but my connection is refused or I get an error message.

3b: Everyone seems to be at a different place than I am. What am I doing wrong?

3c: I joined the chat room, but nothing I type is posted to the room. Is it broken?

3d: How can I get a nickname? I want to call myself Frodo, but the chat won’t let me.

3e: Why can’t I swear/shout/be rude?

3f: Someone keeps messaging me and saying rude things. What should I do?

3g: I wasn’t doing anything wrong, but I got kicked out. Can I come back, please?

3h: I have a LOT of questions about how the chat room works. Where can I find answers?

3i: HELP, I’m hopelessly confused.

4: FUN STUFF

4a: People keep ordering drinks and barbecued Orc wings. How do I do that?

ANSWERS

1: CHATROOM BASICS

1a: I’ve never chatted before. How does it work?

Think of Facebook chat on a much larger scale. If you’ve never chatted before, think of the chat as a giant group instant message. Anyone is able to join the discussion and use the text entry box to post their comments to the “channel.” You read them and respond, if you choose. Or just post your own thoughts.

To take part in the chat, you need to sign on to an IRC client. You have your choice between our Web Chat or you can download an IRC client, such as mIRC. See the answer to question 1b.

Your best option is to test joining the chat room before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works. For the answers to any IRC question you can think of, visit our IRC FAQ.

1b: How do I join the chatroom?

To take part in the chat, you need to sign on to an IRC program. You have your choice between our Web Chat or you can download an IRC client, such as mIRC. Here are your options:

TORn WEB CHAT (Recommended for newcomers):
So simple your mom could do it
- Click on https://client01.chat.mibbit.com/#moviechat@irc.theonering.net
- Give yourself a name! Enter it in the box labeled “Nick”  (Info about nicknames)
- Click connect
- You are now in the chat room
- (it’s so simple your GRANDMOTHER could do it)

mIRC (Advanced):
If you’re looking for the optimum chatting experience, an IRC client is the way to go
- Dowload and install the mIRC program. (Windows only. For Mac, try installing X-Chat Aqua or Snak. But it might be easier to just use our Web Chat)
- Launch mIRC.
- Close the greeting screen, if one appears
- Go to the Tools menu, open it and select the Options menu.
- You should now see a page called “mIRC Options” with a menu list on the left side.
- Open the Connect menu, and you will see a page to input your name and nickname. It’s recommended that you do not use your real last name. Although we set a high standard at Barliman’s, it’s best to not share that info.
- Open the Servers menu and click on the Add button and you will get a window called “Add Server.”
- Fill in the description as you wish, then type in irc.TheOneRing.net as the server and 6667 as the port. Leave the other fields blank. Then click Add again. This will close the small window.
- Return to the Connect menu and click Connect.
- You should now be connected to the chat room and in a window titled “Status: [your nickname]” In that window you type the command to join the chatroom. To join the marathon, type /join #moviechat and Enter. You will now be in the channel.

If mIRC seems too complicated, you should stick to our Web Chat option. Your might want to test joining the chatroom before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works. Stop in and say hello! The regulars are quite friendly.

1c: That person with an @ or & in front of their name keeps telling me to read the guidelines. What are the guidelines?

The guidelines are pretty simple:

Be courteous. Boorish behavior will not be tolerated!

Use appropriate language. No swearing, cursing, harassment or other such foolishness.

To repeat: NO CURSING or sexual innuendo. If you can’t say it on Sesame Street (or Blue Peter, or the Wiggles), you can’t say it here. This is a family-friendly event and we find that civil discourse keeps everyone happy.

Think before you “speak”. Use common sense – this is a world-wide chat, with many cultures and age levels.

Respect others and their ideas. Be friendly and patient with each other. After all, we are just having fun!

No image banners or advertisements for other sites are permitted.

No bots… No spamming… No flooding!

The op is always right! If your behavior or language is deemed inappropriate by an op, you will be removed from the room. Frequent violations can result in banning.

1d: There is a lot of lingo. What’s a “channel” or an “op?”

Channel is another word for a chat room or a “room.” The words are interchangeable. An “op” is someone who runs the chat room.

TORn’s IRC server has a number of channels for users to congregate in. Movie Marathons take place in #moviechat. The main channel/room is #TheOneRing.net, affectionately know as Barliman’s. This is where general day-to-day conversation takes place and is usually the busiest.

Other available rooms are:
#Rivendell — test your Tolkien trivia knowledge with Elrond!
#Green_Dragon — general knowledge quizzes with The Gaffer!
#TheHallofFire, Home of moderated Tolkien and LoTR chats. There is a chat every Saturday afternoon at 5pm Eastern. Right now we’re holding a chapter-by-chapter discussion of The Two Towers — Come on by! Keep an eye on TORn’s Facebook page for announcements.

“Ops” are the moderators. You can tell them apart from regular chatters by the @ or & sign in front of their nickname. They help run the various registered channels (those listed above) – making sure people abide by TORn’s chatting guidelines. They will also help you with any problems you have running your IRC client and try and answer questions that aren’t answered here.

You can find the answer to anything else you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ.

1e: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?

We’re glad you’re curious! You can find the answer to anything you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ. Or, just ask! The regulars are friendly and happy to help.

2: THE MARATHON

2a: How do I watch the movies?

First of all, you need to HAVE the movies. We will not be watching a television or cable broadcast of the films.

Have your first disc in the player before 9 a.m.. The channel will be silenced around 9 a.m. so the ops can announce the start of the movie. No one will be able to speak while this happens, so no one misses the announcement! The ops will count down the time and when they write START! everyone presses Play. It’s pretty simple.

If you think you’re lagging or not in the same spot as the others, do not fear. We pause periodically to allow everyone to get back on track. Sometimes the confusion is part of the fun. Check the movie schedule for a general idea of when pauses and breaks will take place (to be posted by start of marathon).

Do you feel as if you just can’t keep up with the others or as if your DVD is running too fast? If you live outside of the U.S., see the answer to question 3b.

2b: I don’t have the extended editions, can I still take part?

We will be watching the extended editions of the films, but it will be possible to use the regular editions if you use the “pauses” to adjust to which chapter we’re on. If you don’t have the films at all, you can still participate in the chat — after all, we’re sure you’ve seen them before!

2c: I just joined — how can I tell what part of the movie you’re watching?

This question pops up a lot. A LOT. The ops will periodically announce what scene we’re at or what chapter we’re on. The clocked time is often announced, but the run speed on DVDs varies from region to region. The best and easiest way to catch up is to watch what others are commenting on and try to fast-forward to the right scene. There will be pauses throughout the film for people to meet up at the same chapter. If you have the booklet that came with your DVD, that will be very handy.

Of course, if you’re really confused, just ask. Someone will be happy to answer

2d: How long does the marathon last?

In years past the marathon has lasted a total of 12-13 hours, sometimes a bit more. We allow four hours for each movie, not including breaks. You’re welcome to come and go at any time, of course, as often as you like. For more information, see answer 2e.

2e: What time will you be watching [insert movie name]?

All times are approximate. We hope to stay on schedule, but “things” often happen!

Below are the run-times for each film, our projected starting time, and links to determine the time in your own time zone. We will pause periodically during the film so everyone can catch up. Pauses last little more than 30 seconds, and serve as pick-up points for people experiencing DVD burps. We take 15 minute breaks between discs and 30 minute break between movies so people can … do whatever takes a little more time. Cooking? Stretching? Napping? Your choice.

ALL TIMES APPROXIMATE

The Fellowship of the Ring
Total run time: 208 minutes
Start time 9 a.m. Eastern [When is that in my time zone?]

The Two Towers
Total run time: 223 minutes
Start time 1:30 p.m. Eastern [When is that in my time zone?]

The Return of the King
Total run time: 251 minutes
APPROXIMATE Start time 6:30 p.m. Eastern [When is that in my time zone?]

2f: I don’t live in Eastern Time Zone. What time is the marathon in my time zone?

The marathon begins at 9 a.m. Eastern. Visit http://timeanddate.com to check the time for your location or click here.

2g: Do you take breaks during the movies?

Yes. Lots. Keeping everyone at the same place in the movie is an impossible task. So we pause the movie periodically to let everyone catch up. We also take 15 minute breaks between discs, a 1/2 hour break between movies. 12 hours is a long time to not eat/drink/whatever.

2h: There are a lot of people in the room, how can I tell when an announcement is made?

When an important announcement is made — the start of a movie, a break, or some other problem — the ops will silence the room. When this happens no one other than ops will be able to “speak” or post a comment to the room. This is so what they have to say won’t get lost in the torrent of chatter. Be patient, the silence will be lifted as soon as they’re done.   Less important announcements will be made in bold face.

2i: Have you done this before?

Yes! We’ve been holding movie marathons since the “Fellowship of the Ring” DVD was first released. Following the ROTK DVD we began our traditional Trilogy marathon. Our marathons are often attended by well over 100 people. A great time is always had! You can read about our 2006 marathon here.

3: PROBLEMS

3a: I try to connect to the chat, but my connection is refused or I get an error message.

It’s possible, though unlikely, that the server will reach full capacity. If that happens, you will not be able to sign on. Keep trying and you will eventually connect. There shouldn’t be any problems.

If you continue to have a problem, it’s possible that you are behind a firewall that will not allow IRC port connections. If you are at work, school or a public hot spot, this is most likely the problem.

If you continue to have problems, you can e-mail barlimans@theonering.net, but please be patient, as ops will be busy running the marathon. Your best option is to test joining the chat  room before the marathon starts, so you are sure you can connect and understand how the whole thing works.

3b: Everyone seems to be at a different place than I am. What am I doing wrong?

DVDs often vary in speed from region to region. If you’re joining us from outside of North America it is possible that your DVD is running slightly ahead or behind. This is one of the reasons we “pause” the movie periodically, to allow everyone to catch up. You can read more about pauses in a number of other answers on this FAQ.

But, to allay your fears, you’re most likely not doing anything wrong. If the pauses don’t seem to help you, ask an op for help. They’re the persons with the @ or & in front of their name. If you double-click on their nickname, you can message them with your problem.

3c: I joined the chat room, but nothing I type is posted to the room. Is it broken?

Nope! See the answer to question 2h.

3d: How can I get a nickname? I want to call myself Frodo, but the chat won’t let me.

When you sign onto the Web Chat, you have the opportunity to enter a nick of your choosing in the “Nick” box, replacing the “mib” generic name. To prevent confusion, only one person on the entire server can have a particular nickname. So, if another Frodo beat you out to the chat, you will have to find a different nickname. Some nicknames are registered by regular chatters. If you try to use one of these the server will change your nick to Guest+random numbers. But, you’re free to try! Just have a backup nick in mind. For more information visit our IRC FAQ.

3e: Why can’t I swear?

Because it’s rude. We’ve worked very hard to keep TORn’s chatrooms pleasant for people of all ages and nationalities. We also like to think it’s a place Professor Tolkien might like to hang out, if he were alive and well today. And interested in modern technology. And not as cranky as he’s rumoured to have been.

If you persist in swearing, shouting or breaking the guidelines, an op will warn you. If you persist, you will get kicked. If you continue to persist, you will be banned. But we’re sure that won’t happen. We’re all here for the same thing: to enjoy the movies and talking to other fans.

Several words will result in an automatic ban by the bot. There is no contesting this. So it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Read more about our philosophy at the “Why Can’t I?” section of our IRC FAQ.

3f: Someone keeps messaging me and saying rude things. What should I do?

Tell an op immediately. Either say something in the main chatroom, or double click on one of the names with the @ or & in front of it, and tell them what’s been going on. If you’re able to copy/paste what they’ve been saying, even better. We are ADAMANTLY against such behavior and we will deal with it swiftly.

3g: I wasn’t doing anything wrong, but I got kicked out. Can I come back, please?

Our number one guideline is “The Op is always right.” If you’ve been kicked out, you are permitted to return but should consider it a warning. During an event as busy as a movie marathon, it’s possible that something you did was misconstrued or was done by someone else. Keep your sense of humor, come back to the room and all should be well.

Barliman will warn you two times for swearing. The third time you get kicked out. The next time you will be automatically banned. At that point, you won’t be allowed back. Sorry.

3h: I have a LOT of questions about how the chatroom works. Where can I find answers?

We’re glad you’re curious! You can find the answer to anything you want to know about Barliman’s at our IRC FAQ.

31: HELP, I’m hopelessly confused.

Ouch. That’s not fun. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, you can ask an op for help. If you are already in the chat room, double-click on any nickname preceded by an @ or & and write out your question. They’ll get back to you as soon as possible. If you are unable to sign in to the chat room, send an e-mail to barlimans@theonering.net. Please be patient, as ops will be busy running the marathon.

4. FUN STUFF

4a: People keep ordering drinks and barbecued Orc wings. How do I do that?

Barliman has many offerings and tasty items on his menu. Type !menu for the full list.

First up is a Literary based Science Fiction convention in San Diego called Condor, taking place this weekend. TheOneRing.net will be hosting several discussions on Saturday and Sunday about The Hobbit, TheOneRing.net and Middle-earth. This weekend will be full of lots of interactive programming, so come on down and join in the fun.

On the following weekend, the American Cinematheque will be hosting a screening of The Hobbit and the LOTR Trilogy in a full day and night Middle-earth Marathon. This will be on Saturday, March 16 at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica. TheOneRing.net will be there to talk Tolkien, run trivia contests and play a game or two. And to help some lucky Tolkien fan to OD on Middle-earth, we have a pair of tickets to give away. Go to our Event Page on Facebook, RSVP to attend the screening and leave a message stating how you plan to survive the 15 hours or so that this marathon will take, and we’ll randomly award a pair of tickets to one lucky person. Hurry, this contest will close on Saturday at Midnight.

Just a week later, on March 23, Tolkien Forever will be hosting their annual Tolkien Reading Day event. This event is typically held on March 25, the Middle-earth New Year  after the Destruction of the Ring. But March 25 is a Monday, so the event in Los Angeles was moved to the Saturday before, and is going to be at what looks to be a wicked cool used bookstore in Downtown LA called The Last Bookstore. Selections of Tolkien’s wide range of works will be read to any and all who show up, spreading the love for his written word. Visit the Facebook Event Page to see more details.

The final event for So Cal Tolkien fans to attend and enjoy will be Wondercon in Anaheim at the end of the month. This convention is typically held in San Francisco, but moved to Anaheim last year and this year because Moscone Center in San Fran has been undergoing renovations. Wondercon is a spin off from San Diego Comic Con and is run in a similar manner, but on a much smaller scale, making it more accessible for fans to enjoy all that the con has to offer. TheOneRing.net will have a panel at Wondercon, but the schedule is still pending, we will announce when and where you can find as soon as we know.

And there you have it, 4 weekends of Tolkien fandom, fun and friendship. What more could wee little Hobbits hope for?

—The Fellowship of the Ring

How do you follow-up one of the coolest environments you’ve ever produced? Well, you go ahead and produce one of the next most coolest environments of course! Shortly after Comic-Con 2011 senior model maker David Tremont began the momentous task of transforming the original model of Barad-Dûr for The Lord of the Rings into a collectible we could all own. Finally, after a year of slaving, fans of Middle-earth got to see the result at Comic-Con 2012 when Barad-Dûr was unveiled to the world.

Sauron began work on Barad-Dûr during Middle-earth’s Second Age, when he chose Mordor as the place his dominion over Middle-earth would begin. Barad-Dûr was finished in the year 1600 of the Second Age and during that period Sauron would go on to create The One Ring, which would only help to make the fortress even stronger. During the War of the Last Alliance fortress was destroyed with the exception of the foundations as they could not be destroyed as long as The Ring was around. In 2951 of the Third Age Barad-Dûr’s reconstruction was started, but it would not last when Gollum fell into the lava of Mt. Doom destroying the Ring and the fortress.

PACKAGING

The graphics on the front of the box for Barad-Dûr have kept virtually the same design we’ve seen with previous environments from Weta. On the front of the box a screencap of Mordor with an image of Barad-Dûr completes the scene. Of course, you also have the beautiful The Lord of the Rings logo in the upper right-hand corner with the name of the environment under the picture of Barad-Dûr. One side of the box contains images of Barad-Dûr while the other side features images of other Weta Workshop products. The back of the box contains a great picture of the environment along with a background story about the collectible.

SCULPTING

Over 1,500 hours were put into Barad-Dûr to ensure the collectible on your shelf matches what you saw during The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I believe fans, once they have a chance to see the detail in this piece, will agree all of those hours paid off in spades. David Tremont and his team made very sure every window, spike, tower, ledge, bridge, and rock is included on this piece. Gazing upon this collectible, you can almost imagine Sauron or any number of his minions looking out upon Mordor from any of the many ledges and balconies. It truly is a great representation of the model we saw on film. What’s even more amazing is because of the material used it allowed these details to be captured and safely arrive to our homes. Rivendell had its beautiful river running through it and Barad-Dûr has something similar with its lava river flowing from Mt. Doom into the cavern surrounding the fortress. Even the rock areas of Barad-Dûr are exceptionally realized with the plains of Gorgoth looking like a place you don’t ever want to visit. Like Rivendell, this collectible is an achievement for Weta in showing off the amazing talent of their artists.

PAINT

The paintwork on Barad-Dûr is fairly simple compared to say Rivendell, and much more in-line with that of Orthanc. It’s all black and the shading for the different levels in different places are all really well done. The color of the tower does not match the color of the rock within the piece. That was going to be the toughest part of the paint I think and they were able to create the proper level of separation. The lava looks really good and stands out like lava would with an all-black world of Mordor.

Overall

Barad-Dûr costs $700 but the level of detail you get and the size of this piece allows you to truly get value for money.  This piece is a limited edition piece with only 1,000 of the fortress being produced. Barad-Dûr does not come with a flaming eye but if that is a potential issue for you all you have to do is download the iPhone or iPad app. Then you will have the eye of Sauron. Finally, I cannot implore you enough if you are a The Lord of the Rings collector to find a way to get this piece into your collection.

Also, if you’re truly interested in what it took to bring this collectible to life check out the three articles by David Tremont. In these articles he explains the ups and downs of making sure we got one of the best environments ever created.

Article One

Article Two

Article Three

SPECIFICATIONS

Barad-Dûr is limited to 1000 pieces world-wide.

Barad-Dûr’s specs are as followed: 20.9″ x 18.1″ x 12.2″ (H x W x D)
53 cm x 46 cm x 31 cm Weight: 22 lbs

PHOTOS