Richard L.

I’ve made a lot of jokes about the bald man, and this morning I saw a Google alert that almost made me bury that urge. An obituary for Richard L. Armitage landed in my in-box. I was on the verge of typing a post to pay my respects and give notice I was doing away with the jests but looked again and realized this obit was about someone in Michigan (may he rest in peace). Our dear Richard L. is still with us, which means I’m not letting up. :D

RLA_002

But I will say in all seriousness that I appreciate people who give service to the country.

Now back to the teasing.

Oh, and a little something to readjust your vision before you go.

January 21, 2013
Categories: Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 2 Comments

Love Ya, Richard

Has Richard Armitage arrived now that he’s been parodied on Saturday Night Live? Could be, but whatever the case, this skit is brilliant. Yeah, I said brilliant. I’m using it the way the Brits use it — referring to something cool or wonderful. You Brits, feel free to school me on its connotations.

But watch this first:

It doesn’t matter if you’ve already seen it. Watch it again. It gets funnier unless you’re a Peter Jackson fan who takes himself/herself too seriously. There are a few of those around, but thankfully, they’re in the minority.

And yes, I really do love Richard Armitage even though I am a conflicted fangirl. In case you don’t know that, I have a few posts lying around to prove it. Got one coming up soon that’s a doozy. :D

January 20, 2013
Categories: Fanvids, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 13 Comments

And You’re Wondering How to Think About Twitter

Most people I talk to about Twitter are not sure how to think of it. Eagled-Eyed Editor has made a marvelous post explaining it in terms so apt, I chuckled while I was reading:

"You talking to me? Are you tweeting ME?" Dove image courtesy of dzz, Morguefile.

“You talking to me? Are you tweeting ME?” Dove image courtesy of dzz, Morguefile.

I’ve been on Twitter for a considerable time now and I’m enjoying the fact that more and more people are talking to me. At first, it seemed like Twitter was just a giant firehose, spraying thoughts from people all over the world. One friend of mine has compared it to the world’s biggest tea party, with conversations going on in various spaces.

But in a way, Twitter is also like blogging: you have to give to receive. The more I respond to other people’s tweets or send tweets to them, the more likely they are to say something in return.

I like to imagine that Twitter users fall into different bird categories:

read the rest here

If you’re not that interested in learning about Twitter, check out her blog anyway. It’s a good one!

And I have not forgotten the Twitter posts I promised. :D

January 19, 2013
Categories: Tangents . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 5 Comments

“Getting Down to Business”

Yep, Todd Garner is doing some business on our heads.

Bring it, Todd. I love it!

https://twitter.com/Todd_Garner/status/291237097258504192

I know we have all been inhaling The Hobbit as often as sanity will allow, but is anyone ready to see Richard Armitage’s next piece? Feel free to gush.

Note: this post is for all of you who are still not on Twitter. You need to know that not everything interesting going on there becomes a post in RA universe, so what are you waiting for? The idea that it’s mindless? Or it’s intimidating? Some of it is mindless but surprisingly there is a lot that’s not. And if you never tackled something intimidating, think how bored you would be. Plus, there are several of us who are very willing to help you get acclimated.

January 15, 2013
Categories: Black Sky (Into the Storm), Geek, Movies . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 5 Comments

Now Do You Believe Me About Being a Make-up Artist?

79-RAandTamiLane

See. Being a make-up artist can be rewarding on lots of levels. :D So far I’ve only covered some of the personal rewards. But for Tami Lane, who received an Oscar nomination for her work on The Hobbit, it has transcended the personal, and it’s not her first time. She was nominated and won an Academy Award in 2006 for her work on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

But working on The Hobbit was a far different experience for Ms. Lane when considering the unforgiving eye of 48fps:

Since the 3D movie was being filmed in 48 frames per second instead of the normal 24, their work had to be flawless, she said. Each set of dwarf eyebrows, which are not reusable after removal, had to be re-created daily to look exactly the same – for all 266 days of shooting.

“All the old tricks we use for film had to be thrown out the window. Shooting like this makes you a better artist,” Lane wrote by email.

Read the article here

The 48fps aspect of this film just gets more interesting. Could dealing with near ten times the normal frame rate be any more daunting in its rendering of reality? I wonder. 48fps seems pretty tough.

And now a must:

Dear Ms. Lane,

You did a marvelous job. I think it’s safe to speak for other fans to say how much we appreciate the time and care you took to make RA look so spectacularly Thorinesque. [is that a word? if not, it should be. Then again, I suppose it’s okay if it’s hyphenated — Thorin-esque. Hmm. I can make anything a word if I hyphenate it. Can’t I? :D]

All the best and at the Oscars as well!

Signed,
One of Richard’s crazy fans who sometimes covets your job for all the Richard-esque moments you got to witness. ;-) Yeah, it’s lame, but I need coffee, and it is my first time to make up somethin’. At least I didn’t say Armitage-esque. I’m outta here!

P.S. Wait. One more thing. I hope you can chuckle at all those shallow girls in high school who didn’t think it would pay to be a geek. Oh, how wrong they were. Look at your life, and the fantastic views you see. Damn! I need to start this letter over, but I don’t have time. Best o’ luck!

After I drink some coffee, I may be back with some other words that you’ve never seen. :D

January 11, 2013
Categories: Geek, Interviews, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 16 Comments

What’s a Beard To Do?

Richard_Armitage_Project_Magazine

Most of you know how I feel about Richard’s beard, and I was disappointed when he was without it at The Hobbit premiere, but has anyone noticed his silence? Not Richard; I mean RichardsBeard. He’s been very reticent the last several weeks. It was hard to see his removal since I love the beard and have wanted to see him interacting again. I tracked him down to find out how he’s feeling:

Me: You were with Richard for so long during the filming of The Hobbit. I mean he wanted you with him. Even favored you over a fake beard! Yet when the reward came, he seemed to cut and run. I would accuse him of bald face, but well….and it just has to be hard for you to be hair and gone again.

RichardsBeard: ::sighs:: To beard, or not to beard? That was the question. But it’s true what you’ve heard that hell hath no fury like a beard shorn…especially when it begins to grow back.

Of course it was disappointing not attending, and it was especially hard when I knew RichardsStubble shadowed himself, but I’m always pragmatic. Remember my motto: A shaved beard only comes back stronger. #Beardhappens.

Truthfully, being left out was partially my fault. As a beard, I could be a bit nettlesome. I insisted Richard share my ideas with Sir Peter for alternate movies titles — There and Beard Again (not to be confused with Hair and Back Again), Lord of the Beards, and my personal favorite, Beards Behaving Badly.

And though normally I’m not prone to bouts of dipsomania, since becoming a #displacedbeard I do admit to spending some time in the pub waiting for my agent to call. #beardslikebeer

Me: Is that anything like a wild hair?

RichardsBeard: You could say that, yes! Maybe more like a #Wild Hair of Durin. This is also a sticking point between me and Richard’s Tastebuds since they seem to prefer wine. The taunts of #LagerisforLosers are especially cutting, but I just tell them #AleingkeepsmefromAiling

Me: I see Sir Peter at least paid tribute to you in one of his vlogs.

RichardsBeard: I’m completely chuffed about the beard segment of Sir Peter’s vlog. My fellow beards and I stole the show, and we’re letting our hair down. #Thebeardsarebasking. We make The Hobbit #beardtastic, even though the Hobbits themselves apparently grow their beards on their feet.

Me: Ooh, that must be tuft for the Hobbits.

So what are you doing now?

RichardsBeard: #KeepingCalmandBeardingOn. It isn’t my intention to dissemble, but after all, that is what a beard does best. #beardyblather

Me: Yes, a beard does conceal if nothing else, but I think you’re capable of much more. And you do it so well! You must be itching to be back at work.

RichardsBeard: Literally. ::laughs:: You know, a little bit, a tad, just a hair of #VisageVengeance will be rather sweet. #TheBeardisn’tBitter, but it may turn out that RichardsFace and I have a purely Antipodean relationship.

Me: Well, I’m hoping when you emerge, that you survive much beyond New Zealand. Perhaps #BeardtoEternity.

note: If you want to catch up with RichardsBeard, you can find him at Twitter.

Photo courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com

January 3, 2013
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 26 Comments

Happy New Year!

2012 was quite a ride for Richard Armitage. Too much happened to recap it! Not even going to try especially when there are so many others who have done such a marvelous job of it, and if you don’t want a recap and just want to immerse yourself in information and photos about Richard Armitage, try Places to Get a Fix or The Addict List.

As for me, I’m taking a day off and celebrating! I may go skiing, and I may go see The Hobbit again. It occurred to me I was tense about SO‘s take on the movie and couldn’t really enjoy it like I wanted. So back to the movies without him. Until then, I’ll be outside.

And now a word or two to our guy:

Richard,

I hope you can take the day off. It’s lovely weather for skiing somewhere, and you’ve got the funds to go where you would like. Yes, I realize you know that, but with someone like you, a reminder may be in order.

If you take it into your head to grace our slopes in the U.S., there are plenty of great places. I’m not even going to mention my area although it’s great too!

Wherever you go, I hope you can get outside. That’s where I’m headed. I adore being outside, and I don’t mind saying it’s days like today that make me want to pinch myself because I live where I do.

Hope you have a great day and don’t break a leg. :D

Signed,
One of your crazy fans, who wishes she could do this:

P.S. If you missed it, check out my other letter about skiing. I’ll be back tomorrow to give you a hard time with my speculation about what you’re doing. :D

January 1, 2013
Categories: Movies, SO, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

A Thank You for Richard

A message from our friend, Janine:

I don’t do big, elaborate gestures.

It’s not me.

Which is why a couple of weeks ago I realized in the midst of the worldwide blitz for “The Hobbit” that all I wanted to say to Richard Armitage was “thank you.”

Eight letters. Two simple words. Overflowing with power and meaning.
The thought bounced around in my head and came to roost while I was on Twitter. After a little back and forth with a friend, what hatched was the idea that sending a flock of thank-you notes would be a lovely gesture from his admirers around the world.

Why? For me, who found this British actor in March of this year, it was because I admire him. And after watching the world premiere from Wellington and reading his thank you to his admirers, I liked him even more. It confirmed what I had felt in my heart about him: a thoughtful man who is cognizant of himself and believes in showing gratitude to the people who support him.

But it was also because I have been welcomed into the fold that is sweetly called the Armitage Army. I have been surprised by the worldwide following that this singular individual has rallied. Because of it, I have encountered people I never would have met otherwise, and the experience makes me grin.

It also makes me thankful.

This simple gesture to thank Richard is quite easy. What you say to him is your business. You can send your own card (nothing bigger than a letter-sized sheet of paper, please) or you can print out the one I built featuring the Hobbit hug from the movie.

You can seal up your letter so I can’t see it. Or not.

Details about what to do are over on my blog, with directions to get to the password-protected page that contains my mailing information.

Deadline to hit the mail is Monday, Dec. 31, 2012. I will be mailing the package out the week of January 7th, looking for stragglers if you let me know in advance.

As for postage, I have asked for a quarter or so if you can. Any money above the amount for postage will be given to one of Richard’s Just Giving charities.

I hope you join this little gesture for a nice guy who has brought us so much.

Thank you.

I’m game. :D

December 27, 2012
Categories: Fandom . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 6 Comments

Pondering My Stint in the Armitage Army

I’ve been surveying the landscape again, and it’s hard not to wonder how Richard Armitage’s advent in America is going to play out. The Captain America promotion didn’t count. It was a blip. This Hobbit press machine is the real thing, and its invasion is formidable. Walking around New York has made that clear. Ads for this movie seem to be plastered on every available surface, so that I can go nowhere without being met by the Hobbity bunch, even on the steps leading in and out of the subway.

I thought I was ready for this, but I’m not so sure now. Last Saturday was already my saturation point, which wasn’t a problem because I just did what I always do when I’m full up to the eyeballs on information about Richard Armitage — go AWOL for a few days. But as I try to rejoin the march, something is in jeopardy — my voice on this blog. I’m feeling the need to refrain from sharing as many of my thoughts about show business. A little Armitage Protection Mode trying to kick in.

Perhaps this post is a commitment to remain honest. Yes, I’m putting myself out here for some accountability. Please note I’m not accountable to share everything I’m thinking. If I did that, your hair would curl. But this need to remain honest is my bullshit detector coming to my rescue, and thankfully, it makes me draw back and take note of what’s going on around me, and if I’m feeling too hemmed in by conventional thinking, I want to get loose. Mostly, I fear becoming homogenized — oohing and aahhing and generally just saying the same old claptrap I find so prevalent and uninteresting.

For now, I’m hanging out with my girls, loving that, and trying mightily to forget The Hobbit exists. It’s a little hard to do sometimes:

GirlsTimesSquareHobbitShadow

December 6, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit, Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 12 Comments

Fasten Your Seat Belts, Richard Armitage Frenzy is Here

We’re kicking into high gear with the world’s introduction to Richard Armitage, and you thought it started when his plane took off from LA. Oh, no, it really started when he landed:

I have never in all my experience as a Richard Armitage fangirl (yes, I’m a girl dammit :D) seen fangirling taken to such extremes, and the euphoria is spreading into all areas.

Our own Janine Pineo being her usual interesting self and actually making me take an interest in gardening! has done a Q&A with Anna about her beloved New Zealand. I wanna go to New Zealand! And I’ll even swear to grow some plants.

‘The Hobbit’ Made Me Do It

How Garden Maine Went to New Zealand and Back Again

• By Janine Pineo •

Back in August, this thought popped into my head: Wouldn’t it be cool to feature plants from New Zealand in The Daily Plant when ‘The Hobbit’ premieres?

Then I went back to picking vegetables or making pickles or whatever bit of garden fun I was doing at the time. Which, if you know your Tolkien, is a fairly Hobbity pastime.

But the idea didn’t fade away. Instead, the little seed that was planted lay dormant for a bit.

It sprouted about the time I met Anna Paton in the land of the Internet, where we were talking about all things Hobbit and many things not.

Anna, you see, is a Kiwi.

Read the rest here.

Wait. I guess that’s supposed only to be about Hobbit excitement. *rolls eyes*

And Heidi, the doubting Thomasina in our midst (see big time skepticism here) has been so overcome by what she’s seeing that she has now recanted her suspicions:

https://twitter.com/lovemrthornton/status/273086788325761024

Meanwhile legions of fans are “love bombing” RA’s charities.

So I’m wondering how Richard Armitage Addiction is affecting others. Like, oh say, buying a Thorin Pez dispenser? Eagle Eyed Editor said she saw one. I don’t think she’s quite worked into a frenzy yet (give her time), so she didn’t buy one, and if you did, I won’t hold it against you if you don’t admit it. LOL! For me the euphoric state has untold effect although this blog should be some clue. But two things make it abundantly clear at the moment: 1) I’m considering gardening, which means something has obliterated my usual enmity with plants. Oh, it’s not that I don’t like to look at them, but we keep our distance from each other. 2) I’m going to NYC in December. I really need to have my head examined on that one.

No, I’m not done.

I’m curious about the strange yet not unnatural acts (when considering the impetus) that you’ve gotten up to since the RA frenzy hit. Okay, you can throw in some unnatural acts too. Just keep it clean. And if you haven’t any yet, hang on. :D

Airport shot courtesy of bccmee’s tumblr. Plane shot courtesy of Air New Zealand.

edit: I stand corrected that the Pez dispenser was Lord of the Rings and not The Hobbit, and now I know the real reason Eagle Eyed Editor did not buy one. ;-)

November 26, 2012
Categories: Fandom, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 17 Comments

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