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May 12, 2002 - June 10, 2002

Monday, June 10, 2002
Homemade TTT Standee - Xoanon @ 12:42 PST
From: Hioh

We work at a theater in Ludington, Michigan. We are very big fans of LotR and have made large scale promotions for FotR and have begun our work for TTT. Attached is a picture of the painting (and 4 close-up shots of it) we will be using in a standee for the first part of our project that will also include: character dressing, a Treebeard statue, as well as a map of Middle Earth that shows the progression of the characters throughout the story. We will keep you up to date on our progress.

Sunday, June 09, 2002
Fan Art for 'The Hobbit' - Calisuri @ 23:10 PST
Click for Larger VersionRegular contributor, Daniel Papen, has sent us 19 illustrations to accompany The Hobbit. It goes without saying that the artwork is unique and insightful, and as a result, we want to share it with you. [More]

Fan Art Update! - Calisuri @ 18:10 PST

Click for the Fan ArtClick for the Fan Art

Has it been 3 months since the last Fan Art Update? Geez, time flies! Over 200 new pieces of Art from Tolkien fanatics around the world! As always, if you are interested in submitting your work and getting your own gallery, simply email me at calisuri@theonering.net with your art! [More]

On a side note, some of the fan art we receive is just plain hilarious! Check out this submission from R. Pastva, titled "Cannot Pass."

Click to View

Friday, June 07, 2002
Live In Wellington? Attend A Cool Bookstore Event! - Xoanon @ 12:07 PST
For those of you in Wellington, Dymocks Bookstore will be staging an event to launch the new Gary Russell book "The Art of Fellowship of the Ring", on Thursday 20 June (they're on Cnr Willis Street and Lambton Quay). Publisher Jane Johnson will speak about the book and Dymocks is hoping to have any available LOTR actors and Weta folk attend as well. This is a ticketed (but free) event and numbers will be limited. Tickets will be posted out. Contact details:

Dymocks Booksellers
360 - 366 Lambton Quay, Wellington
Ph. 4 472 2080

Pervy Elf Fanciers At MTV Awards - Xoanon @ 00:03 PST

Vikki, Melinda and Carrie write: PEF's (Pervy Elf Fanciers) were represented at this year's MTV Movie Awards to cheer on FOTR. Didn't spot any elves or hobbits but did see one very HOT Jedi Knight however Calisuri was noticeably absent (you owe us big time). Met some TORnadoes while standing by the Red Carpet. The whole experience was worth while when Orlando won for Breakout Actor and FOTR won Best Movie. Another successful LOTR road trip!!!!!!!!!! GO US!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, May 24, 2002
Ask Christopher Lee Winners! - Xoanon @ 13:04 PST
We received over 550 emails from all over the globe with questions for Christopher Lee (Sauman). We chose the 15 questions we thought were interesting and were some of the most popular questions asked. Christopher Lee will be answering these 15 questions on video, and you will soon be able to see it right here! Congrats to all the folks who got their questions through, and thanks for sending your questions in!

1. Rayman Freak asks: When you agreed to play Saruman, how did you prepare for the role?

2. Larry D. Curtis asks: Looking back at your amazing library of films, NOT counting the high publicity Rings and Star Wars movies, which are your most cherished roles? Which performances have held up best over time?

3. Chris Thurtle asks: Is there any genre that Christopher has not tackled that he would still like to be involved in ?

4. SIND MANDY asks: What did you do in New Zealand while on a break from filming?

5. HENNESSY, Mike asks: I'm sure you would agree that Ian McKellen's performance as Gandalf is magisterial. How would you have played it differently?

6. ute bender asks: Who or what in your opinion do you think is the greatest villain ever conceived?

7. SJBBRAVE78 asks: Mr. Lee how would you compare being the character of Count Dooku to being the character of Saruman and in which ways do you think both characters are similar?

8. W. Peter Freund asks: What is it like working with Peter Jackson compared to other directors? What kind of movies, given your experience with him on LOTR can we expect to come out of him in the future? Is he the next Spielberg? Lucas?

9. Cie Sharp asks: What inspired you to pursue a career in acting?

10. john 'soco' robinson asks: If, for some reason, you weren't chosen for Saruman, who would you have liked to see play the role of Saruman?

11. Julie Marr asks: Having met J.R.R. Tolkien in person, do you think he would approve of Peter Jackson's film version of The Fellowship of the Ring?

12. Jeannette Capella asks: How many languages are you actually fluent in? Which ones? And how did you manage to learn so many?

13. Martin Gjesdal asks: Do you find it difficult to act in front of a blue/green screen as opposed to "conventional" acting?

14. Danny Yavuzkurt asks: Do you sympathize with the character Saruman's ambitions and flaws? Do you find him to be a truly tragic character, or simply a cardboard villain?

15. Erika Frensley asks: You've worked on movies produced all over the world. Do you find great differences in how movies are made/produced in different countries, for instance, between America and Australia? Are these differences good or bad, in your opinion?

Saturday, May 18, 2002
Viggo At Virgin Megastore In Hollywood Pics - Xoanon @ 00:50 PST
Ringer Spy Flinch sends along these great pics from the Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) book signing event, attended by our very own Quickbeam and other friends we made at The One Party last March!

Monday, May 13, 2002
Chain Mail Seminar - Xoanon @ 13:37 PST
From: Ianthe

Ringers in the Massachusetts area might be interested to know that the Higgins Armory not only has an ongoing exhibit entitled "Lords of the Rings: Two Millenia of Mail" now through September 1, (reported on TORN before); it also is holding a special demonstration on mail-making on Saturday, May 25.

The special seminar is entitled "The Chain Gang: Mail Producers of the Modern Age"; and is on May 25, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Participating armorers will display contemporary works in mail, and will demonstrate their techniques in the museum's Great Hall.

Last IMAX Screening In Perth...With Pics - Xoanon @ 13:27 PST
Imax Cinema, Perth, Australia.

We said 'Meet at the Station'

First off, I royally delayed things by wanting to curl my hair. Not just any curls. Tight 80's reject hobbit curls. I had gone out the night before so I didn't put the pipe-cleaners in till the next day. I finally did get them done, late, and I looked like Kate Bush. In fact, I was walking around singing Wuthering Heights for most of the evening. What also took some time was sticking on the latex and hair on my feet. It had one effect I wasn't anticipating - the latex without makeup covering it made my skin look a sick kinda yellow. My feet were hairy though, so that's all I cared about. Looking like a right Ren-Fair Tolkien-reading D&D RPG playing wiccan unicorn loving drop-kick, (Yay Ren-Fair Tolkien-reading D&D RPG playing wiccan unicorn loving drop-kicks!) I went out into the big wide world with my Elven sister by my side.

We were an hour late, and poor Tintaglia had tried to page me on the train via the transport personnel. Funny thing was, they couldn't find me. Geez, I wouldn't be hard to spot. Just look for the folk-singer covered in flowers and with hairy feet!

We finally met up, exchanged hugs and waited for the others. Nobody showed up at the station. Go figure! So we abandoned the station and all went to Imax Cinema.

Matching Faces with Names

The Meet was on! We arrived to lots of hugs and smiles and exchanging of names. Eledhwen was looking gorgeous as Lady Galadriel, and Caerwen - we never figured out what she was cause she didn't say. To me, she looked like the Lady of the Mark. Her darling little daughter was done up as a hobbit as well, so I made sure I had a photo taken with her. Jeremy was the cause of much envy on my behalf; he had made himself a great little Fellowship brooch and wore the One Ring with a really long chain he got because he bought two rings. I'd be happy with one! Ah well, covet not thy neighbours possessions, I suppose. Just dream about them day and night in the hope of acquiring them! At last, leg_of_lamb (Romy) showed up, and we all shuffled off into the cinema.

The Movie

Wow. Can you just say WOW?! The umpteenth time seeing and it still amazes me. And being on such a royally HUGE screen, it was a really great experience. My favourite scenes were even better, and man - you can see every piece of grit and every little speck on them when it's that huge! Amazing! The sound was deafening (Yay!) and it was nice to whisper about our favourite lines. (Eledhwen, to her credit, knew most of the lines word for word. Show off. :P) We even got told to keep it down, so I think it was a good time :)

Scaring the Normal People

After this fun, some of us parted ways. We had photos first, and documented the fabulous efforts people went to. As you can see, what a lovely bunch of people, and what a gorgeous Kate Bush look-a-like hobbit there! Eledhwen and I took five to do a quick hobbit dance, including the famous Frodo Funky Chicken (tm). I must say, for an elf, Eledhwen knows how to boogie!

After this narcisstic love-fest, (where I bossed people about a bit like Austin Powers on a photo-taking freak-out because the battery on the camera was failing me!), we all went to a cafe across the street to mingle with the people. We all got some appreciative smiles, and one person behind the bar asked me, "Why all the princesses?" which was cute. I informed him I wasn't a princess, in fact I was a hobbit, and the others were elves, and that we had been watching Lord of the Rings. A lot of people were very positive and encouraging towards our craziness, which was really nice.

I took a couple more photos, and played with Caerwen's daughter's Frodo action figurine (I'd not seen one of these before). I was sitting there fiddling with it as I talked, and it wasn't till people started laughing at me that I realised I was looking up his tiny little jacket! Blush time! How embarrassing! Hehehe.
We began talking about The Two Towers, and how we wanted to be at the premiere here in Perth, but considering that most of the time the tickets are snaffled up pretty quick by people in the know, and we were most obviously not in the know, we decided that perhaps we would just go to the first screening at a particular Hoyts cinema in Perth. We will probably want to get a nice crowd together like we did today, so keep an eye out when the time comes because we'll wanna throw a party!

Our little group got smaller and smaller as people began to leave, and finally Tintaglia gave my sister and I a lift home. It was a really great time out, and to my credit, I went to bed forgetting about the hobbit feet, and they were still hairy the next day. Wow. That's a really good make-up job.

Sunday, May 12, 2002
Ash Wednesday Report From Tribeca - Xoanon @ 21:10 PST
Submitted to Emma Abraham

Lower Manhattan saw an influx of "Lord of the Rings" fans, beginning on Friday night, May 10, when people began to arrive in town for Saturday's screening of "Ash Wednesday" at the Tribeca Film Festival. I went straight from the airport (having flown in from Chicago) to the Embassy Suites that connects to the United Artists Theatre to try to scope out the wait list ticket location, where to stand to take photos of actor arrivals, etc., but nothing major was going on that night so there was nothing set up to indicate where things might be. It would have to wait for the day.

Saturday morning, I met up with some other fans, and our group continued to grow all morning. Despite the fact that no-one knew whether Elijah would appear or not, a lot of fans turned out--some of whom wanted to try for tickets and others who mostly wanted to get a photo of Elijah arriving for the screening. Quite a few of the faces were familiar to me from ICON, and it was also nice to meet others I knew from the various lists and boards but hadn't met in person. As the time moved towards 11, we started to check with the staff onsite to find out how things would go. We were told where the wait list ticket lines were, and that we should check for it to be started anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour prior to the 2:00PM movie time. I told him our predicament--that some of us really wanted or needed to get photos of the arrivals--and a very pleasant, helpful staffer told me that there would be no problem with people buying more than one ticket, as long as they let the person in charge of the line know in advance. So back we went to our designated hangout (one of the large, concrete planters) to chat and ready our cameras. Lines for earlier screenings came and went, and we tried to keep an eye on the signs denoting which line was which. Around 12:30, we started to get antsy, but still no Ash Wednesday line. Unfortunately, when they DID start the line (earlier than the earliest time we'd been quoted), we looked at the sign before they had changed it and thought we were still early--and when we realized our mistake, there were already more than 20 people in line. Considering we had been the first ones there that morning, we were pretty upset by the miscommunication, but willing to concede that we wouldn't get in to the screening, but would at least have better photo positions.

I thought I had recognized some people not far back in the line, and sure enough, a few minutes later some of them came over to say hi--more acquaintances from ICON. They were taking turns getting refreshments and walking around while the rest of the group held their places in line, and one of them was nice enough to say she'd buy me a ticket should she be one of the chosen ones lucky enough to get to the returns desk. So, it was back to my photo position but now with an outside shot at getting in to the screening itself.

The time is now 1:30, and those of our group who had actually managed to score tickets had to go claim their seats. Those with places in line went back to those places, and I went over to stand near the friend who had offered to try to buy me a ticket--only to hear the staffer who was in charge of the line announce that it was limited to one ticket per person. Now, I'm annoyed AND in a quandry. Do I go to the end of the line--knowing that the odds are hugely against that many people getting in but also knowing I want to see the movie--or do I just stand around and hope to photograph Elijah's arrival? By now I'm questioning whether Elijah is actually there at all--we certainly had expected to see Ed Burns (the star, co-producer, director and writer of "Ash Wednesday") by now, but no sign. Ed, as a lifelong New York resident and supporter of its film scene, was certainly expected to attend.

Now it's 1:40 and the first 10 people in the waitlist line are OKed to go in, and the group of LOTR fans is at the head of the remaining line. But 20 minutes passes, it's movie time, and no-one else has been admitted. We're pretty pessimistic about our chances, and the group decides that if all 10 of them can't get in, they are going to pass (the two ladies behind them are happy to hear this--they were already pretty pissed about the offer to buy ME a ticket). So, it's the last conceivable second and out comes the staffer again--to tell us that there have been two tickets turned back in. They all look at each other and then look at me and say "you should get in--go ahead and take the ticket," but of course it's two tickets and the ladies behind us are offering to take them, when one of the group agrees to go in with me so I don't forfeit the tickets. Whew!

We race up the four sets of escalators to the screening, where we find that only a couple of scattered seats and the first row of the theatre are open. We try the first row, but the angle is absolutely impossible. Luckily, the folks in the second row see our predicament and slide over so that two singles become two seats together, and we take our places. After a few more minutes, and a preliminary welcome by the movie's producer, Margot Bridger, we are underway. No Ed and no Elijah in evidence.

The movie starts: credits, music, a bar. Three men discussing a hit on another man. Brief glimpses of the bartender, and it's Elijah. We're underway! But the film cuts off almost immediately -- must have been some sort of projection problem. We are all laughing and joking about it, and of course I cannot resist commenting that I was a bit disappointed with the way Elijah hadn't been allowed to fully develop his character... I don't want to give away any plot details here, but the basics are that the movie is set in Hell's Kitchen (and was filmed entirely in New York). The prologue, only a few minutes long, takes place on Ash Wednesday, 1980, while the bulk of the movie is set on Ash Wednesday, 1983. Ed and Elijah play, respectively, Francis and Sean Sullivan, the sons of the (late) primary enforcer of the local Irish mafia. While the film revolves around Francis, the older brother, Sean is central to the plot and is a very interesting supporting part, as well as marking Elijah's first fully adult role. Francis' choices are the focus of the plot, but Sean's actions are the impetus for the action, and both actors are wonderful in their roles (as are all the supporting players, several of whom are in attendance at the screening). The movie, like the streets on which it is set, is dark and gritty, rough around the edges, stylish but not slick or glossy. While I, and everyone around me, liked it a lot, most of us did not think it was a mass-market kind of film.

After the screening, Margot Bridger got up again to lead a brief question and answer period. She said that Ed was filming in LA and wanted to come but was unable to get away, and that Elijah was getting ready to leave for a project (obviously NZ). A lot of the questions centered around working with Ed Burns--how was he as a director (raves from the other actors and lots of talk about how open he is to input from his actors), how finished his scripts are when the project begins (although he is open to changes, the scripts are complete when work starts, and he usually has 10-12 other ideas percolating in his brain at various stages of completion), how he handles being both director and actor (usually separates the two, doesn't step much out of acting role during actual filming to direct). When asked about distribution and ownership of the film, Ms. Bridger indicated that the film is owned by IFC who do intend to release it theatrically (probably in the fall) with Blockbuster having the DVD and video rights. She also talked a little about how Ed's way of filming -- over short periods of time and often in New York -- makes it easy for even people with schedules as busy as Elijah's to find the time to work with him.

After the Q&A, those few of us with tickets went back out to rejoin the larger groups and tell them as much about the movie as they wanted to know -- which was basically, how big a role did Elijah have and how was he. Having satisfied their curiosity, we had to say our good-byes and disperse, since most people were facing long drives or train rides back to wherever they had come in from --which was basically all over the place, including NY, NJ, PA and VA. For myself, I went with a few friends to Battery Park City since it was such a gorgeous day, to look at some of the 9/11 memorials and Lady Liberty, and then some of us took a look (from the distance allowed) at Ground Zero. It was my first visit to Lower Manhattan since the tragedy, and it was very disconcerting to see my favorite skyline in the world with such a large and tragic gap. The rest of the group then left, while I went off to dinner with a local friend and my eventual flight back home. I would come away without any Elijah sightings, but having met a lot of great people and seen a film that I think is very much the sort of work that Elijah has indicated he wants to do--a quality role in a small, character-driven film.

The festival itself, from everything I saw and read, did very well. The portion of it we spent most of our time at was a bit away from the headquarters, but everything was well-attended and staffed with eager volunteers. People seemed generally happy with the event, screenings were almost entirely sold out, and all in all it showed every sign of an extraordinarily successful event. It brought people to Tribeca in droves, which was one of its purposes, and certainly reminded people of the fact that New York is a vital city with a lot to offer.

Attached are just a few photos:

The ones attached are two close ones of the producer, Margot Bridger, one of a section of the audience during the Q and A (most people left before it started--the theatre *had* been packed), and one of about 1/3 of the fans--those who stuck around until after the screening and were willing to be photographed.

I've also included the festival logo and a scan of the program page for Ash Wednesday.

Cello Preformance In Oshkosh, Wisconsin - Xoanon @ 13:29 PST
From: Kiskadee

One of my fellow local "Rings" fans is a relative of the composer and told me about this performance. I thought this might be of some interest to any Oshkosh, Wisconsin area fans out there:

Dr. David Cowley of the music faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will perform his own compositions for solo cello entitled "A Ring Cycle: Inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien". The performance will be Wednesday, May 15, at 12:40 pm in room N234 of the Music Building at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

There are five pieces entitled : (1) Sam and Shelob (2) Frodo and the Ring (3) Gollum and the Ring (4) Gandalf and the Balrog and (5) Sauron and Life.

The First 'Fanboy' Passes Away - Xoanon @ 13:12 PST
TORN Staffer Ostadan writes:

Probably none of you know Bruce Pelz's name, and you are the poorer for it. Bruce was a central, nay, _the_ central figure in Los Angeles science fiction fandom for more than forty years. He was the guy who got things done -- conventions, fanzines, buildings, meetings, parties -- everything. And he was genuinely interested in all facets of fantasy and science fiction literature (as well as mysteries and other genres).

In about 1960, "Los Angeles fen would discover one book after another and gush wildly about their greatness in [the LASFS house fanzine] and their [personal 'zines]. Enthusiasms of the time included Ayn Rand's ATLAS SHRUGGED, John Myers Myers' SILVERLOCK, and Tolkien's LotR. There were probably others, but I don't remember them. Anyhow, it was because of this that I bought and read SILVERLOCK and Tolkien's five available books. The LASFen started a Tolkien club, "Fellowship of the Ring," with an Official Organ, I PALANTIR." -- Ed Meskys (past president of the Tolkien Society of America)

Bruce Pelz was, in fact, the publisher of what I believe to be the first Tolkien fanzine, I Palantir. I had hoped to interview him formally for an article on early Tolkien fandom this weekend. Damn, damn my procrastination. I have waited too long.

You can look at www.lasfs.org for more about Bruce, including a link to a page of memorial comments (you may recognize some names there).

'Ash Wednesday' Premiere Report - Xoanon @ 13:02 PST
ashwise writes: My friend Cassandra and I went to the 'Ash Wednesday' screening today at the Tribeca Film Festival. Unfortunately, Elijah Wood was not there for the screening, nor at the festival at all. However, the film, written, directed, and starring Ed Burns (who plays Elijah's big brother) is quite an interesting story. Elijah's role was a far step from our favorite hobbit but his performance was no less appreciated.


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