For those paying attention Linuxelf has been building up quite a library on YouTube, all well worth attention. But one of the three newest ones is pretty near and dear to TheOneRing.net. Maybe some have seen this footage but certainly many of us have not.
There is also a haka for LOTR cast and crew here, and a report on Oscar buzz for “Fellowship of the Ring,” here. Thanks LE!
Claire sends us a news story from the Empire Awards. Ian McKellen got an Empire Icon award and Andy Serkis received an Inspiration Award. There’s more on the BBC’s website and Empire’s own website.
Speaking with Digital Spy at last night’s Empire Film Awards, Andy Serkis dished out several small but interesting tidbits about The Hobbit films.
He revealed that he met with Guillermo del Toro last year (during the time he spent in New Zealand on his Tintin shoot) and talked through some visual concepts with him. Further, Guillermo also showed him some “fantastic pre-visualization stuff”, and he believes that shooting on the Hobbit films, which “looks like it’s going to be a very exciting shoot… should kick start by the end of this year”.
On the classic question about whether the films are going to differ visually from the Lord of the Rings, he says “I think Middle-earth will still feel like Middle-earth. Obviously, Guillermo’s got a particular take on how he envisions it, and that’s why he’s there. Peter, as producer, and the writing team want a fresh pair of eyes on the story. But at the same time… fans aren’t going to think “Oh my God, where are we!” There’s a familiarity to it, but there’s a fresh pair of eyes on it.”
Asked whether Bilbo has been found yet, his answer was a spontaneous “No”.
Lastly, on the aspect of the films being in 3D, he said “I don’t know what’s going on with that debate really. We’ll have to wait and see. It’s an interesting question… I don’t know!”
Ataahua sent in the tip: But British actor Sir Ian McKellen – best known for his role as Gandalf in the Rings sword and sorcery epic – said on his website that he would reprise the role of the grey-haired wizard and expected shooting to begin this June. More..
This is…strange..well, it’s not Yo Gabba Gabba! strange, but it’s….odd. Take a look at our own Elijah Wood with Robert Schneider of ‘The Apples in Stereo’ filming a very Carl Sagan type show ‘Exploring the Universe’.
Roy 72 writes: Top UK Film Critic and contrarian Mark Kermode (BBC) hands out his awards every year on the BBC2 Culture Show just prior to the Oscars (only rule- no Oscar nominee can win a Kermode) and he is also a huge fan of Ian McKellan, Ian Holm and Viggo Mortensen (“the De Niro of his generation”) though not Orlando Bloom sadly. Continue reading “Mark Kermode Awards Andy Serkis for ‘S&D&R&R’”