Jackson has joined Kapiti and Pukerua Bay environmental groups to oppose a property development on Paekakariki Hill.  . . .  more

The Manuia is gradually being transformed as part of a remake of King Kong into director Peter Jackson's version of the SS Venture, immortalised in the original 1933 film as the ship that took the great ape from Skull Island to New York.  . .  more

To sweeten the deal, Audio One Entertainment is giving a 10% discount on the DVD and will even mail it to you.  . . . more

We have posted the new photos of Ilsidur, and this means new banners...here

Peter Jackson has made a flying visit to the Bay. With the pitter-patter of hobbit-like feet, the movie maestro stepped on to the tarmac at Tauranga Airport yesterday for a mysterious visit.

Jackson _ the godfather of the New Zealand film industry, winner of a swag of Oscars and one of New Zealand's favourite icons _ came to the Western Bay for a five-hour visit. . .  more

The 47-year-old, from Hounslow, who stands at 4ft 1.7ins tall, will have his work commemorated in the 50th edition of the Guinness Book of Records, as the shortest professional stuntman working in films...  his recent experiences filming the Lord of the Rings trilogy, where he did stunt work and scenes where the hobbits had to appear small next to the other actors, led to some close friendships between Kiran and the other cast members, as he worked particularly closely with Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen. . . more

Whether you like the three Lord of the Rings films, or not there is little doubt that they are a triumph for technology.

Running the huge technological resources behind the films was Weta Digital, a firm formed by Rings director Peter Jackson and others in 1993 to do the effects for the Heavenly Creatures movie.....more (thanks to yelsel =)

Bloom’s latest role is a milk-loving boxer with bones of steel. We should all be calcium kids, says Chloe Rhodes

In his first major film role, Orlando Bloom played Legolas, an eagle-eyed archer blessed with eternal life in the kingdom of the Elves. Role model as he was, immortality was a little beyond the aspirations of the actor’s fans. In his latest film — a mockumentary, The Calcium Kid — the defining feature of Bloom’s character is one that his young followers can more easily achieve: he boasts strong bones. . . . more

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings continues to be a cash cow for the director and Hollywood backer New Line Cinema, earning more than $1.2 billion just from merchandising.

American entertainment newspaper The Hollywood Reporter said licensing of Lord of the Rings for various products, including toys, games and figurines, had generated huge retail sales worldwide.

To date the three films have made more than $4.6 billion at the box office.....more (thanks to yelsel =)

First of its kind, this is an academic journal, edited by Michael Drout, Douglas Anderson and Verlyn Flieger, is dedicated to Tolkien and his works.

Tolkien Studies is an annual journal of scholarship on J.R.R. Tolkien and his works. Since the publication of The Hobbit in 1937, the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien have been admired throughout the world. With the publication in the 1950's of his trilogy, The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's fantasy writing began to attract academic attention in both the classroom and the world of scholarship. Most recently, Peter Jackson's three-part movie adaptation has added film-study scholars to those fascinated by Tolkien's work. Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review is the first scholarly journal published by an academic press for the purpose of presenting and reviewing the growing body of critical commentary and scholarship about Tolkien's writings. The founding editors--Douglas A. Anderson, Michael D. C. Drout, and Verlyn Flieger--and the members of the editorial board--David Bratman, Carl F. Hostetter, Tom Shippey, Richard C. West, and Marjorie Burns--are all distinguished Tolkien scholars. Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review will appear in a single, hardbound volume each spring, beginning April 2004.

See the Table of Content and order....here (thanks to lara)

For the past week the son and daughter-in-law of Prince Chatri Chalem Yukol of Thailand and five technicians from the prince's film production company have been learning the tricks of the trade from Weta's experts.....more (thanks to yelsel =)

A bit of info on another upcoming performance by Elijah Wood--here

"We are not reinventing it," says Jackson referring to the 1933 original film. "Our story follows the same structure. It starts in New York, goes to Skull Island, and there's dinosaurs on the island. Then it comes back to New York and there's the Empire State Building and the biplanes and the whole thing." . . . more

The creative legends and longtime friends packed Royce Hall to the rafters on the University of California campus as part of the 9th annual two-day affair honoring the written word and the imagination. Fans of classic as well as contemporary science fiction found common ground once the talk turned to the thrilling, technologically innovative film "King Kong." . . . more

The 34-year-old actress and her screenwriter husband Andrew Upton, married since 1997, have two sons now with the addition of little Roman to the family. . . more

Rumor has it that Miranda Otto may be up for a role in another telling of the story of the Australian baby that disappeared in the outback in 1980, and was claimed to have been eaten by dingoes..  (Meryl Streep starred in a version called "A Cry in the Dark.)  For more info, read here

One of our resident and most talented artists, Iris J. Scadden, will be showcasing her talents at a special special showing of her art at the Finn & Porter Restaurant at the Hilton Hotel in Austin, Texas. You can see some of her work in our Art Gallery here.

Iris has created, and would like to extend a special invitation to attend for all you WarRingers out there, and has a special gift for anybody that shows up from War of the Ring with the invitation in hand!!

If you plan on being in the Austin area, or would like to make the trip to attend the event, then you can find out all the details, along with the printable invitation here: Iris Invite

We have had several of our artists submit new works for your viewing pleasure!

Under the Original Art category, you will find new interpretations of your favorite LotR characters and places from Eric Faure-Brac , Elgaladwen, and Emily Mugleston.

Under the Photo Art category, you will find a brand new image from Staffan Jönsson, a very nice piece entitled "Middle-Earth".

Stop on into the Art Gallery and check out these new pieces, along with all the other wonderful artists that express their passion for Tolkien's works with their art.

If you'd like to have your art added to our gallery, then just drop me an email with "Art Submission" in the subject line.

Illu

Here's an excerpt from a story regarding a poll that asked Kiwis to name their top role models.  Our PJ comes in pretty high up!

"Last year Campbell's research company asked 200 young Kiwis who they looked up to, offering inspiration with a photographic montage of Jonah Lomu and other sports stars; Paul Holmes and other media personalities; politicians and business people.

"The surprise standout winner? Film-maker Peter Jackson.

"The bugger hasn't really changed and that counts for a lot with New Zealanders," says Campbell, adding that mothers and fathers came a close second in the role model stakes. "That's one of the big tests; will they stay true to whoever they were before success?" " . .   Source

Being a part of the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia movies is a dream for many book readers. There are thousands of fans who already applied as extras in the USA and the UK. And finally, the casting process in the production country New Zealand itself has begun:

The Christchurch paper The Press carried a casting call ad in its weekend edition. For unknown reasons the paper actually featured two articles on the upcoming casting and did not mention the exact location in the first report. This resulted in nearly a hundred phone calls to the editor of The Press over the weekend. And even on the day itself some of Christchurch's better known actors still did not know where to go to! Only after many hasty phone calls the location was established as a well-known Performing Arts Academy.....more  (Includes pictures of the event.)