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LOTR NEWS UPDATE March 13, 2000:
We scooped everyone a couple of weeks back with our news of LOTR footage being screened for execs in Los Angeles. Well, the
This was the one everyone was waiting for. Hoping for the six-minute promotional shown in New Zealand last week, New Line chose instead to present a package especially made for ShoWest which combined quick clips from the movie inter-spaced by lengthier behind the scenes interviews with cast and crew. A quick opening shot of what appeared to be Gollum quickly dissolved to a set piece with Elijah Wood and Sean Astin--in hobbit gear, of coursetalking about the production of this grand trilogy.
Director Peter Jackson also appeared, showing how some of the technical accomplishments are being handled and explaining how it is only now, with the technology available today, that a tale like Lord of the Rings could be brought to the screen.
The footage from the LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy seen at SHOWEST revealed the release slate for the films will be: FELLOWSHIP OF THE RINGS at Christmas 2001, THE TWO TOWERS at Christmas 2002, and RETURN OF THE KING at Christmas 2003.
A shot of the Lord of the Rings' Hobbits has also appeared in
the current issue of Vanity Fair. The picture shows Elijah
Wood, Sean Astin, Ian Holm, and Billy Boyd in costume and
makeup posed on a hill.
See you next time.
LOTR NEWS UPDATE March 6, 2000:
Australian actor Hugo Weaving made a visit to LOTR's Wellington studios last week. Weaving--probably best known for his role as a drag queen in “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” and the weird-talking heavy in “The Matrix”--will join the project as elf leader Elrond, who leads the council at Rivendell, where the Fellowship first gathers.
And Australian actress Miranda Otto (“Love Serenade” and “The Thin Red Line”) has been cast as É Eowyn, a beautiful maiden who falls in love with Aragorn.
We are pleased to have broken the story last week of the six-minute preview of LOTR that was recently screened in Los Angeles. We passed on this news to our good friend Xoanon at www.theonering.net who credited us accordingly. The story, we are happy to report, was then picked up by both Coming Attractions and Cinescape. To say this is all rather incestuous, and really is one big info ring, is, indeed, an understatement.
Harry Knowles, of AICN, is reporting that there is actually 18 minutes of footage that has been screened internally at New Line. We don’t know about that, but, we do know time is running out for you to get your questions in to Xoanon (via e-mail) that you would like presented to Peter Jackson during the upcoming chatfest.
Speaking of Mr. Jackson, according to E! Online, Ian McKellen also has loads of respect for the director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. According to the piece, the actor talked of his observations of Jackson on the job, saying, "I've seen him under enormous pressure, and probably under pressures I don't know anything about, like the financial issues of making the films. But he is always so calm. He spreads that calm over everything. The atmosphere on set is like you're making a home movie."
That’s all for now. See you next time!
LOTR NEWS February 29, 2000
Hello LOTR fans. Not a whole lot new to report this update, however, we do have a rather interesting article to pass along detailing six minutes of LOTR footage just screened in Los
28.02.2000
LOS ANGELES - It was a great way to show New Zealand to Hollywood's movie glitterati.
There was only one snag - the people the Kiwis really wanted to impress were not there.
The big prize they are angling for is the third Star Wars "prequel," due to be released in 2005. New Zealand missed out on Star Wars II, which is now being filmed in Sydney.
And Mr Harvey's scheduled meeting with an executive of Twentieth Century Fox, which distributes Star Wars, fell through.
The six-minute "showreel" of The Lord of the Rings was the highlight of the evening.
It showed dark, hooded figures against magnificent New Zealand landscapes, some of the 20,000 extras and computer clones in battle scenes, a quaint, rustic Middle Earth village, artists' drawings that inspired the production design, and the stars - Sir Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Liv Tyler, Christopher Lee - in costume.
Mr Bolger's guests greeted it with enthusiastic cheering and whistling. He encouraged them to make their films in New Zealand.
As a logo saying "The World in One Country" was projected across the screen, Mr Bolger said he spoke for the embassy and consulate staff and Film Commission executives when he said: "We're from the Government. We're here to help."
Actor Kevin Smith (Ares in Xena: Warrior Princess) did a down-home, Kiwi-bloke act as MC. And Mr Blumsky boasted about the range of films being made in Wellington, from the $1.8 million Stickman to the $400 million The Lord of the Rings.
Mr Harvey did some boasting of his own, about Xena and the west coast beaches of Waitakere City. And Richard Ross, senior vice-president of production for Studios USA, which makes Xena, told his fellow American film-makers what a "wonderful" experience his company had filming in New Zealand.
Partygoers were rewarded with cheeses, green-lipped mussels, eel fillet and smoked salmon rolls, seared lamb tenderloin and venison casserole.
LOTR NEWS February 21, 2000
Not a whole lot to report this time, but, a couple of brief items worth
mentioning... The New Line rep said Kilar's name has indeed been brought up in association with LOTR, but revealed New Line's favorite to score the trilogy is James Horner (Aliens, Braveheart, Titanic). Also, we're happy to report Xoanon's ceaseless efforts and interest in LOTR has paid off, as he has been asked by New Line to be part of the "Ask Peter Jackson A Question" project which is forthcoming. Any interested readers who would like to ask PJ something about LOTR should forward their questions posthaste to xoanon@theonering.net. A transcribed version of the "interview" will be posted at a later date.
Scoop Images: Castles & Tents In A Quarry
Finally, we would bring to your attention a new German site devoted to
LOTR, that has some amazing graphics, in any case. Our German is not that
hot, so forgive us if we just enjoy the images. It's not always the
speediest site to manoeuvre about, but, you may find it rewarding. Check it
out @ German
LOTR. |
Heading design and layout by Lin. 800x600 screen size recommended. A proud Australian Site.  |
preview continued last week at ShoWest, the exhibitor’s convention going on in Las Vegas. At the luncheon hosted last Tuesday by New Line, those in attendance were also treated to a glimpse. As reported by Cinescape:
Actual film footage included shots of Liv Tyler on horseback, huge sword battles, and masses of mounted men ranging over hills in the grand epic fashion of the novel. Scenes showing the computer-shrunk hobbits intermingling with normal-sized humans are said to be amazing, and a quick closing shot of Ian McKellan as Gandalf proved him a perfect choice for the part of the old wizard. For a second time the hard-boiled audience of exhibitors was brought to applause.
Angeles, as well as a couple of interesting pictures.