Richard Armitage Gets the Star Treatment Down Under

I think the Aussies like Richard Armitage.

Empire Magazine in Australia made Thorin the only cover available for their January issue.

Yeah, I think they really like him in Australia. :D

December 8, 2013
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 8 Comments

Okay, I’m Ready for Berlin, Sir Peter

Yesterday I had to revert to a casual fan to get my bearings before the Desolation of Smaug premiere in Berlin, which I understand is now going to be live streamed here. Starts at 6:20pm Berlin time. For those in the U.S. that’s 12:20pm Eastern Time.

A couple of photos of the preparations.

Maybe it’s me, but it look like there’s still a bit of work to do, but then it wouldn’t be any fun if we could see this completed two days before the event:

Yep, some photos, but how many candid shots will we get of Richard Armitage? I hope we get a lot! And I will admit to wondering what his father looks like. Perhaps some of you already know, but I haven’t been as attentive and did not see any images of him at the London Premiere last year.

December 8, 2013
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

Taking Notes

Last year around this time my bullshit detector was running on high due to all the press gushing over The Hobbit. I figured if I stayed away from most of the PR this year, the detector would keep quiet. No luck. Every time I get close, that thing makes an awful racket. None of this is to say I’m against the PR. Not at all. Sir Peter and Warners have to do what they have to do. Gotta make a living, and there’s no shame in that. But I’m not feeling the love for my part in it. Mainly because, well, I am bored with it. Okay, there I said it, and that was hard to say because I know so many are having fun with it. I envy you, but mostly I ain’t feelin’ it. If I can find some humor, I’m okay, but when I can’t, it’s hard to keep up the pretense I’m into it.

And if my gut is still working well, I would say Richard Armitage isn’t into it either. But again, gotta make a living, and I wish him all the best with what he has to do. Thankfully, I don’t have to do it with him. LOL!

Now for the good part. Yeah, there’s a good part to this; it’s not just a mini-rant about the droning of the Hobbit press. So the good part is Richard is getting quite the education in how to promote a movie and all the shit that goes on with it. This is a wonderful thing for him for two reasons. One, I still believe he’s destined for a spot behind the camera, and it’s going to be good. No, I’m in no rush for him to stop acting, but hey, why does he have to leave acting to get behind the camera? Why are those mutually exclusive? Clint Eastwood didn’t leave acting to direct or produce. If he can do it, Richard Armitage can do it. Two (and maybe this should be One), is there any doubt Sir Peter is the master on how to mount and promote a project? Oh you doubt that? ROFLOL!! You need to do some homework.

The dude is a marketing genius, and his ability to leverage fandom is, in my opinion, unmatched by any other director. As a business person who’s had to put on the marketing hat, I really appreciate his ability in this area, because that is hard work. And for those purists who hate all marketing types, let me put it this way, you wouldn’t see most of the movies you love if not for the marketers. It’s a necessary evil like insurance and pap smears. Sorry to digress. The point is Richard is learning from one of the best. And if there’s one thing that seems to be evident, he’s teachable and has a keen bullshit detector himself.

I love photos like this one because he has that look in his eye that says, I know what’s going on, and I’m going along with it, but inside, I’m smirking a little:

richardarmitage calling bullshit

And this is one great perk to blogging — I can attach any meaning I want to a photo. :D

Other than all of this above, I am looking forward to seeing the next installment of The Hobbit.

December 7, 2013
Categories: Fandom, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 15 Comments

Google hangout link at YT, if you’re so inclined.

Reblogged from Me and Richard. Click to check it out over there:

Hobbit Google Hangout

and it will begin in a little over an hour.

December 4, 2013
Categories: Fandom, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 1 Comment

Mach die Leica startbereit!

Hobbit Premiere Berlin December 9, 2013Click for more info about the event.

I assume the German fans are aware of Richard Armitage’s plans to attend the Berlin premiere. In fact, the German fans are about the most knowledgeable of his movements. That’s based on my watching almost six years of how they act and react in the fandom. Germans are on it! And they give lots of in-depth assessments as well. I don’t think they can help themselves on this one. It’s generally a German trait to examine the dog out of everything, and I don’t say that as a criticism just an observation.

My view of this characteristic is mostly influenced by having married into a very German clan and thereby knowing lots and lots of Germans or Americans with a strong German ancestry. SO’s parents have almost no other than German. His grandparents and great grandparents also spoke with heavily accented English, and they were the type of people to encourage looking beyond the obvious. Always look beyond the obvious! Never swallow anything whole! It must be thoroughly chewed first! Yep, that’s the German psyche, and a big reason SO has always been into philosophy and theology and generally studying the pursuit of knowledge and truth. Again, none of this is a criticism. I love this about Germans.

The only problem is sometimes they get so into assessing and discussing a subject that they may not be concerned about recording something tangible for others to examine. In this case, I’m thinking we may not get many photos of Richard at the premiere. We’ll hear about it certainly, but I’m afraid the photos will be few. So yeah, this is my encouragement to take a few for the team, Meine Freunde.

My only qualm about this is the Armitage clan will be there. What that means, I don’t know, and whether or not it’s appropriate to take their pictures, I’m not sure. I tend to think their pictures should not be taken except for this comment, which almost seems like an invitation to record their presence:

Man, does he realize what this invites? Seriously, does he know what can happen when he makes a statement like this? Whatever the case, I hope we at least get some photos of him at the event. And I can’t wait to hear assessments. :D

note: feel free to correct my German!

December 4, 2013
Categories: Fandom, Movies, SO, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 11 Comments

Further Thoughts on The Desolation of Smaug Premiere

No deep thoughts here. Wait, maybe they are deep, since I’m going to highlight something that’s the answer to almost everything uncomfortable.

Do I even need to say it? Oh yeah, I’m going to say it.

It seems something was still missing at this latest premiere. If they had just listened to me last year, this shindig would have gone down in history, and there would have been a marvelous solution to the ever present logistical problems at Hobbit premieres in America. Here.

Last year’s advice (hint: in the fake fan letter)

December 3, 2013
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 4 Comments

Mr. Armitage Goes to Los Angeles, or RA on Politics Part III?

The conversation between Richard “I have no experience” Armitage and Little Jackie Paper was a scream. It seemed there was a private joke between them and any moment both of them would break out in giggles. Heck, I did break out in giggles when “Jackie” kept referring to Thorin “Orkenshield.” [edit: I have been duly chastened on the proper spelling of Orcenshield. :D]

Then it got even funnier when Richard gave a lesson on inhaling and blowing:
inhaling
And Jackie Paper is thinking, “Oh yeah, man, that’s perfect.”

puff

really big puff

bigger puff

Or at least it looked that way. But what do I know? Pass the brownies. :D

note: watch some people take this seriously.

December 3, 2013
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 9 Comments

A Sweet Clip for Capping from The Desolation of Smaug Premiere

A raw clip of Richard Armitage’s interview at the premiere:

Dear Richard,

I do not know why I’m still doing this. I guess it’s still fun. LOL! Yes, I’m really laughing — at myself most of all.

Sincerely,
A crazy fan

A tip: put the video in full-screen mode and then select HD, or better yet, select Share and then download it. Please note the Share option is not visible until the video is in play.

edit: I’ll be back with a better clip shortly.

A little better video without glitching:

December 2, 2013
Categories: Interviews, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 11 Comments

Are You Ready for This Shindig?

The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug World Wide Premiere will start in less than five minutes.

Live Streaming here:

December 2, 2013
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 3 Comments

#12 Todd Garner

It’s 12 days until Thanksgiving in the U.S., and I have so much to be thankful for that I can’t get it into one post. I’m starting today with yep, you guessed it, the first of 12 posts. And please note these are not necessarily in order of importance.

836910702f7c15f7d73fd81128a13291Todd Garner. I think it’s obvious why I’m thankful for Todd Garner. But what some of you don’t know is he loves to laugh. That immediately made me really like him because I love to laugh too — even when it may not be appropriate.

Things falling down around your ears? Life not going the way you had planned — at all? It’s just kicking your ass? Start laughing and things will look better immediately. Yeah, we’ve all heard that, but how many of us practice it?

As my life goes on, I’m practicing more and more, and I get the sense Todd Garner practices regularly too. My memory of talking to him is our conversation began with laughter and there was more as we went. Oh yeah, sure it passed through my mind that he may have been amused at talking to a crazy fan, and well, he was talking to a crazy fan. But it was more than that. He seems happy. Whenever I see his tweets, I always think of him with a grin on his face, and it makes me grin. And that was even before he changed his avatar to a smile.

So where does all that smiling and laughing leave Into the Storm? Will it be a comedy? I don’t think so, but there may be a little bit of snark. Not enough to make it a comedy, but if Jon Swetnam is any indication, it’s hard to think a little snark won’t be present. Some of you may have noticed I do like my snark, so I can handle it. : D

And before anyone begins to think Garner has no traffic with a serious piece, one of the movies where he served as a producer is an excellent serious piece and a favorite of mine — Radio with Ed Harris and Cuba Gooding Jr. For those who haven’t seen it, I encourage you to watch it. And for those in other countries who want to be more conversant in American culture, it’s a real slice of what life can be like here. A definite must see.

Will Into the Storm be like that? Not entirely although tornadoes are a way of life in some parts of America and taken very seriously. If you had to replace your roof regularly and came home after a tornado to see that your house was standing and your next door neighbor’s was not, you would take it seriously. Plus, the damn things are unpredictable. Tornadoes do their own thing. Even weather watchers who study them will tell you they are only predictable to a point and then, all bets are off. Given that, Into the Storm will be a bit of a thrill ride and especially considering one version of it will be in 3D.

GarnerTweet20131116

For now the ride is the build up to the movie. It’s fun, and I know many of you are getting a kick out of it as well.

Todd,

Thanks for making the waiting for this movie enjoyable. I’m having a blast.

And I hope you realize the import of myself and others being fangirls. That’s what we do, and now you are in our sights. ;-)

Oh, and a picture would be nice. : D

Sincerely
One of Richard’s crazy fans

P.S. Love the avatar. It’s perfect.

note: this has the fake fan letter tag, but I’m sincere.

November 16, 2013
Categories: Black Sky (Into the Storm), Movies . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 2 Comments

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