From: Joe
The August issue of Game Trade Magazine is packed full of many middle earth goodies. Lots of pictures of the minatures for the table top games as well as pics of the boxes they come in.
There is also news on the expansion set of the LOTR game that is now out. The 2 extra boards are Bree and Isengard, done by John Howe. the game is called Friend and foes. The expansion set comes out in October. There is also a Hobbit game coming out done by Ted Nasmith. Towards the back of the mag is a picture and add for the replica of Sting that is used in the movie.
Anyone with scans of the article send them along!
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Ringer Spy Andy (Serkis?) sends along this article from he UK paper “Metro”, in it Andy Serkis (Gollum) talks about his time as Gollum, check it out! [More]
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From: Andy
Just thought you might be interested in an interview with Andy Serkis which has appeared in todays “Metro”, a free newspaper distributed in Manchester, UK. Not sure if this info is already available, but I’ve not seen it before.
Its in a slot called the “60 second interview” and amongst other things, Serkis describes his role as Gollum:
Q. How did you get in touch with your inner hobbit? (the newspapers question I hasten to add!)
Serkis: The director, PJ, wanted him to be driven by an actor as opposed to just being an animated character. Although the majority of it was CG, the camera picked up all my movement using motion capture. I play him as if he’s a junkie and his fix is the ring – he goes cold turkey when he’s not near it. He’s a compulsive liar, he talks to himself – he’s psychologically damaged by the desire to possess the ring – and I’ve tried to make him as human as possible in that way.
Q. How does it feel, looking nothing like yourself?
Serkis: As Gollum depletes into this emaciated creature, he goes from looking like me through a prosthetic transformation into the CG image, which is unrecognisable. It was quite a liberating experience. He’s a split personality, Smeagol and Gollum, and I have two voices for the two different characters, with internal dialogues between them.
Q. Do you have to be partly schizophrenic to be an actor?
Serkis: Well, I know I am, there’s absolutely no doubt about it. It’s a prerequisite of the job. But also being in touch with parts of the psyche – our dark side – and not being afraid to go there.
The rest of the interview is then about his past characters ( such as Bill Sikes in Oliver Twist) and his favourite sinister character (Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs). Then theres just a couple of other quotes of note:
Q. What has been the “lost ring” in your life?
Serkis: I suppose it’s my family – my children. I’m completely addicted to them. They’re my addiction.
And then just finally at the end, he’s asked how he prepares for different parts and his comment about Gollum is:
Serkis: I went through five Red Bulls (energy/stimulant drink, for those unfamiliar) a day for Gollum.
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Check this out from the official site, Bill Welden, from The Mythopoeic Society writes his experience down in New Zealand on set during the LOTR Production, it’s a great read!
From: The Official Site
Bill Welden has been studying and writing about Tolkien’s invented languages for over thirty years. He was one of several Tolkien language experts who were consulted in the making of New Line Cinema’s feature film version of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. [More]
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PCANews – Tolkien saw himself as a hobbit in every way but in stature. A popular British magazine recently surveyed its readers to get their opinions about the best book of all time. Thousands responded. The landslide winner for the top spot in history: The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien. [click Here, enter Tolkien in the search (upper left), click “Tolkien’s Impact in Literature and Life”]
Thanks to TCO for the tip!
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Ringer Spy Mike seems as excited as anyone should be after seeing this great news report on LOTR at Cannes, although its a few months late…
Well I’ve just finished watching the program ‘Cinemagic’ on M-Net here in South Africa and yes, they did preview ‘The Lord of the Rings’. My oh my, where do I start? [More]
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