After more digging, message board member Compa Mighty found the transcript of a recent chat in which Gino Acevedo, Sr. Prosthetics Supervisor and Visual Creature Effects Art Director at Weta Workshop, reports that he’s looking forward to working on Smaug and the spiders in The Hobbit and is already trying to come up with ideas for the Dwarves: “At this point there has only been some conversations about it [The Hobbit] and in my spare time I am just trying to come up with some designs for all the dwarves.” He also talks about the prospect of working with Guillermo Del Toro.

Continue reading “Weta Conceptualizing Dwarves for the Hobbit?”

cate_blanchett.jpgCate Blanchett and playwright husband Andrew Upton welcomed Ignatius Martin Upton into the world yesterday. Initial reports were that the Sydney-based mother and child were both well. The baby boy weighed in at just over eight pounds (3.6kg). Blanchett and her husband, who have shared co-artistic director responsibilities at the Sydney Theatre Company since January, already have two sons: Dashiell, 6, and Roman, 3. The NIDA graduate will next be seen alongside Harrison Ford as Agent Irina Spalko in the fourth film of the highly anticipated Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. The film opens nationally on May 22. Read More

This news comes to us from the Hellboy messageboards, where Del Toro posts regularly, via Compa-Mighty:

    Q: So is The Hobbit with GDT official?

GDT: Whew- Not yet. BUT there has been a lot of movement. And for the last few weeks there has been a lot of creative / cast / crew / visual talks and agreements and we have witnessed great progress in areas that I cannot disclose or that have already leaked from other sources. I am dying to share news but I have to be patient and wait until the papers are done and my attachment is real. Nevertheless- a LOT of progress in defining the films, their cast and crew. And, may I add, we are all happily in synch about all creative aspects so far and all willing and eager to move forth. I cannot say more but if all´s well the time will come To talk of many things: Of shoes — and ships — and sealing wax — Of cabbages — and kings…(Quote from Lewis Carroll- Ed).

    Del Toro went on to say that he was swamped by the last push to finish Hellboy II, but LOTR fans could expect some news in two weeks time (this was posted on April 2, so very soon) and “a nice item at Comicon”.

Blue Pilgrim writes in: “Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts (Vienna, VA) is proud to present the U.S. premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, a multimedia spectacular featuring the sweeping cinematography and stirring dialogue of Peter Jackson’s epic movie combined with a live performance of Howard Shore’s award-winning orchestral score. Enjoy this Oscar-winning movie in high definition on large screens in-house and on the lawn, and let the Filene Center Orchestra, the City Choir of Washington, and the World Children’s Choir bring Middle Earth to life. May 21 & 22, 2008.

DC Ringers: Fellowship of the Beltway will be attending this event as a group and would like to welcome any newbies in the greater DC/MD/VA area. For more information, go to http://lotr.meetup.com/5.” Read More

Carlene has alerted us to the following event: The Fourth Annual Medieval Fantasy Festival in Downtown Vacaville, CA will be held on April 19-20, 2008. Each year the Festival has included, along with entertainment and music, kids games, fun, vendors, and food, a more thoughtful, serious side. This year the Festival will be screening the movie “Ringers: Lord of the Fans. Along with this incredible event, special guests, Carlene Cordova and John Welch, will be on site to lead a discussion of their work and “The Lord of the Rings” fan phenomena.
Continue reading ““Ringers: Lord of the Fans” to screen at Medieval Fantasy Festival”

alanlee1.jpgAnna writes in: “FaerieCon is very proud to announce the first US convention appearance of international best-selling fantasy artist, author and Oscar winning Production Designer, Alan Lee. Alan is best known as the co-creator with Brian Froud of the classic faerie book, FAERIES and the book illustrator and production designer for the blockbuster feature films, THE LORD OF THE RINGS. Don’t miss this very rare opportunity to meet one of the great masters of modern faerie and fantasy art and get your favorite book signed. Alan will be signing all three days.” FaerieCon will be held at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, October 10-12, 2008. Read More