So much of what Weta does is terribly secret until it’s finished (who knows what they’re up to in preparing for The Hobbit? But next month they’re inviting people in Wellington to visit the Weta Cave to enjoy their work on their own series, Jane and the Dragon. It’s a free day of medieval fun and a chance to meet both the author of the book, Martin Baynton, and master swordsmith Peter Lyon, who did so much work on The Lord of the Rings. Read More
Category: Production
Jonathan Dean from independent.co.uk writes: Eleven hours and 38 minutes. That’s how much of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings is available for anyone smitten by elves, dwarves and small things with hairy feet. It’s the same time it takes to fly halfway round the world. It’s a heck of a stretch to spend in Middle Earth. But if said land – where JRR Tolkien’s books are set – sounds a little like purgatory, here’s some hellish news for anyone immune to the charms of Gollum, Frodo, Gandalf and co: the fantasy is back. It will be the biggest film story from now until the end of 2012. You have been warned.
The addition to the yarn is a two-part imagining of The Hobbit – a prequel to the most successful film trilogy of all time that began with The Fellowship of the Ring in 2001 and wrapped up with The Return of the King two years later, nabbing 17 Oscars and $2.91bn in takings. Such figures turned the decision to film Tolkien’s much-loved introductory novel into a no-brainer. But what has shocked fans is that Jackson – godlike in Ring circles – only executive produces this time, handing directing responsibilities over to Guillermo del Toro of Pan’s Labyrinth and Hellboy fame. Perhaps the creator has tired of the world he so meticulously made. It wouldn’t be surprising. Ever since the curtain rose on the trilogy, the franchise has been milked. Online shops stock 20-plus DVD spin-offs (Special Extended Editions, Box Sets, Special Limited Editions, a Trivial Pursuit game), with Blu-Rays to come. On the official site, 18-carat gold “One Ring To Rule Them All” gift boxes are being bought at £380 a pop. Such marketing clout greatly excites the studio moneymen. In short, no fantasy novel has been safe from being filmed. The battle for Middle Earth
Canada’s Olympic broadcasters unveiled the first stage in a six-phase advertising series today, promising the largest Olympic campaign ever fielded by a media company. Dubbed BELIEVE, the campaign features heavyweight talent including actor Donald Sutherland and composer Howard Shore (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Silence of the Lambs). Slated as a rallying cry to Canadians ahead of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, it’s designed to make household names of Canada’s elite competitive athletes. The most ambitious aspect of the first phase, which officially launches today, is a pair of 60-second commercials. Howard Shore Launches Olympic Campaign
From Cinematical: What do you do when your geek base demands a prequel to one of their biggest fantasy trilogies, and that it be done right? You hire Guillermo bleepin’ del Toro to get around to it, as soon as he’s done with eighteen other projects. Two things are sure: he’ll find a place for Doug Jones, which is always welcome, and the thing can’t help but end less times than Return of the King did.
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Film composers aren’t exactly the most social creatures in Hollywood. But when five of this year’s Oscar front-runners — A.R. Rahman (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Howard Shore (“Doubt”), Danny Elfman (“Milk”), Alexandre Desplat (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and Jan Kaczmarek (“The Visitor”) — sat down recently with The Hollywood Reporter, they seized the opportunity for a frank, passionate discussion of the past, present and future of film music. Hollywood composers tune in for rare gathering