Lord of the Rings model maker James Bryson, who won a landmark court case that ruled he was an employee and not a self-employed contractor, has been awarded costs of $38,000 by the Supreme Court. In June, the court confirmed he was an employee of Lord of the Rings production company Three Foot Six when he was made redundant in 2001. This cleared the way for Mr Bryson to pursue a personal grievance case against Three Foot Six. The case is to be heard by the Employment Relations Authority. [More]

Meghan, Online Community Manager for The Lord of the Rings Online writes: This week, we're posting two new screenshots, including the Fields of Fornost. You can find them at the top of our screenshot gallery. We're looking forward very much to the LOTRO Gathering: Lunch of the Rings in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday, August 13th. [More]

Derek writes: I don't know if many or any reports have made it in, and these will be loosely recalled here, but Alan Lee was a wonderful and gracious guest over this past weekend at WorldCon in Glasgow. His panels were well-attended, and he proved to be every bit the open, soft-spoken and endearing man he comes across as in print and on video. [More]

Gloria writes: Join “Into The West”, Lord of the Rings Fellowship of Utah, for their second annual charity gala event with dinner, entertainment, silent auction, prizes and a night of fellowship and merry making!! This year’s recipient is Camp Hobe,R17; a summer camp for children who have cancer. The event will be held Saturday, September 17th starting at 6:30 pm in Salt Lake City, Utah. [More]

David from The Minnesota Tolkien Society writes: On Saturday, August 13, the Minnesota Tolkien Society will be having its annual picnic potluck. The picnic will be held at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Osseo, MN. Address is as follows: 13080 Territorial Road, Osseo, MN (County Road 81 to Territorial Road). We will begin our activities at 10:00 AM. [More]

Cate Blanchett added another gong to her swag last night – taking a Helpmann Award for her lead performance in the Sydney Theatre Company's Hedda Gabler. The win came at a ceremony otherwise dominated by one of the biggest artistic gambles in our theatrical history. [More]

Elijah Wood fears he will always be remembered as Frodo the hobbit from The Lord of the Rings, no matter how many great films he stars in. The youthful actor has played a mute psycho, a sinister pervert and a soccer hooligan since starring in the hit trilogy, but to fans he remains forever Frodo. [More]

Tolkien fans do not just watch the films and read the books again and again - they are on a spiritual journey and doing their best to forget the ending, says an international study that voyaged to many lands to bring back wisdom and understanding. Led by a wizard from out of the west, Martin Barker, of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, the team explored reactions to the film Lord of the Rings III in 20 countries. [More]

Jef writes: The Atlanta-area Tolkien Society Smial (Andúnië) will hold its August meeting this coming Sunday, August 14, at 6pm at the Emory University Catholic Center. For directions and info, please see our website. [Here]

From Empire Online Movie NewsWe’re big fans of Karl Urban here at Empire. The New Zealand actor absolutely rocked as Eomer in the last two Lord of the Rings movies, gave it his snarly all as the bad guy in The Chronicles Of Riddick, and was a worthy opponent for Maaaaaat Daaaaaamon in The Bourne Supremacy. He’s very cool and a Next Big Thing in waiting. [More]

Odeon Herod Atticus in Athens, Greece will be the venu tonight (August 8th) and tomorrow (9th) for the LOTR symphony performed by the State Symphony Orchestra. Be sure to click here for more concert dates and locations. [More]

Stephanie writes: "Hobbit-Forming" article on Sean Astin's newest addition. This was in the People magazine on August 15, 2005. Just wanted to share! [More]

Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, two of Britain's greatest Shakespearean actors, are to star in a film adaptation of The Merchant of Venice set in modern-day Las Vegas. The new £20 million movie will shift the action of the Bard's 1596 play from medieval Italy to the flamboyant Venetian Resort, Hotel and Casino in the heart of the Nevada desert. [More]

Ian Collier from The Tolkien Society writes: I thought you'd like the latest news on Tolkien 2005, so here it is. Five years in the planning and it’s here at last. This week sees the start of a 5 day conference to mark the 50th anniversary of the complete publication of JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. To celebrate this the Tolkien Society and Partner Organisations are holding a conference at Aston University, Birmingham, England. [More]

Join us in #thehalloffire on TORn's IRC server for our weekly Tolkien chat. This week Hall of Fire participants will have an open discussion on Theoden, King of the Mark. If you've never visited TORn's chat, or if you've never participated in our Hall of Fire discussions -- it's painless and fun!! Come and meet the friendly folks who have moved more or less permanently onto TORn's server. Chat starts at 2 p.m. EST. [Chat NOW]

In java chat, select "TheHallOfFire" from the drop-down menu. For more information on IRC chat, please visit our FAQ.

From ifp.org: Based on the critically-acclaimed novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, Everything is Illuminated tells the story of a young man's quest to find the woman who saved his gradfather in a small Ukrainian town that was wiped off the map by the Nazi invasion...Everything is Illuminated stars Elijah Wood, Eugene Hutz, and Boris Leskin. [More]

Tolkien fans do not just watch the films and read the books again and again - they are on a spiritual journey and doing their best to forget the ending, says an international study that voyaged to many lands to bring back wisdom and understanding. [More]

To support the release of Alan Lee’s brand new project, The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook, Alan will be signing copies at these exclusive pre-publication events in August event though the book is not officially go on sale nationwide until 5th September. Firstly visitors to Worldcon in Glasgow this year will be able to meet Alan from 4-6pm on Friday 5th August at Hall 5 in the Scottish Exhibition Centre. This will be the first ever opportunity to get a copy of the book which will be on sale from 2.30 outside the hall on Friday.

Click here for more dates and locations!

Buy the Book

Amazon.com
The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook (Hardcover)

Amazon.ca
The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook (Hardcover)

From our good friend Bruce Hopkins: “1nite” wins at the NZ Screen Directors Guild Film and Television Awards 2005. One of NZ’s most highly regarded films is now available for you to own. An award winning digital feature, 1nite is the debut film from director Amarbir Singh and features a cast comprising some of New Zealand’s finest actors including the bloke on a horse called Charlie, who helped save Middle Earth from the evil one, Bruce Hopkins (aka Gamling). [More]