If you are still looking for that last minute gift for the Tolkien fan in your life, check out Sideshow Collectibles’ ‘The Duel of Light and Fire – Gandalf vs. The Balrog‘ diorama. Regularly priced at $299.99, they are offering an exclusive coupon (HG9716) that will automatically save you 30% OFF. Their page says the coupon expires tomorrow, and only 8 more pieces are being offered at this price. [Check it out] And don’t forget to check out the rest of our 2010 Holiday Gift Guide!
Year: 2010
File this under weird science news of the day. As many of you know, the larger than life Eagles in Tolkien’s Middle-earth, tend to be a bit more noble-hearted than the birds mentioned in this real-life story. As we learned in 2003, hobbit sized humanoid fossils were found in the Liang Bua cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. News reaches us recently that these poor Hobbit-like humans may have been hunted by extremely large, stork-like birds. Birds that stood nearly 6 feet tall!! Let’s just say, this reporter is happy those birds are not around today. To read the full story, check out LiveScience.com. [Read More]
File this under random Hobbit movie information of the day. If you ever wondered what the confidentiality sign looked like outside of the Hobbiton set in Matamata NZ, well, wonder no more! It is pretty obvious that the Hobbit production is taking confidentiality very seriously! Click on the image above to see a larger version.
Gregg Nations, a co-producer and script co-ordinater from the popular TV series “LOST”, took a ‘Middle Earth’ tour with Red Carpet Tours last month. The weather was great and there were many highlights, but the one that left Gregg speechless was the breathtaking views from a spectacular helicopter flight over the Dead Marshes, Norwest Lakes and mountains!
The flight is a “must do” for all who take a Red Carpet Tour ! 2011 is shaping up to be an exciting time to be in New Zealand. Wellington will be buzzing with teams of people involved at the Miramar studios, while camera crews will be in action at various locations. You never know who you might bump into ! [Red Carpet Tours]
The flight is a “must do” for all who take a Red Carpet Tour ! 2011 is shaping up to be an exciting time to be in New Zealand. Wellington will be buzzing with teams of people involved at the Miramar studios, while camera crews will be in action at various locations. You never know who you might bump into ! [Red Carpet Tours]
Ian Collier from The Tolkien Society sends this in: At 9pm (local times) on January 3rd fans around the world are invited to raise a glass and toast J.R.R. Tolkien’s Birthday.
The Tolkien Society has some webpages where fans across the globe can let other fans know where they’ll be celebrating if they’re hosting a party, or just what particular tipple they’ll be raising. Fans will be able to check the webpage and see who is celebrating where and if they wish to get in touch and join in. This news and an event page can also be found on Facebook.
The Birthday Toast event should be understood to consist of the saying of the toast and a drink (not necessarily alcoholic) of an individual’s choice. The information posted by anybody on the Birthday Toast web pages will not be sold or passed on to any third party (outside of the context of the web pages and the ‘Birthday Toast’ event). The organisers do not condone drinking alcohol if it endangers the health or safety of the drinker or others, or contravenes the law.
Wellingtons film industry is getting a further boost of government funding, with special effects workshop Weta Digital one of six fast-growing, high-tech companies awarded $7.2 million each under the new Technology Development Grant Programme.
The announcement by Research, Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp follows the government decision in October to add more than $30 million in subsidies to secure filming and production of The Hobbit movies in New Zealand. More..