Bruce Hopkins [Gamling the Old] is in LA for the Oscars and is taking time out to support…
Continue ReadingBruce Hopkins [Gamling the Old] is in LA for the Oscars and is taking time out to support a literacy scheme called Project Read. He writes, “I don’t know if you have heard of Project Read, but it is a brilliant initiative that came from the LOTR films.” [More]
Bruce Hopkins [Gamling the Old] is in LA for a few days prior to the Oscars. He wrote in about his involvement with Project Read:
“I decided I wanted to visit a school in LA ( did a similar thing for Air NZ here after the premier, and it went incredibly well).So on Friday 27th at 9.52am ( a specific time stipulated by the principal ! ) i am going to go to Tetzlaff Middle school for and hour to talk and answer questions, sign autographs and hand out gifts from AirNZ. There may be another school when I come back through LA at the end of March, or even on Monday 1st March before I leave to London.
“I don’t know if you have heard of Project Read, but it is a brilliant initiative that came from the LOTR films. I came across it when emailing the NZ consul general in LA Darryl Dunne, here’s what he sent to me about it:
“Our connection with LOTR and schools has been through Project Read, a school literacy program heavily backed by the LA County authorities. Kids aged 10 – 17, many from at risk situations (including probationers) were given donated copies of each book in the trilogy and the deal was if they read the book and wrote an essay on it, they got to see the film free before anyone else courtesy of New Line and AMC Theatres. In the first year, 1,000 kids saw the film, in 2002 it was 4,000 and in December last year 12,000 kids saw the film over three days in a multiplex cinema in LA. While engaging on the book/film side, the organisers found out about the NZ connection and as a result my office got involved together with other NZ interests here. We mounted exhibitions at the screenings. In 2002 Prime Minister Helen Clark met with a group of kids (including probationers) and principals/supervisors involved in Project Read, during a visit to LA. A school party visited NZ courtesy of Air NZ and Newmans in 2003 and met the PM and Peter Jackson. They included a student film maker who covered the whole visit. Arising from that visit we have been trying to establish an ongoing exchange between schools in LA (who are very keen on it and well set up) and New Zealand, but the NZ side has proven problematical.
“We and the LA organisers are aware of the forthcoming production of the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe in NZ and keen to promote the literacy and awareness exchanges round the book/film to extend past LOTR – if we can get any interest from NZ!”
That’s from NZ’s Consul General in LA. From me, Tehanu, here in NZ, I’d like to suggest that any New Zealanders involved in the education sector who are reading this might like to consider how NZ schools could get involved.
It’s true! We have confirmation that Bogans is legit and now there is an under-construction website for more details on this mocumentary short about three actors trying to get work on the LotR films: [More]
Daniel “Frodo” sends in his review from the actual Howard Shore concert last night in Montreal: Yesterday’s concert of Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings Symphony was a resounding success and M. Shore was greeted with much applause prior to the performance. [More]
Daniel “Frodo” writes:
Yesterday’s concert of Howard Shore’s Lord of the Rings Symphony was a resounding success and M. Shore was greeted with much applause prior to the performance. Despite a weak rendition of Gollum’s Song and Into the West the concert was a wonderful experience of a lifetime. Of particular note was the Bridge of Khazad-dum, The Breaking of the Fellowship, The White Tree, and The End of All Things. The 200 musicians and chorists performance was exceptional. Also heart wrenching was the performance by Soprano Ying Huang. The crowd showed its appreciation with a standing ovation and 3 curtain calls and Howard Shore was presented with flowers.
The concert was recorded for later broadcast on the Canadian cable networks Bravo! and ARTV by Montreal director Pierre Siguin, without question one of the best in Canada. Rumours are that this recording will end up in the DVD boxed set of the trilogy to be released in 2005.
I will have a TON of Mardi Gras images to post soon, but for now read what Neyuki has to say: Sunday at seven was the start of the Orpheus ball. The parade didn’t end up getting there until about 8:30 or 9:00, though. When Elijah’s float came in, it was pretty obvious he was having a blast. He was grinning and throwing stuff. When the parade was about halfway over, he came walking down the parade isle and was giving people hugs before going up into the VIP stage area. [More]
