A DRAGON trained in the Highlands to defeat the French during the Napoleonic wars is to become the next blockbuster hero of the Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson. The man behind the Lord Of The Rings and King Kong has snapped up the rights to a series of fantasy novels by self- confessed “geek” Naomi Novik, a little-known American writer who features Scotland heavily in her debut work. With his JRR Tolkien trilogy, Jackson propelled New Zealand to the top of the world’s must-visit tourism destinations. Now plans are under way for Scotland to make the most of a potential multi-million-pound windfall. [More]
Category: Original TORn
Folks from the Argentinean Tolkien Society write: As every year the Asociacion Tolkien Argentina (Argentinean Tolkien Society) organizes the greatest Tolkien event in south America. As usual, activities include a large number of conferences, covering a wide range of issues: Tolkien’s youth and the influence of his friends, Christopher Tolkien and his contributions to the works of his father, and some debates concerning different features of Tolkien creations. Visitors from neighbour countries are expected, as well as from all over the world. Please take a minute to notice us so as to find you suitable accomodation. [More]
Guinness has adjudged the Most Expensive Movie Ever Made to be the 2005 “King Kong” — at $207 million, compared to $200 million each for “Titanic” (1997) and “Spider-Man 2.”
Highest salary ever paid to a film director prior to production: The $20 million Peter Jackson earned for megging “The Lord of the Rings.”
Most Oscars for a movie: “Ben-Hur” won 11 in 1959, and its record was matched by “Titanic” in 1997. More recently, it became a three-way tie when “The Return of the of the King” won all 11 of its nominations. [More]
Penny Wark writes: I am looking for a globally famous man yet I suspect I will not recognise him. If you know him as Gollum or King Kong you will understand the difficulty. So I study the people in this achingly fashionable hotel where, because we are in West Hollywood, the look is one of contrived casual beauty. A woman is being interviewed for a job and I know she is doomed because she is plump. [More]
Wellington paper The Dominion Post is giving away ten double passes to the launch of Brian Sibley’s authorised biography, “Peter Jackson, a Film-maker’s Journey.” [More]
Universal and Fox have pulled out of co-financing the film after disagreements over Jackson and Walsh’s profit shares, according to PJ’s agent Ken Kamins. Kamins says they are not unduly worried, as they are confident other backers will be found. [More]