An Unexpected Party

The Live Internet chat with both Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Tor on Saturday May 24Th, went very well. At least I thought so. The twins were a little disappointed, that none of our questions were answered at least directly. Most of the questions we had were credited to other questioners. That's OK, They literally had thousands online with us, participating in the chat. Tom and I, wrote down the questions we wanted asked before the star of the chat, and all of those questions were answered. I'll add them here with the answers at the end. Timmy had a previous engagement, so he couldn't come over. But we had him on conference call with us, so he would not feel left out. I did not specifically ask, other than a comical question, about actually being in the film. I didn't think it would be fair to other participants and felt it would also be inappropriate to the forum. But at the end of the chat, Guillermo did comment about few asking to be in the film, which to me says that he is aware of my pestering and desire to work on the Hobbit. Here is a brief summary. New Zealand will again be used (perfect) as the setting for Middle -Earth. Both men prefer using actual sets as opposed to CGI. Guillermo commented on using both seamlessly as optimal. Jackson claims that Bilbo has NOT been cast (Internet rumour has Martin Freeman cast). And Sir Ian McKellen also has claimed he has already been approached. According to Guillermo, anyone in the LOTR Trilogy will be asked to reprise their roles in The Hobbit, if the script for F2 (film two) requires it. The scripts have not been written yet, so commenting on Cast news would be premature. Matamat will once again be used for Hobbiton, bigger and better than ever according to Jackson. Guillermo spoke eloquently when referring to bringing Smaug to life. Even going so far as to name Malificent as a favorite Dragon. (everyone knows she was/is my favorite Disney villain) . In ending. Del Toro said and I quote" But I can say that only a FEW asked "How can I be an extra?" so my heart swell with pride with the many questions that you were kind enough to submit-More chats and wandering in the message boards await us-See you soon. " Note. I submitted a question 2 weeks or so ago, asking how I can participate in the making of the movie, ie perhaps an extra or foot messager. Do you think this comment was a slap or derogatory comment towards me? I hope not. My intention was because of my love and passion for the story and all its characters. i read the Hobbit when i was 7 years old. LOTR soon followed soon afterwards.My favorite book of all time. I have read it more than any other. Period. The movies to me are perfection, lightning in the bottle. The look, the feel, the sound, the costumes, the casting even, simply perfection. I took the Twins to NZ, to be on a LOTR tour, that alone should prove my passion for Middle Earth. I just want to be involved somehow. What an incredible chance, perhaps a life altering experience. I will keep trying. I have a til filming starts in 2010, to save my money and make the long journey back to Middle Earth. You have to Dream it, To Live It....Here is a brief audition, lol .Namarie


p.s if you care to read the Entire Trancript go here

Hobbit casting News

According to several sources Sir Ian Mckellen has been asked to reprise his role of Gandalf in The Hobbit. Now I'm reading the Andy Serkis and Viggo Mortenson have been approached. Fantastic news. Please please please Viggo say yes. Aragorn can't be played with someone else. Gollum wouldn't be the same also, Andy must come back. ( Rumours say Serkis has already signed). Viggo, I beg you, plead with you, pray you sign on. I have also just read the Bilbo will be played by Martin Freeman, I don't know who that is, but that could be a good thing. He can create the role, and bring a fresh perspective to it. I'm sorry , but I do feel Sir Ian Holm is too old to play a young Bilbo. more news soon to come. Namarie

2 More Days/Variety

Two more days, until the Internet hour, with Guillermo and Peter Jackson. It's Saturday at 3, and I'm nervous and excited. If I get the chance, I'm going to ask Jackson, why he felt the need to have a scene in Return of The King, Where Gandalf and The Witch King have an encounter, and The Witch King basically instill fear and breaks Gandalfs Staff! Never happened in the Book. And while I understand for filming purposes, the need to embellish or add something to move the story along. But was that really necessary? I don't think so. The only small blemish in otherwise a perfect movie. I'm thinking of putting out an Ad in Variety. Does anyone know how expensive that is? An open letter to Guillermo del Toro,,,,Can I be in the Hobbit? Then I can list my reasons. That idea has a certain appeal, can you imagine who will read it. And who will read my name and my story. All of Hollywood reads Variety. Next I will write Guillermo a letter and post it to his blog. I will definitely post it here also,, Namarie for Now.

An Unexpected Party

Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro are inviting fans to a live Internet chat about The Hobbit on May 24 (May 25 in Australia/NZ).
Peter and Guillermo will answer questions and hear comments about the new adventure into Middle-Earth.
Weta are excited to be hosting this one-hour live online chat on their website www.wetaNZ.com. The start time for the different time zones are below:
Los Angeles (Pacific) - Saturday, 24 May 1:00 p.m.
New York (Eastern) - Saturday, 24 May 4:00 p.m.
London - Saturday, 24 May 9:00 p.m.
Paris, Berlin, Rome - Saturday, 24 May 10:00 p.m.
Sydney - Sunday, 25 May 6:00 a.m.
Wellington, Auckland - Sunday, 25 May 8:00 am

Text of PJs letter follows:

Several years ago - it seems a lifetime now - I invited 20 questions from fans right at the start of embarking on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. For me, it was an important and enjoyable moment, when I was able to begin a relationship that helped define our attitude to that unique project. It gave me a sense of responsibility that stayed etched in my brain for the next 5 years.
Well, the time has come again! With us right on the cusp of beginning pre-production on The Hobbit, and its companion movie, it seems fitting to do the same thing again.
It’s also fitting that our director, Guillermo Del Toro, will join me in answering the questions, since he will be bringing his considerable personal vision to these two movies. It’s my moment to hand the baton to Guillermo. It’s time for him to address your concerns.
So this is how it will work: we ask fans with an interest in The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings to send one question to this website. Ask us anything! Guillermo and I will select and answer the 20 most common questions, so we can both attempt to address the key issues as best we can.
Our answers will be released during a one hour live web chat, hosted by Weta, with both Guillermo and myself logged on. In addition to answering your 20 questions - for the entire hour, we’ll take additional live questions and chat about the projects with anybody who’s interested.
Please send us your questions and Register for the live chat - and we’ll talk to you in a couple of weeks.
Cheers,Peter Jackson *
*information obtained THEONERING.NET


I don't need to mention that I registered for the live chat. thank God I'm off that day. I also submitted a question. Can anyone guess what my question was? I felt a little guilty asking it. I'm not the type to be pushy or force myself on anyone. But this is really important to me. And I can't help but remember the old adage " Squeaky wheel gets the oil!". So here was my question.
What can I do, to become an Extra? I also added that I could carry coffee, make breakfast, message tired Directors feet. Being very versatile, I can pretty much do anything. I'm very good at sitting/standing around in the hot sun, cold snow or torrential downpours, doing absolutely nothing! End of Question. I think I was the first question submitted. I'm beyond the moon excited . I'm also going to send a letter to Guillermo's website, asking for the job. I will posting my letter here probably tomorrow or next. You have to register and they get back to you with a special code in order to do this. Fingers Crossed. You have to dream it, To live it. Namarie

Mt Ruapehu

Volcanic activity at Mount Ruapehu is increasing and an eruption could occur at any time, scientists warned on Tuesday. The volcano, famed as a location in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, last erupted on September 25 2007, spitting two metre boulders distances of up to two kilometres. Ruapehu’s elevated alert level has not been changed, but scientists said on Tuesday that activity within the mountain was greater, with high levels of gas spewing out, a warmer than average crater lake and ongoing volcanic tremors. “The volcano remains in a status of unrest and the possibility of further activity remains. If further eruptions occur, they may occur without warning,” Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) said in a statement.


This is a place that we visited, when we were in New Zealand. The sites of Mordor, Emyn Muil and Mt Doom, were all filmed here. The spot where Sam and Frodo were lost amid volcanic lava flows and where they first met Gollum. Gollum's fishing pool, where Andy Serkis was careful not to plunge over the waterfall! This was the spot were we hit a blizzard. See the pics below.

12 MAY 1993

05 MAY 1993
Originally uploaded by Gandalf.
This is the day that changed my life forever. The Twins were born. We almost lost Thomas, he was born second and he had the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. He was born not breathing and a little blue. Thank you Lord for giving Tom the strength to fight his way back. Both Boys were so tiny, they could fit in the palm of my hands. My first thought upon seeing them for the first time, was that they looked like tiny little birds, they even chirped. This event truely, changed the course of my life. I'm so blessed. Happy Birthday Boys.

Balrog

Balrog
Originally uploaded by Gandalf.

I was speculating the other day with the Twins about what exactly the powers at be plan on including in the 2 Hobbit films. Since Gandalf kept leaving Bilbo and the Dwarfs, to confront the Necromancer (Sauron) up in Angmar. I thought maybe del Toro could include a couple of Balrogs. All the dragons are gone except for Smaug, who is now in hiding under the Iron Mountain. And we know of a balrog hiding under Moria. So where did the rest go. Maybe in the battle with the Istari they were all lost. We know there was a great battle. Sauron flees Angmar to Mordor, with the Nine. So we need powerful beings to give our Istari and the remaining Numenoreans a good Battle!

Gandalf is Back

Sir Ian Mckellen will be back as Gandalf in the 2 hobbit films by Guillermo del Toro. He gives an interview to Empire Magazine. This is fantastic news. No one can replace McKellen as Gandalf in my mind. They are going to split the book into 2 films. Plenty of story for both. In my opinion 1 story should follow Bilbo and his quest with the Dwarfs and the other one can follow Gandalf and the Istari's war with The Necromancer. We all know who that is. I think we could and should see cameos of Aragorn, Elrond, Saruman and maybe throw in Gimli and Legolas( of course they should never meet-except maybe during the Battle of Five Armies, that might be interesting!) There is a lot of backstory that could be flushed out. But more importantly if anyone knows how I can become and extra in these films, write me please. I would desperately want to be in it,,,.I even have my own Elven Cloak,,,, Max