MarketSaw is citing a source at WETA that states Peter Jackson will play host to key insider people for a rather large scale discussion on what 3D options to elect for “The Hobbit” Part 1 & Part 2 and the original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. [Read More]
Category: Production
Chad Grischow writes: January 3, 2008 – Poor Howard Shore. With most moviegoers busy ogling over the amazing visual work Weta created for Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy, it is easy to forget just how equally fantastic they each sound. Newly issued five-disc mega set, featuring nearly four hours worth of cd audio and another four hours of DVD audio in full surround sound, is here to refresh your memory. Having worked on scores for Martin Scorsese (The Departed) and David Fincher (Se7en and Panic Room), not to mention his long-standing working relationship with David Cronenberg, Shore knows drama and tension. This experience serves him well in the inevitable battle sequences, but he proves equally capable of pulling off delightfully wistful fare throughout. It is the well balanced, always compelling, sound that makes this rather lengthy collection worthy of your ears from start to finish. Despite just how long it will take you to hear all of Shore’s work, there is not much fat to be found. Like the film itself, there are a few lulls, like plodding “Marshalling At Dunharrow”, but thankfully no repeated false endings or moments where you wish the credits would start rolling already. Howard Shore – The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King – The Complete Recordings
Telperion writes: This year marks the 4th International Art Competition of ST Wieza City Culture and Art Centre of Bielawa in association with City Promotion and Strategy Department of Bielawa (Poland). The theme of this year’s competition is Battles and Combats of the First Age and there is much freedom allowed in the artistic style and technique chosen by competitors. The First Prize is €250 and there are two Second Prizes of €100 each. The panel of judges will be chosen from a wide range of sources and will include the world famous Tolkien artist, John Howe, whom it is an honour to have as a judge. The competition is now open and the closing date for submissions is March 31st, 2008. Tolkien Themed Art Competition in Poland
Weta Workshop’s involvement in another blockbuster movie has been unmasked – the physical effects studio has beaten Hollywood to design and make the costumes for superheroes including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman and The Flash. The costumes will be donned by a yet-to-be-named cast for the big-budget Hollywood movie Justice League of America, to be filmed in Sydney this year and directed by Australian George Miller of Mad Max and Happy Feet fame. The film’s Wellington-based American producer, Barrie Osborne, who produced Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings, confirmed Weta Workshop’s involvement. “They are doing all the costumes and they’re doing a brilliant job,” he told The Dominion Post from Sydney. “A lot of people thought it would be too hard, that you can only make those things in Hollywood.” Weta triumphs in clash of the superheroes
2007 has been quite an exciting year for Tolkien fans! There’s been an abundance of news and events from across the globe including openings of musicals, new book releases and new movies in the pipeline: something to satisfy just about any geeky preference! As a thank-you for following all the developments of the year with us, we thought we’d put together a retrospective of the top Tolkien stories of 2007 in one convenient list. The list below is in chronological order.
Here’s to a 2008 that’s just as exciting! Stay tuned! Continue reading “Top Tolkien Stories of 2007”
Oscar-winning special effects guru Joe Letteri has been made a partner at Weta Digital. Letteri, an American, joins Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor and Jamie Selkirk as an equal partner and shareholder in the internationally successful Wellington company. He has been a senior visual effects supervisor for Weta Digital, which provides computer-generated effects, since 2001, and will continue in that role. Before that, he worked at George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic for 10 years, and he was a visual effects co-supervisor for the 1997 Star Wars Special Edition. He has played a key role in attracting productions to New Zealand, including James Cameron’s new film Avatar, for which Weta is providing the visual effects. Weta partnership for special effects guru