At the beginning of August, TheOneRing.net reported on allegations by a former animal wrangler that “incompetence” lead to the deaths of several animals used in the production while they were being housed at a farm outside of Wellington.
Now, The Associated Press has spoken with three other wranglers who said the farm near Wellington was unsuitable for horses because it was peppered with bluffs, sinkholes and broken-down fencing. They said they repeatedly raised concerns about the farm with their superiors and the production company, owned by Warner Bros., but it continued to be used. They say they want their story aired publicly now to prevent similar deaths in the future. Continue reading “Animal wranglers say farm was unsuitable for horses”
The folks on our message boards are confused. I’m confused. There’s been so many TV spots over the last couple of weeks. Still, this may just be an eighth TV spot for the Hobbit. I’m pretty sure there’s a few short snippets of dialogue in there that I’ve not heard in the previous ones. Anyone able to confirm either way?
Philippa Boyens. Photo: KENT BLECHYNDEN/Fairfax NZ Wellington’s Philippa Boyens is one of the most successful screenwriters in the world. She’s won an Oscar, a Bafta and has been a nominee for many more, including a Writers Guild of America Award.
Boyens owes much of this to her screenwriting debut with Sir Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings. She went on to co-write King Kong and The Lovely Bones with Jackson and Fran Walsh, as well as co-produce both films.
So with the fruits of her most recent labour, the US$500 million trilogy The Hobbit, soon to be revealed to the world with the release in December of An Unexpected Journey, we’d be forgiven for assuming Boyens was keen from the very beginning to return to Middle-earth.
When asked, there’s a long pause before she answers. “I loved the world. I loved [JRR] Tolkien’s writing. [But] I think there was a quality about myself where I felt like ‘I’d done it’,” she says while in Wellington.
HotHouse Music (the music supervisors and film composer agents at Abbey Road Studios in London) report on Twitter that — after three months of recording and mixing — The Hobbit score is finally complete.
Choice quote: “It’s going to be epic. #TheHobbit #Needaholiday”.
It’s all getting serious now. Isn’t the film supposed to be signed, sealed and delivered in a day or so, too? Thanks to Ringer Tolktolk on the forums for the heads up!
A team of academic researchers from the University of Waikato (New Zealand) and Ryerson University (Canada) is currently conducting a major international research project exploring audience engagement with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey prior to the film’s release. The survey will remain open until the TH: AUJ general release begins to roll out on December 12.
Breaking news from Warner Bros is that Sir Ian McKellen, who plays the wizard Gandalf in The Hobbit movies, will not be attending the world premier of The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey, in Wellington later this month. In a statement from Warner Brothers today, McKellen said he was envious his co-stars could attend. “It is thrilling that Peter and my other friends from the cast and crew will be re-united for the world premiere,” he said. “I know they will have a wonderful welcome from the fans and I envy them. As ever, my heart is in Wellington, and I send my love.” Warner Bros. announced the cast and crew members who will be attending the premier including Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield), Cate Blanchett (Galadriel), Hugo Weaving (Elrond), Andy Serkis (Gollum) and Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins). Ten of the remaining 12 dwarf characters will also attend the premiere, as well as Barry Humphries, who plays the Goblin King.
