  Wired: “Why the Hobbit Trailer Creeps Me Out”
What’s he on about? Well, he noticed something in the teaser (one that many other people did as well), but he’s gone a step further and drawn some interesting parallels to one of the most controversial and bizarre changes that Walsh and Boyens made for The Return of The King. Of course, this being the internet, your mileage may vary. Naturally, there are movie spoilers. Read the full article on Wired. Evangeline Lilly, precious son in Wellington for ‘The Hobbit’Evangeline Lilly, taking on the role of an invented female Elf character in The Hobbit, has been spotted in Wellington, New Zealand as the second and much longer stint of filming is soon to begin. Thirteen singing dwarves and a very funny Hobbit Martin Freeman (Bilbo) and Aidan Turner (Kili) at today's press conference - this cast is a killer combo of wit and good looks. “Fourteen individuals – and an ensemble.” Today’s press conference opened with an apology from Peter Jackson, who said he couldn’t be there as he was “under a form of medical house arrest” since being hospitalised with a perforated ulcer last week. “And to be honest, perhaps it’s just as well. These guys make me laugh so hard that I’d be in danger of popping a stitch or something,” Jackson continued in his statement. Confirming the truth of that, the cast of 13 dwarves and one hobbit kept up a constant flow of quips and wisecracks throughout the whole press conference. We knew Martin Freeman was funny with a good script – well, he’s hilarious without one as well. Many fans have been wondering whether 13 dwarves would become a generic mass in the film, or whether they would be fleshed out in the script to have individual personalities. TORN Exclusive: Graham ‘Dwalin’ McTavish Interview
Treebeard (T.B.) I am here with Graham McTavish, interviewing him for TheOneRing.net about his upcoming role as a Dwalin in The Hobbit. Hi Graham! Graham McTavish (G.M.) Hello. T.B. Did you have any interest in the works of Tolkien before you auditioned for The Hobbit? G.M. Yes. I’d read “The Lord of the Rings” probably when I was about eighteen, all three straight through, and like most teenagers that encountered the books for the first time, it allowed me to disappear into a whole different world that I always looked forward to going back to while I was reading it. I hadn’t read “The Hobbit,” but I did, very quickly, when I was asked! [laughs] It’s very interesting for me the difference between the two books, I suppose, being that “The Hobbit” seems to me a much more straightforward, linear adventure story. I’ve be interested to find out, when I’ve told people that I’m doing this, a lot of them prefer “The Hobbit”, in some ways. And, also it seems to be amongst every man I’ve met, the first book they ever read.  Discuss »More about Characters, Fran Walsh, Graham McTavish, Headlines, Hobbit Book, Hobbit Movie, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, The Hobbit Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens Talk ‘The Hobbit’ Boycott, MEAA, Filming Locations Etc.Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens were interviewed on radio NZ last Thursday (before unions lifted the blacklist on ‘The Hobbit’). Both ladies are clearly frustrated at the situation and are not afraid to show it. With WB execs flying in next week it is clear that Walsh, Boyens and Jackson are the only 3 people that can possibly save The Hobbit from leaving NZ. If they manage to prove NZ is a good choice as a location to make the films all can be saved. Now we wait… These clips were previously available as MP3′s, however to add them to YouTube we’ve added a few photos of Fran, Philippa and Peter through the years. Take a listen. New Line issues statement about ‘Hobbit’ boycott
Recent reports that the boycott of The Hobbit was lifted by unions a number of days ago and that Warner Bros asked to delay this announcement are false. It was not until last night that we received confirmation of the retractions from SAG, NZ Equity and Discuss »More about Hobbit Movie, Locations Sets, New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros. Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens Interview in Bag End Set!
Discuss »More about Director news, Hobbit Movie, Locations Sets, MGM, New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros. Video of Gollum’s Cave InterviewDiscuss »More about Director news, Hobbit Movie, Locations Sets, MGM, New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Production, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros. Sir Peter Jackson & Philippa Boyens Interviewed in Gollum’s Cave
Portions of the interview have been transcribed by TORn message board gem Ataahua who’s faithfully been keeping us updated of the scene as it unfolds down in New Zealand. Highlights from the transcription follow:
The transcription can be viewed in over at our message boards using this link. Discuss »More about Hobbit Movie, MGM, New Line Cinema, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Production, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros., WETA Cave Anatomy of a ShamblesNew Zealand media commentator Russell Brown lends his perspective of where breakdowns have occurred along the path of seeking rights for New Zealand actors. “If production of the Hobbit does indeed go to Ireland, there will be an extraordinary irony: the industrial relations environment around the film will be benign because Irish Equity did what New Zealand Actors’ Equity would have done had it been even minimally competent.” A harsh look at NZAE, to be sure, but the piece also contains some good background information. Continued thanks to Kiwi staff member Ataahua for funneling all the ‘local’ media releases to us so quickly. Discuss »More about Crew News, Director news, Hobbit Movie, Locations Sets, New Zealand, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Studios, The Hobbit, Warner Bros. SPADA and Actors Equity New Zealand to MeetThe New Zealand actor’s union has accepted an invitation to meet with the Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA). The meeting is likely to take place Thursday or Friday of this week according to SPADA chief executive Penelope Borland: “I also rang Equity today and said to them did they realise how grave this situation was and we need to resolve this and meet. We’re hoping that we will hear from Equity what their issues have been and to work out a way forward. We’ve been wanting to meet with them for quite some time.” She also urged the actor’s union to call off their boycott of “The Hobbit” production as the situation is now in the “11th Hour.” On the other side of the issue, in a statement on the Actors Equity New Zealand site, President Jennifer Ward-Lealand is calling for calm on the issue” Over the last few weeks there has been a high level of interest and emotion in the issues surrounding the engagement of performers on the production. “We have chosen, in a deliberate decision, to avoid the media fray on this. Negative comments don’t serve the primary objective of seeing the production made in New Zealand.” Communication is key in this situation and it looks like the wheels are turning for that to happen. The end of the week will hopefully bring good news from all sides of the issue. With all the news coming so fast and furious, don’t take your eyes off of TheOneRing.net for long! Thanks to message board member ranger123 for finding the tv.co.nz article. Overview of actor’s dispute developmentsWith Calisuri posting the statement from Phillipa Boyens and Wingnut Films, it might be helpful to get an overview of what is going on in New Zealand. A group of 90 actors met in Wellington Monday to discuss the boycott of the pair of potential “Hobbit” movies. Also present at the beginning of the meeting were non-actors from the New Zealand film industry including Boyens who clearly is the member of Peter Jackson’s team that will be the front on the labor battle in New Zealand. Discuss »More about Casting Rumors, Director Rumors, Hobbit Movie, New Zealand, Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, Studios, The Hobbit |
 
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Wired’s Erik Wecks makes a compelling case for Tolkien fans to not get too excited about the Hobbit.
TheOneRing.net staffer and regular contributor Treebeard was lucky enough to have the chance to chat with Graham McTavish (Dwalin) about his role in The Hobbit.
