When you’re a guy who makes a living with a successful show that spoofs and lauds “Star Wars” in the span of an hour, what do you do for a sequel? Take a crack at another giant movie franchise, clearly. And Charles Ross’ “The One-Man Lord of the Rings” picks up where his “One-Man Star Wars” left off, condensing all 89 or so hours of Peter Jackson’s Oscar-winning trilogy into 60 minutes of sweaty, reverent physical comedy. [More]

Richard Taylor has been far from idle since LOTR and even Kong isn’t keeping him busy enough. Richard has just announced that Weta Workshops are making a children’s animated TV series called “Jane and the Dragon,” based on a storybook and characters by NZ author Martin Baynton. [More] The characters will be animated in the same way as was Gollum, using live actors to model the movements. Weta Workshops needs about 30 more animators and technicians – if you’re interested in a job, go here.

Good news for LOTR fans in the Wellington region. Adventure Safaris is holding a special one-day tour of LOTR locations around Wellington on February 19th. Included is the chance to meet Arwen riding double Jane Abbot and see her in action on one of the LOTR horses. [More]

Sean Astin, the 33-year-old actor who won fame playing the title rtole in “Rudy,” has been named Bacchus XXXVII. Astin will lead the 38-float procession along the traditional route on Feb. 6 at 6:30 p.m. A special new feature of this year’s parade will be the return of actor Elijah Wood, who served as Bacchus XXXVI last year. Wood will ride a Returning King’s float. [More]

Screen Actors Guild Awards 2005 LOS ANGELES – Jamie Foxx’s uncanny re-creation of Ray Charles in “Ray” earned him the Screen Actors Guild Award for best actor Saturday, while Hilary Swank won the best-actress prize for “Million Dollar Baby,” playing a spirited boxer whose life takes a tragic turn. The cast prize for best movie ensemble went to the road-trip comedy “Sideways.” Cate Blanchett won the supporting-actress honor for her role as Katharine Hepburn in “The Aviator,” and Morgan Freeman took the supporting-actor prize for “Million Dollar Baby,” playing a sage-like ex-prizefighter. [More]