lorannah

mmmmm..... Backbeat

Hmmmm..... difficult, but at the moment I would have to say Rupert as he appears to be rapidly transforming into one of my friends - very worrying. Lorannah

I know this isn't the point of this thread, but this has filled me with hope, I know he'd said he didn't want to do GoF because he wanted to spend the time on postproduction of PoA and wouldn't have enough time for pre-production - but I didn't realise he was interested in doing anymore. I thought Cuaron did fantastic work with POA and I'd absolutely love him to get his hands on OOTP, if they film it. I think his touch would be perfect for it. As for the actors, I think everything is up in the air, nothing will be decided until it is time to cast each film. A lot of it depends whether each of the actors wants to continue - at the moment they seem to be loving it, but it is a huge chunk out of their lives and their personalities and ideas will be changing a lot at the moment. I don't think the age issue is likely to be a problem - I think the producers talk of this is covering their back, in case the actors age drastically - but it seems unlikely to happen. Otherwise I think they'll keep them - they're popular, it's a successful franchise and unless they need to it looks to me like it'd be more trouble than it's worth to recast them. So yes it could happen, but I think it probably won't Lorannah

I think the issue isn't that we would be disappointed if the guest decided not to come. I think the fact is that if a potential guest discovered that Showmasters was already throwing their name around, seemingly to falsely encourage people to come just to see them when they might not even be there - it would put them off saying yes. I know that if, heaven forbids, I was in the guests position, this would make me pull out of negotiations, and probably all future negotiations - just because of the sheer number of disreputable convention organisers on the market. Getting involved with a false convention not only effects the organisers, but can also damage the stars reputation and a lot of them would hate to see their fans hurt in this way. Not announcing the guests until the contracts have been signed, is a mark of Showmasters professional courtesy to the guests. Lorannah

Yep that's right, while people who frequent the imdb.com boards are more likely to call themselves ringnuts (ie. Wingnut Productions), well I think a couple of other boards have diffferent names as well - once the hype has quientened down a bit, one name will probably stick (I suspect it will be Ringers, because they're one of the biggest on line communities, they have quite a lot of access to the stars at the torn parties and the name has already got publicity). Ahh well, it'll all sort out, after all some Trekkies think of themselevs as Trekkers instead - it's just what you prefer. Lorannah

I agree, there's nothing wrong with saying who you would like to meet, but perhaps in the announcment threads are not the place to do it. The difficulty I think is for Showmasters to get the balance, I understand that many of you have been attending conventions for many years and have met most of the actors, so have very specific people you want to meet. Obviously these people don't do many conventions, and are extremely hard to get - but that doesn't mean Showmasters aren't trying (lets face it - they know that the people named would be extremely popular and are likely to be doing their very best to get them)- sometimes though the task is next to impossible. They can't get the guests you want, but there are other guests they can get - they're not as rare and obviously not everyone will want to meet them, but they're still likely to be very popular. The question is should Showmasters invite who is available, even if they are not to the valued convention veterans taste or should they not invite any Star Wars guests (consider the attacks launched again Showmasters when SW wasn't represented at previous events). Which would you rather? And you never know, Showmasters has said there are lots of guests left to go - perhaps they've pulled a minor miracle, and who you'd like will be among them. Lorannah

Shhhh..... don't remind him, you never know who might be lurking on here. Hee hee - I've got an image of you going up to Andy, with a big grin on your face 'Do you like the Beatles? I've got something to show you...." I nearly had my leg broken by a cricket back today - in fact several cricket bats - no it wasn't a riot or anything - but a huge pile of boxes containing the things toppled over at work today and landed on the back of my leg - brought me to my knees with a loud cry of 'F***' - never good in a toyshop - anyway made me realise that when I'm really angry (and in pain) at work, and want to swear I start singing Monty Python's 'Spam' song - very, very strange. Rhian

Well, Orlando's film Ned Kelly is now available, you should be able to get it in most stores that have a reasonable selection of videos/DVDs - I spotted it today in Woolworths and the DVD was only 14.99 (not a bad price I think) Lorannah

Hee hee - I like it. Though they missed out 'You've Got To Hide That Dwarf Away' and 'You're Gonna Lose That Dwarf' and 'Another Dwarf' and... ok got carried away, one track mind. Lorannah

Hmm.... can I join? I would do Elijah - in fact I've wanted to since Flipper. And as for some of those pictures I think he deserves to be undone first.... Lorannah

CHAPTER 12 – OF MEN Having given Middle-Earth light, the Valar now left it for a long age and the will of Morgoth was left uncontested by all but the valour of the Noldor. Yet as the moon rose those things that Yavanna had sown before the coming of the Elves awoke and the land was filled with life and growth and the Eldar increased and grew strong. Men awoke in the East of the land as the Sun first rose in the West, and seeing it’s beauty they were drawn ever westward. The Valar did not come and greet them at their awakening and it was the Dark-Elves that first met them and befriended them and taught them much knowledge. As Morgoth was yet weak, the land for a time was at peace and the children of men spread and were joyful. In that time Elves and Men were of like stature and strength of body, but the Elves had greater wisdom, skill and beauty. Immortal, their wisdom grew from age to age, though their bodies could be slain. Yet Men were more frail, easily slain and subject to sickness and old age. Despite these differences and the evils that would befall later, in the beginning Elves and Men were allied and some among Men learned great wisdom and became great and valiant among the Captains of the Noldor, in the wars that followed. QUICK SUMMARY: Middle-Earth grows green and beautiful at the rising of the Moon and at the rising of the Sun, Men awake in the East of the land. Yet wandering Westward they become allied with the Elves against Morgoth.

Whups - I hadn't realised I'd left this for quite so long. Apologies for that, I'm afraid I finally got my hands on C.S.Lewis' Space Trilogy, which I've wanted to read for ages, and couldn't resist but start straight away. I loved it and have needed some time to get my mind around it, and read a few less thought provoking books. But hopefully I'm back on track now, so I'll post two shortish chapters to get back into the swing of things (and then I'll go and have a think about what to do about Chapter 14 - it's looking awkward) CHAPTER 11 – OF THE SUN AND MOON AND THE HIDING OF VALINOR When the Valar learned of the departure of Fëanor and the Noldor they grieved but at last they arose and began to set forth great deeds. Manwë bade Yavanna and Nienna to set forth all their powers of growth and healing upon the trees and Nienna’s tears and Yavanna’s song washed over them, until at last as hope failed and the song faltered Telperion bore one last great flower of silver and Laurelin a single fruit of gold. These Yavanna took, and the two trees died but she gave the fruit and flower to Aulë, and made two great vessels to carry them. These he gave to Varda so that she might set them as great lamps in the heavens to light Middle-Earth and foil the evil works of Melkor and the flower of Telperion became the moon and the fruit of Laurelin the sun and two of the Maiar were chosen to guide them in their paths. Then Morgoth was afraid and tried to bring down the moon, but Tilion the steersman defeated him and he had not the power to assail the sun and so he hid himself and his servants and his land was shrouded in fumes and dark clouds. Seeing the attack upon Tilion the Valar worried what Morgoth would yet attempt against them, but they would not go against him in Middle-Earth, fearing what harm a war would do to men, who were soon to awaken, though they did not know where. So they built great defences around Valinor, sheer cliffs reaching to dreadful heights surrounded that land, save for one pass so that the faithful Eldar would not be wholly sundered from their kin. Yet that pass was heavily guarded and in the seas around Valinor were set the Enchanted Isles, filled with shadows and bewilderment that none could pass through. So Valinor was shut from the world and none came there again, save one. QUICK SUMMARY: Though they cannot be healed, the two trees bear one last flower and fruit and these the Valinor set in the sky as the sun and moon. Unable to destroy them Morgoth hides his land, yet fearing what evil he may still do, the Valar close Valinor to the rest of the world.

Umm i have some photos of the premiere up. All our LOTR related pics are here: Piccies Which has reached a scary 387 shots now Would love to see your photos Lorannah

Ummm.... I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere (sorry if it has been), but while we were queuing for Talk 1 on Saturday, somebody (I think it was David Simons - but I'm all still confuddled with names, so don't quote me on that) asked if everyone was forum members and told us that the surprise C5 guest announcement was Harry Sinclair, who played Isildur in Fellowship of the Ring. A New Zealander, he's also worked with Peter before as both an actor and crew on Braindead and Heavenly Creatures. As well as working as writer, director and cast on several of his own films. Anyway I expected it to have been put up on the forum or web site, and as nothing has been I wasn't to sure whether to say anything - but as we were told publicly, I thought it was probably alright. So thought I'd pass it on, if this has changed or I've gotten confused, I'm sorry Lorannah

As far as I know John Noble was supposed to be in Talk 2 both nights, I'm not sure if he made the Saturday night as he was really ill all weekend. As for JRD, when the auction started in Talk 1 he came over to Talk 2 and joined the stage. Don't know if he did this both nights either - I wondered, because he must have been able to tell that the talk wasn't going down as well - there was a lot less screaming - so I thought maybe he just came round to help - I know everyone on the stage seemed to light up a bit more after he arrived. Hope that helped - though as I don't seem to actually know anything, probably doesnt Sorry Lorannah