The Tolkien Society sends this in: This year’s Middle-earth Weekend has the theme of the Mariner to tie in with the International Maritime Organization’s Year of the Seafarer. Although Sarehole itself is landlocked and hobbits had a fear of boats Tolkien’s ‘Shire’ for which Sarehole was an inspiration was bordered by the elven towers at the outskirts of the Grey Havens from where the elves would sail West to Valinor. A story that links the earliest ages of Middle-earth with “The Lord of the Rings” is the tale of Eärendil the Mariner. Continue reading “The Mariner: Sailing Around Middle-Earth”
Year: 2010
The actor Andy Serkis, who so memorably played Gollum and King Kong using performance capture, has announced the UK’s first studio specialising in the technique. As he told a recent British Screen Advisory Council discussion on working with digital film technology, Serkis caught the bug of “cyber-thespianism” working with Peter Jackson at his Weta studios in New Zealand, first on The Lord of the Rings trilogy and then on King Kong. He has since directed performance capture for two video games, one in America and one in New Zealand. That made him wonder why the same facility wasn’t available in Britain, when so much of the original technology was developed out of Oxford and Cambridge. More..
The 2010 American Quilt Society quilt show officially begins tomorrow, but unofficially, the party got started tonight. Hundreds of people showed up to get a sneak peek at this year’s winners. Judges presented the awards earlier this evening at the Carson Center in Downtown Paducah. The event culminated with the award for “Best of Show” More..
Thanks to Ringers Rory and Kelgalad for the heads up on this:
“Tonight’s episode of ‘The Marriage Ref’ will include a couple who are arguing over the husband’s Lord of the Rings collection. Should be funny, even if you’re not a fan of the show. NBC, 10 EST”
Check out the official website for more details and your local listings! [NBC]
Vincent writes: I attended the annual Elf Fantasy Fair in the Netherlands, which finished today. One of the guests was Shane Rangi, well know to fans of the LOTR movies. He was pretty active at the event, and at one point demonstrated the new ‘WETA Legs’.
Tom writes: Have you noticed the “newest news” on Weta Workshop site, about their new display at Wellington airport. The picture shows one of the two trolls holding the shelves. They don’t look like the ones from the FOTR. A “Hobbit” stone Trolls sneak peak perhaps? (I doubt it, but they’re awfully cute -Xo) More..