Friday, May 09, 2003
Weaving Attends 'Matrix II' Premiere in LA - Xoanon @ 11:17 PST
Kevi-Wan writes: Wednesday night in Westwood, CA Warner Bros. hosted the celebrity premiere for The Matrix Reloaded. I was there in the hopes I would get to meet Hugo Weaving for a moment.

During the arrivals there was no hope, as the crowd was enormous and press row kept the fans from getting very close. However, after the screening, a few lucky fans got to meet Hugo briefly just outside the theatre. He kindly signed a few autographs, including one for me on my LOTR movie poster.

Here's two pics from the event which I took. One, before the screening when he was doing a TV on camera interview. And two, when he came over to our small group of fans and signed a couple of autographs.

Everyone coming out of the theatre was giving Matrix Reloaded rave reviews and pointing out Hugo was terrific! Just wanted to share. Thanks,

Thursday, May 08, 2003
McKellen's 'Dance of Death' Experience - Xoanon @ 13:17 PST
Eledhwen writes: I must confess to choosing to see “Dance of Death” because of Ian McKellen and Frances de la Tour, rather than because of the play. I have barely heard of Strindberg - despite him being, according to the programme notes, Sweden’s best known playwright. [More]

Monday, May 05, 2003
Collectormania 2003 Images by Nikki - Xoanon @ 20:13 PST
Nikki writes: I was at Collectormania in Milton Keynes in the UK yesterday. I thought it would be great to send it to you as i also have a few pics to share! [More]

Tolkien reenactment at Bardi Castle, Italy - Xoanon @ 19:47 PST
Byga writes: Today I've been at the Bardi castle at the live reenacting of Lord of the Rings. It has been a very impressive show with beatiful costumes and good acting. [More]

An Audience with Gandalf - Xoanon @ 13:18 PST
OBI-WAN360 writes: The following is a full report on the Audience with Sir Ian McKellen on Sunday 4th May; Sir Ian arrived arms full to bust with book's and goodies, which were handed out during the evening as prizes to those who were the fasted to answer questions thrown out to the audience. Ian started by talking about the Lord of the Rings, and as if by magic produced various props used in the films. [More]

Collectormania Q&A Session! - Xoanon @ 13:06 PST
Mootmate sends along this great transcript from the Q&A session attended by Billy Boyd, Andy Serkis, Bruce Hopkins, Sala Baker and John Rhys-Davies! They dish out news on the TTT DVD, Orlando Bloom's last day on the set, and more! [More]

Friday, May 02, 2003
LOTR Battles: Live Reenactment in Parma - Tehanu @ 01:51 PST
Cristiana writes: "In the north of Italy there is a village called Bardi situated close to Parma (yes, the city producing the famous Parma ham!). This village is in the region known in Medieval times as the "Duchy of Parma and Piacenza" and has a beautiful and very well kept castle. Next Sunday (may 4th) it will host the "Lord of the Rings' saga" in which they will reproduce the main scenes of the books... LIVE!!!

"It will be done trying to involve adults and children in the various stages of the story but especially in the battle of Helm's Deep and everybody will have a sword to fight with. I don't have any idea if they will give pointy ears to those playing the Elves but I think it should be funny anyway. I should be going to see how "their" Haldir looks like (I am a fan of Craig, you know!).

"For more news, for those who speak Italian, link to the websites of the organizers, specialized in Medieval commemorations here"

Thursday, May 01, 2003
Much More Fun at Mill! - Xoanon @ 14:00 PST
The folks from The Tolkien Society write:

17th-18th May 2003

2003's Tolkien Weekend at Sarehole Mill will be the biggest yet! This is the fourth such event, and 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.

This year's weekend will be opened by Simon Tolkien!

A miller will be demonstrating his craft with the mill running, and Sarehole Mill will be open for extra hours. Displays from The Tolkien Society and Hall Green Library about Tolkien's life and works within the mill itself.

Dramatised scenes from 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings' by Shire Productions. 'Story' walks and archaeological tours of Moseley Bog, in addition to the guided walks taking in Tolkien's childhood haunts, the local ecology, and history of the Cole Valley. Discover the Birmingham's inspiration for The Two Towers.

On the green and around the mill there will be:

-Birmingham City History Bus, Rangers Caravan & Hall Green Historical Society displays

-Environmental displays and information from the local groups that made up the Tolkien Partnership.

-Woodcrafters and a farrier will be demonstrating their skills

-Games Workshop will be running demonstration games

-Waterstones will have a sales stand of middle-earth books

-Pony rides, Face-painting, archery practice for kids young and old, refreshments

-Local radio group Wythall Amateur Radio will be providing their own 'two towers' at a special event station chatting to people on the other side of the world

-Re-enactment from the Longshore Vikings

Displays and demonstrations from: Birmingham EcoPark, RSPB, British Woodcarvers Association, Mehindi Henna Art, WWF Wildlife Trust, handcrafted jewellery, Bee-keepers Association, Morris dancing, Guild of Spinners and Weavers, woodcraft tools, Middle-earth Crafts, textiles and aromatics and Dough Crafts.

Last year's Fun at Mill weekend (19-20th May 2002) saw a record 5,000 people visiting Sarehole Mill. Any queries regarding this Press Release should be addressed to:

Ian Collier, Publicity Officer, 45 Caldew Maltings, Bridge Lane, Carlisle, CA2 5SW e-mail publicity@tolkiensociety.org

Wednesday, April 30, 2003
JRD Announced for 'Friends of Sci-Fi' Con in Oz - Xoanon @ 10:14 PST
From the folks at Friends of Science Fiction

Just thought you guys might like to let your readers know about our convention with John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) on Saturday November 22, 2003.

We're still in talks with other people, so we're sure that this will be a huge event! We recommend that people buy their tickets now!

Tickets are available from Friends of Science Fiction's website (www.fsf.com.au) or by phone (+61 2 9523 8385), mail (Friends of Science Fiction, PO Box 797 Fairfield NSW 1860 Australia) or email (FSF_Presents@yahoo.com.au).

Tuesday, April 29, 2003
'Figwit' Entertains - Xoanon @ 10:53 PST

Frodo Baggins writes: Figwit a.k.a. Bret McKenzie and his partner Jemaine Clement just performed at the Aoteaora New Zealand TV2 International Laugh! Festival as the Flight Of The Conchords.

Supposedly they are New Zealand's 4th most popular guitar based digi- bongo, acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo. They are becoming increasingly popular here down under and their one hour performances are quite an exception: really good jokes, delivered in folk manner which includes guitars and without any sexism. They make you laugh and think at the same time.

However, this time their performance lasted only about 5 minutes and it was about robots and how they took over the planet.. quite unique and the audience was quick to laugh. But the best moment was Bret singing in bits and bytes: zero, zero, one, zero.. beautiful voice.. and as sudden as they begun it ended. Too bad as the rest of this Laugh Festival was not half as entertaining though they claimed to have the best people of this country in that hall. What
ever, we now our folks. See ya next time, Conchords!"