{"id":99644,"date":"2015-11-16T16:11:57","date_gmt":"2015-11-16T21:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/?p=99644"},"modified":"2015-11-16T16:11:57","modified_gmt":"2015-11-16T21:11:57","slug":"highlights-from-last-weeks-event-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theonering.net\/torwp\/2015\/11\/16\/99644-highlights-from-last-weeks-event-in-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Highlights from last week’s event in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"hobbit<\/a>As you know<\/a>, last week a select group of\u00a0fans in London were treated to a screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies<\/em> Extended Edition. Some pretty special guests were in attendance – we hope many of you were able to watch via the live stream<\/a>!<\/p>\n

The organisers behind the event have sent us along this report:<\/p>\n

“On Saturday, 7th<\/sup> November 2015, a number of the world\u2019s biggest and most passionate fans of The<\/i> Hobbit<\/i> <\/i>film trilogy assembled in London for a very special screening event, where they were joined by a host of special guests, to celebrate the release of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies – Extended Edition <\/i><\/b>on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital release, and to commemorate the one-year anniversary of last year\u2019s incredible The Hobbit Fan Fellowship Contest <\/b>competition.\u00a0 The Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release is the final film in the globally popular The Hobbit Trilogy<\/i>, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures.<\/p>\n

Kyle Pedley<\/b> of (A)musings Media, <\/b>who was among the UK-based winners of the global fan competition, organised and hosted the event along with fellow members of The Hobbit Fan Fellowship<\/b>, with help from\u00a0Warner Bros. Pictures\u00a0UK <\/b>and Tourism New Zealand<\/b>.\u00a0 International winners flew in from all over the globe \u2013 from as far afield as the United States, Mexico and Eastern Europe \u2013 to take part in an evening full of surprises and special appearances.<\/p>\n

Guests were not only treated to an exclusive UK screening of the Extended Edition of The Hobbit Trilogy<\/i>\u2019s epic conclusion at Warner Bros. Pictures\u2019 own private screening theatre ahead of its home entertainment release, but were also treated to surprises including a video message from director Sir Peter Jackson<\/b> all the way from New Zealand, and a Q&A session with a panel of distinguished guests.<\/p>\n

These included Royd Tolkien<\/b>, great-grandson of author J.R.R. Tolkien and long-time advocate and supporter of the film adaptations (who made a cameo appearance in 2003\u2019s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King<\/i>), <\/i>and writer \/ broadcaster Brian Sibley<\/b>, who has long been involved in the community celebrating the author\u2019s legacy, having been jointly responsible for the acclaimed 1981 BBC Radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings <\/i>and penning a number of official behind-the-scenes books and guides for both of Peter Jackson\u2019s Middle-earth trilogies. Finally, to the excitement and disbelief of fans \u2013 met with an uproarious standing ovation \u2013 came the surprise appearance of film, theatre and television icon Sir Ian McKellen<\/b>, known and beloved around the world for his defining portrayal of the Wizard Gandalf in Jackson\u2019s Middle-earth and the only principle cast member to appear in all six films across both celebrated film trilogies.<\/p>\n

Other special guests in attendance included a contingent of Middle-earth \u2018cosplayers\u2019 – The Galactic Knights,\u00a0<\/b> who showcased some of their terrific Hobbit- <\/i>and Rings-<\/i>inspired costumes and replicas; Chairman of The Tolkien Society, Shaun Gunner<\/b>; and Rachel Sprackett <\/b>of Tourism New Zealand.<\/b><\/p>\n

Kyle Pedley, The Hobbit Fan Fellowship member and host of the event, said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis was an incredible, unprecedented celebration of the impact both these films and also last year\u2019s incredible competition have had on people from all corners of the globe. To have such a dedicated group of fans, who last year formed their own genuine fellowship over the course of a magical week in New Zealand, reunite for this special occasion was just an absolute joy to behold and be part of. To be joined by the likes of Royd Tolkien, Brian Sibley and Sir Ian McKellen, and have such a fantastic personal video message from Sir Peter Jackson over in New Zealand, was an absolute thrill and honour. The guests were not aware or expecting any of it, and their reactions to not only the surprises, but also getting to see one another again, were a moving reminder of how indelible and genuine the bonds of fellowship formed in New Zealand really were.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The Hobbit Fan Fellowship Contest <\/b>was an international search conducted in 2014 by Tourism New Zealand, Air New Zealand <\/b>and Warner Bros. <\/b>to find 75 of the world\u2019s biggest Hobbit <\/i>fans. Over 140,000 people registered for the competition, and over a two month period were required to complete a series of tasks and challenges, including testing their knowledge of New Zealand as the cinematic Middle-earth, designing a postcard for Peter Jackson, and also producing their own two-minute videos detailing their favourite memories of Middle-earth and demonstrating why they were the biggest fans of the franchise.<\/p>\n

The winners and their +1s were then flown to New Zealand for an incredible, all-expenses paid trip which spanned both Islands and included visits to the actual filming locations from the movies, a special tour of the Hobbiton Set <\/b>itself in Matamata, a special Maori Cultural welcome ceremony and Hangi Banquet, a visit to Weta Workshop<\/b> where all of the creatures, costumes, weapons and special effects of the Middle Earth films were made, and finally a private screening of the final film, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies<\/i>, in the company of Peter Jackson himself, over a month before its theatrical release.”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Oh how we all wish we’d been there! We can at least enjoy some photographs from the evening’s festivities<\/a>; and here’s a highlights video reel:<\/p>\n