At 7pm EST (midnight GMT) tonight, 21st Century Radio will feature a special presentation … exclusive interviews with Richard Taylor, Sean Astin, Philippa Boyens, Andy Serkis, Sideshow Toys president Greg Anzalone, and Atlas of Middle-earth author Karen Fonstad. (This is a live internet broadcast, you must tune in at 7pm EST. You can also listen on either Windows Media Player or Real Player.) [More]
Update: For everyone currently having trouble connecting, their server is getting a real hammering. However, they will be posting the interview on their archives on December 19. So don’t despair, and please go easy on their server. 🙂 – Dem.
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Ringer Fan Jim writes of his experience at the London premiere. [More] Alternatively, try Megastar’s review: Writing a review of The Two Towers at this point is about as useful as crafting a 400-page user-manual for soap. [More]
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Ringer Fan Jim writes of his experience at the London premiere:
Having attended the UK premiere of TTT at the Odeon Leicester Square last Wednesday night, I can confirm what Luthien said about the NYC Premiere. Most of the stars turned up in spite of appearing the night before in Paris. Peter Jackson made the same point about deviation from the book (he’s obviously concerned about reaction to the interaction between Faramir and Frodo/Sam/Gollum, but this does lead to a great (shocking) scene – I won’t say where for those who don’t like spoilers.
Running three story threads is obviously difficult, but he pulls it off; though I did read in my local paper that the reviewer couldn’t follow the complicated plot (obviously someone who has never read the books).
The major element is the battle of Helm’s Deep which is almost overwhelming,but the actors manage to avoid being lost in the hugeness and loudness and sheer scale of the setting.
This is a much darker film than FOTR; few idyllic scenes, though there are odd moments during the move to Helm’s Deep, but it gets through a lot of action and stays more or less faithfuill to the book. Gollum is a triumph; I always found it difficult to be sympathetic to the character, but Jackson manages to make a CGI almost human and certainly vulnerable.
True fans are going to love it!
Cant wait for ROTK.
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Ringer Spy Ataahua writes: Tonight One Network News in New Zealand carried a story on how Peter Jackson, losing precious TTT editing time attending awards ceremonies for FOTR, used new technolgy built by Weta to help him keep working on the film while overseas. [More]
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Ringer Spy Ataahua writes: Tonight One Network News in New Zealand carried a story on how Peter Jackson, losing precious TTT editing time attending awards ceremonies for FOTR, used new technolgy built by Weta to help him keep working on the film while overseas.
One News presenter Simon Dallow: “Two Towers is a tribute to Kiwi special effects wizardry. But director Peter Jackon only made his deadline thanks to another bit of Kiwi innovation, involving the Internet and video conferencing. Here’s economics reporter Mike Jaspers.”
(Shot of Peter Jackson at a sound desk)
Mike Jaspers voiceover: “Peter Jackson in London in September, finishing the sound track for Two Towers. Back in Wellington, the final special effects are being added. Time’s running out – the director’s already lost five weeks thanks to the Oscars and other awards. He needed more time.”
(Shot of Barry Osborne talking to Mike Jaspers) BO: “Put simply, it was crucial…”
MJ voiceover: “Barry Osbourne’s the producer, on a video link from New York via the Internet – technology vital for meeting deadlines. Each day, hours of editing were emailed to Jackson in London.”
Duncan Nimmo, ‘computer expert’: “In normal circumstances that footage would have to be put on a plane. So being able to do it overnight bought the process three days each time.”
MJ: “The huge volume of data needed a big Internet pipe. Telecom’s Southern Cross cable links us to the northern hemisphere. It funnelled sections of film to Jackson’s computer.”
BO: “Even though he was in London and we were in Wellington, it would be just like he was in Wellington.”
MJ: “Jackson’s computer wizards designed the system to synchronise the video links.”
BO: “Weta built some software to allow us to control the playback on video footage at either end – to slow it down, to play it slowly. And it also had a pointer so Peter could say, ‘Gee, Mordor shouldn’t have all those green trees on it, I want to really have this black rock there’.”
MJ: “It’s all part of Jackson’s vision for Wellington as a one-stop shop for world-class film making. That’s why he’s building a $30 million post-production facility near his other studios. Peter Jackson’s Internet technology removes one more worry for Hollywood moguls considering projects here in Wellywood: they can simply log onto the Internet and view the day’s filming or editing, from the comfort of LA. Smart solutions, all part of Jackson script for success.”
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Treebeard spotted Andy Serkis doing a spot on Headline News, and managed to grap a picture for us to go with this little report. [More]
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