Another brief mention of ‘Poldark’ & assorted stuff

A very brief mention of RA in relation to the upcoming remake of “Poldark” . . . still just speculation at his point, but it’s fun to see his name being bandied about–and it’s an excuse to post a pic of him with his Poldark hair. 😀

http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents/film/the-future-of-tv-is-living-in-the-past.20431741

And here’s a link to a chance to win a copy of the excellent Visual Companion book to the first Hobbit film, complete with autographs of Richard, along with Sir Ian, Martin and Cate. 😀

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/10/12/80380-win-a-copy-of-the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-visual-companion-that-has-been-signed-by-the-cast-members/

And I share this from the Lee Pace 100 Percent Talent and Beauty page on FB–I may not like what I have previewed seeing of Thranduil’s treatment of Thorin, but I have to say Lee does look quite beautiful and fierce here alongside (the beautiful and fierce) Thorin. Lee is a fine actor and I have no doubt he’ll make a magnificent (if maddening!) elven king.

Now I think I am going to see if I can get back to sleep (crashed before 11, woke up at 3 to a certain kitten kissing me). I will post about our interesting weekend at Honeysuckle and Sweet Tea later . . . hope you all are having a good one. 😀

It’s happening at the right time for Richard.

I have this notion that events in our lives happen when they happen for good reasons, even if we don’t know those reasons at the time.

“If this opportunity had come to me ten years ago, I would not have survived,” Armitage says. “I wouldn’t have known what to do with it. Now I feel I’ve got an opinion to bring to it, my own interpretation of the character in the book, but other things as well, attitudes that I think we can make resonate with a contemporary audience:honor, loyalty, nobility,corruption.”

a “wilier, more aerodynamic Hugh Jackman,” Richard Armitage, quoted in “Force of Hobbit,” Nylon Guys magazine, Stefan Marolachakis. Courtesy of RAnet. Read complete interview at www.richardarmitagenet.com

Hooray for the opportunity of a lifetime happening in the right place at the right time for our favorite actor. He’s mature, seasoned, savvy, confident. Ready to take on the world!

 

Top to bottom, original photo by Ben Rayner; original photo by unknown;  original photo by Magnus Sundholm. All courtesy of RANet.

Charisma, Affability, Integrity: That’s Our Richard

Richard Armitage is an unusual actor . . . a man of integrity on and offscreen . . . he took the time to get to know all of us . . . we really would have followed him into war.

    Jed Brophy. when queried about Richard’s leadership abilities as Thorin in The Hobbit.

Here’s a link to the red carpet interview with Brophy and other cast members (no Richard) in which he pays RA this lovely compliment. It starts at the 3:30 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBnSF8Tqf3g

Richard signing autographs in NY. Courtesy of RANet. Wonder if that beautiful hand got cramps?
Is it just me, or is he channeling a bit of Harry Kennedy here?

Richard at Union Station in Toronto, checking out one of those “rubbish”signs fans make to get his attention.

I think a young actor could do a lot worse than emulating the way Richard Armitage lives his life.

Richard Armitage, you’re a beaut, and I mean in much more than just the outward sense. You are kind, conscientious, good-humored, sensitive, hard-working, generous, polite and well-mannered, along with all that talent and intelligence and charisma to spare. You even have a naughty side.

I’d say you are a lovely, delightful human being inside and out.  You’ve amazed me during this worldwide press tour, handling the madness with such grace and aplomb, always remaining the gentleman, and looking absolutely every inch the movie star as you did it all. You can’t see or hear me, but here I am, giving you a standing ovation.

“I don’t know, you tell me!” Oh, Richard, you’re adorable.

If you haven’t already, you must listen to this delicious radio station soundbite of RA on The Hobbit red carpet posted at RANet. There’s his typical good humor and modesty, and I love how he (quite flirtatiously) turns a question about his sex symbol status on its head. 😉

http://zmonline.com/player/ondemand/listen-drive-richard-armitage

Oh, Richard, baby. It’s not just because the character is a hero that women are drawn to him (and to YOU). And you don’t just smoulder as Thorin because he’s “a dying flame about to be reignited.” Or because he apparently runs through the forest on fire at some point (ouch!). And you ARE a sex symbol, sweetheart, modest and reluctant though you may be to admit it.

Of course, that modesty and humility just endears you all the more to us–and makes you all the more irresistible, you sharp-dressed, sexy man, you. And women (and men) all over the world know it–and many more are learning. I merely have to look at my stats to realize that.

Thorin & Trilogy Speculation for Thursday

Tolkien’s Cover Designs for the First Edition of The Lord of the Rings (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sooooo–I thought when all this talk of a possible third Hobbit film came up at Comic-Con, it was simply the media deciding to run rife with speculation.        Media is like that, yes it is, precioussssss.

I was a bit skeptical early on about making The Hobbit, a rather slender children’s book, into two films, to be honest.

Now, of course, I know flashbacks are included not seen in the book, and characters and events from LOTR and its appendices have been incorporated into the storyline, fleshing it out satisfactorily enough for two films. Plus we’ve got to have those singing dwarf sequences!!)  And if it gave me more of Richard Armitage as the world’s sexiest dwarf on the big screen, well–bring it on.

However, having read this detailed article provided  byour trusty friends at  TheOneRingNet, I see there are several possible options for Sir Peter, and a lot of it revolves around the 100 or so pages of appendices at the end of  the LOTR trilogy.

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/26/59799-third-hobbit-movie-how-what-when-why/#more-59799

Here’s an excerpt from that article discussing why Warner Brothers may very well be contemplating giving the green light to a third film:

It says shooting would be for about two months next summer (North America’s summer presumably). It seems Jackson thought about it, mentioned it to the studio, floated the idea at Comic-Con and is energized and now wants to do it, or at least that is how I read it.

I trust that Hollywood Reporter story for the best accuracy and fans who want to read it carefully might find further clues.

Reports in New Zealand are that he was at the top of his game during “The Hobbit,” shoot. It seemingly went well and actors seem happy despite the length of the shoot. The team seems creative and energized and ready to keep telling the story of Middle-earth. But, shooting movies, especially big ones with a big crew and big logistical needs costs big money. So WB is into two films for something like $500 million. For another, say $100 million or less, they now have three films to collect box office from, three different home video sales items to ring up. Instead of grossing $2 billion for a $500 million investment, they get to dream of $3 billion for $600 million. Seems like smart finances. It also fills a hole in the 2014 schedule, which will please stock holders and best of all, the desire to make the film didn’t come from marketing or merchandising, it came from the creative team involved. It also seems the only time to do this is now and not try to start the whole thing up from scratch in two years. The right people, the big movie-making machine that helps Jackson realize his vision, is in place.

There seems to be no doubt that Sir Peter is a director with some major clout. And I think we’d all agree he’s a creative genius.

Of course, the big question for me is: would there be any Thorin in a third film? I hope I am not providing a spoiler here when I point out that Thorin does not *sob* survive the original book.

It sounds from the article as if we might get more Lee Pace as Thranduil, which would be a big plus for me, but I have to confess it’s Mr. A that is my primary interest. After all, what’s the name of this blog?

If you haven’t read the entire theonering.net article, I suggest you do so and then share your thoughts on the subject. Do you think a third film is a good idea/bad idea and why? And would you still feel an urgent need to see the third film sans Thorin?

Related articles

• New Images From The Hobbit & Will It Be A Trilogy? (emileeid.com)
• ‘The Hobbit’ Going For A Trilogy? Say It Isn’t So! (m.deadline.com)
• “The Hobbit” filmmakers, Warner Bros. looking to make 3rd movie (panarmenian.net)

Yup, he’s a bad-ass dwarf, alright.

The following is an excerpt from an analysis made by the theoneringnet of those wonderful EW photos featured in their article on The Hobbit.

You can access the entire article at the link below:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2012/07/08/58366-torn-staff-analyse-all-12-entertainment-weekly-photos/

I have marked in red some of the comments that make me most proud of and excited for Richard.  It seems as if at least some of the hard-core Tolkien fans are definitely impressed by what they see thus far in RA’s look as and interpretation of Thorin.

Ainu Laire:I simply adore all the details on his costume and the details on Orcrist. He looks like a proper dwarf-lord to me.

Deej: Bad ass.

Elessar: A dwarf who’s ready to kick some butt is what this says to me. You get a sense of a dwarf with a chip on his shoulder ready to prove that he can lead, and also someone who wants what is supposed to be coming to him.

Garfeimao: Orcrist is stunning, a blade worthy of the King under the Mountain, to be sure. But I also love his fur-lined leather duster. Thorin is definitely regal looking.

Grammaboodawg: For some reason, this portrait of Thorin has him seeming a little less “in control” and a part of the dwarves instead of their rock-hard leader. He’s warrior-like and formidable, but I like this portrait better than the original posed shot.

Linuxelf: He looks like the confident leader that he is, and he looks like he knows how use that sword well!

MrCere: Is it possible people still don’t get that this movie is about three people moving the action? Gandalf, Bilbo and Thorin are the center of this film. Let me go on record again and say that Richard Armitage is going to be a gigantic star when these two movies are over.

Quickbeam: Thorin Oakenshield has graduated from using an oak branch to one of the finest weapons of old Gondolin. Imagine this sword might weigh and handle completely differently for a dwarf as opposed to the elf who forged it.

Sarumann: I’m still getting used to dwarves looking this cool. But, man does Richard Armitage own that role! He’s going to exemplify what it means to be a warrior dwarf. I also love the design of Orcrist, and will be hard pressed not to buy a replica once they become available.

Richard, honey, we all knew you’d wow ’em.  Vive Thorin, the King Under the Mountain and one bad-ass warrior dwarf!

Thorin Oakenshield: on his way to conquering the world . . .

One last round of Guy, ladies–and a little Hobbit, too

I have comments to catch up on replying to, and my Entertainment Weekly to peruse. The Hobbit was mentioned as the number one “Blockbuster with Buzz” with a subheader, Peter Jackson‘s vision of The Hobbit is Clear. Really Clear including quotes from Sir Peter and major theatre chain execs referring to the controversial 48 fps vs. the traditional 24 fps displayed in the 10 minute clip collection at cinema.con.

One said, “There are some guys in this industry where you just say, over time, they’ll figure this stuff out. It doesn’t hurt that it’s Sir Peter Jackson.” I heartily concur. My money’s on the adorable and very, very clever bloke helming the whole project.

Ballpoint pen portrait on 21 x 29 cm format (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Can’t wait to see the cover stories sure to come on TH. And with EW’s penchant for shooting multiple covers for different cast members as part of major  cover stories (which are included in all subscriber copies) there is a chance we just might see Thorin on one of those covers.  And I suppose I need to rustle up something for supper.  I guess just eating a mocha brownie is out of the question . . . yeah, I thought so.

Random Acts of Richarding for Monday

An elegant gentleman, isn't he? I can imagine him siting in a wingback chair by a fire in a library . . . a book in his hand . . . a glass of wine beside him on a table.

I love it when you get your fierce on, Mr. "World's Tallest Dwarf."

Boyish Armitage in blue. He's quite a chameleon with his appearance and his acting, isn't he?

Would this be considered hand porn AND food porn?

Mr. Armitage has won an well-deserved award . . .

Richard Armitage at the 2010 Television BAFTAs. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

It was announced today by the International Callipygian Society that British actor Richard Crispin Armitage, currently in New Zealand filming the role of Thorin for Sir Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit films, has been named Callipygian Male Extraordinaire. Throngs of females (and a not insignificant number of males) are expected to celebrate this event by staging marathons of fanvids and show clips from the actor’s well-rounded roles. “We don’t call the man ‘Sweet Cheeks’ for nothing,” said one rabid fan.  Another commented,  “We love how Richard always fleshes out his characters so booti-fully.”

Mania: Now, I understand (Thoughts about the Beatles and Richard Armitage)

Imagine it's "The Hobbit" premiere. Will we feel so very different?

courtesy of fanpop.com

When I was a little girl, the British Invasion was underway. I remember my oldest sister had a wallet-sized rectangular photo of the Beatles. It was in black and white, with a conspicuous pink lip print across it (I think she might have used her Pepsi-flavored lippie when she gave John, her favorite Beatle, a big kiss. I preferred Paul). I wonder if she still has that photo somewhere? Never mind, our affection for the Beatles and their music is undiminished.  A classic is a classic is a classic. And the songs of the Beatles are modern classics.

I can't help feeling sorry for these poor Bobbies. You can't keep an ardent fangurl back for long.

I know exactly how she feels. What I suspect I would look like(inside my head, at the very least) if I ever got to see RA up close and personal.
(Beatles fan photos courtesy of thesecretagent.wordpress.com)

At age five, I saw the images of girls at the Fab Four’s concerts and public appearances screaming and fainting, trying to scramble over barriers and push past police officers; girls thudding and squeeing and fan-gurlling in a major sort of way. Even Elvis, whose debut on Ed Sullivan was before my time, wasn’t as huge as the four lads from Liverpool, it seems. Even in a world without the internet, Facebook, Twitter and the like, you pretty much had to live under a rock not to know about the latest British import. I liked their music, but I thought those grown-ups had gone a bit bonkers to behave that way. Even when I hit my teens, I wasn’t one to pour over endless copies of Tiger Beat magazine, plaster my walls with posters of celebs or squee alot. Much too mature for that, don’t you know.

I actually do know someone who attended the Beatles’ famous 1965 concert in Shea Stadium in New York. Burke “Sweetie” McFerrin, our retired public librarian, was there. Sweetie called it a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I am sure that if I ever get to see Richard in the flesh, to actually get to see him perform on stage, I will find it just as memorable as Sweetie found her concert. Just the thought of it makes my heart beat a little faster.

courtesy of sodahead.com

I ask myself, would I be able to keep the excitement, the pure exhilaration of the moment from sweeping me away? I noticed that the Beatles’ fangurlz often ended up crying, sobbing aloud. I once scoffed at such behavior. But if tears came to my eyes the first time I saw Paris in person–and they did–wouldn’t seeing the lovely, dazzling, wonderful Richard Armitage in person likely bring me to cry?

As RA (and The Hobbit) Mania takes hold, can tattoos featuring Thorin and his band be far behind? Although I personally draw the line at getting a tattoo.

(I should add that thought of crying slightly terrifies me, as I cry with my whole head. Seriously. Tears from my eyes, nose, running and drool dripping from the corner of my mouth.  If my ears could weep, they’d be at it, too. Not a pretty sight.)

Perhaps I wouldn’t cry, but would I be able to string together a coherent sentence? Or keep a silly grin off my face? Would I be able to stop talking about it for days, weeks afterwards?  Would I be able to maintain my middle-aged, respectable southern lady dignity? Heck, would I even care? And I am not necessarily talking about meeting him face to face–just being in the same theatre with him, watching him on stage, very possibly from the nose-bleed section, yet knowing I was in the presence of greatness.

Richard signs autographs for fans lining the red carpet at the BAFTAs. Photo by Koolkat.

Some of you have actually met Mr. A, if only briefly, gotten his autograph, taken a photo with him, perhaps even had a short conversation.  Did you feel as if you maintained your composure well?  How did/do you think you would react?

When Thorin arrives in mid-December, larger-than-life and in 3D, no less, I suspect the reaction will rock me to the core.  I may retain reasonable composure on the exterior. But inside? I’ll be just like those squeeing, thudding, sobbing young ladies seen above.

Because the RA Invasion will have arrived. And my particular brand of Richard Armitage-induced mania will well and surely kick in.

Will you save your The Hobbit tickets for posterity? Beatles Concert Ticket (Photo credit: b.reynolds)

Thorin for Thursday (because he’s soooo fine) with apologies to the Chiffons

Thorin Oakenshield: He’s So Fine!

Thor-in, Thor-in, Thorin . . . Thorin, Thorin!

He’s so fine (Thor-in, Thor-in, Thor-in)

Wish he were mine (That heir of Du-rin)

That handsome dwarf right there (Thor-in, Thor-in, Thor-in)

The one with the long, long hair! (The heir of Du-rin)

I don’t know how I’m gonna do it (Thor-in, Thor-in, Thor-in)

But I’m gonna make him mine! (Thor-in, Thor-in, Thor-in)

He’s the envy of the fangurlz (that heir of Du-rin)

It’s just a matter of time! (before Thor-in is mine)

He’s got a big, sharp blade (that hottie dwarf I love)

With him, I’d have it made! (a gift of heav’n above!)

Makes me tingle just to think (of Thor-in, Thor-in, Thor-in)

Hey Thorin, give me a wink (you heir of Du-rin) . . .

If I were Thorin’s queen (Thor-in, Thor-in, Thor-in)

with him I’d share a throne (the heir of Durin)

I’d be his loving, loyal queen (Tho-rin, Thor-in, Thor-in)

And he’d be my very own! (my heir of Du-rin)

For he’s so fine (That hottie dwarf sublime)

He’s so fine (I’m gonna make him mine)

So fine, so fine, so fine . . .

FanstRAvaganza 3 continues, Harry K. & other things that make me happy

Richard as Harry Kennedy in The Vicar of Dibley. (screencap by RANet)

We’re in Day Two of the FanstRAvaganza 3 in FANFIC tagteam chain!

If you missed Day One, check out my post on fanfiction joining mainstream culture right here at The Armitage Effect.

 In Day Two, see my partners’ posts at http://mrjthornton.blogspot.com  and http://cerridewnspeaks.blogspot.com for more great F3 Fanfic entries!  Tomorrow, the FANFIC tagteam continues at C.S. Winchester http://cswinchester.blogspot.com and Maria Garza http://flyhigh-by-learnonline.blogspot.com. Don’t miss out on all the RA goodness.

Now, about those things that make me happy . . . other than Mr. Armitage and delightful characters such as the sweet and sunny accountant Harry Kennedy.

The unforced smiles on the faces of these little girls at a local sweet potato festival in a photo I took for the newspaper.

The breathtaking beauty of spring.

FanstRAvaganza 3 Fanfiction: Goin’ Mainstream

George R.R. Martin, author of "A Song of Fire and Ice" series, is not a fanfc fan. However, "Game of Thrones," HBO's adaptation of his books, is inspiring lots of it. Image via Wikipedia

The cover of fellow blogger Jasrangoon’s latest fanfic, an updated variation on “North and South.”

Fanfic writers come in all ages, shapes and sizes.

Hello, I’m fedoralady and I write fanfiction. And, contrary to popular belief, I am not a geeky sci-fi guy who lives in the basement of my parents’ trailer. (Not that there’s a thing wrong with geeky sci-fi guys; I married a perfectly lovely one.)

There are plenty more fanfiction writers—and readers—out there, and not just in Armitage World. After years of being considered something of a “red-headed stepchild” of the literary world, fanfic is increasingly moving into the mainstream.

My husband can tell you fanfiction as we know it today was born in the 1960s when a series called Star Trek appeared, spawning a fanzine, Spockanalia.

The cover for tne fanzine "Spockanalia," which shared fanfic with Star Trek fans back in the day. (tobetoocool@wordpress.com)

Today there is fanfiction based not only on books, films and TV shows, but plays, musicals, video games, board games, rock bands, the Bible—even pro football player Peyton Manning has fanfic written about him. Fanfic is boldly going where no fiction has ever gone before.

How big is fanfic? Estimates show fanfiction now makes up at least one-third of all content about books on the Web. FanFiction.net alone has over 2 million fanfictions archived on its site, and that’s not counting Live Journal, Wattpad and other sites.

Fanfic’s rising profile has been documented and explored in major publications, including Time magazine (“How Harry Potter Became the Boy Who Lived Forever,” Lev Grossman, July 7, 2011) and Entertainment Weekly (“Just Do It!” focusing on fanfiction, shippers and slash writers, February 17, 2012– print edition only).

Some writers, including Anne Rice and George R.R. Martin, have aggressively worked to stop fanfiction based on their characters, saying it promotes bad writing and treads on copyright infringement.

However, there are other authors who welcome it, including J.K. Rowlings and Twilight author Stephenie Meyer, who even provides links to fanfic on her own website.

And now, showrunners are sitting up and taking notice of fanfic. Television show executive producers are actually monitoring social media for feedback on characters’ story arcs, particularly romantic storylines. Writers of the TV show Fringe were warned fanfic writers and vidders might rebel if they kept two characters apart. It seems our voices are finally being heard.

Rather than keeping it their dirty little secret, more and more published authors are now freely admitting they also write fanfic.

Naomi Novik is the bestselling author of the series Temeraire which has been optioned by none other than Sir Peter Jackson, Richard’s director for The Hobbit films. Novik is also a fanfic writer who was interviewed for the Time article.

Bestselling author and fanfic writer, Naomi Novik. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

“Fanfic writing isn’t work, it’s joyful play,” she said. “The problem is that for most people, any kind of writing looks like work to them so they get confused why anyone would want to write fanfic, instead of original professional material, even though they don’t have any problem understanding why someone would want to mess around on a guitar playing Simon and Garfunkel.”

In the Time article, Grossman points out that fanfiction is part of the “cutting, pasting, sampling, remixing and mashing up” that have become “mainstream modes of cultural expression.” Fanfiction “challenges just about everything we thought we knew about art and creativity.”

So, who is writing this “challenging” stuff? From anecdotal evidence, it appears the majority of fanfic writers are female. And it’s a diverse lot, of every race, color, creed, religion, age, nationality, socio-economic level and sexual orientation.
Fanfic comes with a built-in audience for our work. Ever eager for more adventures with Harry and Ron, Bella and Edward and—in our case—Guy, Lucas, Thornton, Porter et al. we flock to new stories, new pairings, new alternate universes.

Not only do we write and read fanfic online, we see friendships and partnerships develop as we become part of a community. Writers get more immediate feedback from their readers, and there are younger writers who say fanfic is a great learning tool for improving their writing skills.

Some fanfic writers go on to write original stories with their own characters. And some of those writers become successful novelists in their own right (my particular dream).

As with Richard Armitage, the term “fanfic” certainly isn’t  known in every household. But that’s definitely changing.

Who knows, in a few months newly minted fans of the brave and charismatic warrior dwarf Thorin may be inspired to sit down at their keyboards and start writing fanfic.

After all, it’s joyful play–and the wave of the future.

Visit my fellow tagteamers http://www.mrjthornton.blogspot.com and http://www.cerridewnspeaks.blogspot.com and thanks for supporting FanstRAv 3D!

Image via Wikipedia

Richard always encourages us to be generous and to support worthy charities, and in that vein I am going to mention some of the causes during F3 which have been dear to me. The American Cancer Society has made tremendous strides in the fight against cancer through their support of research, as well as through the education and moral support given to cancer patients and families. Each year the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life raises monies and brings communities large and small together to “celebrate, remember and fight back.”

Another Who’s Who of Armitage ChaRActers

Sir Guy of Gisborne: Sexiest Assassin in Acre

Lucas North: Best Spy With Whom to Share Suggestive Banter

John Porter: Best "Aw Shucks Ma'am, T'weren't nuthin'" faces.

Thorin Oakenshield :Most Likely to Have Clogged Drain in His Shower.

Oh. My. God. My Thorin Mania just reached new heights.

The battle of the Manes? He does look like he is having fun.

I’ll be over here, thudding quietly in the corner. More later.

He's simply---awesome.