LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Film composers aren’t exactly the most social creatures in Hollywood. But when five of this year’s Oscar front-runners — A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Howard Shore (“Doubt”), Danny Elfman (“Milk”), Alexandre Desplat (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and Jan Kaczmarek (“The Visitor”) — sat down recently with The Hollywood Reporter, they seized the opportunity for a frank, passionate discussion of the past, present and future of film music. Hollywood composers tune in for rare gathering

The Hunt for Gollum
The Hunt for Gollum
Chris Bouchard, director of ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ dropped me a line to let me know that the first ever full length trailer for the film is now online. The trailer features several favourite characters and a fuller impression of this 30 minute film.

Check out the trailer here and be sure to visit thehuntforgollum.com.

Kristin Thompson, author of the very successful Frodo Franchise was a guest on last Sunday’s broadcast of ‘Fictional Frontiers with Sohaib,’ on WNJC 1360 AM, Philadelphia at 11AM ET. As always, it was broadcast live via the internet via the WNJC website. A full transcript of the radio segment can be found below (thanks to Deleece Cook!). TheOneRing.net is featured every other week on Fictional Frontiers. Continue reading “Fictional Frontiers Radio Transcript”

From independent.co.uk: At first, I don’t notice the figure hunched over the computer in the corner. It’s only when I hear the voice – resonant, commanding, with a trace of a Lancashire accent – that I realise that this grey-haired creature, unprepossessing, at least from behind, is Lear and Gandalf and Vanya and Magneto. Is, in other words, Sir Ian McKellen. And when he turns round, he’s not unprepossessing at all. His face is lined, but amazingly handsome. His body, in super-hip jeans, turquoise T-shirt and chic little jacket, is athletic and lithe. Mature but modern is the overall impression. Gravitas with a funky twist. Sir Ian McKellen: The Bard and me

The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones
He has collaborated with some of the biggest names in music, including U2, David Bowie, Talking Heads, Paul Simon and Coldplay. Now English musician and producer Brian Eno is to work with Peter Jackson. Eno, who co-founded Roxy Music with Bryan Ferry, will write original music for Jackson’s next film, The Lovely Bones, due for release next December. While Eno, 60, is not as widely known as the bands and artists he has produced and collaborated with over the years, he is one of the world’s most widely respected and influential musicians and album producers. Eno signs up to write music for Lovely Bones