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Spike's dream date Special Effects Co-ordinator

Spike's dream date

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I think Ian Smith's site may have some transcripts - when I spoke to him last week, he said he was in the process of putting some up!

 

www.ian.smith.co.uk or something...

Yep just found the site & will check back later for transcript. Annoyed I missed bits in the national press about C4 though.

 

Can't remember where I got the transcript I read from so I'll post it here & hope no one complains. Here goes:

 

C4 - Report on Q&A with Elijah Wood and Sean Astin

Report on Q&A with Elijah Wood and Sean Astin on 5th October 2003 at Collectormania 4

 

First off - this is not a verbatim record: EW and SA spoke very quickly, and across each other, and there was no floor mike for questions so I probably missed a ton of things! You know how any three people coming out of a meeting remember completely different things about the same meeting, so just bear that in mind. Plus I’ve excluded the boring stuff about people asking for hugs/asking if they got various messages/gifts passed on through other cast members etc…

 

 

EW and SA came in running, and ran round the auditorium whooping and touching hands with as many people as possible, which really got the crowd going!

 

There was then a rush from members of the audience to give them sweets (which they proceeded to eat and hand round – the jelly rings were a particular hit with Elijah) and drawings, scrap books etc. SA asked how many people had given Dominic lollypops that day and a lot of people put their hands up! Someone gave them matching sparkly cowboy hats (black for SA and red for EW), which they put on, and SA started singing cowboy songs…

 

After a bit of a free for all, with SA asking for hands up from different countries and everybody waving hallo, we got down to the questions…

 

Q: What is your favourite scene in the movies?

SA: The cave troll (EW agreed)

EW: Gandalf fighting the Balrog, and anything where we’re arguing with Gollum, some of the fight scenes

The questioner commented that there was nothing funnier than short people fighting, which made them laugh. SA mentioned Helms Deep and “Shall I get you a box?” to which EW added, “Toss me! I can’t believe they got away with that. I think it passed the American audiences by…” There was much laughter, and he added, “There will be more dwarf tossing in the next one! It’ll be fun!”

 

Someone asked a long question about the design of the hobbit’s backpacks, which SA answered with hand motions like a cross-your-heart bra, and then complained about the elven broaches, which were prone to gore them in the neck “Oh yes, there were many neck stabbings!

 

There was then a question about scenes being shown flipped the wrong way, and EW gave a few examples.

 

Q: How do you feel about the commercialism of the films – did you have any say about the merchandising?

EW said they were shown prototypes and could veto things.

SA said you could see it as selling out, but if it brought people to the literature that was a good thing, and the people making the stuff were so talented and committed it was admirable really – but then added that mind you, we haven’t had LOTR toilet paper yet…He also said that what Tolkien had been trying to create was a mythology for the British people, and made a comparison with LOTR merchandising and the commoditisation of religion (buying icons etc).

EW talked briefly about the work that had gone into making the video game, which was really impressive.

 

Q: Would either of you like to do theatre work?

EW said, “Yeah, that’s a muscle I haven’t worked yet and would love to…Billy and Dom have done it and have been encouraging me to try.”

SA said he’s only really done stuff at school (including Snoopy!) and he’d like to do more but the pay just wasn’t good enough. He said he was interested in getting a troop together and doing some one act plays for video as a way of getting round this – doing innovative stuff but making it pay as well. He said his parents both love theatre work, and his father also teaches it – SA doesn’t have the same bug but he finds it intriguing.

 

Q: What about directing?

Both said they’d like to do this – and later on someone asked EW if he’d like to do music videos and he was enthusiastic about this. SA said he’d been optioning books but it was just a question of raising the money.

 

Q: Which out of EW’s films did he like best?

EW said “The Ice Storm” and SA commented that he could never go into a restroom again after that (quoting the line about s*** being in all the molecules you eat).

 

Q: Which were EW’s favourite Pumpkins tracks?

EW rolled his eyes and struggled with choosing but finally went for “Drown” and “Glynis”.

 

Q: What would EW have studied if he had gone to university?

EW: English literature.

 

Someone then asked EW to show us his appendectomy scar[edited to add: or it may have been his tattoo!], which he did, revealing a startlingly flat stomach!

 

Some people from TORN asked if EW ever visited their boards. He said he didn’t but he checked their news page to see what his friends were up to. Someone else asked about BillyBoyd.net and EW said he did go on its boards at the beginning but now he prefers just to talk to him!

 

Q: There were a lot of girls screaming at you today. Does this happen wherever you go and does it get you down?

EW said it only really happened at events like this, and it was part of the job. If it happened all the time it would get a bit wearing.

 

Q: Who is the real hero of LOTR?

EW: “Sam is, because he picks Frodo up when he can’t go on anymore, and is so unfailingly loyal…”

Everyone cheered and SA looked very bashful until saying “OK, I rock!” He then said that Sam was nothing except what he is in relation to Frodo – Sam would have killed Gollum and they would never have got to Mordor. He added one of the challenges was how to make the scenario dramatic – Frodo is essentially holding a 10K weight and he can’t drop it or the world will come to an end – which isn’t very interesting to watch, so you have to dramatise the internal struggle, which EW has really nailed, especially in the 3rd movie which is extremely frightening. (EW was touched by this and patted SA’s shoulder saying “Aw!”)

 

Q: Did you get hurt filming the movies?

SA repeated the story about cutting his foot, and EW poking the open wound with a stick (EW added that he was fascinated by it, and described it in gory detail). SA then said that a gust of wind blew an elf loom onto his head in Rivendell and they thought he was concussed. Viggo said, “You must have been having impure thoughts!” SA had to go for a CAT scan and was delighted to discover that he had a really big brain, which he then came back and told everyone about. At this point EW started teasing him about having a big head, and there was a ripple of disapproval in the audience and EW said “See, they don’t like it when we’re nasty to each other” and SA said “We love each other really!” Someone yelled out “GIVE HIM A KISS!” and SA grabbed EW, put one hand over EW’s mouth and sort of threw him over one arm and pretended to give him a kiss, EW’s arms flailing to hold onto SA’s jacket. The crowd went wild and SA said “And that wasn’t the first time!!”

 

Q: Did you do any extreme sports in NZ?

EW said he didn’t do much. He didn’t bungee, but he snowboarded. He didn’t fly by wire because he was just a “big spam” really. SA told him off for saying “spam” and asked how many people were offended by him using that word. A few people put their hands up and SA said, “See, I told you” and EW looked sheepish and apologised, smiling. EW continued by saying he went motorcycling with Orli, and fishing. SA said fishing wasn’t an extreme sport, and EW said “Yeah, but you still managed to get hurt though” and explained that he’d asked SA to help him undo a hook – (he said “Babes, can you undo this for me?” in a very camp voice while explaining) and SA managed to get the hook stuck in his thumb.

 

Q: How important was music to you during the filming?

EW: “It was very important. We started our days with it, we had naps in our trailers to it, we played it at the wrap out at the end of the day – it really helped us unwind after a 15 hour day”

SA: “That, and the drinking…”

EW: “And Dom and I have Dj’d in a few bars in Wellington which was great fun, and Billy plays and writes music and sings, and there was a piano and a drum kit and guitars at Peter’s house..”

They then described playing at a Thanksgiving celebration at PJ’s house, and PJ telling SA that if the hobbits were the Beatles, SA would be Ringo.

SA complained that EW had made him buy a lot of new stuff, and what was wrong with “The Eagles” anyway? (They also mentioned later that they all got dressed up as the Beatles for PJ’s birthday one time).

EW then raved about the latest Led Zeppelin live CD/DVD and asked if anyone had heard it – no one had, or admitted to it. He jokingly said he thought it would make a great soundtrack for LOTR.

 

Some asked about games they played, and EW told them the Tig story, and said they still played “Cup” (?) which is at least a real game. He said it was so disillusioning finding out that Tig wasn’t a game it was like finding Christmas wrapping paper in your mother’s drawers. There was much tittering over this and he said “No, no, not those sort of drawers” and SA said in a very English voice “In the bureau, he means.”

 

Q: Why did SA make the short movie – wasn’t there enough for them to do?

SA said “Well some folks look at the world, and say ‘why’ and some ‘why not”…”

EW really cracked up at this and giggled more and more as SA continued until he had to put his hand over his mike and wipe tears from his eyes. SA patted him and said “He gets like this sometimes.”

SA explained that PJ had said they could use some of the cameras, and SA really wanted to do a piece involving Fawn, since she and the other scale doubles had done so much work and got no credit for it.

 

Q: Have you read the books?

SA said proudly that he had, three times. EW said he’d rather not answer that… and then added that he felt he came to the story through the character and did not need to. SA said that EW had in fact read at least the first book and a half, and that he (SA) and read some passages out to him. SA explained he had not read the books before the film as he did a degree in history and American literature and so had not come across it until his agent rang him and told him about it and said he had to get an English accent by that Thursday for an audition…

 

Someone asked whether just because the Fellowship were all great friends they felt they had to say they liked each other’s work. EW said no, and that actually he was not a huge fan of “Pirates of the Caribbean” – it was OK but he wasn’t wild about it. SA said jokingly that he could have gone to the premiere of POTC but was too jealous of Orlando – he (SA) had grown up going on that ride and “..It had to be f**king Orlando who got to be in it…and now I hear he’s in something called “Troy” or something, the b**stard!”

 

They both commented that Viggo’s stuff was always fantastic.

 

Q: Did you steal any props from the films?

EW and SA in unison: NO!

SA said that Ian Holmes stole both sets of keys to Bag End (large and small scale).

 

Someone asked if we were going to get to see EW’s audition tape on the extended DVDs and EW said yes, he thought there was a plan to show all their audition tapes on the DVDs eventually, and a blooper reel – they’d already put together a 15 minute blooper reel for the wrap party but there was a lot more. PJ is also working on another 2 hour documentary about the making of the film. EW also said that he loved SA’s audition tape and it was the best thing he’d ever done!

 

Q: We’ve heard that the costumes got pretty smelly, especially Viggo’s – what were yours like?

EW said theirs weren’t that bad and he liked the smell, it reminded him of Frodo. SA said that he got an allergic reaction to the smell of horses which was a problem when he was around anyone who had been riding, and added that hobbits were very in touch with their senses – “yeah, they can smell each others’ pheromones, they can tell when each other is randy…” EW interjected “Naughty little hobbitses!!”

 

Q: Will you be going to the London premiere?

EW said yes, he thought so, they would be going everywhere – it was going to be crazy. The TORN contingent asked him if he’d come to the TORN Oscar party as he missed the last two and he said he’d try.

 

Q: What was it like meeting Ozzy Osbourne?

EW said it was very cool, like meeting a legend, as he was a huge Sabbath fan. He was a little jittery when he spoke to him, and then he realised that he couldn’t understand a word Ozzy was saying, apart from the swearing…

 

Q: was there anything you would change about their performances?

Both of them said they always thought they could have done better. SA said that when they went back to do pick-ups they had learnt so much more about the characters from doing the publicity and what other people said that they brought a deeper understanding of the character at that stage.

 

Q: Do you see a lot of the other cast members?

SA: Oh yeah, in airports, hotels…

EW: conventions, reshoots, premieres…

SA: And Dom lived with my brother Mack for 2 years in LA, and I sold him a BMW, I told him it needed a new top…and Viggo has a place in LA too.

 

Someone asked SA about his experience of directing an episode of Angel and he said it was great fun to do, especially the fight scenes. He asked people to get on the net and say how good that episode was so they’d use him again!

 

Q: What is the most unusual gift a fan has given you?

EW blanked out and said there were just so many, but he did keep them. SA said he was really touched by someone at Comic Con giving him a signed first edition of Douglas Adam’s “So Long and Thanks for all the Fish.” SA said he was going to talk about the generosity of the fans in the book he’s writing about the experience of making the films, as it has just been astounding.

(Later on he also showed off a badge someone had given him with “SAFETY MONITOR” on it).

 

Q: Have you every played a character you did not like?

Someone suggested Sandy in Flipper. EW looked kind of weary and said he didn’t mind the character, he’d only done it to be with the dolphins. SA said that there were roles that made you wince because you’d only done it for the money or the film did not turn out the way you’d hoped but usually you wouldn’t do a character unless you thought they were worth doing. He mentioned a film called “Dishdogs” (?) he’d done and EW said he’d seen SA in “Kimberley” (?) and liked it, which made SA go “Aw…”

 

At that point, SA’s mobile phone went off and he pulled it out of his pocket saying “It’s probably my wife..” and then said “Oh, it’s Mack, my little brother!” He answered the phone and said he was in the middle of doing a thing with Elijah. EW grabbed the phone and said hi and asked him to say hello to everyone – the first time it didn’t work, then SA took the phone back and told him to do it again and Mack said hello! Then SA said did anyone have any questions for Mack and someone asked “Was Dom difficult to live with?” To which Mack replied “Not any more difficult than any other hobbit!” Then someone asked what it was like growing up with SA as a brother and Mack made a joke about how he (Mack) grew up a lot faster (taller). There was then a question I didn’t understand about voting for a recall and what candidate he’d choose (some local American election? I didn’t understand the answer either). Then EW took the phone back and said a few words in what sounded like Hawaiian and that he’d speak to him soon and SA said bye and ended the call…

 

Q: What work can we look forward to seeing you in?

EW: I’ve just done Eternal Spotlight of the Spotless Mind, which should be out next year, which was great fun, and is a weird movie.

SA; I’ve done “50 first kisses” where I play someone addicted to steroids with a ridiculous tan and a lisp” (EW cracks up at this) and 13 episodes of Jeremiah..and I directed an episode as well.

 

Q: Do you ever read stuff about yourselves on the net?

SA: “Oh, is this the…homosexuality question?”

EW: I found out about this three months ago – it was the funniest thing I’d ever heard, how Dom and I were having an affair, and he had to pretend to go out with my sister or something, and we were under contracts not to come out until after the ROTK (shakes his head, giggling).

SA said that Ian McKellen had pointed out some pretty filthy stuff and EW said, still laughing. “Trust me, there’s worse!”

EW: there were rumours when we were filming that all the hobbits were gay, so of course we played up to them all the time, which just made them worse.

 

Then EW asked seriously “Why is it that if you have great male friends you always get homosexual jokes?” No one said anything (a lot of people looked at the ceiling) and he shrugged and said, “See? Silence. I don’t understand it!”

 

Q: Will Frodo have everything taken from him in ROTK?

EW: “You mean… will I get naked???” (much laughter and whooping). “Well, not everything, but nearly though” (winking).

 

Q: Who would you most like to meet of the other stars here at the con, or have you met?

EW: “The one who played Pinhead – does everyone know who he is?” (shaking of heads). “I see, strictly a fantasy audience, no horror buffs. I met him at breakfast today and said “Well, s***!”

SA: I introduced you! I met Peter Weller and we sat up until 2.30am with him telling me stories about history…he’s a great guy, but I’m not sure I’d want to have that much information in my head..

 

Q: I’m going to have to take a sickie tomorrow to get to meet you. Who would you take a sickie for?

EW: “Oh, I don’t know, probably someone in music. Radiohead. And Sean would definitely for the President of the United States, wouldn’t you?”

SA grinned and then said very sternly “Not that we advocate that you take time off school or work to be here…”

 

Someone asked EW if he was disappointed he did not get a chance to sing solo in the movies. He said Billy did and that was enough.

 

EW asked the audience what we were most upset about being changed from the books. The shout-outs were for Faramir and Bombadil. EW jokingly said, “Well, we’ll have to tell them to change that then!!”

 

Q: What English comedy programmes do you like?

EW reeled off a whole list including Brass Eye, The Office, anything by Steve Cougan, the Royle Family, and Withnail and I.

 

Q: Is the environmentalist message in the books still realistic/relevant?

SA spoke quite a bit about this, saying that the orcs could create wonderful things but were put to use for evil – it was no good being able to create amazing things if you could not cultivate a garden.

 

Q: What other characters would you have liked to play in the film?

SA: Treebeard. EW agreed.

 

Q: What was your favourite location to film in?

Both said Queenstown, and neighbouring Milford Sounds – they liked the south island more than the north although they were very fond of Wellington where they lived.

EW: Hey, let’s buy a house there!

SA: Let’s do it!

EW: We can be roommates! Cool!

 

Q: What directors would you like to work with?

They both gave great long lists, including David Lynch, Spike Jones, Chris Cunningham, Mike Mills (EW), Woody Allen, Brian de Palma, and Scorsese (SA).

 

Q: Has the filming for ROTK finally finished?

SA said that Andy had still been filming the day before. They then talked it a bit about how sad it will be when it is all over.

 

Q: Which was the hardest scene to shoot?

SA: The council of Elrond because there were so many different sight lines, and trying to make it interesting.

EW: “The mountain scene with you! Plus, any scene with Gollum..”

 

Q: What is worse, getting up at 5 am for feet or getting up to come here?

EW: Definitely feet

SA: Although I still had to bang on your door this morning!

EW: NOT a morning person…

 

Q: Do you think Tolkien would have been happy with the films?

SA: Well, he sold the film rights as Peter always says. I think so – any myth will only go on existing if it’s reinterpreted for modern times.

EW: And it was filmed with so much passion.

 

They then closed the evening by donning their cowboy hats and singing “Happy trails” and dancing off, looking not unlike Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in one of the road movies …

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wiccawise21 Composer

wiccawise21

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ooooh ohhh..... the sfety monitor badge that sean was wearing.. i made that!!! yey!! its sooo cool to know that he was still wearing it... we gve it to him at about 10 that morning!! oh bless him!! he 'showed it off' yey.. he liked it!!

 

that transcript it sooooo cool. we just need em for all the other screenings now!!! if anyone has em... post em please!!!

 

*sp pleased that sean liked his badge*

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sleepingdragons Locations Manager

sleepingdragons

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ooooh ohhh..... the sfety monitor badge that sean was wearing.. i made that!!! yey!! its sooo cool to know that he was still wearing it... we gve it to him at about 10 that morning!! oh bless him!! he 'showed it off' yey.. he liked it!!

 

that transcript it sooooo cool. we just need em for all the other screenings now!!! if anyone has em... post em please!!!

 

*sp pleased that sean liked his badge*

Yay! the badge! *dances at badge comment*

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KaramelRose Cinematographer

KaramelRose

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hey! ya we went 2 the ttt on saturday too! where were u sitting? ya we got fotr tickets when we got to collectormania, on the saturday, we're soo lucky, didnt think there would be any left by then!

Wow! I got there kinda late and was one row from the back on the left!!! lol! I asked the Gollum question though!

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sleepingdragons Locations Manager

sleepingdragons

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Damn you wiccawise,i wanted to be in a pic! :unsure: I was in the audience of the sunday night Fotr. It was his tattoo Lij was showing off,not his scar,lol,whoever said that. .

Ohhhhhh I don't know who said it, but in the sat FOTR talk he showed us his tatoo, then put his shirt back, then showed us his scar a few seconds later. Maybe they were in the sat one then...

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