LOTR-fans from all over the world should keep their schedules well clear for november 14th till 16th 2003 because in that weekend there’ll be another Ring*Con in Bonn, Germany. Last years event was a huge succes and this year it sounds like it’ll be even better.
German Tolkien Society chairman and co-organiser Marcel Buelles sent along the following invitation for all Tolkien-societies:
We summon ye all to Valinor!
Fellow Tolkien societies’ members throughout the world,
“for long years now we have toiled and travelled in the darkness of Arda, forsaken by Eru and the Valar. Why this is so no one knows and yet our feet stray ever westwards towards the place from which the beauty of the light of Sun and Moon has come – a beauty to be a signal to all of us to meet and be glad…”
What started off with some event manageress trying to get the German Tolkien Society into having an event at he EXPO German pavilion (yep, you’re reading right :)) has now become a wonderful possibility to finally meet and talk about that which has been important and exciting in our lives: the creation of the late Professor J.R.R. Tolkien, CBE.
In the name of the organisation committee members of the German Tolkien Society working on Ring*Con2003 we would like to invite all Tolkien societies throughout the world and join in a wonderful event made by fans for fans. We will have a special session just for meeting up and presenting what people think about Middle-earth and all the rest including a ‘cafe international’, presentations – what we want to do is up to us!
One of my very own dreams may be coming true with this and I hope it will – that Tolkien fans from everywhere will come along and just have a great party. Something to remember 🙂
“NOW IS THE TIME!” – PJ
Olwe aka Marcel Buelles
Chairman German Tolkien Society A registered charit, Cologne, Germany
Peter Jackson has committed to next direct “King Kong,” Universal’s remake of the 1933 classic.
He’ll begin work on the script as soon as he completes “The Return of the King,” the third installment of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. U execs are already monkeying around with a Christmas holiday 2005 release date.
Jackson has wanted to remake “King Kong” for nearly a decade, and he and partner Fran Walsh are well on the way considering they wrote several drafts of the film for Universal, the last in 1997. Jackson, Walsh and “Rings” co-writer Philippa Boyens will start rewriting as soon they complete post-production on the trilogy finale, which should be in late October.
The major surprise is that Jackson will take on such a logistically complex film on the heels of the exhausting “Rings” trilogy. In a recent Daily Variety interview, Walsh expressed a determination to make “King Kong,” but said she and Jackson would first tackle a smaller project like their arthouse hit “Heavenly Creatures.” The project they considered most likely was “As Nature Made Him.”
The change of heart is understandable, though. Jackson constructed Weta, Ltd., a state-of-the-art production and special effects studio in New Zealand to make “Rings.” By doing “King Kong” right away, he can provide employment for a staff of 300-500. Like the “Rings” trilogy, “King Kong” will be shot in New Zealand, and all of the post-production and special effects work will be done there. Production will begin mid-2004.
“No film has captivated my imagination more than King Kong,” Jackson said. “I’m making movies today because I saw this film when I was 9 years old. It has been my sustained dream to reinterpret this classic story for a new age.”
Jackson did not expect the ape epic to take this long; he was eager to make it six years ago. Studio brass didn’t want to rush to beat Disney’s “Mighty Joe Young” or Sony’s “Godzilla.” So the ape hung around while Jackson and Walsh moved on to simultaneously shoot three installments of “Lord of the Rings” for $270 million at New Line.
After “The Fellowship of the Rings” became a global smash that drew 13 Oscar nominations, including one for best picture, Jackson was courted by every studio in Hollywood. Universal Pictures chair Stacey Snider was eager to bring Jackson and Walsh back for “King Kong.” That desire was only strengthened by “The Two Towers,” a best picture nominee that outgrossed the first film. “Towers” has generated a $335 million domestic gross and is approaching $900 million worldwide.
Jackson and Walsh decided “King Kong” would be their next film over the past week or so, and U brass set to work out a deal with Jackson’s ICM agent Ken Kamins and attorney Peter Nelson. The Jackson camp had far more dealmaking leverage than it did the first time the helmer tried to resuscitate the great ape. Now, the entire movie can be shot without leaving home in New Zealand, with facilities and a veteran creative team that even George Lucas might envy.
“We are confident that Peter and Fran’s execution of ‘King Kong’ will amaze moviegoers,” Snider said. “Anyone who has seen the first two installments of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ knows that Peter will bring Kong to life as a real character. His vision for the tragic tale of the misunderstood creature, with its poignant character development and technological wonder, will make ‘King Kong’ compulsory viewing for any real movie lover.”
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., March 30 /PRNewswire/ — Five-time Academy Award(R) nominee Peter Jackson will direct “King Kong” for Universal Pictures, it was announced today by Stacey Snider, Chairman, Universal Pictures. Jackson will begin work on the film immediately following the release of “The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King,” the third and final installment of his blockbuster trilogy based upon the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson will write the screenplay with his partner Fran Walsh and “The Lord Of The Rings” co-writer Philippa Boyens. Jackson and Walsh will produce the film under their WingNut Films banner. Universal Pictures will release “King Kong” worldwide in 2005.
Jackson will bring his sweeping cinematic vision to the iconic story of the gigantic ape-monster captured in the wilds and brought to civilization where he meets his tragic fate.
The screenplay by Jackson, Walsh and Boyens is based on the original story by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace, which became the classic 1933 RKO Radio Pictures film, directed by adventurers Cooper and Ernest B. Schoesdack. The RKO “King Kong” has been designated by the National Film Registry of the United States Library of Congress as one of the 100 Greatest Films and chosen by that organization for permanent preservation as a national treasure.
Jackson will employ the latest motion picture technology to cinematically portray the timeless tale of the beast and his beauty. He will expand on the chapters of the tale that take place in the mysterious and dangerous jungles of Skull Island, and his Kong promises to be a unique and breathtaking creation. As with his “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Jackson will shoot “King Kong” on location in his native New Zealand. The visual effects will be again accomplished by his New Zealand-based company Weta, Ltd., who have twice been honored with the Visual Effects Oscar(R) for their work on “The Lord Of The Rings.” They will supplement practical locations in creating primordial jungles and ’30s-period America.
“No film has captivated my imagination more than ‘King Kong.’ I’m making movies today because I saw this film when I was 9 years old. It has been my sustained dream to reinterpret this classic story for a new age,” Jackson stated. “The story of Kong offers everything that any storyteller could hope for: an archetypal narrative, thrilling action, resonating emotion and memorable characters. It has endured for precisely these reasons and I am honored to be a part of its continuing legacy.”
Snider noted, “Peter Jackson is a filmmaker uniquely capable of capturing the core appeal of enduring classics and in expanding the visual language of motion pictures, as inarguably evidenced in his landmark achievement with the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films. We are thrilled to be working with Peter and Fran, and we are confident that their execution of ‘King Kong’ will amaze moviegoers. Anyone who has seen the first two installments of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ knows that Peter will bring Kong to life as a real character. His vision for the tragic tale of the misunderstood creature, with its poignant character development and technological wonder, will make ‘King Kong’ compulsory viewing for any real movie lover.”
Peter Jackson made cinematic history with “The Lord of the Rings,” becoming the first person to direct three major feature films simultaneously. Released in 2001, the first film in the trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,” was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, including Best Director, and won four. The film also received the American Film Institute’s prestigious Film Award and was nominated for 12 awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), winning awards for Best Film and garnering Jackson the David Lean Award for direction. In addition to four Golden Globe nominations, the film also received numerous distinctions and awards around the world. The second installment, “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” earned six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. It won two Oscars and two BAFTA Awards. The final installment, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” will be released this December.
Jackson and Walsh previously received widespread acclaim for their 1994 feature “Heavenly Creatures,” which was awarded a Silver Lion at the Venice Film Festival and an Academy Award(R) nomination for Best Screenplay. Other film credits include “The Frighteners” starring Michael J. Fox, the adult puppet feature “Meet the Feebles,” the mockumentary “Forgotten Silver and Braindead.”
Universal Pictures is a division of Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment (VUE) ( www.universalstudios.com ), the U.S.-based film, television and recreation entity of Vivendi Universal, a global media and communications company.
SOURCE Universal Pictures CO: Universal Pictures; Vivendi UNIVERSAL Entertainment; VUE; Weta, Ltd. ST: California, New Zealand SU: PDT
Ringers based in and around Portland, Oregon shold leap on this chance to see Sean Astin at this “once only” charity screening of Two Towers and Sean’s short film The Long and Short of It.
The catch is that the organisers are desperately trying to secure a larger venue for the screening. If (and only if!) you definitely think you can make it to this screening, here’s how you can help them.
One Night Only A Special Charity Screening of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Preceeded by the short film The Long and Short of It, written, produced and directed by Sean Astin
Saturday, April 5 7:00pm Regal Cinemas Lloyd Cinema 10 Portland, Oregon All Proceeds To Benefit Reading Is Fundamental Guest Appearance by Sean Astin! Tickets $12 per person
We told you we had something good for those of you who didn’t make the list for Elanor! This is limited, but it’s limited to 700, and we want to sell out this theatre…we would love for Sean to see a packed house! It sounds like a lot, but it’s only a buck fifty more than a regular movie ticket, and we sold out not only the auditorium, but the *theatre* for the TTT Midnight Showing we arranged…so consider this a call to all you Portland-area or Northwesternly Ringers…bring someone! Bring many someones! Pack this place for Sean!
The Bad News: Regal Entertainment Group is concerned that an “old” movie like TTT will not generate any interest. Although we’ve been getting absolutely fantastic support from the regional managers, the big shots down in LA don’t think that having Sean and “The Long and Short of It” is a big enough deal to get Ringers in the seats.
We were originally offered Lloyd Cinema 10, the largest theatre in Oregon, with a great, classy look and 750 seats (this would be the same theatre “that we could never fill” that we packed to bursting in December for the premiere, not counting the extra two thousand people or so we packed into the other auditoriums.) Now, they want to put us across the street in a mall food-court cinema with barely 300 seats.
What We Can Do: Northwest Ringers unite (although we know that people worldwide support both Sean and BitofEarth, Regal will only be impressed by fans who have a reasonable expectation of attending)! Show Regal that yes, there are more than enough geeks in Portland who would be willing to support a good cause, see a better movie, and most of all, meet Sean Astin! If we can convince them that more than 300 people who would absolutely buy tickets for such a screening, then we’ve got the big theatre! All you have to do is grab a few of your local friends and go to the comment form at Regal’s website and tell them that yes, you support this idea, and how much you’d love to see it at the kind of venue it deserves.
The Easy Way – Copy and paste the following:
“I am interested in seeing the proposed April 5th Reading is Fundamental charity showing of The Two Towers in the large auditorium. My friends and I want to attend explicitly to see Sean Astin and his short film. Please help this happen. Thank you”
(Theatre name: OR, Portland, Lloyd Center 10) (Manager name: Robert Bob)
The Harder-But-Still-Not-So-Hard Way:
Write your own message of support. Please note that there is a 255 character limit. Try to push that you want to go because of Sean. Believe it or not, they don’t see his appearance as ‘a big deal!’
Of course, we understand what it feels like to be patted on the head by corporate America and told that Goonies (or Geeks) aren’t quite Good Enough, but this is a case where you can definitely catch more hobbits with honey than with vinegar. Please, please, PLEASE be nice!! Even one nasty, negative email could sink us.
Thank you all so much for your help and support…I know we can pull together and get this showing in the best venue possible for Sean, and show him that like Goonies, Ringers never say Die.
Assuming all goes well, tickets will be available Monday or Tuesday at Fandango.com, or at the Regal Cinema 10 box office. You may also e-mailBit of Earth directly for more information.
Orangeblossom Brambleburr (OB): I’m talking to Sean Astin, the actor and director who played Sam Gamgee in Lord of the Rings. Sean has offered to talk to us tonight about Project Elanor and thank you very much for talking to us tonight.
Sean Astin (SA): My pleasure.
OB: How long have you been involved in children’s literacy?
SA:How long have I been involved in children’s literacy? Well, since I was a child.
OB: Okay.(laughs)
SA:I mean, my mother used to read me…but what does it mean to be involved in children’s literacy, really? I mean, the fact is, my Mom read me books when I was a kid, and I’m a huge reader. I love reading. I love reading to my kids, and I just finished reading Judy Blume’s Superfudge to my daughter over the phone. Actually, I have three pages left.
OB: Oh, cool.
SA: Hold on just for a moment, I’m sorry again.
OB: It’s all right.
SA: Is this gonna go on a radio show, or is this…?
OB No, this is just website soundbites.
SA: All right, can you just hang for a sec? [Pause…pounding and rattling, voice says “All right, Michael”] Okay. So…so, you know, I’m just now finalizing my relationship with a major telecommunications company to be a literacy champion for them, and we’re partnering up with the National Center for Family Literacy.
OB: Oh, how cool.
SA: Yeah, and I’m really excited. I’m really excited about using some of the popularity that’s come to me through my association with Lord of the Rings and Rudy and… [someone interrupts] Hang on a sec…[muttering] I’m doing some things for some important friends while I’m doing this interview.
OB: That’s all right.
SA: No, no, that’s okay, I’m just trying to multi-task. Um, so yeah, I’m excited for using that in service of trying to help get…I think illiteracy is one of the scourges on the face of the earth. I mean, I think that all problems on the face of the earth stem from human being’s inability to figure out a good solution to the problem. So everything from overpopulation to global warming to the violence that exists because people fail to learn how to communicate with each other. Stems from the fact that people aren’t as smart as they could be, and they’d be a lot smarter if they learned how to read at a younger age. And I just know what a joy it can be, what a privilege it can be, what a pleasure it can be…and also how important it is just in terms of enriching the quality of our minds and the quality of our lives. So starting young is the first and best way to go about it. So I love the fact that I’m going to be front and center on literacy issues. Now, I was recently appointed to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation…
OB:That’s actually my next question, it was to ask about the Council.
SA:Yeah, the mission of the Council is to promote volunteerism in America, and I want…well, I just had a conversation with Gerald Green, who’s the chairman of our Council. I was just telling him that literacy is what I want to focus my energy on, and he was totally fired up about it. So, I mean, I think that I’m starting to figure out how to use my sort of mind and acumen here, and understanding of the way that bureaucracy and politics works to really try and have a positive and lasting and as broad an impact on helping people learn how to…or at least sharing my viewpoint on the importance of reading and education and literacy.
OB:Cool!
SA: Yeah, so when I was approached in Washington to do the thing about coming to do the BitofEarth thing, I instantly got what symbolically was trying to be achieved with the garden and I understood the connection because of the character I played, and it just seemed and felt like exactly the right thing for me to do.
OB: Well, you could not be giving me better segues, because my next question is that Sam was taught to read in a world where that was less common, especially for his class, and how did you think that affected him as a character?
SA: Well, I think the entire journey affects the character of Sam, and that I think one of the things that’s so admirable about him as a character is his willingness to learn and grow, even though he doesn’t have the innate skill or talent, or the society isn’t organized in a way to facilitate that. But the fact that Sam goes on to become the Mayor of Hobbiton, you know, he couldn’t do that if he didn’t know how to read, he couldn’t study the history of the shire and read about that. So you know, I think Sam is such a richly drawn character…
OB:Definitely.
SA: …and his willingness to have Mr. Frodo teach him his letters…it’s a pretty great metaphor for the kind of interactions that people can have and the kind of impact people can have on each other’s lives, and I love it.
OB: I think so too. Now, we’ve had a couple questions come from our website, one of which…since Sam is a gardener, several people have asked if you do any gardening?
SA: Well, I want to. I haven’t done very much gardening in my life, but I’ve studied a lot of the great literary figures and philosophers and one of my favorite quotes – the one I’m putting on the stone out there – is from Voltaire, you know, that to cultivate your own garden from Candide, and it’s something that I know, to put your hands in the soil, and to be able to raise…you know, my grandfather grew vegetables in his garden…he was a successful scientist, he worked within several administrations, and he understood the importance of having and cultivating his own garden. And so, you know, my wife and I are very interested in having a place, in having some earth that is…in having a bit of earth!
OB:(laughs) And another one of the questions from the site was: if you were reading to a young person – like one of your daughters – out in the garden, what books would you choose? I guess this is a question that’s going to keep us here for a while, though.
SA:Uh, well, it could, but you know, it’s impossible to choose any one thing. I suppose…for a while, it was frustrating, because the books my daughter wanted me to read to her were more popular books for a very young age, and I was a little disappointed because I wanted her to get to the age where I can start reading and discovering all the literature that I missed, that classic literature that I missed as a kid. You know, I want to go through all the classics reading them out loud to her, everything from the Chronicles of Narnia to all the classics! I mean, Dick Donner gave me a series of classic books, I mean, Isaac Asimov and Mark Twain, H.G. Wells, and I can’t wait to read all those to my daughter! I know she’ll love them once her vocabulary gets strong enough to be able to appreciate it. And now we’re like, you know, The Phantom Tollbooth is a book I want to read her…
OB: Oh yeah…
SA: …and I just have been reading her Judy Blume now, so, you know, there’s just not enough time on planet Earth to read all the great stuff there is to read.
OB: This is true.
SA: But there’s enough time to get started, anyway.
OB:Yeah.
SA: The Hobbit! The Lorax! The Lorax! Oh, I love that, I love reading her The Lorax…my brother Tom reminded me a few years ago about the importance of that book, and so…”I speak for the trees!”
OB: What we were actually hoping is that during the dedication ceremony that you’d be willing to read the first chapter of The Hobbit to a group of children.
SA: Yeah, I’m sure that will be fine.
OB: We were only able to accept 50 volunteers, but we had over 75 people…people have been offering help from all over the world, we have someone flying in from Brazil for this, a couple people from Chicago, so is there anything brief you’d like to say to them casually, before the event?
SA: See you there!
OB: That’s brief enough! And to anyone else who’s offering support? We have people making offers you wouldn’t believe, there’s people making donations out of their own pocket, it’s just amazing…
SA: Well, I’m looking forward to seeing the place, and seeing how the event goes, but my hunch is that it’s a good idea.
OB: Well, thank you.
SA: It’s my pleasure. I’m really looking forward to it.
The One writes: Those of us unfortunate enough to be at The One Party had to resort to watching the TV coverage instead. I saw the UK BBC coverage with presenter Jonathon Ross. He had John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) on there to comment on the preceedings. From what I can remember, he said that next to TTT, Chicago was one of the best films he’d seen this year. I think he felt it was worthy of the Oscars it recieved. When asked about Lord of the Rings and the Oscars, he said that the general sentiment seems to be that, because LOTR is essentially one film in three parts, that “next year will be our year”.
The One writes: Those of us unfortunate enough to be at The One Party had to resort to watching the TV coverage instead. I saw the UK BBC coverage with presenter Jonathon Ross. He had John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) on there to comment on the preceedings. From what I can remember, he said that next to TTT, Chicago was one of the best films he’d seen this year. I think he felt it was worthy of the Oscars it recieved. When asked about Lord of the Rings and the Oscars, he said that the general sentiment seems to be that, because LOTR is essentially one film in three parts, that “next year will be our year”.