Well Folks, Harry here... looks like New Line and SideShow have finally issued the press release announcing the toy/sculpture line that I told ya about last December when I toured the brilliant Weta Workshop... Hopefully I'll bring you back more details on these sculpts when I return from New York late next week as I'll be up there to do some stuff with my book and introduce a screening of Peter Jackson's BRAIN DEAD (U.S. title is DEAD ALIVE)! More details to come!
Sideshow Toy & Weta Workshop Create Unique Partnership for New Line Cinema’s Lord of the Rings
In what is surely one of the most creative theatrical licensing deals ever, Sideshow Toy of Westlake Village, CA has partnered with Weta Workshop of New Zealand to develop multiple lines of polystone collectibles based on the upcoming film trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. What makes this deal so unique is that it may be the first time a U.S. based toy company has partnered with the special effects company that created the effects for the licensed film property. The Sideshow / Weta collaboration will be responsible for the development and marketing of five lines of polystone collectibles: statues, busts, miniature weapons, miniature armor, & wall plaques.
The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is a New Line Cinema production and is based on the J.R.R Tolkien classic fantasy series of books. The films are currently in production in New Zealand with the first film; “The Fellowship of the Ring” slated for December 2001 release. Peter Jackson, a native New Zealander, whose credits include “Heavenly Creatures” and “The Frighteners”, is directing the trilogy. The international cast features Sir Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Liv Tyler, and Elijah Wood.
The Sideshow / Weta partnership bring together two respected and talented organizations. Sideshow is the creative force responsible for the highly praised line of figures based on the Universal Studios Classic Monsters. The Sideshow team has been recognized for its ability to consistently achieve character likenesses in both collectible toys and statues. Weta is New Zealand’s foremost Effects facility, which was established fourteen years ago to support New Zealand’s fledgling film and television industry. Among Weta’s credits are several of Peter Jackson’s earlier films, and also television’s popular Xena and Hercules’ series. Weta is comprised of a group of artists united in their love of art and film – from blacksmiths to leatherworkers, skilled prosthetic technicians, miniature makers, painters to wigmakers, casting and molding experts, engineers and swordsmiths.
The Weta Workshop has been immersed for four years in the conceptualizing, creation and the on set operation of the creatures, miniatures, armor, weapons and special make-up effects for the three epic films. Weta’s focus has been to create a unified look throughout the three films while capturing the very essence of the books that are held so dear by millions of readers around the world.
It is the same Weta designers and technicians that have created the different armies and creatures within Middle Earth that have chosen to create the high quality collectibles under the Sideshow / Weta brand. The integrated experience that these designers and technicians have had in the creation of the films and their unique relationship with the actors and director will result in the most authentic figure and miniature collectibles possible. A preview of the upcoming collectibles can be seen by appointment at the International Toy Fair in New York from February 11 – 16, 2001.
Hey folks, Harry here with the latest from Xoanon and TheOneRing.Net and this interview with Andy Serkis... the man in search of his preciousssss....
From: Xoanon
Andy Serkis Talks LOTR
Andy Serkis (Gollum) recently sat down with a UK paper and spoke about his role in LOTR, special effects jiggery pokery and his take on Gollum.
Film Effects with a Human Face
Growing up in Rulsilp Manor, Andy Serkis always wanted to be in theatre, but saw his future behind the scenes. But after catching the acting bug at university and adding a string of key roles to his credit, he now plays arch fiend Gollum in next winter's much-heralded film of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. Alan Hayes talked to him.
Actor Andy Serkis has a peach of a role in the film they said could never be made.
As Gollum in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the rings, Mr Serkis, who grew up in Rulsilp Manor, has spent the last six months in New Zealand, 'halfway up volcanoes, in glacial streams and marshes', as well as in a special studio, creating the sort of effects that have finally made JRR Tolkien's epic possible.
Shooting all three parts of the story simultaneously, Kiwi director Mr Jackson and his compatriot special-effects whizz-kids has wrestled the tale of sword, sorcery, fantastic creatures and little Hobbits to near completion, and part one is due on screen in December (a cartoon version of the early 1980's fizzled after only one book had been animated).
Mr. Serkis will be back down under this summer for three months of post-production work, finishing the special effects which have made it all possible.
But the film doesn't sublimate all acting talent in favor of technical wizardry.
"They were looking for someone who was capable of doing a creature voice but portray him as human as well," says the 36 year old actor about Gollum, the boy who kills for, then becomes utterly corrupted by, one of the fabled, lost rings.
"I think the great thing about Gollum is he is the point of human contact or what the ring does to you," said Mr Serkis, who having just returned from New Zealand and paid a flying visit to his parents. Lylie and Clement at their Westhone Gardens home, was in Manchester this week working on a new film.
On the theme of Gollum he continues: "He's very much a case of" 'There but for the grace of God."
He adds that with the need to give cinema audiences the ability to relate the creature to something recognizable, he has played him as an addict, a 'ring junkie'. complete with withdrawal symptoms.
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