Richard and I, wondering what’s next?

Production on The Hobbit trilogy, in terms of filming, is steadily winding down; in recent days, many of the actors have tweeted and posted messages announcing they have wrapped on the project. Peter Jackson posted these photos and message today.

Tonight Martin Freeman finished his last shot as Bilbo Baggins. The end of an incredible two and a half years. I cannot imagine anyone else in this role – a character that Martin has nurtured and crafted with love and great skill.
We have… said goodbye to our elves, humans, wizards and now the hobbit. We now enter our final 2 weeks of pick-ups, and it’s wall to wall dwarves. These pick-ups have been gruelling and intense, but I’m so happy with what we’ve been shooting. These next two movies are going to be pretty great!

Benedict “Smaug” Cumberbatch checking out Martin’s Bilbo feet.

I look ahead to the day when the dwarves wrap and Richard, perhaps, makes a little speech on their behalf, and I feel myself getting all choked up. What an amazing journey it has been for these folks, cast and crew alike, and I can only imagine what an emotional moment that will be.

Richard in Thorin gear, posing with his favorite makeup artist, the talented Tami Lane. I think those two have established a firm friendship.

There’s got to be euphoric feelings; that sense of accomplishment, great pride in what you’ve created together, many wonderful memories of experiences shared. Mixed with those must be a certain sadness that it’s  largely over for the actors. (Plenty of post-production work to come, I am sure, by those busy beavers at the studio . . )

Yes, there will be the publicity juggernauts before the remaining films’ premieres and prior to the release of the DVDs, gatherings at Comic-Con and various fan events; still, it won’t be the same. It never is. Life moves on. Richard Armitage moves on.

What’s next? We know from Tweets today by Todd Garner and other involved with Black Sky, the film RA shot last summer in Michigan, that the film was screened last night. No release date yet, but it’s surely looking a lot more promising now.  Don’t know about you, but it can’t happen fast enough for me.

I am in a state of flux myself; still working to get the video production company established, trying to do my best to raise the profile and raise funds for our humane society and all the good it does in our county, maintaining my presence in Armitage World and attending to my pets and husband(who still hasn’t gone to the doctor, and the fever is BACK) and occasionally to this house, which looks like it was hit by the Black Sky tornado.  I now maintain/assist with four FB pages, a business website and blog, personal blog, have Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest accounts, and am about to start rehabbing the Humane Society website.  If I kept up with all this properly, it would be a full-time job, I do believe. But (most of it) doesn’t pay too well. 😉

Now I have been invited to return on a part-time basis to my old newspaper to write a bi-monthly column and do some stringer reporting along the way as I am out and about. They want my name and face and words to be a presence there again; I don’t mind admitting I have missed it. And readers have told me I have been missed. And I will get paid.

I have also been trying to take better care of myself.

And this is true. I am done with diets. Been there, done there, lost lots of weight, gained it all back and a lot more. The extra pounds I am carrying are detrimental to my general health and wellbeing and they exacerbate my FMS, not to mention issues with blood pressure and my heart. I don’t need a quick fix or to follow some crash diet I cannot possibly maintain. I need to make sensible, permanent changes.

I’ve been following the DASH plan, which is designed to help lower blood pressure. I eat a lot less processed stuff, more fresh fruits and veggies, whole wheat breads, low-fat dairy, lean meats, watch the sugar, salt and fat consumption . . . nothing complicated. DASH isn’t a diet as such, yet I have already lost several pounds. I’ve been walking when the weather would allow it and doing some isometric exercises indoors. Overall, I feel better. I am in it for the long haul.

I don’t know exactly what is around the corner for me; good things, I hope. Better days ahead, I like to think.

I certainly don’t know what is to come for Richard Armitage. Another role in a blockbuster film, work in a smaller, more intimate indie, a return to television, to the stage, more voice-over work . . . only he knows. And he’s not telling.  But I don’t expect him to rest on his laurels for too long, that beautiful and talented workaholic.

Whatever paths he chooses on his journey, I wish him well. God bless you, RA. looking forward to seeing you in Black Sky whenever it does happen and to your return as the majestic Thorin in December.  Live your dreams and continue going from strength to strength, my dear fellow. Can’t wait to see what’s next for you!

Related articles

• Martin Freeman Finishes Last Scene as Bilbo Baggins in ‘The Hobbit’ Trilogy (aceshowbiz.com)
• Richard Armitage-The Contender (armitageagonistes.wordpress.com)
• New Stills And Character Images From THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG (comicbookmovie.com)
• Somewhere over the rainbow . . . you’ll find RA and the gang (thearmitageeffect.wordpress.com)

‘Black Sky’ is ‘back on track.’Sounds good to me!

Hooray! This tweet showed up on Twitter last night from Black Sky producer Todd Garner. It seems post-production is “back on track” after being derailed by the bankruptcy woes of Rhythm and Hues, the SFX company handling the film’s special effects.  Good news indeed!

     Todd Garner‏@Todd_Garner                            12h

Getting back on track. #BlackSky pic.twitter.com/MIvd8qxzEd

Methinks I spy Richard Armitage as Gary Morris in this clip seen on the monitor, described by co-star Nathan Kress as one of the “most intense shots” of the upcoming tornado disaster flick.

When will it all get sorted out? ‘Black Sky,’ WB & Rhythm & Hues

Black Sky producer Todd Garner tweeted a link to this article today:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/warner-bros-disputes-vfx-work-431380#

Sounds as if this could be a drawn-out affair. *sigh*

Thoughts?

VFX studio for ‘Black Sky’ files bankruptcy; film still slated for release in 2013

Richard Armitage in a scene from Black Sky. Courtesy of Todd Garner at Twitter

Thanks to Awkward Celebrity Encounters for sharing this link to The Wrap at Twitter:

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/rhythm-hues-bankruptcy-status-update-shows-no-decision-warner-bros-films-79841

This could answer the question as to why we haven’t heard much of anything new recently from Black Sky. Looks like there is still VFX work to do on the film, and someone else may have to do it.

I recently read another online article detailing the financial woes of many US-based VFX houses. While places like Weta Workshop in New Zealand are flourishing, others are being forced to close their doors.

Selfishly, of course, I just want to see Black Sky completed and in the theatres (well) before the end of this year. I am eager to Richard on the big screen as more than Thorin. But I also want to see the film completed properly. I want it to be as good as it can be in its genre.

And it just seems as if we’ve been waiting forever. I know, I know. It was only shot last summer and it takes time to finish a film, especially if there’s a lot of FX work that must be put into places. I’m impatient–what can I say?

Richard Armitage and Nathan Kress in a scene from Black Sky. Courtesy of Todd Garner via Twitter.

RA shooting more ‘Black Sky’ in LA with movie sons

According to a Tweet today by young Nathan Kress,  Richard Armitage is currently doing more work on the upcoming movie Black Sky.  Richard plays widowed teacher Gary Morris, dad to two sons played by Kress and Max Deacon (here’s the Tweet):

“So pumped to shoot more Black Sky stuff today with @MaxD9 and Richard! I finally get to be Trey again!”

Love that youthful enthusiasm.

Nathan at last year’s Kid’sChoice Awards. Re the cardi, like father, like son?

Thought it would be fun to revisit Nathan’s uStream video describing working with that “super-nice” Richard Armitage and his intimidating yelling dad technique (no doubt perfected whilst playing Thorin!).

And here’s a little snippet of Nathan talking about the characters of Trey and Donnie, the roles he and Max Deacon play in Black Sky.

Max Deacon in an earlier film role, “Flashbacks of a Fool,” which also featured Jodhi May of “Strike Back” in a supporting role.

Can’t wait to meet Gary, Donnie and Trey on the big screen in Black Sky!  It should be super-awesome! 😀

And now, for a little more RA . . .

Related articles

• Anyone else getting Black Sky Fever? (thearmitageeffect.wordpress.com)
• Richard talks “Black Sky” stunt work in FAULT interview (thearmitageeffect.wordpress.com)
• So, I am now at Pinterest . . . (thearmitageeffect.wordpress.com)

Richard talks “Black Sky” stunt work in FAULT interview

From the January issue of FAULT Magazine, courtesy of RA Central

To see the entire eight-page spread of photos and text, click link below:

http://richardarmitagecentral.co.uk/main.php?g2_itemId=335906

According to the FAULT interview, Richard spent quite a lot of time “swinging around on wires and being whipped around in a wind tunnel” for his upcoming found-footage film, Black Sky. Sounds as if RA got some “danger sports” adrenaline rushes from some of the stunts director Steven Quales set up, including having an 18-wheeler on a crane dropped right in front of him. “With those stunts, you get just one take, and I love it–I find it very thrilling.”

Richard also mentions doing a lot of his own stunts for The Hobbit–but then, we knew all that balletic grace we see in some of those spins had to be the real thing and not his stunt double, right?

No mention of anything else on the horizon for him as yet–but that may have changed since the interview was conducted and the world encountered the awesomeness that is Thorin Oakenshield.

Also find it interesting that, while his elf stage appearance in TH and inspiration seeing “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are touched upon, there is no mention of RA’s early years performing in musical theatre. The article basically takes us from Pattinson College to LAMDA. (Also, thankfully, no mention of the bloody circus.)

Read, enjoy and tell me what you think, AAAs.