Well, denials have been flowing in from theatre people pretty quickly since we posted this rumour.
From Shaun: About the trailer of ROTK in front of terminator, it is not true. I work at a theater, and we had an advanced staff screening of T3 and there was no trailer for it. I actually made up the print of T3 and there was no indication that there would be a trailer for ROTK for a while.
From Jeff: I work at a theater in Gresham, Oregon and just got done watching the movie [T3]. Neither of our prints of the movie have a ROTK teaser. I was told we got a buttload of trailer with the print when they came in, and I am pretty sure if we had a teaser for ROTK then it would have been put on at least one of the prints of T3, but my projectionist could be stupid and not have put it on for some insane reason. I’ll check tomorrow though and see if any of the trailers we got with the print were ROTK teasers.
From Strider Eliteralus: I’m out here in Davis, CA and I just screened two prints of T3 and the ROTK trailer is not on it…I REPEAT, not on either print! I will know if it is on Pirates by next Monday the 8th of July.
From Scott: I work at a movie theatre in Yakima, WA, and there was no, repeat that, NO Return of the King trailer in front of Terminator 3. The attached trailer was Matchstick Men, and all of the other enclosed trailers were not very exciting. We received two prints of T3 and both were the same, unfortunately. I don’t know if this goes for everywhere, though.
Sorry everyone. The news from the coalface seems to be that there will *not* be any RoTK Teaser Trailer with T3.
João writes, “I started reading “The elegant Universe” by Brian R. Green and reached the part where the author starts talking about the super-strings theory. Basically, what the theory says is that the universe is composed of strings, (like in a violin) and that all particles emerge because thoose strings vibrate. Like the notes emerging when a string of a violin vibrates. The author even talks about a “cosmic symphony” and “all is music”.
Being a Tolkien fan I imediatly noticed the incredible resemblence. Tolkien wrote that Iluvatar made everything out of music. This theory being correct (everything leads to that), Tolkien couldn’t be more right… The building blocks that God (or Iluvatar) used, is indeed, music…”
If you don’t have a copy of the Silmarillion handy, here is the opening of its creation myth, the Ainulindalë:
“There was Eru, the One, who in Arda is called Ilúvatar; and he made first the Ainur, the Holy Ones, that were the offspring of his thought, and they were with him before aught else was made. And he spoke to them, propounding to them themes of music; and they sang before him, and he was glad.”
And it is from that music that the world is created, according to Tolkien!
Viggo was just as humble and altogether nice as everyone says he is. From the moment they pulled the curtains at Magasinet in Odense he made everybody smile and cheer for him, and for his poems. Also for pulling out an UN flag and arranging it across the table in front of him. Even though he spoke mainly in Danish he managed to get the message through to everyone. People had come from all over: Denmark, Sweden, Germany, England, USA and even Japan!
I, as a Swede, had no major problems understanding his Danish – though he himself, was abit unsure of his poems, that someone else has translated into Danish. When he read in English the meaning was clearer. But he made better jokes in Danish!
Then he said that he’d promised to read something in Spanish, and all of a sudden he burst into singing the song/poem “Silencio”. It was a magic moment… Then reading some work by New Zeeland poets, then some lines fro H.C Andersen and then some more of his own material.
Going on for a good 45 minutes it was all over much too soon. But the book signing started immediately and starting from the back my friend and I got up among the first. Asking everybody where they were from, he signed my books in Swedish(!), and then offered everyone a piece of Swedish chocolate. Letting everyone take as many photos as they wished and being the sweetest person I’ve ever met he made it an unforgettable day!
If you can make it to Denmark before the end of September, check out Viggo’s exhibition “Ephëmeris” at Brandts Klaedefabrik in Odense! Definitely worth a visit!
When we checked into the Disneyland Grand Californian Hotel, they even gave us a huge poster and written instructions on how to attend. They told us we must have been in the park Saturday prior to the official closing time and have a hand stamp to prove it. We had other commitments on the big day, so we went over to the park at 6:30 AM that morning to check things out and received a special pin for the event, and the crucial hand stamp.
We took plenty of pictures the day before of “the doings”. Being old hands at Disney, we even got a good look at the seating set-up from the pilot house of the Mark Twain steamboat, since we knew to ask for a ride with the captain. She told us that even park employees were not going to be allowed back in to view the red carpet arrivals. We also saw the “Columbia” tall ship outfitted with speakers, instruments and a special stage for the party band. The screen was still furled, but we could see that it would be huge, covering the entire front of Tom Sawyer’s Island where the Fantasmic show usually plays.
When we returned at about 4:30 PM we were fortunate to fall into conversation with some nice people from Victoria, Canada who were big fans of Johnny Depp, and had been in position since 9 AM. They were more than willing to share their front-row position and to support my desire for an Orlando autograph, if I would return the favor, by waving the Johnny Depp section of the poster and shrieking for them. Posters were hot items. I could have sold mine at any time if I had been willing. Only hotel guests and those who ate at the Blue Bayou restaurant in the Pirate attraction on the day, were able to get them.
We also had a marvelous juggler on stilts who stayed near our part of the line and entertained the stars so we could sometimes get good photos. The other side of the street was entirely blocked by media reps, and the fans stuck behind them had no opportunity for autographs at all.
We saw many famous people including Gene Wilder, Ozzie Smith, Cuba Gooding Jr., John Stamos and his wife Rebecca, Raquel Welch, Oded Fehr, David Hasselhoff, Jon Voight, Jane Seymour and Chloris Leachman – many were very gracious to the fans and signed autographs. Several brought their children and some had gone to the trouble to dress in pirate-themed costumes.
Johnny Depp and Orlando were the last to come at about 9:00 PM. Orlando was wearing a very plain black T-shirt type top and black trousers, but had a colorful pirate sash-like belt to dress up the outfit. The media kept trying to whip the crowd into a frenzy over Johnny Depp, but we stayed focused on whoever seemed mostly likely to respond to our calls. Unfortunately for our Canadian pals Johnny passed us by, and didn’t even finish doing the carpet before his handlers pulled him out of there saying that he was late for some appointment. But Orlando DID stop and signed my poster (Yay!) since our entire area was chanting Or-LAND-DO!! steadily in an attempt to get his attention.
I include a photo of Orlando since he is probably the star of greatest interest to the TORn family. I wish it was better, but my ‘official photographer’ was too busy looking at Orlando to take one when he was closer to us, even if he could have with all the heads in the way. He said later that it would have been impossible.
I never thought I’d hear my husband say he thought another guy was actually “great looking”.
More important however, Orlando was just plain nice. He didn’t have time to talk, but did seem to be trying to make eye contact with everyone he signed for, and was doing it at lightning speed to get in as many autographs as possible before being hauled back to the media tables.
The only remaining mystery – some new pedestals have been added at the entrance to the Pirates attraction. They were covered when we were there, and we couldn’t get back to see what they were after the unveiling. Park staff wouldn’t comment, but maybe someone who went on Sunday could fill us in.
Variety has a mid-year Oscar column… you need a subscription to read it, but www.oscarwatch.com has the article on the front page in full. It includes this little tidbit:
“Most of these films are not finished, so at this point it’s really a guessing game. There is one film, however, that always figures in the guessing, even though no one’s seen it: New Line’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
“It’s their year. It’s the film we’re all waiting to see,” said an awards strategist from a rival studio. Director Peter Jackson hit home runs with the first two “Rings” pics, and the third offers the most personal and emotional story. But, the Oscar campaigner noted with a word of warning, the film’s years-in-the-making momentum and Hollywood’s anticipation means “it’s also the one that everyone’s going to try to knock down.”
Daniel Cole writes: I thought you might like to see a photo of Weta Workshop’s creation of Lurtz. He is one of only (3) 7- foot scuptures in the world. I have the one shown in my theater room and the other two belong to New Line Cinema. According to the president of Weta, he took over four months to build. I have also sent you an email I received from the president of Weta Workshop, Richard Taylor, about the creation of my Lurtz statue and the efforts that went into making him. I had originally contacted Weta Workshop to ask if they had any photos of Lurtz during the fabrication process. Here is what he wrote:
Hi there Daniel:
I am thrilled that you are happy with your Lurtz. We don’t even have one in our workshop, so you are very lucky.
To create your Lurtz was quite an affair. It took about four to five months of pretty consistent work. Bill Hunt and Jamie Beswarick sculptured it, Jason Docherty supervised the mold-making (done in fiberglass and silicon), Jason Harvey skinned the creature and foamed the interior. An armature was welded up and then Les Nairn and Gino Acevedo painted in along with adding eyes and teeth. Mike Grealish made the costume, which I finally assembled.
We’ve made three life size Lurtz to date. One that is used at Trade Shows with our Sideshow Weta collectibles line, Games Workshop have one in the UK and you have the other.
Unfortunately we didn’t take any photos during the process, so the only ones can be the great ones you take with you and your family of Lurtz.
Look after him well, or he may just bite your hands off!
