UPDATE: Photo of Manu Bennett at the TORn “Hobbit” preview panel.
Gandalf & Saruman at SLCC 2013
SALT LAKE CITY — Once scheduled for a smaller venue in the suburbs, the first ever Salt Lake Comic Con filled Utah’s capital city’s largest convention venue and had it bursting at the seams Saturday. For a time the hundreds waiting outside were not allowed to enter except at a 1-out-1-in rate. Word on the dealer’s floor said it was because the fire marshal closed the space but that rumor was never confirmed.
Reports in the media called the event “record setting” for a first-year convention, and that is possibly true, but such stats aren’t readily available. In any case, it was a massive event with celebrities that included William Kircher (Bifur) and Manu Bennett (Azog) and other pop-culture icons like William Shatner and Adam West.
Azog at Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
TheOneRing.net was part of the fun as well, with staffer (and this writer) Larry D. Curtis (MrCere) attending with the show in his (my) hometown. the SLComic Con invited TORn to present a panel about Smaug and serve on other panels as well, with topics including Fantasy Films, all things Tolkien, Geek Culture and film school.
Bennett and Kircher were kind enough to drop by TheOneRing panel that also included author and TORn friend Paul Genesse. He helped moderate the panel and showed incredible enthusiasm for the material.
TheOneRing also managed a booth on the at time very crowded floor supported by incredible friends at Badali Jewelry and Weta Workshop making its first U.S. appearance outside of the San Diego Comic Con. TORn helped back in a small way to staff the Weta booth and send those with questions about where to purchase The One Ring to Badali’s very nearby booth. Artist David Powell was also kind enough to sign posters of his art for fans.
The Salt Palace Convention Center can be expanded and the SLCC will return next year. TheOneRing.net hopes to be part of the show. Thanks to Dan McBride and Blonde Ninja for their support of the TORn booth. Thanks also to the many financial supports at the event and to Salt Lake Comic Con for letting us be a part of the show. If you attended and would like TORn to return, you can use the contact info here to let them know.
If anybody has images of Bennett and Kircher attending the TORn panel, please send them in! We were busy having a panel and didn’t get any photos.
Inferno from TORn messages boards and two other Utahns
Azog at Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
Dwarf statue, part of the Weta booth at Salt Lake Comic Con, 2013.
Data of Star Trek, SLCC 2013.
Gandalf & Saruman at SLCC 2013
Galadriel at SLCC 2013.
Thorin’s Pipe, SLCC 2013
Bilbo’s contract, SLCC 2013
Bilbo’s Contract, SLCC 2013
Two Princess Leia at SLCC 2013.
TORn shirt at Weta booth
Costumes at Salt Lake Comic Con
Mom sews family costumes.
Bilbo’s contract reporduction
Team Fortress 2 costumes from SLCC
Hobbit man
Gnadalf, SLCC 2013
Manu Bennett at TheOneRing.net panel, Salt Lake Comic Con, 2013.
Sorceress costume at SLCC 2013
Happy fans get a free Hobbit poster
Dan and Boomer at TORn booth
Tom Bombadil and Bilbo Baggins, SLCC 2013
Tauriel’s bow and knives, SLCC 2013.
Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
Dave Tremont, Weta, Salt Lake Comic Con
Crowds at SLCC 2013
Badali Jewelry
Orthanc, Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
Hobbit kids at SLCC 2013.
Dwalin’s axes named Grasper and Keeper
Gandalf & Galadriel SLCC 2013
Frankenstein costume at Salt Lake Comic Con, 2013.
Orcrist The Goblin Cleaver at Weta booth Salt Lake Comic Con 2013.
A snake charmer and a dino, SLCC 2013
Comic Book Guy and Otto Mann
TheOneRing.net panel, SLCC 2013.
Posters for sale at SLCC, 2013
Tuariel’s knives, Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013.
As the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Extended Edition format approaches, Empire Magazine examines whether studios are giving the format their full support. Perhaps what’s on offer in the AUJ EE works as a counter-example against Empire’s critique? Tell us your thoughts!
Jens Hansen, the Makers of the World’s Most Famous Ring – The One Ring™ for The Lord of The Rings™ and The Hobbit™ trilogies – have come on board to support TheOneRing.net in our 2013 Pledge Drive! And that is not all! You can enter for a chance to win your own gold-plated The One Ring replica – Details below!
Out of all the jewellers in the world, Peter Jackson chose The Ringmaker Jens Hansen to make The One Ring™ for our favourite movies. Jens submitted 15 ring prototypes in a variety of weights and finishes, and from this extensive collection, the final Movie Ring design was selected. This design has now become the “World’s Most Famous Ring”.
The Jens Hansen team also created Vilya, the ring worn by Hugo Weaving as Elrond, and last year made a special commission of 12 rings for The Hobbit’s actors who played the dwarfs.
In the workshop in Nelson, New Zealand – the middle of Middle Earth – the Jens Hansen craftsmen make gold and silver The One Ring™ replicas and character rings, along with sought-after distinctive, Scandinavian-inspired jewellery.
And, because Jens Hansen loves us movie fans so much, they are running a competition for us. Click here to like them on Facebook to enter the draw to win your own gold-plated The One Ring replica, in your size choice with engraving or without. And, don’t forget to follow them on Tumblr and Twitter so you can follow all their news. Good luck! [Enter Today]
TheOneRing.net’s 2013 Pledge Drive – Light the Beacons is drawing to a close – but there’s still time to support us, and we want to let you know about another generous corporate supporter.
Vanderstelt Studio, home of the amazing artist Jerry Vanderstelt, have generously added their own pledge to TORn’s fundraising efforts. Jerry Vanderstelt is a formidable painter who is an ardent fan of sci-fi and fantasy, and particularly of C S Lewis and J R R Tolkien. His paintings include work inspired by The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
Jerry has donated some stunning artwork to TORn’s current auction. These pieces are exclusive prints, personally signed and with unique sketches by Jerry added to the print. One auction item is for three Lord of the Rings pieces, and the other is for a wonderful painting of Dwalin the Dwarf. You can find the auctions items here and here; don’t miss this chance to own some extraordinary pieces of Middle-earth art!
TheOneRing.net would like to formally thank Vanderstelt Studios for their continued support of TheOneRing.net!
As you know, we’re currently conducting our pledge drive to raise funds and keep our servers running. We also have some very exciting auctions going on over at Ebay.
There are some fabulous, exclusive pieces up for grabs – including some things which, usually, money can’t buy! Time is running out on some of our auctions too, so best check them out now. Here are just a couple that might tickle your fancy:
As you know, we’re currently conducting our pledge drive to raise funds and keep our servers running. We also have some very exciting auctions going on over at Ebay.
There are some fabulous, exclusive pieces up for grabs – including some things which, usually, money can’t buy! Time is running out on some of our auctions too, so best check them out now. Here are just three that might tickle your fancy:
As the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Extended Edition format approaches, Empire Magazine examines whether studios are giving the format their full support. Perhaps what’s on offer in the AUJ EE works as a counter-example against Empire’s critique? Tell us your thoughts!
