From www.blu-ray.com: Universal Studios Universal Studios Home Entertainment has announced that they will host a live BD-Live chat with director Guillermo Del Toro on November 23rd at 6PM PST. Owners of the ‘Hellboy II: The Golden Army’ Blu-ray only have to place their disc in a BD-Live capable player and connect to Universal’s BD-Live server. Fans also have the opportunity now to submit up to three questions for the famed director to answer during his chat. To submit questions, click on the “My Account” tab once you are logged in and then select the “Director’s Chat” tab. Make sure to mark down November 23rd on your calendar and tune in to see if your questions get answered.
Category: Production
ComingSoon.net talked to director Guillermo del Toro about The Hobbit and its sequel last night at an event for the new Hellboy II: The Golden Army DVD. He says they won’t start the casting process until they’ve finished writing: “Literally, like every week, what you discover writing the two movies, writing the two stories, it changes. So, every week there’s a discovery, and anything we say this week would be contradicted next week. Certainly that would be true in casting. Why create hopes or why create expectations if down the line you’re going to go, ‘You know what? That was not a good idea.'” Guillermo del Toro Gives Hobbit Update
TheOneRing.net and the folks from Houghton Mifflin are sponsoring a live chat with illustrator Alan Lee at 12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Satuday, November 15. Alan will be discussing the recent releases of the paperback edition of ‘The Children of Hurin’ as well as the reprinted edition of ‘Tales from a Perilous Realm’, both of which feature artwork by Alan.
The chat will be held in our own Barliman’s Chatroom (link also in the menu on the left of the Home Page). More information will follow with detailed instructions on how to participate. In the mean time, if you would like to submit questions for Alan please email them to livechat@theonering.net. Read on for a synopsis of these remarkable new Tolkien-related publications provided by Houghton Mifflin. Continue reading “Live Chat with Alan Lee!”
Susanne writes: For UK- based Ringers worth catching on BBC iPlayer, Merlin – The legend – “A look at the mythical roots in art and literature of Merlin – magician, hero and historical mystery. Merlin is the archetypal wizard, Welsh and Celtic in origin but with connections across the water in Cornwall and middle Europe, and, of course, the Arthurian legends. Clearly, Merlin is the distant relative of Dumbledore and all those weird and wonderful wizards in literature.”
Two excellent segments by Alan Lee – one on drawing Merlin and a second, longer one on Merlin as an inspiration for Gandalf including a “tour” of the prop Gandalf staff with which he was presented at the end of LOTR filming. Otherwise a great programme overall with a mixture of history, literature and contemorary firm – highly recommended. www.bbc.co.uk
If you didn’t catch the second part of Sohaib Awan, host of Fictional Frontiers Radio Show on WJNC1360AM, speaking to Anthony Moody from Indalo Productions about the recent interview he conducted with Guillermo del Toro, here’s your chance to read the transcript. Anthony speaks his thoughts about Guillermo’s ‘Magic Realism’, Monsters and the possible ‘tone’ of the upcoming Hobbit Films. There is a also a great story Anthony cites on what Guillermo would have liked to have done in the ‘Pale Man’ scene in Pans Labyrinth. This is the second installment from the 2 part interview with Anthony. Enjoy!
Continue reading “Transcript: Sohaib talks with Anthony Moody about his GdT interview”
Or the Ins and Outs of Tolkien Fandom
John Howe writes: Meeting Tolkien fans is invariably an engaging experience – occasionally delightful, sometimes moving, often a little scary – but never ordinary.
It’s not that they form an always identifiable body, like Trekkies – who I find a little frightening – I mean, to lavish such attention on costumes that look like something Yves Saint-Laurent binned as a bad idea in the 70’s is beyond me, and do we REALLY need more than one Mr. Spock ? – or the exuberant kaleidoscope of Star Wars fans. Tolkien fans come in many shapes, sizes and disguises, from über-serious comma-counters to elegant and flighty Elves. (I’ve just learned that there is debate amongst Star Trek fans as to the correct denomination; “Trekkers” being apparently preferred by those “Trekkies” who “have a life”. Why do I find this deeply perturbing?) Continue reading “John Howe’s Journal: Many Meetings”