My preciousssss....

[tzikeh]

With many, many thanks to kassrachel for reminding me that the first vlog from the set of The Hobbit came out today:

Here's ten minutes video of of various prep things (fight choreography! Horseback riding!), followed by 15 seconds of the very first shots of filming.

If you cannot see it, go to the YouTube video here.

Three notes before the cut (under the cut are very, very minor spoilers):

1) Dear Martin Freeman: Never, ever, ever stop wearing that gorgeous, well-fitted, long-sleeved dark mulberry shirt. GUH.

2) Ian McKellen: Your comedic timing on that pause before answering Peter Jackson's first question is MY FAVORITE.

3) When Peter Jackson says, "This is Bag End, exactly as it was in The Lord of the Rings. It was actually built in our B Stage, here in Wellington, which is exactly the same stage as it was built twelve years ago," all I could think was TWELVE. YEARS. AGO. o.O


Peter Jackson: still slim.

Pre-production time!

Combat training! Horseback-riding training!

Sword-forging! Bow-making!

OMG RIVENDELL (wibbles)

NARSIL!

AHHHH GOBLIN TUNNELS UNDER THE MISTY MOUNTAINS --THEY'RE SHOOTING THAT SCENE FIRST OMG.

God, I love WETA so much--they've built lots of passages in the Goblin tunnels that aren't even used in the film. (heart)

Awww, Bilbo, looking all bemused, carrying a bunch of axes while walking behind the dwarfs as they invade Bag End.

ANDY SERKIS ILU.

I love the welcome and blessing of the film from the Powhiri, and how seriously the cast and crew takes it.

When we see Martin Freeman's hand pick up The One Ring, I got chills. And when the familiar flute part of the score started, I teared up. And then, when the voice-over read "In a hole, in the ground, there lived a Hobbit," I started to cry.

Websites of note, for them what are interested:

The One Ring website.

The Hobbit Blog (official).

Ian McKellen's personal filming blog.

Is it December 19, 2012 yet?

Comments

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

I am vastly entertained that Aidan has gone from Buddy Christ to buzzcut.

all I could think was TWELVE. YEARS. AGO. o.O

I know! The starting point in my head is always the Sword Spectacular Weekend workshop I went to in June of '99, because Bob Anderson was supposed to be presenting but had to cancel at the last minute. And Mark Ryan announced it at opening ceremonies, and said something like, "Unfortunately, he's in New Zealand working, though I can't tell you what on." And EVERYONE IN THE ROOM immediately knew what it meant. Mark was headdesking on the bar for the rest of the weekend.

And I think about that story, and laugh... and then go, "Wait, that was WHEN??"

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

"Unfortunately, he's in New Zealand working, though I can't tell you what on."

AHAHAHAH!

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

And I mean, it would have meant zilch to the general public, or even to fandom-at-large, at the time. But this was a room full of geeks who play with swords.

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

It made me cry too.

&hearts

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

♥ ♥ ♥

OMG MORE HOBBIT

[corilannam.livejournal.com]

I burst into tears as soon as the voice over started, too. OMG.

[deaver.livejournal.com]

when the voice-over read "In a hole, in the ground, there lived a Hobbit," I started to cry.

Me too! *sniffle* The Powhiri ceremony was lovely - how kind of them to let us in on it.

What I'm most amused to note is that all those darn dwarves are really, really handsome but they all will soon me covered in fat suits and layers of latex. How unfortunate that is.

[dexwebster]

I was getting a little verklempt over the dwarf beards hanging up on the wall, but the Concerning Hobbits music cue was really what pushed me over the edge into completely wibbly.

Really, there was nothing about this that I didn't love.

[leviathan0999.livejournal.com]

In only tangentially related news, driving home from work last night, I was behind a Honda Civic with New Hampshire plates reading "Gollum."

Is it just me, or should that really have been a Ford Pinto. I mean, after all, "it burns, precious, it burns!"

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Oh, that was WONDERFUL - thanks for being where I first saw it. :-)

Peter Jackson is so cool. And Sir Ian... what can I say? He is classic.

Oh, Rivendell! It's beautiful. It doesn't look like a set, it looks like you could live there. Same with Bag End. It's somebody's HOME.

Martin is adorable throughout. Yeah, that mulberry shirt is a keeper, and I liked his outfit from the ceremony, which was wonderful and awe-inspiring in itself, of course.

I have to say, thought, that I was instantly riveted by the sight of Andy Serkis in his... I dunno, special effects outfit? Or is that something he just WEARS AROUND? Fuuuuck. Nice look for him.

So much happy enthusiasm among the cast and crew - well, who wouldn't be glad to be there, doing that? Martin is so incredibly lucky, considering how hard everyone worked to make sure he didn't miss out on it.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS!

[spiderine.livejournal.com]

Dear Martin,

Never ever wear that pale blue jacket again. Especially with those khakis. Never. Again. Burn it now.

Love,

your aghast yet adoring fans

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Honest to God, the man needs to PUT DOWN THE PASTELS. Stick with jewel tones, Martin - you look GORGEOUS in them.

[neifile7.livejournal.com]

THISSSSSS, PRECIOUSSS.

His hair looks unfortunate as well, but that may something to do with daily wigging (out).

[deepbluemermaid.livejournal.com]

As a New Zealander who lives in Wellington (and has studied Maori language and culture), it was amazing for me to see the powhiri taking place and everyone being so respectful.

I like that it was a blessing ceremony both for the filming process and for the new soundstage itself. I have relatives in Miramar, and the bus route to their place goes quite close to the Stone St site, so I've seen it being built over a long period. It's a massive and ugly structure on the outside, but magic will happen within! I also walk past Weta HQ on the way to see my cousins, and it's kind of thrilling to think about what they're doing.

Casting calls for extras have already gone out, but I'm either too tall or too short or too fat for the roles they're trying to fill. If there's a demand for plump women of average height, though, I'm so there...

[basingstoke.livejournal.com]

OMG BWEE

and now I need to reread the hobbit!

OMG FUCKING SMAUG

SMAAAAAAUUUUUUUUG

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I really hope that the rumors are true, and that they are getting Bill Nighy to do Smaug's voice....

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

IMDB has a rumor that Smaug's voice will be Leonard Nimoy. Either would be great. :D

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

I think Nimoy would be a TERRIBLE choice. Anyone with an instantly recognizable voice will throw people *right out of the movie*. Ugh, I hope that's not true.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

You don't think Nighy's voice is recognizable?

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

No. I don't think that, with a standard RP accent, people are going to think "Bill Nighy!"

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Interesting- I always recognize his voice even if I don't see his face- but then, I love to play the 'whose voice is that' on commercials and stuff, so I am probably more attuned to listening for distinctive bits.

[gaaak.livejournal.com]

I shouldn't have watched this at work. I'm crying at my desk now.

so much ♥

[tzikeh.livejournal.com]

Awww, bunny. ♥♥♥

[mlyn.livejournal.com]

There's a dolphin under my desk somewhere, I swear. *looks innocent*