Weta designer Paul Tobin
Weta designer Paul Tobin

TORn staffer Justin caught up with Weta conceptual designer Paul Tobin at the San Diego Comic-Con last month and scored this long, informative chat about the intense effort that went into the design of the dwarves of the Company, and about John Howe’s immense artistic talent.

As well as working on Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy, Tobin has worked on James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) and Andrew Adamson’s The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008). Continue reading “Weta’s Paul Tobin on dwarf design and the sublime skill of John Howe”

Hobbit-DOS-key-art-poster And here’s new poster art for Desolation of Smaug, too!

Is this a subtle indicator that we will definitely see Bilbo and Smaug’s (the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities) riddling sequence from Inside information in the Desolation of Smaug? Those great lines about Bilbo being the friend of bears and guest of eagles — barrel-rider, Ringwinner and Luckwearer? Continue reading “New Desolation of Smaug key art poster!”

News just in from New Zealand that a 6.2 magnitude earthquake has rocked Wellington.  The earthquakes eipcentre was 10 kms south-east of Seddon.  There are unconfirmed reports of damage in Seddon.  We will update when we hear more.

For more information on the strength and location of the quake, GeoNet – Quakes and for live reactions to the quake click here.

Additional reports received from newsagencies in New Zealand are saying there have been several aftershocks

From stuff.co.nz: “A magnitude 5.7 aftershock centred 5km southeast of Seddon and 8km deep hit about six minutes later.

Another large aftershock, magnitude 5.6, struck at 2.45pm. It was centred 15km southeast of Seddon at a depth of 5km.

A quake closer to Wellington struck at 2.50pm. Geonet said the 4.8 magnitude quake was 15km south of the city at a depth of 5km.”  Read more…

Time for our live webcast TORnTUESDAY! Every week we bring all the news and rumors from within (and without) Ringer fandom — this week we have dissent among the ranks. Better to say we have *many* different opinions on the leaked photo of Beorn, the shape-shifter who was given a not-so-convincing posterior thumbnail image on the back of a 2014 wall calendar that will soon hit store shelves….

Our reactions within the ranks of the TORn Staff have been across the board (both cold and hot). Watching how fans react on the Message Boards and on our Facebook timeline is fascinating!

We launch TORn TUESDAY every week at 5:00PM Pacific: brought to you by host Clifford “Quickbeam” Broadway and producer Justin “That There is a Bear” Sewell — Our innovative live show includes worldwide fans who join us on the Live Event page with a built-in IRC chat (affectionately known as Barliman’s Chat room). Be part of the fun and mischief every week as we broadcast *live* from Meltdown Comics in the heart of Hollywood, U.S.A.!

And yes our YouTube channel will have this archived later.  You can find us on www.youtube.com/the1nering

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