PITA is at it Again

PETA or PITA (People Inciting Trouble for Attention) as it’s known in the Frenz household, is up to their usual silliness and media whoring. A tad harsh and unsubstantiated you might say? Oh, I don’t know. It seems the stories from the Associated Press may be unsubstantiated. Of course I couldn’t help wondering about my friend Heidi (a former AP reporter) who swore up and down to me that the AP always gets two reliable sources before running a story. Are you sure about that Heidi? Wait! She’s written a piece about her bafflement over this:

Libeling “The Hobbit” – A Former AP Reporter’s Take

I don’t pursue stories about movies or celebrities, because it’s too close to my personal interests and quite frankly would be a conflict of interest for me to cover.

But this week when a story broke about animals being mistreated on the film set of “The Hobbit,” I raised an eyebrow and put my coffee cup down on the table, a little stunned.

The first part of the problem was that the source for the information was the animal rights group PETA. The second part of the problem was that the news organization that broke the story was where I used to work in the mid- to late-’90s: The Associated Press.

Understand this…

Read the rest here.

And now a little something for Sir Pete:

Dear Sir,

I know you don’t like to come stateside too often. Having looked around at photos and video of New Zealand, I don’t blame you. But your lack of exposure to some of our buffoons (lucky you) may be showing. I’m talking about PETA. Any Yank with half a brain knows they’re a joke, and their media whoring is legendary and would be offensive if it weren’t so funny. Unfortunately, the Associated Press chose to give them credibility. I think I know how that happened.

A writer from “The Onion” infiltrated the AP’s ranks and started making wild accusations. Of course it was all intended to be a harmless joke, but sadly, it went awry. What else to explain the idiocy of running a story that trusts PETA to come with something valid?

Okay, so I don’t know what happened. I’m just making that up. Maybe I should call the AP. They might take me seriously.

Okay, okay, I’m being serious now. Whatever the case with the animals and The Hobbit production, I’m inclined to believe you, and no, it’s not because you have that devastatingly handsome British actor playing Thorin. It’s because you’re not stupid. I’m having a hard time thinking you would have been dumb enough to jeopardize the production for something so easily remedied.

And when I think of how PETA has conducted themselves in the past, well, it’s pretty easy to come down on your side. Earlier this year they cited Sea World as violating the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The allegation hinged on the definition of ‘slave’:

PETA’s attorney Jeffrey Kerr told HuffPost that the animal rights group’s argument was based on the belief that “slavery doesn’t depend upon the species of the slave, any more than it depends upon the race, gender or ethnicity of the slave. SeaWorld’s attempts to deny [orcas] the protection solely based on their species is the same kind of prejudice used to justify any enslavement. And prejudice should not be what determines constitutional rights in this country … Because they can suffer from the prohibitive conduct of being enslaved, the 13th Amendment protection against that conduct should be extended to them.” source

Thankfully, the judge wasn’t an idiot and threw out the suit and thereby kept ‘slave’ from being redefined to something that would have minimized the very real struggle of people who were enslaved.

And now PETA may be trying to redefine ‘died’ since it seems the horses in question are not only alive but according to their owners came to no harm.

So I’m sorry you had to mess with all of this silliness, and I believe, as it is with almost all of PETA’s claims, this too shall go into the annals of their lunacy. Until then, take care.

Sincerely,
A ridiculously sane person, who on the side happens to be a crazy fan of that Brit actor

P.S. I was tempted to apprise you of PETA’s hypocrisy, but I think I’ve made my point.

edit: since the people at PETA don’t have enough real issues to pursue, I’ve got one for them. They need to find out what animal had to die so Phil Spector could look insane at his trial:

November 21, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 27 Comments

This is a Special Time

A guest post from NZfanofRA:

Frenz has very kindly allowed me to share some thoughts with you. I’ve been thinking about Richard. Nothing unusual about that I hear you say. And you might be correct in your assumption.

But the reason for bursting into print is to invite you, with me, to pause in the giddy anticipation of The Hobbit release, and reflect upon this moment. May I urge you not to simply await the premiere or the screening you plan to attend, but enjoy the cusp of something.

And what might that something be? I’m sure you, like me, expect another wondrous performance from Mr. Armitage in his portrayal of Thorin. We also are certain that the huge audiences for The Hobbit will mean RA will become much, much more well known.

I had expected this sort of recognition would occur after the movie had been released and people had seen the performance. But it seems The Hobbit publicity machine is already promoting RA as a star of the movie in posters and by his inclusion in the team that went to Comic Con in July. This movie isn’t called The Dwarf King, it is The Hobbit, isn’t it?

The Warner Bros. publicity machine however, is not the only sign that people are starting to notice Richard Armitage/Thorin. The Geekest Link sells plush toys of Thorin, Bilbo, Gandalf, the Goblin King and Gollum. But there were reports on Twitter of company representatives noticing Thorin was selling far faster than the others. And now there’s a little pink note on the site suggesting the Thorin plush toy might appeal to Richard Armitage fans – no such mention of the actor playing the other plushy toy characters.

Then there’s the fabulous 3D 5 varieties of cover for Empire magazine’s very special Hobbit edition (highly recommended purchase, by the way). The 5 options are Bilbo, Gandalf, Gollum, Galadriel and Thorin. Guess which one has sold out – take a look.

There’s a groundswell out there, and it’s building. Mainstream media might not have discovered it yet, but I think the signs are there. This marvelous actor has been noticed, is being noticed, and certainly is about to be noticed. Big time.

And here’s a piece of complete speculation on my part. Although I am a Kiwi, I have no insider knowledge of the decisions made about The Hobbit production team, but we know the PJ team keep writing and rewriting as they film. Did the Thorin part become larger once they saw what Richard Armitage was doing with the role? I think so, even if the two films becoming three happened in an organic way, contributed to by the richness of the material and the performances of others in the cast as well.

So to return to my original idea, let’s enjoy what’s happening now, not just await what is coming. As Richard Armitage fans we’re kind of along for the ride. Aren’t we lucky?

Note: My thanks to NZfanofRA for sharing her wonderful encouragement to bask in what is happening and about to happen. She also has an enjoyable guest post about meeting RA which I hope you check out if you haven’t already! Further thoughts from me about the imminent fame are coming in another post.

November 13, 2012
Categories: Fandom, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 19 Comments

See What I Mean About Being a Make-up Artist?

I submit to you again that when I see photos like this, I’m wondering why I went to college.

More photos that inspire the make-up artist in me. :D

High resolution photo courtesy of Ali at RichardArmitageNet.Com

November 10, 2012
Categories: Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 24 Comments

Do You Really Want to Go to New Zealand to See The Hobbit?

What are you waiting for?! Sign up for Air New Zealand’s contest to win a chance for a fantastic trip. Seeing The Hobbit is only part of it!! You know my hatred for certain kinds of punctuation. Would I be using this many exclamation points if I weren’t serious about this?!! You only have a little while longer to enter. 6pm on Sunday 11th November 2012 NZ Time is the deadline, and that is, well, I don’t know how many hours that is from now, but it’s not long.

If you haven’t clicked on the contest link, just know that it has something to do with this video:

And no, you’re not seeing things. There are a couple of familiar nuts in it. They get to let us in on the experience here:

I’m utterly serious that they are nuts. Larry Curtis (aka MrCere at TORn) despite his beautiful baritone voice is definitely a nut. Cliff? Oh yeah. :D And I say all of this with the greatest affection. They fit right in with this place. (note to self: I need to write about these two some more).

Okay, I found a clock for all of you who are like me and lazy and don’t have the inclination to keep up with the current time in New Zealand. ;p

November 10, 2012
Categories: Uncategorized . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 7 Comments

Thorin in 3-D

Yeah, yeah, it’s been covered, but have you actually seen Richard Armitage, er, I mean Thorin in 3-D? With all the Hobbit links flying around, I just wanted to make sure you got to see at least a small version of the 3-D posters. Click on the photo for a peek.

And really, you haven’t lived until you’ve stood next to the 1-1/2 times life size posters that were at Comic-Con. Phew! His eyes follow as you move around and what eyes they are! But as compelling as they appear, they’re absolutely no comparison to the real thing. :D

November 2, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 7 Comments

A Prelude to ‘The Hobbit’ Deluge or What to Immerse Yourself in First?

note: if all that we’ve been getting on Richard Armitage and The Hobbit this month is any indication, we’re going to drown in November, and what a lovely way to go.

Of course the Empire Magazine article is the first thing to bask in!

But after you’re done with that, where do you go?

Yeah, I have a suggestion. :D

I really enjoyed this interview:

Interview: Richard Armitage Talks “The Hobbit”
By Garth Franklin

With the release of the first “Hobbit” film, Hollywood is finally set to showcase a man that fans of British television have known about for years – Richard Armitage. In fact, the distinguished 41-year-old English thespian has already unwittingly assembled his own rabid fan base of swooning admirers affectionately nicknamed ‘The Armitage Army’.

It’s not hard to see why – with sharp features, a great head of hair, icy blue eyes and other impressive assets, he looks very much a star. He first came to attention with his leading role in the BBC’s 2004 version of “North and South”. He also played Macduff to James McAvoy’s Macbeth in the “ShakespeaRe-Told” limited series, and showed off a warmer side romancing Dawn French in the final episodes of beloved sitcom “The Vicar of Dibley”.

I became aware of Armitage for his leather-clad role of Guy of Gisborne in the BBC’s “Robin Hood,” from which he segued into the role of Lucas North on one of my favorite shows “Spooks” (aka. “MI-5”). Decked out in tattoos (as pictured below) to showcase his character’s seven years imprisoned in a Russian gulag, Armitage was a major cast member from the seventh to the ninth season of the long-running spy thriller. Demonstrating his best James Bond/Jack Bauer style skills before departing in dramatic fashion, he also slipped in a quick cameo on last year’s “Captain America: The First Avenger”.

*snip*

His early apprehension stuck with him during the first month of filming, the actor claiming “I didn’t really unpack my bag for about three weeks, ’cause I thought that I was going to be on the plane going home. But yeah, it’s worked out all right.” He also channeled that nervousness into his performance – “Bag End was the first week of shooting for this character, for me and for the other dwarves as well, and it feels so different. But it was good that it felt awkward. It felt like they were out of place because they are in that environment. Dwarves don’t belong in a cozy, domestic situation. They belong in giant halls and on a battlefield.”

Read the rest here

The comments in this interview are what I absolutely love about Richard Armitage.

When you’re done with that, look at Ali’s list of articles for today (October 25). Wow. Wow. Wow. I am so diggin’ this.

October 25, 2012
Categories: Interviews, Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 14 Comments

I’ve Come a Long Way, Baby

When I started this odyssey of Richard Armitage addiction, I had such plans of waxing on about art. That was derailed. I just never dreamed I would have more than a passing acquaintance with action figures. Maybe I shouldn’t phrase it that way. :D But how else to explain the insane desire to look at this:

As soon as this guy started talking on the video, sanity returned, a little, and I started looking both ways to see if the family had seen or heard what I was doing. SO would have a field day with this, and thankfully, he still doesn’t know about the box full of Little Guys in the basement. I did get them on the cheap, but really, how many does a person need? Yep, I’m caught up on Little Guy. Time for some Tiny Thorins. *she laughs maniacally*

October 12, 2012
Categories: Movies, SO, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 10 Comments

Lots of Lovely Details about The Hobbit Premiere in Wellington

Yep, we’re getting all sorts of details about the shindig the Kiwis are planning for The Hobbit premiere. They’re even renaming the town for the event.

Okay, okay, okay! I admit it! I would love to go to Wellington! There I said it. Phew.

That would be a dream. It’s not going to happen, but it’s nice to dream. :D And it’s springtime in New Zealand. *sigh*

I can’t stand it. I’ve got to stop thinking about this, or I’m going to have a meltdown. Yeah, yeah, I said I wasn’t going to watch the Royal Wedding either. I was so glued to the set and had no good excuse for it. I’m blaming this foolishness on Tolkien.

Maybe Billy was right. ;-)

I should have been a travel agent after I finished my career as a make-up artist.

note: I did publish something erroneously right before this post. Sorry, but it’s not ready yet.

October 7, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 8 Comments

Not Being a Dumbass

We have all done something dumbass although there are some who would never admit it. I couldn’t manage to cover all the stupid things I’ve done. Thankfully, most of my dumbass moves haven’t been published for the whole world to read — as if the whole world would even be interested. Billy Connolly maybe not so fortunate. He was recently interviewed about his involvement with The Hobbit, and either Billy was drunk or really is an idiot or the reporter chose to take comical remarks and disparage him by highlighting them as if they tend toward sincere, or the reporter is an idiot too. Whatever was happening, there’s dumbass going on somewhere in this exchange about Tolkien’s work:

So, how many times has Connolly read The Hobbit? “I’ve never read The Hobbit. Never.” What about Lord of the Rings? “Never read Lord of the Rings,” replied the 69-year-old Scottish actor. “I could never read Tolkien. I always found him unreadable … I didn’t read [the books], and I normally don’t like people who have! The people who love it, they’re kind of scary. They talk all this gobbledygook and they think of it as the Holy Grail.”

Yeah, I’m gonna go with drunk. :D Surely Billy knows it’s dangerous to make sarcastic remarks to a journalist. Okay, I will give him the idea that some of the Tolkien fans do spout things unrecognizable to 99% of the population, and before I took the time to seriously read Tolkien and get to know some of his fans, I was also prejudiced and thought it was odd. But at least I had the good sense to keep my mouth shut about it, and I’m not even beholding to any of them for part of my living.

Wait! Billy sobers a bit, er, I mean comes to his senses toward the end:

How, then, does Connolly plan to deal with Tolkien fans who will lob at him obscure questions about The Hobbit for the rest of his life?

“Usually I just make stuff up because I don’t know what I’m talking about,” Connolly admitted. “But invariably, there seems to be a sector of the press that is consumed by The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and it’s indicative of that notion, that it’s the Grail. So whatever I say is rubbish, but then I become answerable for it! People get all upset, they get terribly upset about anything that has to do with it, as if it were real! It’s a story! Just relax! It’ll go away and you’ll be just fine. Don’t panic.”

read the rest here if you dare :D And don’t even bring up his comments about 48fps. LOL! Yes, I really am laughing.

Dealing with the press is almost like a contact sport where you have to keep from getting boxed in and hopefully can emerge with no bruises, so I’m not really down on Connolly, and he may be more clever than he appears. It’s doubtful journalists or others will be on his back with questions about Tolkien when he comes with answers like those. I also appreciate the belly laugh he gave me this morning. But all of this has reminded me I’m so glad Richard Armitage is not an idiot.

Dear Rich,

Thank you for being intelligent and thoughtful and well, for not being a dumbass, and especially for never going out in public drunk –at least not that the public is aware. And I’m confident you had the good sense to stay away from reporters. Hell yes, I’m biased. What do you think this blog is about?

Of course you do have an obvious advantage over Billy. When you look like this:

you can get away with almost anything. And given that, you’re still kind to your fans. Amazing.

Signed,
One of your crazy fans who would forgive you for sticking your foot in your mouth but glad I haven’t been tried on that yet. :D

P.S. And thanks again for not letting us in on your politics. I really don’t want to know. It’s just one less thing to process.

No, don’t even bring up how completely insane I am for knowing so much about some guy from the U.K. who is going to be in a Peter Jackson production. What?! Yeah, sometimes it hits me that our guy Richard may actually make it big, may actually be a movie star despite his protestations, and you and I have been along for the ride.

Anyway, this insanity is still fun even if a few of us are infected with APM at times. :D

edit: speaking of dumbass, I published this under the wrong user name, which I’ve now corrected.

October 4, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 15 Comments

The Hobbit Premiere in New York

My daughter said something to me about this, and I wasn’t going to post it until she could get me all the information, but someone else has posted about it on TheOneRingnet, so I’m going ahead. This is what I know so far:

I would love to hear from any others who got word on this. Meanwhile, I will be breathing down my daughter’s neck to get me that email she said she already sent! :D

And will there be a red carpet event? I’m not sure I’m up to paying $500 for this. LOL!

note: I got word on the TORn post by way of RichardArmitageNet.Com’s Twitter account. Thank you, Ali!

September 28, 2012
Categories: Movies, The Hobbit . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 9 Comments

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