Swarthmore College Talks Tolkien

February 6th, 2010 by xoanon

Austin writes: Swarthmore College will host two Tolkien talks, both open to the public.

Both talks take place on Feb. 16th. The first talk occurs at 04:15 PM, entitled Tolkien Book to Jackson Script: the Medium and the Message. More..

The second happens at 08:00 PM, entitled: Rediscovering Middle Earth, the Roots of Tolkien’s Myths. More..

More about Events, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lectures & Education, Lord of the Rings, LotR: Book, LotR: Movies, Tolkien

LOTR Online Update

February 6th, 2010 by xoanon

Rick “Sapience” Heaton, Online Community Specialist for Turbine, writes: Greetings! Here’s the latest round up on everything LOTRO for the week ending 2/5/2010!

Volume III, Book I Live on Bullroarer
Bullroarer, the LOTRO public test server, is now live with Volume III: Allies of the King, Book 1: Oath of The Rangers! Be the first to try the new Duo Skirmishes! You will need to download the Bullroarer client to access the server. Read the preliminary release notes to learn more. More..

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Craig Horner Talks ‘Hobbit’

February 6th, 2010 by xoanon

Michael Martinez writes: I’m not sure how many of you are fans of the LEGEND OF THE SEEKER television show but I was recently given the opportunity to interview Craig Horner, star of the show, for Xenite.Org. The interview is now available online.

With ninth months of intensive shooting for Legend of the Seeker Craig doesn’t get much time to do other projects. Still, considering that he is in New Zealand, I could not help but ask: Any chance you might have a role in ‘The Hobbit’?

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More about Casting Rumors, Hobbit: Movie, New Zealand, Rumors & Spy News, The Hobbit

Jackson didn’t want Hobbit pressure

February 6th, 2010 by xoanon

Peter Jackson has revealed he didn’t want to direct The Hobbit, because it would be too much pressure. The Oscar-winning filmmaker, who directed the films in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, chose not to direct the two-part prequel of Tolkien’s novels but will be revising the script with wife Fran. More..

More about Fran Walsh, Hobbit: Movie, Peter Jackson, The Hobbit

BBC: 5 Minutes with Ian McKellen

February 6th, 2010 by xoanon

Celebrities and news-makers are grilled by Matthew Stadlen in exactly five minutes in a series for the BBC News website. This week, actor Sir Ian McKellen talks to Matt about the appeal of Shakespeare, the difference between working in theatre and film, the importance of having a child’s imagination and how Newsnight helps him relax after a show. More..

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The Hobbit: a book for adults

February 5th, 2010 by Calisuri | Source: Daily Telegraph | Discuss

Thanks to Ringer David for sending us this link to a blog post from Daniel Hannen at the Daily Telegraph:

I’m not sure that we properly appreciate The Hobbit as children. We enjoy the story, obviously, and the pace, and the characters. But only now, reading the book to my eight-year-old, am I touched by the pulse of the prose.

It is a book written to be read aloud. Tolkien understood the power of incantation: the way in which, as Philip Pullman puts it, reciting a fine poem makes you feel as if you were voicing words of power, chanting a spell.

Follow the link to read the full article. [Read More]

Discuss »

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Strong ties in Best Picture race

February 2nd, 2010 by MrCere | Discuss

This morning the now ten nominations for “Best Picture” for the 2010 Academy Awards were announced as as expected, there are plenty of ties to the LOTR community.

“Avatar” with powerful ties to Weta Digital and “District 9,” produced by Peter Jackson and with conceptual design (not an Academy category) also from Weta, are competing in the “Best Picture” category. The two films are also nominated in “Best Visual Effects,” and “Best Editing.” Each film received other nominations as well. See inside for a full list of all nominations and talk about it in our forums.

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More about Rick Porras, The Hobbit, WETA Workshop

New Hobbiton Pics..and a Report!

February 1st, 2010 by xoanon

Glorfindel writes: We went to Hobbiton yesterday to check out what was going on but nothing much seems to have changed. Everything’s being irrigated therefore the hedgerows are a bit bushier and the apple trees are fruiting (although the pears aren’t doing so well). Gandalf’s cutting has been restored.

I did think some of the gardens would be planted up by now, with the supposed start date in a few months – it doesn’t cost much to sow a few seeds after all – but I guess they do have to wait for that elusive greenlight. Also they may leave filming Hobbiton towards the end of the shoot. Who knows? Anyway it was a beautiful day and although the Hobbit holes look somewhat dejected it is a lovely spot and we did feel the first tinglings of excitement!

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More about Hobbit: Movie, Locations & Sets, New Zealand, The Hobbit

Serkis & Hill at Haiti Fundraiser in the UK

February 1st, 2010 by xoanon

Celebriel writes: Attention UK Ringers: Bernard Hill, a Suffolk area resident, is organizing fundraisers for February 26 and March 7. So far Andy Serkis has also committed to attend and may perform a musical number. More..

More about Andy Serkis, Bernard Hill, Events, Other Events

Video: Broadmore & Taylor Talk ‘Grordbort’

February 1st, 2010 by xoanon

Linuxelf sends along the video to an interview with ‘Doctor Grordbort’s’ creator Greg Broadmore, take a look!

More about Richard Taylor, Television, WETA Workshop