5-06-02 Latest News

Weekend Box-Office Report
Calisuri @ 10:44 am EST

Brandon Gray
http://www.boxofficemojo.com

"Spider-Man" shattered every opening record on books with an unprecedented $114 million weekend, according to studio estimates. Never before in Hollywood history has a movie grossed over $100 million in its first three days, not even when taking ticket price inflation into account. To put that figure into further perspective, uber-blockbusters "Stars Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace" and "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" took 5 days to hit that mark. [More]

But "The Lord of the Rings" was still in the top 20 at No. 19 with an estimated $430,000 from 408 theaters, down 46% from last weekend. The epic adventure's 138-day total stands at $308.8 million, and it should surpass "Return of the Jedi" $309.3 million total within the next two weeks to become the 9th highest grossing movie of all time. The longevity of "Rings" is the kind that "Spider-Man" can only wish for. [More]

Weekend Round Up
Xoanon @ 1:23 am EST

TV Watch: Sean Astin Has 'Dinner'

Happy Birthday John Rhys-Davies!

Viggo: One Of People's Most Beautiful

Brian Sibley Transcript

SHOP: Games Workshop's Sauron Figure

Scorsese Wants Liv Tyler As Leading Lady

TTT Trailer In Theatres This Month?

Hall Of Fire Chats For May 4th & 5th

Chris Lee On 'Empire'

CBS Contest To New Zealand

TV Watch: LOTR Special On OZ TV

Weekly Cast Watch
Xoanon @ 1:11 am EST

To get more information, use the sites I use like the ones below. Simply find a movie or actor you want to see, go to one of the sites below and see if the film is playing in your area. mydigiguide.com, tv-now.com and IMDB.com

Actor/Role	Films/Television Shows
	28 Days (2000) UK Walk on the Moon, A (1999) UK Crimson Tide (1995) American Yakuza (1994) Carlito's Way (1993) UK Young Americans, The (1993) Ruby Cairo (1993) Young Guns II (1990)
	Dr. T & the Women (2000) Plunkett & Macleane (1999) UK Onegin (1999) UK Can't Hardly Wait (1998) Inventing the Abbotts (1997) UK Stealing Beauty (1996) Empire Records (1995) UK
	Shergar (1999) eXistenZ (1999) UK Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998) (TV) Life Less Ordinary, A (1997) Sweet Hereafter, The (1997) Madness of King George, The (1994) Blue Ice (1992) Naked Lunch (1991) UK Chariots of Fire (1981) Alien (1979) UK Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) UK Fixer, The (1968) UK
	Don't Say a Word (2001) How to Get Ahead in Advertising (1989) UK Stormy Monday (1988)
	Piano, The (1993)
	Frighteners, The (1996)
	Airtight (1999) (TV) UK
Noel Appleby
Peter Mackenzie	In Crowd, The (2000) Chill Factor (1999) UK Major League: Back to the Minors (1998) UK Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) UK
	Strange Planet (1999) Interview, The (1998) Babe (1995)
	What Lies Beneath (2000) UK Jack Bull, The (1999) (TV) Emma's War (1986)
	Moulin Rouge! (2001) Dark City (1998)
	Bumblebee Flies Anyway, The (2000) Faculty, The (1998) North (1994) UK War, The (1994) UK Adventures of Huck Finn, The (1993) UK Radio Flyer (1992) UK Forever Young (1992) UK Paradise (1991)
	Gift, The (2000) Pushing Tin (1999) UK Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999) UK Oscar and Lucinda (1997)
	X-Men (2000) UK Rasputin (1996) (TV) Restoration (1995) Cold Comfort Farm (1995) (TV) To Die for (1994) UK Scandal (1989) Alfred the Great (1969) UK
	Secret of the Andes (1998) UK Great White Hype, The (1996) Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) (V) Cyborg Cop (1994) Sunset Grill (1993) Under Cover (1991) (TV) Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987) (TV) Firewalker (1986) UK Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Andy Serkis	Arabian Nights (2000) (TV) UK Topsy-Turvy (1999) Career Girls (1997)
	Frighteners, The (1996)
	Heavenly Creatures (1994)
Robbie Magasiva
Ray Henwood	Heavenly Creatures (1994)
	Moby Dick (1998) (TV) Dark City (1998) Sweet Talker (1991) Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) UK Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) UK Let the Balloon Go (1976)
Megan Edwards
	Sky Is Falling, The (2000) Last Producer, The (2000) UK Kimberly (1999) Deterrence (1999) UK Icebreaker (1999) Dish Dogs (1998) Courage Under Fire (1996) Encino Man (1992) UK Memphis Belle (1990) War of the Roses, The (1989) UK Staying Together (1989) Like Father, Like Son (1987)
	Sleepy Hollow (1999) UK Jinnah (1998) UK Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) 1941 (1979) UK Arabian Adventure (1979) Three Musketeers, The (1973) UK Hannie Caulder (1971) UK Schlangengrube und das Pendel, Die (1967) Ten Little Indians (1966) Brides of Fu Manchu, The (1966) Beat Girl (1960) Cockleshell Heroes, The (1955) Hamlet (1948)
	Going Off Big Time (2000) UK Loss of Sexual Innocence, The (1999) UK Mountains of the Moon (1990) UK
	Ghost, The (2000) Prophecy 3: The Ascent, The (2000) (V) Storytellers, The (1999) UK Bride of Chucky (1998) Urban Legend (1998) Sworn to Justice (1996) Murder in the First (1995) UK Death Machine (1995) Body Parts (1991) UK Child's Play 3 (1991) UK Child's Play 2 (1990) UK Hidden Agenda (1990) Child's Play (1988) Dune (1984) UK
	102 Dalmatians (2000) UK Anna and the King (1999) UK Multiplicity (1996) UK Batman Returns (1992) UK Ghost (1990) UK 2010 (1984) UK Last Starfighter, The (1984) UK
	Yards, The (2000) Cell, The (2000) UK High Fidelity (2000) UK Dogma (1999) UK eXistenZ (1999) UK Analyze This (1999) UK Crash (1996) UK Se7en (1995) White Man's Burden (1995) UK Ed Wood (1994) UK Client, The (1994) Philadelphia (1993) Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) Naked Lunch (1991) UK Innocent Man, An (1989) She-Devil (1989) Big (1988) UK Moving (1988) UK Fly, The (1986) UK After Hours (1985) Silkwood (1983) UK Scanners (1981)
	Contact (1997) Frighteners, The (1996) Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Relative values: Harriet Walter and Christopher Lee
Xoanon @ 12:01 am EST

Ann McFerran Harriet Walter and her uncle Christopher Lee, both actors

Christopher Lee, 79, came to fame with such Hammer Horror classics as Dracula and Frankenstein's Monster. His film roles include the evil wizard Saruman in The Lord of the Rings, and he will soon be seen in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. He lives with his wife, Gitte, in Knightsbridge, London. They have one daughter, Christina, 38. His niece Harriet Walter, 47, has played leading roles for the National Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court and in the West End. She is appearing as Beatrice in Much Ado about Nothing at the RSC's Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. She lives in Fulham, London.

HARRIET: Some years ago, I went to the rainforest in Guyana, courtesy of Friends of the Earth. We were three hours down river, miles away from anywhere, and the only thing we were told to worry about was vampire bats, which possibly carried rabies.One day, these bats appeared overhead and a fisherman cried: "Look, Christopher Lee bat!" He nearly fell into the water when I told him that Christopher Lee was my uncle.

When I was about nine, my uncle had just played the title role in The Mummy, in which he had to walk with stiff legs because he'd been bandaged up in the mummy's wrappings. Soon after the film came out, he had supper with my parents, and came up to my bedroom to kiss me good night. He knocked on my door and his silhouette in the lighted corridor appeared in the doorway. Then he lurched into the dark bedroom and did his mummy's walk towards me. I was absolutely terrified. I screamed and screamed and screamed. So, to me, he could be more frightening off screen than on.

My uncle is my mother's younger brother: she adores him, and he adores her.

She has a sweet nature and it's a good relationship. She was the classic little girl who had to be very good because of her very, very naughty younger brother. The whole family got furious with Christopher, but also found him incredibly sweet.

To me as a child, my uncle was a roving, exotic bachelor figure who swanned in once in a while. The heart rate went up when he walked in the door.

Perhaps it was his wonderful deep voice but he seemed to have an extraordinary power over you. He was a great raconteur and a flamboyant dresser and had glamorous girlfriends and a bachelor pad off Ebury Street before he married my Aunt Gitte. Because he was so very handsome and very gentle, I feel I've been in and out of different phases with my uncle, of having a crush on him, then being a little in love with him.

In the 1950s he became famous for playing Dracula and Frankenstein's monster in all those Hammer Horror movies. In terms of his life span and career, it was a very short period, but he was a bit pigeonholed by it. I've had a very different career, but I haven't had the kind of fame that he has.

My grandmother disapproved of her son being an actor, but of course she went to see him, and she didn't mind taking part in a deceit so I could see him, too - because I was only 10. I remember we went to the Coronet in Notting Hill, and I wore my sister's bra stuffed with socks and put on high-heeled shoes and dark glasses. I even turned the collar of my coat up! It was my first horror film - Dracula gets swallowed up in the ice, and my uncle wore a high-collared black cloak, the classic Dracula garb. To me it was not scary, but absolutely riveting to see someone I knew so well on screen.

Today everyone loves to knock those Hammer films, but he brought a great dignity to them. He knew just how serious or not serious they were, and he knew that you had to honour what you're doing. Sometimes we watched him at work at Bray Studios, where they did the Hammer films. I saw Can-Can and The Crimson Pirate being made, and I remember playing in the dungeons and the maze on the set of Dracula's castle. On those visits, my mother met famous actors like Paul Schofield, which she loved, and it all made me think: "Acting - that's what I want to do." But I wasn't aware of quite how famous my uncle was until I was older, when I went with him to meet my mother at London Airport, and everyone stared.

He went to Hollywood when I was starting at drama school, but before he went he had some heart-searching talks with me. He said: "It's a tough profession, but stick at it." Then he came to see me in my first season with the RSC. We were talking about acting, and I thought: "This is great! This is a real bond." He told me he'd done a recital in Stratford, which meant a great deal to him. I'd just joined the company, and I, too, had experienced that great sense of history and magic, standing on the Stratford stage. Maybe he felt a twinge of envy - and maybe I'd feel my nose slightly out of joint if a niece or nephew was doing what I'd done.

My grandmother and I had a close relationship, and after drama school she said: "Surely you want to be at the top of your tree?" At that time I was involved in ensemble playing, and I had a very egalitarian outlook. "No, Granny, it's not like that," I told her. I did fringe political theatre, and my uncle and family were anti my pinkish stand. But my uncle is more of a maverick than being just a Conservative. Anyway, we were saved too much confrontation because he was abroad most of that time.

In his late thirties, he married my Aunt Gitte, who was a model and stunningly beautiful and very clever. In a way, his marrying late gave me licence not to marry and to be single. Once, my mother was being soppy with me, treating me like a child, and Aunt Gitte, who has a wicked sense of humour, said: "Harriet's not a child; she's a middle-aged spinster."

Because I've done "serious" plays, perhaps I'm more obsessed with the theatre than my uncle is. But he's got many more interests - he's well read, speaks several languages and he's well known in the profession for being a real gentlemen. In recent years, after reading about the idiot pranks of the Russell Crowes of this world, I've come to value him as a role model.

About five years ago he played Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, and there was a big rumpus because they didn't want the man associated with Dracula to be the hero. But he played Jinnah with beauty, dignity and such emotion. Recently, Ian McKellen and my uncle were wonderful together in Lord of the Rings. Although he's nearly 80, he didn't even have a stuntman, and he wouldn't think of asking.

CHRISTOPHER: I'll never forget my sister, Harriet's mother, ringing me up one day and saying in this voice of doom, "Harriet wants to be an actress," followed by a long, ominous silence. The implication was that we had one lunatic in the family - me - so we certainly didn't want another. Then my sister said: "Would you please see her?" The theatre is a highly competitive, tough profession, and I didn't know that Harriet would succeed. But I think Harriet knew. She must have done. You've got to have that feeling early and stick to it.

I met with Harriet at my agent's in Grafton Street. She sat there with these big, dark eyes and a solemn face, hardly saying anything. I said to her:

"I'll give you both sides of the coin, because unless you're incredibly lucky, you'll get good bits and bad bits. It's marvellous to create portraits of other people, but be prepared for terrible disappointments. But if you're totally determined that that's what you want to do, do it."

In fact, my sister's reaction wasn't as terrible as my mother's had been when I said I was going to be an actor. My mother literally reeled back towards the doorway, crying: "The shame of it. How can you bring such disgrace on the family?" I've never forgotten the next remark. She said: "And think of the appalling people you'll meet!" For years she kept saying:

"Give it up." Yet it was my mother's grandparents who started an opera company in Australia, and my mother's grandmother was known as the Tasmanian Nightingale. So for me and Harriet, it's in the blood.

A few years after that meeting with Harriet, I went back to England to stay with my sister and her husband. They said: "Come to Stratford to stay in a bed and breakfast so we can see Harriet in the plays she's doing at the RSC." Harriet was in two plays. The first, The Witch of Edmonton, with Miriam Karlin, was in a tiny theatre called the Other Place, where you're almost sitting on the stage. Harriet gave an extraordinary performance, and did a brilliant West Country accent. She's brilliant with accents; so am I. That sounds immodest, but it's something you can or can't do.

The next day she was in the really unrewarding part of Helena in The Dream, but she really made something of it. I said to my sister: "She's going to be an outstanding dramatic actress. One day she'll play Portia, and Lady M in the Scottish play." Later, in her first Stratford season, she played with Peggy Ashcroft in Much Ado about Nothing, and apparently she was incredible. Peggy Ashcroft called Harriet her successor, but Harriet is modest and she won't tell you that.

Today, she's done films and TV, but basically she's a theatrical actress, and she's in her element. Recently she was awarded a CBE, which she got before I did. I say she got hers for achievement; I got mine for survival!

As a child Harriet was very much like her grandmother, my mother, to look at. She was very solemn, very quiet and reserved - and she's like that now. She doesn't say or take anything lightly. She has an iron will, and so have I. In that way, we are very much alike. As an actor you need an iron will to have the self-discipline. Her career is her life. I never thought she'd follow in her sister's footsteps and get married and have children.

People think Harriet and I resemble each other, with our Italian origins and looks, and sometimes when we're watching her, her mother will say: "Exactly like you." Many of her performances have been very much based on my mother's behaviour. Our mother was the greatest dramatic actress I've ever known, but she didn't act professionally. So as a small child Harriet was being very observant, in a quiet way, and retaining my mother's behaviour, which was dramatic to say the least. In The Royal Family, which she acted in recently at the Haymarket with Judi Dench, she was my mother. All that rather camp comedy and dramatic gestures.

Harriet and I share lots of qualities but politically we disagree almost entirely. She supports Labour and I support the Conservatives, so this has led to thunderstorms on certain occasions, but I respect her opinions. When people ask me why I became an actor, I tell them how at the end of the war I was having lunch with a cousin, who was the Italian ambassador here, in the embassy in Grosvenor Square. I'd just been demobbed and he said to me: "What are you going to do?" I said: "I'm not going to go back to being an office boy at £1 a week." He said: "Have you thought of being an actor?" Boom! It came like that, out of nowhere. So I went away and thought: "Why not give it a go?" I wonder if Harriet thought along the same lines.

I do enjoy seeing her when I can. I phone up and I lower my voice to cavernous depths and say to her: "This is your ancient relative." It always gives her a laugh.

Brian Sibley Transcript
Xoanon @ 2:39 pm EST

Brian Sibley, whos credits include The Film Art Cover Box set of LOTR and The Lord of the Rings Official Movie Guide, recently held a small Q&A session and Shelagh has the transcript for us!

Irascian: Do you have any plans to do speaking in the US?

Brian Sibley: I was asked to go to Comi-con, but my publisher decided it was too expensive especially7 with my last book being almost a year old by then! However, I may be coming to the US in December (still not sure) to promote the NEXT book about the films.

Lithilien Quicksilver: Hullo, Brian. If you do come in Dec., do you know where you will be? I assume either NY or LA?

Brian Sibley (Irascian answering): Brian says If he comes it will be 6 cities including the two you mention. It's basically one day in a city, one day's flying for 12 days. But it's a question of whether I can manage it because I should be working on the third book ROTK in December.

Primula: Brian, welcome! What started you in this - was it the radio adaptation work or something before that?

Brian Sibley: Long before the radio series! When I first read THE HOBBIT when I was 11 or 12 and then (ten years later read TLOTR): that - coupled with seeing the Ralph Bakshi film - kept my interest - no, PASSION! - for JRRT's books on the boil --- and then I heard that PJ was going to film the LOTR with MY Frodo as his Bilbo! How could I resist begging and pleading with HarperCollins to let me write the books about the film?

StefBaggins: How are the sales going for the Official Guide, and is it what you expected?

Brian Sibley: What did I expect??? Sixteen weeks on the New York Times 'Best-Seller' List getting to No. 2 was a very pleasing thing to happen - but I'm still waiting to earn some royalties: probably because my % is rather small -- but who cares about Dragon-gold or Orc-hordes!

Goldilocks Brownlock: I very much enjoyed your book! It had quite a bit much more information and covered areas (such as the dialog coaching) that I hadn't thought about. It was very well laid out too, quite easy to read, and lovely photos. Do you do your own layout or do you have a designer to work with at HM? I'm looking forward to the next book very much! :-)

Brian Sibley: I have a designer. And if you think the first book has a lot of behind the scenes information, you ain't seen nothing yet. There will be a lot more stuff in the next book TTT.

Dandy: Before I bombard you with my questions, welcome to the PP Now Can I throw them at you. If there is one scene you would do over again- for the radio program what would it be and why.. If you could add a new scene what would that be. and a thank you for the wonderful book...and for the ones coming out in the future.. Sitting back with a Spatan to await the answers.. Welcome again Dandy Baggins

Brian Sibley: Yes! The final battle at Bag End. It was supposed to be the Battle of Bywater (as in the book). But the closing episodes were over-running and cuts had to be made - so, overnight, I re-wrote the episode to include the fight AT Bag End! It was never quite the way I wanted... And as for a NEW scene -- why, yes! TOM BOMBADIL! Then people wouldn't keep asking why I left him out!! Actually, I later dramatised Tom's exploits in TALES OF THE PERILOUS REALM (See BBC Tapes), but I wished he'd been there to start with...

Tinidril: Concerning some of the content of future Movie Guides, Hi and welcome to this online madness!! It seems that most the basic topics of movie making were covered in the FOTR Movie Guide, will you be covering any of these same topics in more detail in subsequent uides since all three movies were filmed at the same time? Things such as the Weta Workshop, language and speech coaching, scenery, sets, etc... Or, will there be totally new topics? (besides the additional actor bios) Thank you so much and God bless! from a grateful 3-yr. charter member of the fan club, Tinidril

Brian Sibley: Some new topics... Some dealt with in OMG but now explored in greater detail: lots of stuff on make-up and costume (How do you give Grima dandruff? Why is Gandalf's hat kept in a dustbin?) as well as such things as an account of Howard Shore's music for TFOTR.

Hobbitlove: How much input did PJ have on the book, where you under certain restrictions as to what you put in the book?

Brian Sibley: Peter spared what time he could while I was in NZ . And, yes, of course there were limitations on what I coulkd talk about - or SHOW! Hence no pix of Gollum in the first book - or the Balrog. The next book will be quite different with much more info and (I hope) insight into the film-makinh process.

Yavanna Kementari: hullo Brian, i was wondering, about how long did it take for the BBC Radio adaption to be completed? I think that it's brilliant!!

Brian Sibley: Years! Well from the day that I first read LOTR . But I took two or three months to write the sysnopsis for the original 26 (later 13) episodes and 6 months to write the episodes and another 4 to record. Glad you enjoyed it!

deliz: Do you have any sneak-peeks or news you can give us? Hints? ANYTHING? :)

Brian Sibley: What can I tell you? You'll love seeing the transformation of Smeagol into Gollum after the murder of Deagol as he goes further and further into the passageways beneath the Misty Mountains; you'll love the Battle of Healm's Deep and the transition of Gandalf the Grey into Gandalf the White - oh, yes, and seeing Grima Wormtongue and the fabulous scene in which Gandalf liberates King Theoden from Grima (and Saruman's) power... There's so much to look forward to - Treebeard... Well, you KNOW and, like me, can't wait! The new book also tells you how Weta produced a ARTIFICIAL Boromir for that scene where he goes over the falls of Rauros! Loadsa goodies! Promise!

Sauron's Truss: Do you think HM and yourself might include a ref to the incredible upwelling of fan support in one of the upcoming guides?

Brian Sibley (Irascian answering): Brian says there will be some public response and fan response in "The making of a film trilogy" (the title of the next book). It also opens with a description of the premiere in London and ends with a selection of critical responses from around the world.

Arwenbloomer: Do you know of any plans to have some convetions or talks in Toronto Canada??

Brian Sibley (Irascian answering): Brian says he doesn't know of any conventions/visits to Canada

Eridana... What is it like watching someone adapting something that you did yourself?

Brian Sibley: Fascinating! I envied Peter Jackson being able to do things I couldn't do in sound - the Balrog for example - but I was lucky in being able to include many of the songs and poems that would have slowed down the visuals!

Hobbitlove: How long where you in NZ?

Brian Sibley (Ironscan answering): How long was Brian in NZ? Answer: 6 weeks.

Garoc: Do you think Peter Jackson has drew some inspiration for his adaption from your BBC adaption?

Brian Sibley (Ian answering): Brian says Many of the cast, executives, technical crew etc listened to the series as a way of getting to know the story. Sean Astin told me that the two most helpful pieces of research in his process of getting to understand the character were Alan Lee's illustrations and my radio version.

Rosie: It is such a pleasure to have you Brian. You must be getting hungry with all this typing!! ::offers a slice of fresh strawberry pie, and a mug of ale:: It is wonderful of you to take the time to visit us here in the Prancing Pony. Ian has been great to fill me in on some of the background into the making of the BBC production.

It has been an incredible experience to have another window into Middle Earth, via the BBC radio production. It is a piece of art in itself. The new
prologue done by Ian Holm, as well as the extra CD are fantastic, and I don't go a day without at least listening to the music.

My question is: What was your first introduction to Tolkien, Hobbits, and LOTR, and how did it affect your life. Thank You again Brian!! (((((((((Brian Sibley))))))) It is an honor to have you with us!!

Brian Sibley: Hi, Rosie, and thank YOU! For your enthusiasm AND for the fab picture which you sent of the hobbits in the Prancing Pony. I love it! First read THE HOBBIT, the all the short fiction: Farmer Giles, Tom Bombadil, etc - but I found LOTR VERY hard to get to grips with. Then when I was 21, I was in hospital for 4 weeks and finally got to read The Big One! Yes, it has changed my life and I have been very, very lucky...
Brian

Primula: Do you have a background in journalism or writing - or was this a "new" career for you?

Brian Sibley: I started writing for radio 25 years ago and amazon.com will give a list of all my publications eg CS Lewis Narnia, Winnie the Pooh, film animation etc.

Barliman's event in Perth, Australia.
Tehanu @ 1:07 pm EST

The Australian Ringers in Barliman's are organising a get-together to see LOTR on an IMAX screen. Here's the details:
Date: Saturday 11th May
Place: Imax Cinema, Northbridge.
Time: To Be Determined (The cinema couldn't give us an exact time but it's around 8)
Details: Wear a leaf on you (fake or otherwise) so we know that you're a Perth LotR fan / Barlimans' Regular! Fancy dress encouraged.

Ring-Leader will be wearing a hobbit dress and curly brown hair. If we get more than ten people the cost of the tickets will only be $7. Imax has a LARGE screen and huge sound systems, so this is a real bargain! Prime opportunity to see Fellowship of the Rings in a great cinema before its run is finally over!

Contact: Nancy (Periwinkle) at: tosh@opera.iinet.net.au or Eledhwen at elfsheen@hotmail.com

Media Watch: Empire Magazine
Xoanon @ 1:10 pm EST

Ringer Spy Lee sends us these scans from Empire Magazine, take a look!

"Rings" Film Empowered By Short
Xoanon @ 6:54 pm EST

Much has been made of New Line founder Bob Shaye's gutsy decision to bankroll the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, but what hasn't gotten enough attention is how much Peter Jackson helped his own cause by paying $50,000 to make a 30-minute short film.

It was a short that, by all accounts, was the deciding factor in his getting a greenlight from Shaye on what is now on course to become one of the most profitable film franchises ever.

Dish viewed the film, which until now had been seen only by Jackson, his reps, Shaye and Fine Line president Mark Ordesky. The short was a last-ditch effort to rescue "Rings" from the Miramax turnaround scrap heap and was enough to persuade Shaye to finance three films instead of the two Jackson asked for.

It also showed convincingly why Jackson was the right director for the "Rings" job even though he was coming off the failure "The Frighteners."

After long developing "Rings" only to fail in securing a partner to make two films, Miramax gave Jackson back the film under prohibitive terms. He had three weeks to hook another studio, which would have to repay the $12 million spent by Miramax, and give up 5 percent of first-dollar gross.

Unbowed by those arduous terms, Jackson retreated to New Zealand bent on making promotional film that would show that the ambitious "Rings" movie was possible because of the $12 million that had been spent on rights, special effects and visuals to bring Middle Earth to life.

Narrating the short himself, Jackson introduced the artwork, models and computer imagery that would convincingly shrink actors to Hobbit size, make the Orcs grotesque by enlarging their eyes and make Herculean Uruk-Hai warriors believable through computer animation.

Jackson showed the armor, the architecture of the mines of Moria and the maniacal faces on the horses that would carry the black riders who pursue Frodo Baggins throughout the trilogy.

The film then featured storyboards coupled by dialogue read by unseen actors. What is most striking is how closely Jackson's movie stuck to his initial game plan.

"So here we are," he said at the close of the filmed pitch, "45 years after the publication of this book where finally the technology has caught up to the incredible imagination that (J.R.R.) Tolkien injected into this story of his. This movie can be made."

In terms of salesmanship effort, Jackson's film is reminiscent of the short made by Robert Evans three decades ago, the one that persuaded Gulf & Western not to fold Paramount Pictures and sell the backlot.

Evans, who headed production at the time, got Mike Nichols to direct him in an appeal that promised upcoming projects like "Love Story" and "The Godfather" would right the studio's course.

"The lot was set to become part of this Jewish cemetery right behind it, and you don't see any dead bodies there now, only a lot of soundstages," Evans said. "I didn't get a bonus or anything, but I walked out of that meeting with the autonomy needed to make Paramount a power."

Viewings of Evans' film have been limited to visitors in his private screening room, but Evans said the footage will be in the Graydon Carter-produced documentary "The Kid Stays in the Picture."

As for Jackson's half-hour film, New Line hasn't yet decided whether fans will get to see it. It would be a worthwhile addition to the DVD, at the least.

Age of Kings Update
Berendir @ 6:38 pm EST

Thanks to Benn for drawing my attention back to Josef Bugman's Age of King's LOTR Mod. Josef has been continually updating his message board, as well as adding new pictures to show the progress of his work.

-[Age of King's LOTR Mod screenshots]

-[Josef's Forum]

Quickbeam Sends His Notes
Flinch @ 3:08 pm EST

Greetings -- Quickbeam here.

Our very own Flinch helped us put together a great fund-raiser down in Irivine, California this past Sunday -- all of the proceeds will help TheOneRing.net get a new server (thank you players)!

If you weren't there you missed out on a lot of fun.

It was really cool that most all of our participants were women!  Whoever said that girls don't enjoy a good trading card game was wrong.  I had a laugh at their expense, too.  Every time one of the young ladies played a Legolas card I would start warbling "Oh, ORLI.... you're just so dreamy...."

Actually, everyone learned the game quickly.  Just spending a couple of turns showing the flow of the game was enough.  Soon the players were speeding off, coming up with clever strategies all their own.

It was a sweet deal for the new players who attended.  For only $10 we gave them a new Starter Deck, a couple of Boosters, and a GREAT draw-string bag filled with glass counters.  That's a lot of swag for ten bucks.  On top of all that, we sold raffle tickets for an entire box of Booster Packs.  A very surprised 7 year-old boy was one of our lucky winners.  You should have seen him jumping and racing around the tables with his new cards.   :-)

Everyone then got to see "Fellowship" in all its theatrical glory.  A fine day indeed.

We will schedule another one of these demonstrations soon.  So all you folks located in the Hollywood - Beverly Hills - metro Los Angeles area be sure to watch this space for details.  It's a great afternoon, you will get lots of cool stuff, AND you will learn the game from well-seasoned players (patting myself on the back with a leafy branch).

Much too hasty,

Quickbeam

Read Flinch's notes here
E-mail quickbeam at quickbeam@theonering.net

A Weekend of LOTR Card Games!
Flinch @ 7:37 pm EST

This weekend I had the joy and the pleasure of demoing the Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game to two very nice groups of people. My first stop was Hollywood Blvd. and to the LiningUp.net Star Wars: Episode II line. Now this is a group of fans of many things, and Star Wars fans are often known to be Lord of the Rings fans as well so the attempt at bringing them a glimpse at the LOTR TCG couldn't have gone better.

We sat out along the noise and the light of Hollywood Blvd, small card table mounted with a cardboard sign we set to work organizing the game. I'd brought some boxes of Starter Decks, and some boxes of Booster packs and we cracked into the fun! It was great to see about half of the line participating in the game, either openning packs, reading the rulebook, or trying it out first hand. The night stretched on and around Midnight it was decided that we better head home, we had a big day ahead of us!

Sunday came around and we shuffled into the car and drove to the Aliso Viejo Edwards 20, where we were meeting a group comprized of members of the Irvine Spectrum Line Party. At 2pm Quickbeam [from Green Books] and Ostadan [also from Green Books] arrived and the three of us set out to educate our guests in how to play the game! We sat around some small marble tables with Starter Decks and booster packs in hand and everyone quickly cought on to just how fun this game can be!

Overall it was an amazing weekend and I'm sure everyone in the LA area has plenty of new faces to play with now that everyone knows just what it is you're supposed to do! Special thanks to everyone that helped us out, Vegan, Remi, Alyse, Josh, Autumn, Valerie and the entire LiningUp.net crew, as well as Decipher and the Aliso Viejo Edwards 20 for giving us somewhere to be on Sunday!

Take a look at the fun! Click here and enjoy images from the events!
Read Quickbeam's Notes on the event here
Questions? Comments? We love to hear from you! E-mail Flinch at flinch@theonering.net

2002 Saturn Award Nominations
Xoanon @ 4:42 pm EST

The Saturn Awards are given out each year by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. Awards are presented for film, television, DVD, and special awards. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone received nine nominations; The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and Brotherhood of the Wolf tied with eight each. A.I.: Artificial Intelligence received seven.

Best Fantasy Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Monsters, Inc.
The Mummy Returns
Shrek
Spy Kids

Best Supporting Actor

Robbie Coltrane, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Mark Decascos, Brotherhood of the Wolf
Ian McKellen, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Eddie Murphy, Shrek
Jeremy Piven, Serendipity
Tim Roth, Planet of the Apes

Best Direction

Alejandro Amenabar, The Others
Chris Columbus, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Christophe Gans, Brotherhood of the Wolf
Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
David Lynch, Mulholland Drive
Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence

Best Writing

Alejandro Amenabar, The Others
Andrew Stanton and Dan Gerson, Monsters, Inc.
Stephane Cabel and Christophe Gans, Brotherhood of the Wolf
Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman and Roger S.H. Schulman, Shrek
Steven Spielberg, A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Best Music

Angelo Badalamenti, Mulholland Drive
Joseph LoDuca, Brotherhood of the Wolf
John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams, Shrek
Howard Shore, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
John Williams, A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Nancy Wilson, Vanilla Sky

Best Costume

Colleen Atwood, Planet of the Apes
Kym Barrett, From Hell
Dominique Borg, Brotherhood of the Wolf
Ngila Dickson and Richard Taylor, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Judianna Makovsky, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Catherine Martin and Angus Strathie, Moulin Rouge

Best Makeup

Greg Cannom and Wesley Wofford, Hannibal
Nick Dudman, Mark Coulier and John Lambert, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Peter Owen and Richard Taylor, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Aileen Seaton, Nick Dudman and Jane Walker, The Mummy Returns
Rick Baker and John Blake, Planet of the Apes
Michele Burke and Camille Calvert, Vanilla Sky

Best Special Effects

Dennis Muren, Scott Farrar, Stan Winston and Michael Lantieri, A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Rob Legato, Nick Davis, Roger Guyett and John Richardson, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Jim Mitchell, Dan Taylor, Donald R. Elliott and John Rosengrant, Jurassic Park III
Jim Rygiel, Randall William Cook, Richard Taylor and Mark Stetson, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
John Andrew Berton Jr., Daniel Jeannette, Neil Corbould and Tom Rosseter, The Mummy Returns
Arthur Windus, Val Wardlaw, Hal Bertram, Nick Drew and Seb Caudron, Brotherhood of the Wolf

Weekend Round Up
Xoanon @ 12:05 am EST

Ask Christopher Lee!

Press Conference with Saruman Himself!

Weekly Cast Watch

'Rings' runs foul of actors union

Technology/NZ And LOTR

TV Watch: Access Hollywood

Wenham Play Review

Orlando Bloom "Top Twenty-Five"

More Translation Blunders

Weekly Cast Watch
Xoanon @ 11:55 pm EST

To get more information, use the sites I use like the ones below. Simply find
a movie or actor you want to see, go to one of the sites below and see if the
film is playing in your area. mydigiguide.com,
tv-now.com and
IMDB.com

Actor/Role	Films/Television Shows
	28 Days (2000) UK Walk on the Moon, A (1999) UK Albino Alligator (1996) Prophecy, The (1995) Crimson Tide (1995) American Yakuza (1994) Young Americans, The (1993) Indian Runner, The (1991) Young Guns II (1990)
	Dr. T & the Women (2000) Onegin (1999) UK Plunkett & Macleane (1999) UK Armageddon (1998) Can't Hardly Wait (1998) U Turn (1997) That Thing You Do! (1996) UK Stealing Beauty (1996) Empire Records (1995)
	Last of the Blonde Bombshells, The (2000) (TV) Bless the Child (2000) Joe Gould's Secret (2000) eXistenZ (1999) UK Simon Magus (1999/I) UK Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998) (TV) Life Less Ordinary, A (1997) Sweet Hereafter, The (1997) King Lear (1997) (TV) UK Hamlet (1990) UK Dance with a Stranger (1985) UK Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) UK Chariots of Fire (1981) UK Alien (1979) UK S.O.S. Titanic (1979) (TV) Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) UK Fixer, The (1968) UK
	Don't Say a Word (2001) Essex Boys (2000) Black Beauty (1994) Stormy Monday (1988) Caravaggio (1986) UK
	Angel at My Table, An (1990)
	Airtight (1999) (TV) UK
Noel Appleby
Peter Mackenzie	Chill Factor (1999) UK Speechless (1994) UK Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
	Strange Planet (1999) Interview, The (1998) Bedrooms and Hallways (1998) UK Babe (1995)
	What Lies Beneath (2000) Jack Bull, The (1999) (TV) UK
	Moulin Rouge! (2001) Dark City (1998) No Escape (1994)
	Absent Without Leave (1992) UK
	Bumblebee Flies Anyway, The (2000) Faculty, The (1998) North (1994) Good Son, The (1993) UK Radio Flyer (1992) Paradise (1991) Internal Affairs (1990) Back to the Future Part II (1989)
	Gift, The (2000) UK Man Who Cried, The (2000) Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999) Pushing Tin (1999) UK
	X-Men (2000) UK Jack and Sarah (1995) UK And the Band Played On (1993) (TV) Scandal (1989) Plenty (1985) UK Alfred the Great (1969) UK
	Au Pair (1999) (TV) Secret of the Andes (1998) UK Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) (V) UK Great White Hype, The (1996) Cyborg Cop (1994) Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992) (TV) Firewalker (1986) UK Victor/Victoria (1982) UK Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1982) UK Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, A (1979) UK
Andy Serkis	Topsy-Turvy (1999) UK Among Giants (1998) UK Career Girls (1997) Stella Does Tricks (1997)
Robbie Magasiva
Ray Henwood
	Moby Dick (1998) (TV) Dark City (1998) Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) UK Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) UK
Megan Edwards
	Sky Is Falling, The (2000) Icebreaker (1999) Deterrence (1999) UK Dish Dogs (1998) Safe Passage (1994) Encino Man (1992) UK Toy Soldiers (1991) Memphis Belle (1990) Staying Together (1989) War of the Roses, The (1989) UK White Water Summer (1987)
	Sleepy Hollow (1999) UK Double Vision (1992) (TV) Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990) Safari 3000 (1982) 1941 (1979) Arabian Adventure (1979) Man with the Golden Gun, The (1974) UK Four Musketeers, The (1974) Three Musketeers, The (1973) UK Ten Little Indians (1966) Crimson Pirate, The (1952) Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) UK Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) UK
	Loss of Sexual Innocence, The (1999) UK Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1999) UK Ghost and the Darkness, The (1996) UK Shirley Valentine (1989) UK Bounty, The (1984) Gandhi (1982) UK
	Ghost, The (2000) Prophecy 3: The Ascent, The (2000) (V) UK Storytellers, The (1999) UK Bride of Chucky (1998) Best Men (1997) UK Murder in the First (1995) UK Death Machine (1995) Amos & Andrew (1993) Child's Play 3 (1991) UK Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein (1991) Jungle Fever (1991) Child's Play 2 (1990) UK Hidden Agenda (1990) Exorcist III, The (1990) Mississippi Burning (1988) Dune (1984) UK
	102 Dalmatians (2000) Anna and the King (1999) UK Multiplicity (1996) Species (1995) Last of the Mohicans, The (1992) Batman Returns (1992) Ghost (1990) UK Last Starfighter, The (1984) UK 2010 (1984) UK
	High Fidelity (2000) UK Cell, The (2000) UK Yards, The (2000) Dogma (1999) UK Analyze This (1999) UK eXistenZ (1999) UK Before and After (1996) That Thing You Do! (1996) UK White Man's Burden (1995) UK Se7en (1995) Nobody's Fool (1994) UK Client, The (1994) Philadelphia (1993) M. Butterfly (1993) Single White Female (1992) Prelude to a Kiss (1992) UK Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) Innocent Man, An (1989) Moving (1988) Fire with Fire (1986) UK Fly, The (1986) After Hours (1985) UK Videodrome (1983) UK Scanners (1981)
	Contact (1997) Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Weekly Cast Watch
Xoanon @ 4:37 pm EST

To get more information, use the sites I use like the ones below. Simply find a movie or actor you want to see, go to one of the sites below and see if the film is playing in your area.

mydigiguide.com, tv-now.com and IMDB.com

Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn)

28 Days (2000) UK
Walk on the Moon, A (1999) UK
Albino Alligator (1996)
Prophecy, The (1995)
Crimson Tide (1995)
American Yakuza (1994)
Young Americans, The (1993)
Indian Runner, The (1991)
Young Guns II (1990)

Liv Tyler (Arwen)

Dr. T & the Women (2000)
Onegin (1999) UK
Plunkett & Macleane (1999) UK
Armageddon (1998)
Can't Hardly Wait (1998)
U Turn (1997)
That Thing You Do! (1996) UK
Stealing Beauty (1996)
Empire Records (1995)

Ian Holm (Bilbo)

Last of the Blonde Bombshells, The (2000) (TV)
Bless the Child (2000)
Joe Gould's Secret (2000)
eXistenZ (1999) UK
Simon Magus (1999/I) UK
Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998) (TV)
Life Less Ordinary, A (1997)
Sweet Hereafter, The (1997)
King Lear (1997) (TV) UK
Hamlet (1990) UK
Dance with a Stranger (1985) UK
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) UK
Chariots of Fire (1981) UK
Alien (1979) UK
S.O.S. Titanic (1979) (TV)
Mary, Queen of Scots (1971) UK
Fixer, The (1968) UK

Sean Bean (Boromir)

Don't Say a Word (2001)
Essex Boys (2000)
Black Beauty (1994)
Stormy Monday (1988)
Caravaggio (1986) UK

Martyn Sanderson (Bree Gatekeeper)

Angel at My Table, An (1990)

John Noble (Denethor)

Airtight (1999) (TV) UK

Peter Mackenzie (Elendil)

Chill Factor (1999) UK
Speechless (1994) UK
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)

Hugo Weaving (Elrond)

Strange Planet (1999)
Interview, The (1998)
Bedrooms and Hallways (1998) UK
Babe (1995)

Miranda Otto (Eowyn)

What Lies Beneath (2000)
Jack Bull, The (1999) (TV) UK

David Wenham (Faramir)

Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Dark City (1998)
No Escape (1994)

Cameron Rhodes (Farmer Maggot)

Absent Without Leave (1992) UK

Elijah Wood (Frodo)

Bumblebee Flies Anyway, The (2000)
Faculty, The (1998)
North (1994)
Good Son, The (1993) UK
Radio Flyer (1992)
Paradise (1991)
Internal Affairs (1990)
Back to the Future Part II (1989)

Cate Blanchett (Galadriel)

Gift, The (2000) UK
Man Who Cried, The (2000)
Talented Mr. Ripley, The (1999)
Pushing Tin (1999) UK

Ian McKellen (Gandalf)

X-Men (2000) UK
Jack and Sarah (1995) UK
And the Band Played On (1993) (TV)
Scandal (1989)
Plenty (1985) UK
Alfred the Great (1969) UK

John Rhys-Davies (Gimli)

Au Pair (1999) (TV)
Secret of the Andes (1998) UK
Aladdin and the King of Thieves (1996) (V) UK
Great White Hype, The (1996)
Cyborg Cop (1994)
Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Framing (1992) (TV)
Firewalker (1986) UK
Victor/Victoria (1982) UK
Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1982) UK
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, A (1979) UK

Andy Serkis (Gollum)

Topsy-Turvy (1999) UK
Among Giants (1998) UK
Career Girls (1997)
Stella Does Tricks (1997)

Harry Sinclair (Isildur)

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Ray Henwood (Man At Council)

Heavenly Creatures (1994)

Bruce Spence (Mouth of Sauron)

Moby Dick (1998) (TV)
Dark City (1998)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) UK
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) UK

Sean Astin (Sam)

Sky Is Falling, The (2000)
Icebreaker (1999)
Deterrence (1999) UK
Dish Dogs (1998)
Safe Passage (1994)
Encino Man (1992) UK
Toy Soldiers (1991)
Memphis Belle (1990)
Staying Together (1989)
War of the Roses, The (1989) UK
White Water Summer (1987)

Christopher Lee (Saruman)

Sleepy Hollow (1999) UK
Double Vision (1992) (TV)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Safari 3000 (1982)
1941 (1979)
Arabian Adventure (1979)
Man with the Golden Gun, The (1974) UK
Four Musketeers, The (1974)
Three Musketeers, The (1973) UK
Ten Little Indians (1966)
Crimson Pirate, The (1952)
Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) UK
Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948) UK

Brian Sergent (Ted Sandyman)

Absent Without Leave (1992) UK

Bernard Hill (Theoden)

Loss of Sexual Innocence, The (1999) UK
Midsummer Night's Dream, A (1999) UK
Ghost and the Darkness, The (1996) UK
Shirley Valentine (1989) UK
Bounty, The (1984)
Gandhi (1982) UK

Brad Dourif (Wormtongue)

Ghost, The (2000)
Prophecy 3: The Ascent, The (2000) (V) UK
Storytellers, The (1999) UK
Bride of Chucky (1998)
Best Men (1997) UK
Murder in the First (1995) UK
Death Machine (1995)
Amos & Andrew (1993)
Child's Play 3 (1991) UK
Cerro Torre: Schrei aus Stein (1991)
Jungle Fever (1991)
Child's Play 2 (1990) UK
Hidden Agenda (1990)
Exorcist III, The (1990)
Mississippi Burning (1988)
Dune (1984) UK

Jim Rygiel (SFX)

102 Dalmatians (2000)
Anna and the King (1999) UK
Multiplicity (1996)
Species (1995)
Last of the Mohicans, The (1992)
Batman Returns (1992)
Ghost (1990) UK
Last Starfighter, The (1984) UK
2010 (1984) UK

Howard Shore (Composer)

High Fidelity (2000) UK
Cell, The (2000) UK
Yards, The (2000)
Dogma (1999) UK
Analyze This (1999) UK
eXistenZ (1999) UK
Before and After (1996)
That Thing You Do! (1996) UK
White Man's Burden (1995) UK
Se7en (1995)
Nobody's Fool (1994) UK
Client, The (1994)
Philadelphia (1993)
M. Butterfly (1993)
Single White Female (1992)
Prelude to a Kiss (1992) UK
Silence of the Lambs, The (1991)
Innocent Man, An (1989)
Moving (1988)
Fire with Fire (1986) UK
Fly, The (1986)
After Hours (1985) UK
Videodrome (1983) UK
Scanners (1981)

Peter Jackson (Director)

Contact (1997)
Heavenly Creatures (1994)