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May 03, 2004 - May 09, 2004

News for May 09, 2004

TORN DIGITAL Chapter XXII: PJ at the ROTK Premiere

5/09/04, 9:08 pm EST - Xoanon

TORN Digital presents an interview with triple Academy Award® winning Director, Peter Jackson from the red carpet of "The Return of the King" premiere in Wellington, New Zealand in December 2003. Quickbeam was interviewing while Asfaloth was shooting. In this clip Peter has a special message for all of the Ringers who visit TORN. [TORN Digital]

[Quicktime High] - [Quicktime Med] - [Quicktime Low]

Toy Review Magazine's ROTK Wave 3 Images

5/09/04, 8:44 pm EST - Xoanon

The folks from Toy Review Magazine sent along these scans from their May issue. They feature images of Toy Biz's third wave of ROTK Figures. [More]

Email protest puts NZ on map

5/09/04, 8:32 pm EST - Xoanon

After an epic trilogy, countless academy awards and a persuasive internet campaign, a Hollywood film studio now agrees New Zealand deserves to be in the global spotlight. Universal Studios has been forced into an embarrassing backdown and has confirmed it will add New Zealand to the impressive globe that stands at the entrance to its Los Angeles theme park. [More]

Scorsese, Shore Talk Love of Music, Film

5/09/04, 8:28 pm EST - Xoanon

NEW YORK - Martin Scorsese and Howard Shore have both loved music since childhood. Decades later, they've applied that love through film, though in very different ways — Scorsese as a director known for choosing rock, blues and R&B songs to create a mood or contrast with the on-screen action, Shore as the Oscar-winning composer of the "Lord of the Rings" score, a whopping 11-hour original work featuring some 200 musicians. [More]

ROTK Theatrical Release DVD Menu .Mov

5/09/04, 1:42 pm EST - weetanya

Ringer Spy Jonathan from from concerninghobbits.net did us the tremendous favor of sending us a compressed version of the:

ROTK Theatrical Release DVD Menu! [5.7M Quicktime]

Elijah Wood Radio Interview

5/09/04, 10:41 am EST - Xoanon

BBC Radio 1 recently interviewed Elijah Wood, they have a copy online for you to listen to! [More]

LOTR Musical Interview

5/09/04, 10:36 am EST - Xoanon

PippinSparrow writes: I don't know whether or not you would be interested in reporting about the upcoming Lord of the Rings musical production, but just in case you were, here is a little tidbit about it! [More]

Indonesian Tolkien Society News

5/09/04, 10:17 am EST - Xoanon

mitzie writes: Eorlingas, the Indonesian Tolkien Society is holding a little event to screen FOTR: Behind the Scenes. There will also be a discussion about Tolkien and also about Eorlingas after the screening. The discussion will feature speakers such as Joko Anwar, a script-writer for the Indonesian local hit movie Arisan, and also Berni K. Moetafa, a reporter for AFX Asia. The event is to be held on Saturday, May 15, 2004, at Gedung 28, Kemang, Jakarta, from 2PM onwards. For more information, please contact Eorlingas here

Clarecraft Goes Geek

5/09/04, 10:12 am EST - Xoanon

Enedumiel writes: Thought you might like to know that Clarecraft, a British company best known for their Discworld figurines, has launched a new LOTR inspired line. The sculptures are taken from original designs by Peter Pracownik and modeled by Mark Brayley. [More]

Trilogy Screening this August in Raleigh

5/09/04, 10:09 am EST - Xoanon

John son of Joe writes: Bring a lawn chair or blanket and find a spot on the lawn for an outdoor, big-screen, showing of the LOTR trilogy. Pack a bottle of wine, and a picnic dinner and see the trilogy over three nights. At the Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC from August 26th to 28th. [More]

More Reports & Images from Shore in Tribeca

5/09/04, 10:01 am EST - Xoanon

Howard Shore at Tribeca Film Fest
Howard Shore at the Tribeca Film Fest

I've added 1 more report and a slew if images from Howard Shore's panel 'Music Fit for a King' at the Tribeca Film Festival. [More]


Makaore Signing Session in Essex

5/09/04, 9:43 am EST - Xoanon

Steve writes: Lawrence Makaore - Lurtz, Witch King, Gothmog, will be making an appearance at the Basildon Sci-Fi/Movie show Sunday 9th May, Basildon Sports Centre, Nethermayne, Basildon, Essex, UK, more information can be found at [scifishows.com]

Wenham: The Unforgiven Son

5/09/04, 9:39 am EST - Xoanon

Ringer Spy Feagol Horomir sends along scans from the latest issue of Starlog Magazine. [More]

Atlanta Exhibit with Lee & Mortensen's Work Opens

5/09/04, 9:31 am EST - Xoanon

Bibtecaria writes: Last night I attended the opening reception for "Ancient Spirit, Modern Voice" the art exhibit in conjunction with the upcoming Mythic Journeys Conference in Atlanta. Five works by Alan Lee and three by Viggo Mortensen were part of an incredible exhibit of mythical, folkloric, fantastic and visionary art. Lee's works included two about Merlin, two with LOTR subjects and one fantasy work. Viggo's were some of his photographs from the Ghost Dance and were large and very moving. [More]

News for May 08, 2004

Shore's 'Music Fit for a King' Tribeca Report

5/08/04, 7:37 pm EST - Xoanon

Runner writes: I just spent a wonderful Saturday afternoon at the Tribeca Film Festival's panel Music Fit for a King with the composer Howard Shore, hosted by Doug Adams. Although the event was billed as a discussion of the music for The Return of the King, it inevitably became a discussion of the music for all three movies. [More]

Narnia Casting Rumors: Swinton as the White Witch?

5/08/04, 4:31 am EST - leo

Dutch language Narnia-site Narniafilms.nl alerted us to some new casting gossip surrounding the upcoming adaptation of C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. According to one article British actress Tilda Swinton (probably best known for her part in The Beach) will play the White Witch. Read the article in English, surrounded by some Dutch gibberish here or where it originally came from, here! (registration required for second link)

News for May 07, 2004

Hall Of Fire Chats This Weekend - Reminder

5/07/04, 6:29 pm EST - Frode

The Company march single file into the gloom of Mirkwood. They find that a myriad of animals make sleeping hard and their provisions diminish so that they eventually make the move off the road in search of food. Bombur falls into poisoned water and goes into an unnatural stupor, and a mystical mirage appears causing the companions to get separated from eachother. Lost in the dark Bilbo is attacked by a giant spider.[More]

Makoare Signing Session in London

5/07/04, 12:18 pm EST - Xoanon

Matthew Meakins writes: I am writing to you from Fraser's Autographs, the UK's leading dealer in Autographed material. Fraser's will be holding a star signing in our London Gallery with Lawrence Makoare. [More]

Kong Barge 'Manuia' Work Continues

5/07/04, 12:14 pm EST - Xoanon

Kong Barge 'Manuia' Work Continues
Kong Barge 'Manuia'

Abner writes: Here's the best shot of the Manuia boat I took today. They seemed to be fireproofing the inside of the boat earlier today, at least that's what one of the vans had written on the side of it. [More]

The One-Man Lord of the Rings Trilogy Review

5/07/04, 12:08 pm EST - Xoanon

Courtney writes: I just got home from seeing the world premier of "The One-Man Lord of the Rings Trilogy," at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island (Vancouver, BC), and thought my fellow Ringers might be interested in a report! [More]


A Very Horsey Viggo

5/07/04, 12:01 pm EST - Xoanon

Katie writes: I received my June issue of Horse Illustrated today, and there was a small article on Viggo Mortensen inside. It's about Viggo purchasing his horses from the movies - nothing we didn't already knowt, but it IS Viggo and there was a nice photo. [More]

News for May 06, 2004

Hall Of Fire Chats This Weekend

5/06/04, 5:56 pm EST - Frode

The Company march single file into the gloom of Mirkwood. They find that a myriad of animals make sleeping hard and their provisions diminish so that they eventually make the move off the road in search of food. Bombur falls into poisoned water and goes into an unnatural stupor, and a mystical mirage appears causing the companions to get separated from eachother. Lost in the dark Bilbo is attacked by a giant spider.[More]

The Return of the King wins 8 Saturns!

5/06/04, 1:27 pm EST - weetanya

Ringer Spy Brian pointed us to the Saturn award results: "Peter Jackson's final chapter in the THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy of films, THE RETURN OF THE KING, took home eight Saturns in all." Plus one Saturn for The Two Towers EE DVD, making nine total! Fans of Elijah Wood and Sean Astin will also be happy to note the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor award winners... [More]

May Day at Green Books!

5/06/04, 12:47 pm EST - weetanya

After a small April shower during which we reshuffled our format slightly, Green Books is back to bring you some lovely May flowers, including two outstanding Special Guest articles:

Please check back tomorrow for more forthcoming Green Books May updates!

-- Anwyn

Special 'Gettin' Square' Screening Report

5/06/04, 12:44 pm EST - Xoanon

Our good friend Rebecca writes: I was a guest last night for the screening of a new Australian film called 'Gettin' Square' with David Wenham at the Harmony Gold Theatre. [More]

Reactions to John Collins' Article

5/06/04, 12:38 pm EST - Xoanon

John Collins writes: We received a "fantastical" number of e-mails and letters in response to my anti-Lord of the Rings rant in these pages last month. Virtually all of the writers revealed themselves as fans of the Tolkien books and movies who were appalled by my having turned off the 10-hour plus movie trilogy in midsaga, having viewed less than a half hour of what I described as "childish shlock." [More]

Tolkien finale fulfills one last wish

5/06/04, 12:37 pm EST - Xoanon

Dennis Bucy was afraid he was going to run out of time. He's been addicted to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" since he passed up a gambling vacation in Lake Tahoe with his wife and daughter "back in the hippie days" to hole up and devour the entire trilogy plus "The Hobbit" in one week. [More]

Reading Tolkien: A Life-Changing Effect

5/06/04, 12:35 pm EST - Xoanon

Ringer Spy MountainHobbit writes: Our local paper has an article about a young boy whose love of Tolkien's world has had a life-changing effect. He wrote a letter to Tolkien to tell him so, and won first place in his age group at a state-wide contest here in Utah, Letters About Literature. But there's more to his story than that. [More]

ASCAP Honor For Shore

5/06/04, 12:32 pm EST - Xoanon

Feanor30 writes: I work in the classical music business, and just wanted to let you know that ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) will honor Howard Shore, along with several other important composers, with a 2004 ASCAP Concert Music Award on Thursday, May 27, 2004, at the Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center. The ceremony is BY INVITATION ONLY and is NOT open to the general public.

Another Supanova Expo Report

5/06/04, 12:29 pm EST - Xoanon

Merry in Oz and Thaliswen write: We went to the Supanova Expo on Sunday and had a great time! We were lurking around the WETA booth when Richard Taylor arrived with his suitcases. He had a Rohan helmet, Gordorian breastplate, Pippin's feet, a Hobbit stage double ears, an orc face and leg prosthetics--very cool! [More]

Cool Giveaway at HMV Australia

5/06/04, 12:25 pm EST - Xoanon

Stuart writes: Fellow Aussie LOTR fans may want to check this out, I got a newsletter from HMV Australia today, if you pre-order ROTK from them, you could win a framed foil map of Middle Earth!! [More]

Gollum Lives!

5/06/04, 12:22 pm EST - Xoanon

TTT Premiere: Wellington
Gollum at the TTT Premiere in NZ

Abner writes: Just read the spy report on theonering.net, regarding the cavetroll's new location and I wanted to assure you that Gollum is still on top of the airport as of an hour ago, although the fellbeasts have indeed left for other pastures. I drive a small tourbus around Wellington, and I point out Gollum three times a day to groups of tourists.

Sideshow/Weta Survey Giveaway

5/06/04, 11:55 am EST - Celeborn

Sideshow/Weta is running a small survey to learn about 'where you surf.' The contest is yet another chance to win the sold out 3/4 scale Gollum bust, or, if you are excited about the upcoming Van Helsing film (co-starring David Wenham), you can try and win a 1/4 Scale Van Helsing figure. [More]

News for May 05, 2004

Charity Reading at Borders Cambridge

5/05/04, 1:37 pm EST - Xoanon

Anna Slack writing On Behalf of the Cambridge Tolkien Society sends this in: On Saturday 19th June, 2004, members of the Cambridge Tolkien Society will be performing a continuous 13-hour read-through of the BBC's excellent radio adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, in Borders Cambridge, with the kind permission of Brian Sibley, Michael Bakewell, and the Tolkien Estate. [More]

LOTR TV Series?

5/05/04, 1:30 pm EST - Xoanon

Take this report from SFcrowsnest.com with a 20 pound bag of salt: We've been tipped off that the legal and ownership issues which surround the Lord of the Rings have come under an intense round of negotiation as a significant unnamed party - said not to be Peter Jackson in this instance - work towards a new multi-million dollar per episode television series set in Tolkien's Middle Earth. [More]

Happy Birthday JRD!!

5/05/04, 9:26 am EST - Xoanon



60!

Today is John Rhys-Davies' birthday! John was born on May 5th, 1944 in Salisbury, England. That makes him 60 years old today! Congrats John!

News for May 04, 2004

Richard Taylor at Supanova Pop Culture Expo Report

5/04/04, 10:35 pm EST - Xoanon

megan writes: Richard Taylor was a suprise last minute special guest at the Supanova Pop Culture expo this past weekend in Sydney. He spent the entire day at the Weta Workshop booth, just to meet people, shake their hands, and chat about lord of the rings, as well as other WETA projects, the one that recieved the most comment being the Evangelion live action movie, which Richard says is still seeking finance. [More]

Presenting a Palm Pilot First: The English-Quenya Dictionary!

5/04/04, 10:30 pm EST - Xoanon

From absoluteword.com: English-Quenya Dictionary. 1672 entries. Of all the languages invented by British author and philologist J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973), the most popular has always been Quenya. It also seems to be the most highly developed of all the languages Tolkien devised. [More]

(Xoanon's plans for tomorrow: Step 1: Get a Palm Pilot, Step 2: Get this dictionary download, Step 3: Annoy everyone I know with it! -Xo)

DVDFile Goes ROTK Mad!

5/04/04, 10:27 pm EST - Xoanon

The folks at dvdfile.com have posted a great little segment on the forthcoming ROTK DVD> Take a look! [More]

CollectorMania 5 Images and Report

5/04/04, 10:24 pm EST - Xoanon

Cheshire Cat writes: Cheshire Cat reporting in fresh from a day at the Collectormania convention in Milton Keynes, UK. Had a smashing day and got to meet a few more of the actors from LOTR plus re-acquaint myself with some old friends. [More]

Otto Abducts Mother Role in Aussie Miniseries

5/04/04, 10:10 pm EST - Xoanon

SYDNEY (Hollywood Reporter) - Australian actress Miranda Otto, best known for her role as Eowyn in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, will play the lead role in a miniseries about Lindy Chamberlain, the woman who claimed a dingo stole her baby in the Australian outback. [More]

Troy Story

5/04/04, 10:08 pm EST - Xoanon

Josh Tyrangiel writes: How did an Iliad adaptation turn into an endless moviemaking odyssey? Blame hurricanes, turtles, Bulgarian weight lifters. If you like mythology, war and beautiful people with no body hair, then Troy may be the movie for you. It recounts the story of the ancient impregnable city that was destroyed partly by its overreaching. The makers of Troy can probably sympathize. [More]

Connecticut State Trilogy Screening

5/04/04, 10:05 pm EST - Xoanon

Michael writes: Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT will be showing all three LoTR films. FoTR will be showing Friday May 7 at 8:00pm. TTT will be showing Sunday May 9 at 8:00pm and RoTK will be showing Wednesday May 12 at 8:00pm. All showings are in Welte Auditorium.

ROTK At 21 Thousand Feet

5/04/04, 10:04 pm EST - Xoanon

Zoedan writes: On my recent flight from the UK to the US on British Air, they were showing ROTK on a repeated loop as part of the entertainment system throughout my 10-hour flight to San Francisco. They also showed a 30-minute "Making Of" featurette at the end of the film which I hadn't seen before. It was a surprise treat to be able to see the movie again before the DVD release and on such a long flight. Made the hours fly by!

The Cave Troll Goes to his Long Home

5/04/04, 5:09 pm EST - weetanya

Tehanu has sent us an old-fashioned spy report, but this one is about endings instead of beginnings. "I was down in Wellington recently when friends reported seeing a truck passing by their house with a giant cave-troll on the back..." [More]

Irascian's Oscar Party Report - The Last Three Pages

5/04/04, 2:19 pm EST - leo

Those who know Ringer Spy Irascian a little bit will know by now that he doesn't always get his things finished in time ("It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish"), but that's a minor detail seeing as how his reports and pictures always manage to capture the spirit of an event so wonderfully. So without further ado take a look at and a read through the last three pages of his report on our Oscar party, right here! Mind you, this link will take you straight to page three, if you want to start at the beginning you'd better click here!

(And yes I was wearing shades inside but there were so many camera's flashing, Ian, I needed them to see where I was going because I was blinded by the light! - leo)

More Wenham Goodness

5/04/04, 1:12 pm EST - Xoanon

Princess Faz writes: The June issue of Starlog magazine has a very nice interview with David Wenham. It is mostly about his role as Faramir. He discusses some of the scenes that were filmed that might be in the EE, also. It's a good interview. There are lots of Faramir fans that are starving for information.

Anyone with scans, send them along!

Van Helsing's 'Q'

5/04/04, 1:08 pm EST - Xoanon

Cat writes: David Wenham is co-starring in the new movie Van Helsing. I watched a SciFi channel special on Van Helsing last night, and there is a nice bit on David, and the quirky character he plays in the movie. It's a big change from Faramir, and it looks like he has fun with it! The special, Van Helsing: The Man and the Monsters - A SCI FI Lowdown, will be repeated later in the week. [More]

News for May 03, 2004

Apple Blossom's & Astin's at Festival in Virginia

5/03/04, 9:56 pm EST - Xoanon

Astin at Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA

SemiSilver writes: Last Sunday, my friend Combeferre and I, drove the 1 and a half hour confusing drive to Winchester, Virginia for the Annual Apple Blossom Festival. This year, Special guests Loni Anderson and Sean Astin were to be the Grand Marshals of the festival and were to ride in the parade along with Soap Star Eva LaRue, and other celebrities like Chevy Chase and Kwame Jackson, runner up of the Apprentice. [More]

Ian McKellen's ROTK Photos

5/03/04, 9:15 pm EST - Xoanon

Ian McKellen's ROTK Photos

Ian McKellen has taken some behind-the-scenes photos during the filming of the Pelennor Fields in New Zealand. [More]

Billy Boyd in Sweden

5/03/04, 9:00 pm EST - Xoanon

Boyd in Sweden

Ringer Spy David A sends along these images from Billy Boyd's recent appearance at a convention in Sweden. Take a look! [More]

Peter Jackson's Charity Auction Donation

5/03/04, 8:45 pm EST - Xoanon

Deanna Dube, Assistant Development Director for The Discovery Fund For Eye Research writes: On May 27, 2004 The Discovery Fund For Eye Research is launching its 4th annual "Seeing the Stars," celebrity charity eyewear and memorabilia auction on eBay. Peter Jackson has generously donated a cast signed making of the LOTR book for auction to benefit the Discovery Fund's medical research and patient education programs for Macular Degeneration, Keratoconus, Diabetic Retinopathy and Ocular Herpes. [More]

Meet Howard Shore - tickets available now!:

5/03/04, 8:41 pm EST - Xoanon

Music from the Movies magazine invites you to meet multi-Oscar-winning composer Howard Shore in London on 22nd May 2004. Howard Shore will conduct the London Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert of his Lord of the Rings symphony on 23rd May at the Royal Festival Hall. [More]

LOTR Concert in Oz

5/03/04, 8:38 pm EST - Xoanon

Award-winning composer Howard Shore will conduct the Sydney Symphony for the Australian Premiere of his acclaimed work, The Lord of the Rings Symphony. With 250 performers on stage, the Orchestra will be joined by Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and Sydney Children’s Choir, with special guest vocalists. [More]


Streets transformed for star's new film

5/03/04, 8:30 pm EST - Xoanon

Residents gathered outside a Brentford pub on Tuesday night to see its ground floor windows being smashed, a huge brawl break out in the street and the Lord of the Rings film star Elijah Wood fall through the doors carrying a blood soaked friend before escaping in a stolen car. [More]

Big time beckons world’s shortest stuntman

5/03/04, 8:28 pm EST - Xoanon

Kiran Shah may be small but his list of film credits for his acting and stunt work can quite rightly be described as massive. The 47-year-old from Hounslow, who stands at 4ft 1.7ins tall, will have his work commemorated in the 50th edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the shortest professional stunt man working in films. [More]

Weta Digital Conference in Milan

5/03/04, 8:25 pm EST - Xoanon

Andrea F. writes: Hey on April 24th Alias Wavefront, presenting its new software Maya 6.0, organized an event in Milan with Shawn Dunn from Weta Digital. [More]

Mad Magazine Goofs on ROTK

5/03/04, 7:47 pm EST - Xoanon

Meriadoc sent along these scans from the April issue of Mad Magazine. The Mad Ones goof on ROTK and no character is spared. [More]

LOTR Soundtrack Boxed Set Bliss!

5/03/04, 6:46 pm EST - Celeborn

Ringer Andwise sends in the following:
Today I read some extraordinary news! On Empireonline.co.uk, Howard Shore is interviewed, saying the following: “The plan is that we would feature all of the music in the theatrical cuts of the films," said Shore, talking exclusively to Empire. "Currently, two discs for [the first], three each for [the second and third films] and a ninth disc of rarities with host of rare, unreleased music from the films with commentary from me.” I just thought that you and many other people would be excited to hear this news. The full article can be read at the following link. [More]

Orlando on Oprah

5/03/04, 3:35 pm EST - Celeborn

Ringer Celevon sends word that Orlando Bloom, forever to go down in history as Legolas, will be on Oprah this afternoon, May 3rd. He will be promoting his film 'Troy' with costars Eric Bana and some guy called...Brad Pitt? (heh) [More]

More Fun at Mill Again!

5/03/04, 1:14 pm EST - Xoanon

2004’s Tolkien Weekend at Sarehole Mill is going to be even bigger than last year! This is the fifth such event, and is now an annual item in the Birmingham calendar. Sarehole Mill was the "original" for the Mill at Bywater in the Shire in The Lord of the Rings. [More]

SHOP: Shelob almost SOLD OUT and Prince Isildur

5/03/04, 10:34 am EST - Celeborn

Word comes from Sideshow/Weta Collectibles that there are under 200 pieces of the Shelob statue remaining to be sold. If you were planning on getting yours, now would be the time. Additionally, they have posted new images of Prince Isildur complete with The One Ring hanging around his neck. Check it out! [Shelob] [Prince Isildur]

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