Xoanon here, Cool news has reached me today from the heavens beyond. A contact on the ‘inside’ gave…
Continue ReadingXoanon here,
Cool news has reached me today from the heavens beyond. A contact on the ‘inside’ gave me a cool tibit of news concerning the ‘Making Of’ film. When I asked him/her/it/they if he/she/it/they have seen any cameras aroud shooting pre-production stuff, he/she/it/they said that they certainly are!
More was gleamed from my contact, but it is of such a fragile topic I cannot say, but will speak of soon!
The good folks over at Sir Ian McKellen’s official site have opened up a section called ‘Grey Book’. It’s apparently going to be filled with Ian’s thoughts through the process of filming LOTR!
20 August 1999
There is a general assumption that the main professional concern of actors is the parts they play. That is not true of this actor.
To begin with I have never had a hit-list of characters whom I wanted to play. A friend has always wanted to play Abraham Lincoln – but “Where?” I ask him, and “Who will write your words?” I have played some celebrated men like Lawrence of Arabia ( in “Ross” 1970), King Edward II (1969-70), and Adolf Hitler (“Countdown to War” 1980), but my authors were Terrence Rattigan, Christopher Marlowe, and Hitler himself (I used only the Fuehrer’s own words translated into English naturich.)
I have landed on some of the most fulfilling parts by accident. It was a chance meeting with an old friend, as I puzzled what to cast myself in at the Royal National Theatre in 1990 that introduced me to the idea of playing Richard III. Before we talked it had never crossed my mind to challenge the great Richards of recent years.
It’s rather that I invariably look at the job as a whole – who will direct, who will be cast, how long will it take,do I want to work in Leeds (or Toronto or now Wellington). So with “The Lord of the Rings,” the whole venture across three movies and across the magical landscape of New Zealand, is as invigorating as the opportunity to embody a legend.
If it weren’t the director of “Heavenly Creatures” in control, with a strong vision of all those precise, quirky, majestic locations, I should not much look forward to a full year away from my home in London. But Peter Jackson’s designs, script and his unshowy dedication to the task are irresistible. Had I been unable to play Gandalf (because of an encroaching “X-Men” schedule), I should have hoped for another less time-consuming part later in the trilogy.
I am aware of the high expectations of Tolkein’s fans – like myself. But, never having imagined that I would ever play any sort of wizard, I am ill-prepared. I just worked with a witch, however, a white one, whose spells are formidable. Her energy is impressive. I shall have to come to understand the nature of Gandalf’s energy – what keeps him going. What keeps any of us going?
A big project. I wish them luck when “The Lord of the Rings” starts shooting (without me) in October 1999.”
Visit the great site here.
From: Terry
The american news show, ABC, maintains a news web site. One of the categories, entertainment, contained a story about the casting for the LotR and mentioned your site as the source of some of their information 🙂
The news last night contained an article about a medieval village being built in at a place called Seatown in Wellington. They builders would not acknowledge who they were building this for _but_ it was shrouded with the LotR veil of silence and there isn’t any other movie I know of that the set would be built for. So I’d bet my favourite two hobbits the set is for the LotR.
Thirdly, an even more obscure piece of information for you. An Auckland musical group, “The Auckland Wind Band”, are playing at the end of the month – 8pm, Thu 30th Sept, at the Pumphouse Theater in Takapuna. Their program includes movements from the LotR symphony – movements 1, 4 and 5. They’re also playing Jupiter from The Planets, Star Wars Pt 1 tunes.
Tehanu ran across this and thought it would be interesting. On November 18 – 20th in Wellington, two SFX guys doing work on LOTR will speak at SPADA TV and Film Arts conference.
Mark Stetson, SFX guy who did 5th Element and Ghostbusters
Alex Funke, who is a miniatures DP (Director of Photography?)
If ANYONE is going to this conference (which apparently costs 625$ to attend) please contact me! You’ll be my new best friend!
Check out Chapter 12 of Xoanon’s Rants with storyboard images provided by our new resident artist, Mia!
Thanks to Roger Sorenson for this weeks poll! Check out the old polls here, and submit your poll questions to me at calisuri@theonering.net.
As always, fan art has been updated with some great images.
Look for a Green Books update this wednesday.
Well Rivendell is just an example, but listen to what my good buddies at TheForce.net just handed over to me.
Is it possible for ILM to work on the upcoming Lord of the Rings trilogy and the mega sequel-prequel Episode II? We think this seems like too much to bite off at once, and it seems like the heads at ILM agree. The Tuesday Bagel Bandit checks in with this message:
Most everyone over at ILM says that currently they are not signed to work on Lord of the Rings and are also not actively bidding to get a piece of it. Seems it would be too huge a job to do especially considering that the schedule for LOTR runs concurrent with SW2.
Some of the current ILM projects include Rocky & Bullwinkle, Galaxy Quest, Space Cowboys, Sleepy Hollow, The Perfect Storm, and coming soon Mission to Mars and Episode II. Doing LOTR at this point would be possible, but HIGHLY unlikely.
So does anyone have any knowledge of this? Do any of you dudes at ILM come here? If you do, drop me a line! (I have a few ‘Han’s hand going through Jabba’ questions for you as well)
