Sir Peter Jackson has a new award to add to his trophy cabinet! The film director has just been honoured with New Zealand’s highest accolade, having been made an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, for services to the country. Sir Peter is the first member of the film industry to be made part of the Order; he joins a list which includes politicians, judges, sportsmen and even the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip!
Read the full story here. Everyone at TheOneRing.net sends many congratulations to Sir Peter on this significant honour!
(Photo, by Kevin Stent, shows Sir Peter with NZ Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae, at the investiture ceremony.)
Via The Eagles of Manwe, which see all from afar, we are able to bring you this description of the face of Beorn. Our highly reputable source accidentally caught our favourite shape-shifter on location during principal photography in late 2011 at the Beorn’s Hall set near Paradise in Glenorchy.
Jed Brophy and Weta Workshop propbuilder Samantha Swords star in the new short film ‘The Offering’, written and directed by Elizabeth Crummett. ‘The Offering’ is a unique take on the classic damsel in distress story, and features some lively swordplay between Jed and Samantha. Watch it here; you can also follow the production on ‘The Offering’ Facebook page.
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.
TORn shirt at Weta booth
Dave Tremont, Weta, Salt Lake Comic Con
Azog at Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
A snake charmer and a dino, SLCC 2013
Hobbit man
Dwalin’s axes named Grasper and Keeper
Data of Star Trek, SLCC 2013.
Happy fans get a free Hobbit poster
Badali Jewelry
Orthanc, Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
Costumes at Salt Lake Comic Con
Tauriel’s bow and knives, SLCC 2013.
Bilbo’s contract reporduction
Orcrist The Goblin Cleaver at Weta booth Salt Lake Comic Con 2013.
Sorceress costume at SLCC 2013
Dan and Boomer at TORn booth
Tuariel’s knives, Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013.
Mom sews family costumes.
Dwarf statue, part of the Weta booth at Salt Lake Comic Con, 2013.
Weta booth, Salt Lake Comic Con 2013
Manu Bennett at TheOneRing.net panel, Salt Lake Comic Con, 2013.
Two Princess Leia at SLCC 2013.
Posters for sale at SLCC, 2013
Crowds at SLCC 2013
Hobbit kids at SLCC 2013.
Bilbo’s contract, SLCC 2013
Thorin’s Pipe, SLCC 2013
Tom Bombadil and Bilbo Baggins, SLCC 2013
Gandalf & Saruman at SLCC 2013
Gnadalf, SLCC 2013
Galadriel at SLCC 2013.
TheOneRing.net panel, SLCC 2013.
Frankenstein costume at Salt Lake Comic Con, 2013.
Inferno from TORn messages boards and two other Utahns
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!
Thanks to Ringer Roheryn on the TORn messageboards for spotting this little news story about recording for the Desolation of Smaug soundtrack!
The New Zealand public has essentially lost access to Wellington’s Town Hall while the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra records the score for the second Hobbit movie.
The orchestra last month cancelled its Heights of Passion tour to free up time to record the score.
In a public notice today, Wellington City Council announced ”strict security” was in place at the Town Hall from now until the end of next month while the orchestra records the film score.
There will be no public access during this time, the notice said.
Sir Peter Jackson has a new award to add to his trophy cabinet! The film director has just been honoured with New Zealand’s highest accolade, having been made an Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, for services to the country. Sir Peter is the first member of the film industry to be made part of the Order; he joins a list which includes politicians, judges, sportsmen and even the husband of Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip!
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!
Thanks to Ringer Roheryn on the TORn messageboards for spotting this little news story about recording for the Desolation of Smaug soundtrack!