Uruviel writes: I’ve been seeing a lot of cardboard displays and posters at several stores and thought I would share these photos with you! These pictures are from Border’s & Blockbuster.
Category: Old Special Reports
13th-15th September 2002, St Antony’s College Oxford
Registration: £25 members £30 non-members up to 31 July, £30 members £35non-members 1st August onwards
WHAT IS OXONMOOT?
Oxonmoot is the Tolkien Society’s major social event, providing both our members and the public with the opportunity to gather together and celebrate Tolkien’s life. Originating as an informal gathering of friends to pay their respects to the late Professor Tolkien, it is now one of the country’s longest established events of its kind. Held annually on the weekend closest to the fictional birthday of Bilbo Baggins, the event traditionally takes place in central Oxford, because Tolkien spent much of his
professional life here and his grave is nearby. The exact venue changes periodically, with Oxford colleges a popular choice, as many attendees choose to stay in college accommodation; this will be our third year at St. Antony’s College.
· Tolkien Quiz, a test of memory and reading
· Book Signing Alex Lewis will be signing copies of his and Elizabeth Currie’s book The Uncharted Realms of Tolkien
· Art Show featuring Tolkien illustrator Ted Nasmith, semi-pro fan artist Anke Eissman and contributions from members
· Sales Room featuring Tolkien Society Trading, Sophisticated Games, Daeron’s Books, Rene Van Rossenburg and the Book Wyrm
· Merry & Pippin’s Dance Workshop, a chance to learn a Springle Ring of sorts
· Enyalië, a private ceremony of remembrance
REGISTER ONLINE at www.tolkiensociety
REGISTRATION AND ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION:
The Bookings Officer (Oxonmoot), 28 Loverock Crescent, Rugby, CV21 4AR, United Kingdom or e-mail bookings@tolkiensociety.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Oxonmoot Publicity, 26 Loverock Crescent, Rugby, CV21 4AR, United Kingdom or e-mail ocs.publicity@tolkiensociety.org
WHAT HAPPENS AT AN OXONMOOT?
With some travelling considerable distances to attend, many choose to arrive at the college on Friday afternoon, to settle in, greet old friends, and make some new ones. In the evening, those who have arrived gather for an informal meal at the college, where those new to Oxonmoot can get to know the regulars.
The organised events begin at 9am on Saturday with the Tolkien Quiz, a popular event that has become infamous for the difficulty of the questions. The quiz is open to anyone brave enough, the aim being not to win but to entertain the audience. Following this is a series of talks, some academic, others less serious. Peter Jackson’s recent film adaptation of Lord of the Rings may well be a popular topic this year. Most talks are presented by members of the society, although we have had guest speakers in the past, including other authors for whom Tolkien has been an inspiration. A slide show (which is often surprisingly funny) gives the chance to see artwork inspired by Tolkien from around the world. There will also be workshops, including ‘Merry & Pippin’s Dance Workshop’ put on by a couple of members.
Throughout the day there will an art show displaying the works of both amateur and professional artists such as renowned fan artist Anke Eissman and Tolkien illustrator Ted Nasmith, whose paintings have been used for the illustrated Silmarillion as well as many Tolkien calendars.
There will also be a sales room offering a wide variety of Tolkien related items, ranging from collectors’ editions of Tolkien’s works to merchandising from Peter Jackson’s film adaptation, plus our own Tolkien Society products.
The day finishes with an evening of entertainment, ranging from small sketches and dramatic pieces, to performances from musicians such as The Tolkien Ensemble, a Danish group who have published Tolkien inspired music across Europe. On the Sunday morning there is Enyalië, a service of quiet remembrance
and wreath laying at Tolkien’s Grave, which due to its nature is not open to the media.
WHO ARE WE?
The Tolkien Society is an independent educational
charity devoted to furthering interest in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Founded in 1969 as a small local group, membership has grown to in excess of 1,000. The majority of our members are based in the UK, but many can be found as far afield as Australia and Latin America, and we enjoy close ties with other Tolkien Societies around the globe.
Any queries regarding this Press Release should be addressed to:
Ian Collier, Publicity Officer, 18 Howard Street, Oxford, OX4 3BE e-mail publicity@tolkiensociety.org
Please note that the society is run by volunteers in their spare time.
The Tolkien Society was founded in 1969 to further interest in the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.B.E., the author of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and other works of fiction and philological study.Based in the United Kingdom and registered as an independent, non-profit making charity, number 273809, the Society has an international membership which benefits from regular publications and events.
We’ve found it: the worst piece of unofficial merchandise ever whose sole purpose is to cash in on the success of The Fellowship of the Ring. What is it? Well Gollumayee from Singapore has sent in these pictures of..wait for it..the Frodo Pocket Facial Tissue Paper. Ever wondered what Frodo would look like beside Conan the Barbarian and the Grim Reaper? Wonder no more!
‘This must take top prize for “worst fake LOTR product”: Frodo Pocket Facial Tissue paper! Found it at a neighbourhood sundries shop in Singapore. It costs S$2 (about US$1) for 48 packets. There’s no manufacturing info on the packets but it’s probably made in Malaysia or Indonesia.
The tissue comes in 2 designs: both have haunted-looking Bagginses and bony “ringwraiths”; one has a pink-and-purple “Gandalf’ while the other depicts a green screaming Gandalf/Gimli hybrid beside Conan the Barbarian (Boromir?), and a “palantir”-gazer who definitely doesn’t look like Saruman. Please tell me that bow-wielding guy/gal isn’t meant to be Legolas! Truly the shadow grows longer…’
Rayvah writes: I was just walking into Barnes & Noble the other day and right in the doorway was a large cardboard stand up of none other than our very own Legolas! Its similar to the Gandalf stand-up that was out last Christmas in design. Except – it’s Legolas. The stand up features a cardboard book holder that contains copies of the new cover realease of the Lord of the Rings paperback. Previously, there has been a large Trade Paperback copy of all three books with a ring wraith outlined in blue on the cover.
Recently they released a book with Gandalf on the cover in the same format. It looks very nice! (The book… but, ah, the stand-up too!
raptortalon writes: I work at a Boston area Barnes & Noble Booksellers and I noticed a large cardboard stand-up of Legolas with The Two Towers movie logo. The stand-up display had copies of the LotR in hardcover with a Fellowship movie image of a towering Gandalf in Bag End on the cover.
Irascian sends along the following scans from the latest issue of Empire Magazine, take a look!
Ever marveled at how incredible the Palantir looked when Saruman waved his hand over it in The Fellowship of the Ring? Wondered what material it was made of to achieve that incredible vacuumous black effect? Well judging by an image in the 2002 Cedco day calendar, we have the folks at WETA to thank.
In the two pictures above, the one of the left shows the final shot of the Palantir from The Fellowship of the Ring. However, the picture on the right shows an image that made it into the Cedco 2002 Daily Calendar, the Palant’r looking like a giant pearl and a complete contrast to the one beside it. This suggests that once again WETA have added their magical touch to make The Lord of The Rings and incredible and aesthetically beautiful movie.
Thanks to Calisuri for the Cedco picture!
Brendon sent this follow-up in: I saw the short bit about the Palantír and remembered something from the Cinefex LOTR edition (no. 89). From the magazine (article by Jody Duncan):
“Late in post – with Weta Digital’s workload mounting – the production farmed out twenty shots to Animal Logic, an Australian effects house, among them views of Palantir, the black orb through which Saruman communicates with the spirit of Sauron.
‘Peter’s idea,’ said Animal Logic visual effects supervisor Chris Godfrey, ‘was that it would appear like an old-age Internet device. It was always meant to have a life of its own, even in its noncommunicating state. On the set, they shot a black obsidian ball, with the idea that something would then be tracked over the top of that. We built up layer upon layer of images, with the outside layer being a cloud effect. We built up texture maps of sparks and spires in a whole range of colours – blues, oranges, reds. We also had to pull reflective colors from outside and blend them in so the ball looked as if it was part of the scene. Our art director, Ian Brown, developed the look for that; and the first time we showed it to Peter he was blown away with it. So we got it on our first try, only having to go in and refine it at that point.'”
So, as much as it pains me to admit (being a full blooded kiwi and all) it was an Australian group of talented individuals that were responsible for this piece of wizardry.
Animal Logic can be found at http://www.animallogic.com. Its a bit of an ‘innovative’ website (counter-intuitive to navigate) but it does have a film section with an area on LOTR – FOTR – http://www.animallogic.com/film/lotr/index.html. The Cinefex magazine can be bought as a back issue from http://www.cinefex.com/store/backs3.html.