'The Hobbit' Preview Leaves Fans Concerned
Contactmusic April 25, 2012

A 10 minute preview of The Hobbit was unveiled at CinemaCon last night (April 24, 2012). Peter Jackson's latest cinematic venture is another adaptation of JRR Tolkien's fantasy novels; a follow-on from his globally successful versions of The Lord of the Rings. Responses to the preview, though, have been varied. The movie stars Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins; his character meets a young Frodo and they journey together to Middle Earth.

Jackson was hoping to wow the tricky CinemaCon crowd with his innovative technology; the movie was filmed using 48 frames per second rather than the usual 24. Jackson's own take on the progress was that "the movement feels more real. It's much more gentle on the eyes." However, a short clip of the movie hosted by The Telegraph is underwhelming; regardless of the kudos that the advanced technology brings to the film, it ends up looking more like a straight-to-TV movie than a big-budget, big-screen blockbuster.

And the CinemaCon crowd didn't seem convinced either. One film projector told variety magazine "It reminds me of when I first saw Blu-Ray, in that it takes away that warm feeling of film." Attendees of the event reporting via Twitter seem equally concerned. One user, Peter Sciretta, said "Saw ten minutes of Hobbit in 48fps 3D. Very exciting, but I'm now very unsure about higher framerates." The Telegraph report assures excited fans not to worry too much about the technical aspects of it, though, as there are very few cinemas with the correct projectors installed in order to watch the movie at 48FPS.

Jackson's 'Hobbit' method packs more frames per second
By Cristina Silva
Associated Press
April 25, 2012

LAS VEGAS - Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit” is preparing to leave the shire.

The director of the Oscar-winning “Lord of the Rings” trilogy previewed 10 minutes of assorted footage Tuesday from his upcoming prequel.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” was filmed in New Zealand using twice as many frames per second as the Hollywood standard. Mr. Jackson said in a video introduction that using 48 frames per second produces a smoother image.

The movie could usher in a new era of filmmaking and require film houses around the globe to embrace digital technology.

Mr. Jackson said the human eye no longer sees individual pictures under the faster speed, but a steady stream of clear images.

“The movement feels more real,” Mr. Jackson said while introducing his film at the CinemaCon convention for theater owners on the Las Vegas Strip. “It’s much more gentle on the eyes.”

Indeed, the footage was vivid, with grass blades, facial lines and soaring mountains appearing luminous and pronounced. The actors looked almost touchable, as if they were performing live on stage.

It’s unclear what the final product will look like when it’s released in December. Mr. Jackson said he is still editing the movie and that the shared footage included green screens that eventually will be used to add scenery, action or special effects.

Other digital pioneers are making the same push for higher film speeds. “Avatar” creator James Cameron has promised to shoot the sequel to his science fiction blockbuster at 48 or 60 frames per second.

Mr. Jackson warned that it would take time to adjust to the new approach. Some bloggers agreed, quickly branding the footage released Tuesday as a failure in digital technology. The critics said the unfinished scenes looked like a low-budget TV show.

In the film, British actor Martin Freeman stars as Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit who acquires the evil ring that sets “The Lord of the Rings” into motion.

The footage showed Baggins lost in Gollum’s cave. Andy Serkis’ portrayal of the strange creature known for his “precious” obsession and speaking in the third person is just as disturbing as it was in the trilogy, with Baggins forced to appeal to Gollum’s love of games to survive.

Ian McKellen, reprising his role as the wizard Gandalf, persuades Baggins to leave the shire and join him on his journey. The footage of the hobbit’s hometown is stunning, with each color having almost a neon glow.

There were other brief snippets of story. Orlando Bloom, as the elf Legolas, was shown with his character’s flowing, blond hair. Mr. McKellen’s Gandalf toured an ancient tomb that he surmised once housed someone evil. Trolls engaged in battle.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is the first chapter in Mr. Jackson’s two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy classic.

The two films were shot simultaneously in 3-D. The second one, “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” is due in theaters in December 2013.

The final installment of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy swept the 2003 Academy Awards with 11 trophies, including best picture and director.

Peter Jackson unveils new Hobbit footage
BBC News
April 25, 2012

Director Peter Jackson has unveiled 10 minutes of footage of The Hobbit to a mixed reaction at the CinemaCon convention in Las Vegas.

The prequel to his Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings trilogy, starring British actor Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, is due out in cinemas in December.

The new film has been shot at a rate of 48 frames per second, compared with the industry standard of 24 frames.

However some attendees claimed the scenes looked like low-budget TV.

In a video introduction, Jackson told the audience that using 48 frames per second produced a smoother image.

"The movement feels more real - it's much more gentle on the eyes," he said.

The footage included scenes featuring Bilbo Baggins lost in Gollum's cave, trolls engaged in battle and Sir Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom reprising their roles as Gandalf and Legolas.

'Too accurate'

Jackson said the new approach would take time to adjust to and some attendees agreed, branding the footage as a failure in digital technology.

The Los Angeles Times said the footage was "hyper-realistic": "An opening aerial shot of dramatic rocky mountains appeared clearer than the images in most nature documentaries.

"But the effect was different when applied to scenes with actors dressed in period costume, whose every move - and pore - was crystal clear," it added.

One projectionist told the newspaper it "looked like a made-for-TV movie".

"It was too accurate - too clear. The contrast ratio isn't there yet - everything looked either too bright or black," they said.

However the Associated Press reported the footage was "vivid, with grass blades, facial lines and soaring mountains appearing luminous and pronounced. The actors looked almost touchable, as if they were performing live on stage".

Other digital pioneers are making the same push for higher film speeds.

Avatar creator James Cameron has promised to shoot the sequel to his science-fiction blockbuster at 48 or 60 frames per second.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first chapter in Jackson's two-part adaptation of JRR Tolkien's fantasy classic.

The two films were shot back-to-back in 3D, with the second part, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, due in cinemas in December 2013.

NZ $3 billion screen industry soaring
By John Drinnan
NZ Herald News - nzherald.co.nz
Tuesday Apr 3, 2012

Thirty-five feature films were made in New Zealand in the 2011 year, according to a Statistics New Zealand survey.

The survey, covering the 12 months to March 31 last year, reflects the ebb and flow of the screen industry economy, with overall turnover including advertising up 4 per cent to $2.99 billion.

The figures show how the film business is focused on activity in Wellington attached to Sir Peter Jackson's interests, including his post-production house and Weta Workshop.

The period covered would have included preliminary work on The Hobbit.

Figures represent economic activity as a whole rather than success for individual companies, and do not include detail about individual screen projects.

They do incorporate more than $200 million of state grants and subsidies for both the film and television production industry, as well as advertising production and sale of television time and subscriptions to pay television.

Total broadcasting industry revenue - including free-to-air and pay TV subscriptions - was up 7 per cent to $1.26 billion.

That represents 40 per cent of the gross revenue for the whole screen industry.

On a smaller scale, cinema exhibition revenue was up 6 per cent to $163 million, largely due to the higher charges on tickets for 3D movies.

"These figures highlight the determination of those making local films and working on international productions to make great movies," says New Zealand Film Commission chief executive Graeme Mason.

"It also emphasises the importance of the sector's contribution to the New Zealand economy."

The survey shows fewer businesses were taking part in the industry but 180 earned over $1 million a year - 18 more than in 2010.

The majority of these businesses are in the production or post-production sectors.

The film industry in Auckland has sought to define screen industry activity as being based here.

But regional data in the survey continued to define Auckland as the base for broadcasting and television production, while Wellington was the main base for film.

Auckland-based businesses that took part in the screen survey increased gross revenue by $135 million to $2.3 billion in 2011.

The vast majority of revenue for Wellington-based screen industry businesses was in feature film work, which overall was worth more than $500 million in 2011.

Revenue for South Island-based businesses rose 17 per cent to $91 million, with most of the growth from increases in production and post-production.

The Hobbit star, Benedict Cumberbatch, talks about his filming experience
By Josh Vogt
Examiner.com
March 2, 2012

Benedict Cumberbatch seems to be popping up all over the place in geek culture--playing Sherlock Holmes in the BBC's latest rendition of the famous detective, as well as having landed an unspecificed role in the upcoming Star Trek 2 film.

He's also in The Hobbit (alongside fellow Sherlock star, Martin Freeman, aka. Bilbo), playing the role of the dragon Smaug and--reportedly--the Necromancer.

Cumberbatch recently gave a brief interview in which he stated:

...it's going to be an amazing film; it's going to be a real treat...It's a sort of wonderful ongoing process."

View the full video interview to the left of this column, and a slideshow is available of Cumberbatch in his role as Sherlock, as well as beside images of the dragon Smaug. In his experience using motion capture technology for his dual roles, he state:

I spent a lot of time recording voice as well as doing movements... It was sort of freeing; it was fun. It was like playing a game.

In talking about Peter Jackson, he's quoted:

I was very lucky [to work] with Pete. As far as the experience, what an extraordinary one it was because at the time I was in my work; I was in isolation with him and this incredible tag team. And at the very cool place with that technology doing mo-cap for two characters, Smaug the dragon and another character, which will remain nameless, and it was an awful lot of fun.

Benedict: 'I laughed at Martin Freeman'
What's on TV
March 2, 2012

Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed how he would laugh at Martin Freeman in his Hobbit costume.

The two Sherlock stars are reunited for Peter Jackson's two-part prequel The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, where Martin plays the titular character, Bilbo Baggins, and Benedict is Smaug the dragon.

"I got to hang out with him, and I kept a straight face for a bit and then I started giggling because I know Martin, I don't know Bilbo," he told MTV.com.

"For Martin to be sitting there playing Bilbo is amazing. He's going to be amazing, he's going to be fantastic in this film."

And Benedict - who last appeared in Steven Spielberg's War Horse - had high praise for director Peter.

"I was very lucky [to work] with Pete. As far as the experience, what an extraordinary one it was because at the time I was in my work; I was in isolation with him and this incredible tag team," he said.

"It was an awful lot of fun. It was sort of freeing; it was fun. It was like playing a game."

The 35-year-old actor is excited to see the result: "It's going to be an amazing film; it's going to be a real treat.

"I watched The Lord Of The Rings again before I started working, and the way those films grow in depth of craft on every level are extraordinary."

Cumberbatch: I made fun of Freeman
Independent.ie
March 2, 2012

Benedict Cumberbatch has revealed how he would laugh at Martin Freeman in his Hobbit costume.

The two Sherlock stars are reunited for Peter Jackson's two-part prequel The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, where Martin plays the titular character, Bilbo Baggins, and Benedict is Smaug the dragon.

"I got to hang out with him, and I kept a straight face for a bit and then I started giggling because I know Martin, I don't know Bilbo," he told MTV.com.

"For Martin to be sitting there playing Bilbo is amazing. He's going to be amazing, he's going to be fantastic in this film."

And Benedict - who last appeared in Steven Spielberg's War Horse - had high praise for director Peter.

"I was very lucky [to work] with Pete. As far as the experience, what an extraordinary one it was because at the time I was in my work; I was in isolation with him and this incredible tag team," he said.

"It was an awful lot of fun. It was sort of freeing; it was fun. It was like playing a game."

The 35-year-old actor is excited to see the result: "It's going to be an amazing film; it's going to be a real treat. I watched The Lord Of The Rings again before I started working, and the way those films grow in depth of craft on every level are extraordinary."

Benedict Cumberbatch Talks About His Work On ‘The Hobbit’ + Martin Freeman Playing Bilbo Baggins
Flicks and Bits
March 1, 2012

Benedict Cumberbatch recently spoke to MTV about his work of voicing and physicalizing, through the use of motion-capture, Smaug and the Necromancer on Peter Jackson’s two-part movie adaptation of ‘The Hobbit’: “I was very lucky [to work] with Pete. As far as the experience, what an extraordinary one it was because at the time I was in my work; I was in isolation with him and this incredible tag team. And at the very cool place with that technology doing mo-cap for two characters, Smaug the dragon and another character, which will remain nameless, and it was an awful lot of fun.”

“It’s a sort of wonderful ongoing process. I spent a lot of time recording voice as well as doing movements. So, it was sort of freeing; it was fun. It was like playing a game. It’s going to be an amazing film; it’s going to be a real treat. I watched ‘The Lord of the Rings’ again before I started working, and the way those films grow in depth of craft on every level are extraordinary. Their mark is for that.”

Additionally, Benedict Cumberbatch gave two emphatic thumbs up of approval to his ‘Sherlock’ co-star Martin Freeman playing the lead protaganist of the two Hobbit films, Bilbo Baggins: “For Martin to be sitting there playing Bilbo is amazing. He’s going to be amazing, he’s going to be fantastic in this film.”

Both Hobbit films are set in Middle-earth 60 years before J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his film-making team brought to the big screen in the fantastic blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar-winning ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.’ ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ has been pencilled in for a December 14th 2012 release date. ‘The Hobbit: There and Back Again’ will hit cinemas December 13th 2013.

Reprising their roles from ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies are Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Ian Holm as the elder Bilbo, Christopher Lee as Saruman, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, and Andy Serkis as Gollum. The ensemble cast includes the likes of Martin Freeman, who’s taking on the central role of Bilbo Baggins, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Aidan Turner, and Billy Connolly. Check out the synopsis for ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ below.

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities...A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

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