Tonight in the heart of Wales a very special event happened that brought together the family scions of Tolkien while also raising money for ALS; which by way of the viral Ice Bucket Challenge became one of the notable internet phenomena of 2014. Motor Neurone Disease touches closely on the family, as Royd Tolkien’s brother Mike struggles with its effects.
You must take a moment and witness the touching hilarity of Mike and Royd’s ice challenge — be sure to watch through the end and see what they made him wear!
The ALS fundraiser was arranged with the kind cooperation of Warner Bros. who granted Royd Tolkien the chance to have an early screening of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, prior to its general release. Crowds gathered at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold, North Wales, for a fantastic benefit screening filled with merriment, excited fans, and a splendiferous silent auction filled with donated items.
Tonight’s event raised money for local support and treatment centres that have helped him and others like him, and to raise awareness for Motor Neurone Disease.
It was an invite only event that brought actors, community leaders, and luminaries from across the U.K., and surely they were excited to see BOTFA before anyone else! In an exclusive chat, Royd tells us that:
“I’ve had some amazing people and companies supporting this and everyone will be taking home a goody bag with chocolate from NZ company Whittaker’s, socks from NZ company Ice Breaker, pens from Air NZ, postcards from Harper Collins and other fab stuff. I’m also having a silent auction of items like a signed guitar from Ed Sheeran, signed items from Ian McKellen, Harper Collins books and other items from Tourism NZ, Weta, Peter Jackson etc.”
We all feel this wonderful night was an exciting chance to raise awareness and encourage a last wave of contributions to the ALS cause, which make a nice tax deduction as the calendar year 2014 comes to a close…. So the staff of TheOneRing.net encourage those who have not yet donated or dumped any ice on their heads (and of course many of us did, including this writer) to check out: www.alsa.org/donate
The press release for the event is below:
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PRESS RELEASE
CLWYD THEATR CYMRU, MOLD, NORTH WALES HOSTS UNIQUE PREVIEW SCREENINGS OF
THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES.
WITH THE SUPPORT OF WARNER BROS PICTURES AND THE FILMMAKERS, ROYD TOLKIEN HOSTS A FUND -RAISING DAY IN AID OF CHARITIES.
Clwyd Theatr Cymru has been chosen for special preview screenings on Sunday 7th December 2014 of the latest third and final film in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM).
The film will be released in the UK on December 12th, 2014, starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Luke Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Royd Tolkien, great grandson of J.R.R Tolkien, who grew up in the area and has organised the day, commented, “My brother, Mike, has Motor Neurone Disease and the support and treatment he’s received from local centres has been outstanding. This is a great way of helping them raise vital funds to reach out and help other people in need as they have done so perfectly with Mike.”
“For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a huge fan of Clwyd Theatr Cymru with its unique mix of world class drama, outstanding dance, music, comedy and cinema all under one roof. I’m thrilled to be able to bring these special preview screenings here. It promises to be a memorable day.”
Royd will be joined by other members of his family as well as a few special guests and representatives from the Neuro Centre in Saltney, Nightingale House Hospice in Wrexham and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is at Clwyd Theatr Cymru from Friday 19th December until Thursday 1st January. Full details of screenings and bookings (no booking fees) are available at www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk or through the box office on 0845 330 3565.
About The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. The international ensemble cast is led by Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Billy Connolly, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Stephen Fry, and Ryan Gage. The film also stars Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Orlando Bloom, Mikael Persbrandt, Sylvester McCoy, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Adam Brown, John Bell, Manu Bennett and John Tui.
The screenplay for The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro, based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien. Jackson also produced the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Philippa Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.
New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Present a Wingnut Films Production, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. As with the first two films in the Trilogy, the final film is a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television distribution being handled by MGM. www.thehobbit.net
