Ian McKellen's Blog

[HPaddicted]

Hey! I thought we could create a thread to talk about Ian McKellen's blog and what he writes about (in particular the Hobbit)

 

CLICK HERE for a direct link to the blog.

 

 

 

Here is the latest Hobbit related one.

 

I've seen Bilbo — in three dimensions.

 

I was visiting old friends in the Stone Street offices and heard Martin Freeman was just round the corner by the permanent greenscreen, done up as Bilbo, testing his costume in front of the 3D cameras. Indeed, there he was in the open air, mostly oblivious to the camera, though turning this way and that as required. Martin improvised a hobbity gait, padding back and forth, testing his big hairy Hobbit feet, pointy ears and little tum.

 

 

Beneath the shade of a tent, in a sun hat, Andrew Lesnie was remotely controlling the two lenses within the mighty camera which digitally records in 3D. His screen showed the familiar 2D image but next to it, above the director's chair, was a large colour screen in full magical three dimensions, much as it will appear in the cinema — courtesy of the spy-glasses that transform the blurred outlines onscreen to the high definition exactitude of the 3D effect.

 

Three Bilbos simultaneously, two performances on screen and the actor beyond: which was the real one? Martin Freeman was transmuting into a character whose reality will soon be as authentic as his own.

 

— Ian McKellen, Wellington, March 2011

 

 

 

 

It's exciting to know that things are progressing fast! I love the fact that Ian is getting very involved with the project and watching all of the 3D stuff (and reporting back to us!). Do you want The Hobbit to be in 3D or do you think that will ruin the overall effect of the film?

[BigSi13]

Is is scheduled to be a dual 2D and 3D release?

[HPaddicted]

I'm not entirely sure - I don't know what he meant by seeing 3D bilbo. I didn't think so, but a lot of big films are being made in 3D these days. I kind of hope not, especially for part 1. I think that Peter Jacksons directing is of such a high standard and the story is captivating enough without additional effects IMO.