Shinan Govani writes: Is there any way Howard Shore is not going to the Oscars? The made-in-Toronto composer, having already score-scored with The Lord of the Rings — three golden statuettes for his work with the trilogy — is once again on the tips of awards-watchers’ tongues. The source of all this sweet clamour? His lift-off for Hugo, a collab with Martin Scorsese — his sixth! — that lushly wish-fulfills “a Paris train station into a 12-year-old’s Neverland of sparkling strings, accordions and the pure bliss of movie creation,” as one observer raved in print.
One might say that the Shore-Scorsese kinship is a simmering bromance! Although — hey! — our own David Cronenberg had him first; Howard’s additional composition this season for A Dangerous Method is the 10th time — 10th! — he’s worked with the Canadian auteur. More..
The Hobbit trailer hit last month (as most of you know!), and besides the stunning visuals and memorable character introductions, the two and a half minute video also featured some glorious bits of music – some familiar, some new.
If, like us, you too can’t wait until the official soundtrack for The Hobbit releases, here’s something to tide you over.
Dan from Germany alerted us to a YouTube video that he created. He writes:
It’s a little orchestral suite using the new musical themes from Howard Shore that were introduced in the trailer for the hobbit.
This statement from Peter Jackson on the passing of Bob Anderson was sent to us a few days ago, unfortunately we were unable to post it until now, thanks for the kind words Sir Peter:
“It is a rare, even within the film industry, that you get to work with a legend which was why I was thrilled when Bob Anderson agreed to come on board The Lord of the Rings as our sword-master. In fact, it took a while for it to sink in that I was going to get to work with the same man who had helped create some of cinema’s greatest fight sequences – from Star Wars to ThePrincess Bride. Bob was a brilliant swordsman and a gifted teacher; I will remember him as a wonderfully patient man, possessed of a terrific sense of humour. It was a privilege to have known him.”
The sword-fighting trainer and choreographer passed away today, at the age of 89.
Bob Anderson was a behind-the-scenes name little known to many fans but who had a tremendous impact not only on the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, but on cinema itself. Anderson’s many credits include: Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Princess Bride, Highlander and much more. [Read obit from AP]
From thelordoftherings.net: “Bob Anderson, the world’s top sword master who has consulted on such films as Star Wars and trained the legendary Errol Flynn, was also brought in to train the actors in different fencing techniques. An expert in medieval arms, Anderson read the novel and then developed sparring methods based on Tolkien’s descriptions of each culture.”
The story of Anderson’s career and background was captured in the documentary, “Reclaiming the Blade.” According to director Daniel McNicoll, Anderson once told him, “You know I don’t feel like I found the sword, I feel like the sword found me.” [Watch ‘Reclaiming the Blade’ on Netflix]
Sohaib Awan from the radio show Fictional Frontiers also does a segment on SUVUDU that focuses on fantasy and science fiction books, movies and comics. He spoke with our own MrCere this week about his trip to New Zealand including Weta Workshop and Richard Taylor. They talk Hobbit of course, Hobbit trailer insights and a lot about travel possibilities for anybody. Listen to the segment right here.
10 years have passed since the release of the first of the films in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and fans will surely recall Frodo’s “chicken dance” at Bilbo’s Birthday party, Merry and Pippin singing in the Green Dragon Inn, Frodo and Sam watching the Wood-elves leaving Middle-earth, and Éowyn singing a dirge at the burial of her cousin Théodred.
The songs and the music for all these scenes, termed “diegetic” or “cultural” music, were composed and performed by Plan 9 (consisting of David Donaldson, Stephen Roche, and Janet Roddick) together with David Long, who also collaborated with them on certain aspects of the sound design for the Dead Marshes, the Ents, and the One Ring.
In celebration of the The Fellowship of the Ring’s 10th Anniversary, TheOneRing.net brings you an exclusive interview with Plan 9.
"The Elvish Impersonators" (from L to R: David Long, Steve Roche, Janet Roddick, David Donaldson) working on The Lord of the Rings in December 2002
Join us as we talk to them about how they came on board Peter Jackson’s crew working on the three films, and how they approached composing, performing, and selecting instruments that would lend credibility to the fictional cultures that inhabited Tolkien’s Middle-earth. All this, and also some talk of their as-yet-unreleased music for the films.
