An Interesting Week with Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson announced Tolkien Week to mark the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit. There will be a new trailer airing September 19th, some special content some time this week, and World Hobbit Day aka the combined birthdays of Bilbo and Frodo finishing off the event.

Oh yeah, I’m wondering about the “special content.”

Maybe we’ll get the premiere dates?

No, that would be too easy. LOL!

Whatever we get, I just want to state that I like Peter Jackson in yellow. Yep, styling in yellow. Needs to wear that more often. :D

September 16, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

Dear Sir Peter, We Need to Talk


September 15, 2012

Dear Sir Peter,

It occurred to me sometime yesterday that The Hobbit premiere is only three months away. If you have a schedule like mine, which I suspect you do, three months is about a week and a half from now. Not much time to make plans. New York is already on my itinerary for December due to two very compelling reasons and neither being about The Hobbit nor Richard Armitage. But if there will be a New York premiere, it would be great to make my visit coincide. I only have one problem. I don’t know when the hell it is, or if it is. Perhaps I shouldn’t use such strong language, but I can’t help myself.

I have even done a little research concerning past premieres hoping to find a pattern. I don’t have a lot of time to do things like this. It’s scary what I have let slide to look all of this up. And to no avail. It seems there may not have been a premiere in New York for the last Lord of the Rings movie. The only real thread of hope there might be one this time is a comment from Sir Ian about premieres in London, New York, Berlin and Tokyo. But then my anal self starts wondering what he means by the word premiere. It does seem to get confused with the word release. I just don’t know what to think, and I was hoping you might be able to help.

Yes, I know it’s Warner Brothers’ responsibility to handle these things. Pardon me if I don’t buy that bullshit. No, no, I didn’t mean to say that. I shouldn’t say that. :D I know you’re busy, and the studio is the one to handle all of this tedium while you’re getting the movie ready. I was just hoping you might have some pull with them about getting a New York premiere scheduled. And if I could make it to New Zealand in November, I would, but I don’t have a spare several thousand lying around and will have to pass. So I need your help with the New York date, and I hope you’re not offended by my passion to attend. LOL! Yes, that’s a bit of a maniacal laugh, which I hope you ignore or maybe not.

Signed,
One of Richard Armitage’s crazy fans who also has a soft spot for a certain Kiwi director with wild hair

P.S. I apologize again for calling you Mister.

Yep, it’s a fake fan letter, and I’m putting this note here for those who think this is real. No, it’s not real. No, that’s not completely true. I would like to know if there is a premiere in New York and when it may be, but I seriously doubt my venting here will make it appear. Nice to dream about, but I’m not that delusional — yet. LOL!

And in the interest of fairness, I have to say a little something about one of my compelling reasons. She is my second born, and the only child I have not written about on this blog. She is also the only one who took the time to ferret out the blog’s location and then informed me how happy she was I am anonymous as well as making sure I knew she was the child who had not had a post. “Yeah, I see where I stand with you, Mom. No post for me huh? LOL!” Okay, so here it is, Lou (no, that’s not her real name).

But first a picture:

The girl with the wicked sense of humor.

Okay, another picture:

That was taken as part of a documentary she worked on doing stills for them.

And one more (see, you got three pictures when the others got two or less):

Third from the right, and the girl who knows no fear except of the vacuum cleaner or dishwasher. :D I’ll give her a pass on that since she is such a great student and just a great kid. I would describe her, but she is a bit indescribable and the reason I hadn’t mentioned her yet. Enigma is the word most often associated with her, and oftentimes the comment, “Lou is just being Lou,” is heard amongst family and friends.

For those interested in my research on premiere dates, it’s below, and if I have an error or have missed something, please let me know. Thanks.

RELEASE AND PREMIERE DATES for LOTR movies and The Hobbit

Fellowship of the Ring

Wide release in U.S. — December 19, 2001

Premieres dates:

London – December 10, 2001
New York – December 13, 2001
Los Angeles – December 16, 2001
New Zealand – December 19, 2001

Two Towers:

Wide release in the U.S. — December 18, 2002

Premiere dates:

New York – December 5, 2002
London – December 11, 2002
Los Angeles – December 15, 2002
New Zealand – December 18, 2002

Return of the King

Wide release in the U.S. — December 17, 2003

Premiere dates:

Wellington, NZ – December 1, 2003
Los Angeles – December 3, 2003

The Hobbit

Wide Release in U.S. — December 14, 2012

Premiere date:

Wellington, NZ – November 28, 2012

September 15, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 20 Comments

Unearthing Richard

Richard Armitage has a penchant for redeeming the character of Richard III and that inclination may be in line with the stars. What else to explain the windfall of attention from the dig done in Leicester this week?

The infamous king, who has long been a source of controversy among scholars, was possibly disinterred from his resting place under a council car park (in Yankee = public housing parking lot):

And now I’m wondering how “Gary” will deal with this while traversing the rubble to chase after his son. I hope Richard Armitage can do split personality well; otherwise, this opportunity will slip away. No, I don’t mean that. Our boy is too smart for that. Yes, I’m biased. :D

Read more about the dig here.

To read more about Richard Armitage’s desire to mount a production of Richard III that gives an alternative account to the one left by the Tudors and Shakespeare, go here. And please note Richard Armitage is not directly involved with the petition.

September 13, 2012
Categories: Movies, Rumors . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 7 Comments

Oklahoma Teacher Dude aka Gary

So now we have a name for Richard Armitage’s new character in Black Sky.

https://twitter.com/Todd_Garner/status/245218960155500545

Wait?! Gary means John in Esperanto? Nooooo! :D

A big thank you to Gratiana for asking the question.

And now I really have to get some work done!

September 10, 2012
Categories: Black Sky (Into the Storm), Movies . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 16 Comments

Oh Yeah, a Boring Day on Set

Todd Garner is a character but my kind of character. :D

Richard Armitage as the Oklahoma Teacher Dude in Black Sky:

Photo courtesy of Todd Garner of course.

September 10, 2012
Categories: Black Sky (Into the Storm), Movies . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 28 Comments

Advanced Fangirling

I asked the other day if you are really a fan of Richard Armitage? This is a test to see if you are really, really a fan of Richard Armitage.

Yesterday this picture was posted on Twitter:

And immediately a fan spotted him. At first I didn’t believe it, but I had to go into Advanced Fangirling to determine it was really him. Advanced mode is when I break out Photoshop and feel the urge to draw arrows. I didn’t quite get to the arrows, but I couldn’t resist the urge to blow this thing up, and yes, he’s in the middle of the pic.

Now I’m really scaring myself that I know that. It’s the way he’s holding his arms out from his torso, and obviously those are his hands. This is worse than the Cats video. LOL!

And now Todd Garner must think we’re all nuts, and you know what? I don’t blame him. ;D

edit: Okay, you all forced me to resort to arrows. His head, which doesn’t show, would be to the right of the black spot. The upper green arrow points to his hand, and the lower green arrow points to his leg. Hope this helps. LOL!

second edit: this one is for the really, really blind among you. :D

third edit: for comparison purposes (thanks, Kaprekar); assuming you can actually see him in the other pic:

Black Sky pic courtesy of Todd Garner; Spooks screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.com

September 5, 2012
Categories: Black Sky (Into the Storm), Movies, Spooks . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 133 Comments

Action Figure Time — Thorin’s Available

Are you one of those Richard Armitage geeks who has an action figure collection? Yeah, well, so am I and admit it freely! Don’t ask how many I own. I won’t admit to that. :D

Doesn’t look exactly like RA but neither does Little Guy, and that never stopped some of us.

If you would like a Thorin, then check out the post at TheOneRingnet

September 1, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 4 Comments

Nailing Oklahoma

We’ve been rippling over Richard Armitage in Black Sky and Todd Garner giving us some clues about how Richard will sound. He is definitely doing an American accent with the character being from Oklahoma. But how will he play it?

He could effect a General American accent, and no one would think anything of it. But if he does try to sound like an Okie, I think he will have an easier time than sounding like oh, let’s say a New Yorker because the patterns of his British speech are more closely related to Southern speech. Granted Okie isn’t pure Southern, but it’s close enough. The only other consideration for him would be effecting Good Ol’ Boy. :D

To wit:

James Garner (no relation to Todd that I’m aware), a master at Good Ol’ Boy. A scene from Support Your Local Sheriff, one of my favorite movies:

Johnny Bench seething about Pete Rose and good for emulating Good Ol’ Boy anger:

Who better than the Mick for an iconic Good Ol’ Boy sound, and if you don’t listen to this one, you are missing out:

However Richard Armitage sounds in Black Sky, I know it’s going to be good. I completely trust his instincts and intelligence to pull it off.

September 1, 2012
Categories: Black Sky (Into the Storm), Movies, Voice Work . Tags: , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 35 Comments

It’s All Good

What a pleasure to speak with Todd Garner, Producer on Black Sky, about his new movie and about Richard Armitage, whom he says is “thoughtful and smart.” This should come as little surprise to fans since Richard has received praise from quite a few professionals during his career. Mostly due to his zeal to ensure the story is paramount and his character a perfect complement. His habit of writing character biographies has become almost legendary among fans and has prompted some to ask if he is a writer in the making. Garner thinks he is already there, “He’s an amazing actor but also a terrific writer even though he wouldn’t say that. He has come up with great moments not only for himself and others but for the movie. In fact we just finished shooting a moment he came up with that might be in the trailer.”

Black Sky is the story of a group of people in the midst of the worst tornado in recorded U.S. history. Richard plays a teacher caught up in finding his teenage son in the storm, and his preparation for the role could not be more perfect:

The moment when [the character biography] comes alive is when that research turns into the character, and that character goes out into the big wide world and collides with other characters (often the facets created in the biography are designed to cause chaos when this happens, like planting a few explosions inside the character).
Richard Armitage, Vulpes Libris interview.

Although Garner could not reveal much about the plot, it will be fascinating to see with which characters Richard collides whether people or the elements. And his reaction to Richard’s work on set seems to confirm that whatever the collisions, they are impressive, “He brings a great realism and weight to the movie that we wanted when we were casting. There is so much going on technically and with the story. It’s chaotic as it’s supposed to be since it’s a disaster movie. But it’s great to have an actor who in the midst of all of the chaos has complete control and still makes incredibly smart and surprising choices in his acting.” As for Richard’s speech, he will play an American from Oklahoma, and according to Todd, “He’s nailing the accent.”

Garner has also been impressed with Richard’s fans, “They seem very thoughtful, great and just cool. And it’s been fun. It’s a new experience for me since most of the people I’ve interacted with are comedians and fans of comedians.” He certainly didn’t seem to be the least bothered by fans coming to the set and explained, “Every movie with a star who’s beloved and with the internet making location shooting so well known, whether a Nicholas Cage movie, or a Tom Cruise movie, or a Kevin James movie, has fans who come to the set, and actors are for the most part grateful. Richard certainly feels that way and is happy to oblige. He’s a wonderful person who is very real and very giving and charming and hasn’t been put off by this at all. And everyone has been very respectful.” With the cast and crew working very hard on this movie, the only thing expected of the fans is to continue that respect, and I feel confident we will.

Regarding new pictures, Todd asks that we be patient with him and those working on the publicity for the movie who are trying to be thoughtful and intelligent about it. But it will probably be about two weeks when we get another photo. Considering how engaged he’s been so far, there should be no worries.

Todd Garner has served as producer on several well known movies such as Anger Management and Thirteen Going on 30. His next movie Here Comes the Boom starring Kevin James is due for release early October.

Photos courtesy of Todd Garner

August 31, 2012
Categories: Black Sky (Into the Storm), Interviews, Movies . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 68 Comments

Beautiful Pictures from The Hobbit Book Tie-In

There are some new pictures which are high resolution scans from The Hobbit book tie-in. To learn more and see more scans, check it out at TheOneRingnet.

August 30, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 8 Comments

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