The Yak Shack Forum

Well, figured I'd post this here also. The same three actors that blackcat saw in Melbourne were up in Sydney on Saturday for another convention. I took very detailed notes-hope you enjoy! Pictures (of the talks and with the actors) will have to wait until I finish the roll of film.

It was an older crowd by and large (cost of ticket? none of the really "popular" actors?) which was fine.
I got there  a bit before registration opened so I
browed the dealer room looking at all the stuff. Some
cool things--like Anduril (I wants it!), lots of
slideshow WETA stuff, cards and other random stuff.

Noel Appleby was the first to speak--his first talk.
He was a cute little old man. He talked about how he
was happy to be here and how it had come about when he
went up to Auckland earlier in the year to get John
Rhys-Davies' autograph! On the subject of Peter
Jackson, he said "if ever a man knew what he was
doing..." then he talked a bit about his role in the
Navigator, which I hadn't seen.

The auction was the next event. Something like 62
lots! Ranging from some very nice slideshow items,
handcrafted WETA-like scene sculptures, a framed TT
poster autographed by 16, an autographed & framed
Harrison Ford poster and a bunch of single autographs
from LOTR stars on photos or cards to things like
bookmarks, trading cards, a notebook, etc...Wide
variety. Most of the Gimli things had been signed by
JRD, as well as some non-Gimli things.

the grand prize in the raffle was a framed TT poster
signed by like 16 people. Even though I already have a TT poster signed by 20, I bought my 3 raffle tickets. But it was won by someone in theVIP area who bought a ton of things in the auction.

 >:(


Then it was John Noble's turn to speak. He did the
entire 45 minute session as Q &A. He was quite funny
at times but was very entertaining, informative and
was just having a good time. LOTR things of note:
-the EE scene where Denethor falls down was filmed 17
times! He had quite a large bruise by the end.
-in LA when he saw the movie that audience cheered not
once, but two times when Denethor got hurt
-ROTK EE will be 50% better than the theatrical--you
have the complete storylines
-in response to a question, he talked a lot about the
scene where he dismisses Faramir and says he wishes
Boromir was alive, etc. He said by that point he knew
what Denethor was about and it wasn't hard to be so
cold to F. He told us to think about it in simple
terms. You're having this big domestic argument and
suddenly you get that question. What else are you
going to say? And to look at D as a human being--the
leader of the free world, he's lost everything, he's
lost one of his sons, he knows they are going to be
overun, etc... the last thing he wants is to have a
"petty argument" with his son.
-he hadn't read the books when he auditioned, he read
them when he got the callback.
-He also auditioned for Saruman, but wasn't tall
enough! Then he read on the internet that Chris Lee
got Saruman and thought "well, I can't complain". Then
he read that Donald Sutherland got Denethor, and well,
that didnt' happen.
-the subject of the lack of palantir was brought up.
Very interesting response. He says that D doesnt' need
the p to instigate his demise. And in fimmaking terms,
it doesn't make sense to introduce D that way. Filming
the palantir bit was never even discussed and he's
glad it wasn't done. It wouldn't add much at all. He
had a great quote about how "we all peer into the
crystal ball of our imagination on a daily basis."
Isn't that great??
-he related the story about when Billy first sang the
song. There were about 200 people on set when Billy sang it as
rehearsal and within 5 seconds you could hear a pin
drop. By the end John was in tears, he said it was
very magical. He called that whole sequence (the song
intercut with the charge) one of the finest pieces of
cinema.
-his latest project was a film shot in the Czech
republic where he plays a big Russian guy-"the most
unlikable character ever met". He got to die and do
all sorts of stunts and loved it.

After a short break it was JRD's turn to speak.
Overall it was OK. He started out with the usual "no,
I don't have Orlando's number. But if I did, I would
give it to you."
-Indiana Jones info: theoretically they will be making
a new IJ movie next year and it will be the best
-his favorite character is always the next one, though
Gimli is written in pain on his heart
-his next movie is called "one with the king" and is
shooting in India next month.
-related the story about how he remembers standing
halfway up a mountain watching people bring up his
costume in parts and then having to run with it on.
-a great quote about not being able to film one night
in Queenstown (I think) "the lake is under water"
-lots of talk on directing and what makes a good
director
-a person asked about the poll on TORN for who was the
cutest guy and did he care to comment on Gimli coming
in at 0.3%, same as Theoden, Elrond and Wormtongue.
Response "if I had pointly ears and a long blond wig
I'd have come out of it better" ROFL!
-lots of politics which I really could have done
without.
-in response to a question about the "canoe incident
in FOTR": while training, the boat with him and
Orlando capsized. "the ungracious little pointy-eared
blond person of not significant stature, I name no
names, Orlando, pointed at the dwarf and said 'it
wasn't me, it was the dwarf.' the dwarf said nothing
due to his magnanimous personality." ROFL!
Several months later the elf was in a canoe with
someone else and it capsized. Only this time there was
no dwarf to blame!
-he ended by saing that the whole thing was a con. He
came because he wanted to meet us. He said it's easy
for an actor to get lost and forget who the audience
is.

After the talks went and got my autos. Got all three
to sign my book and pictures with
each (JRD tickled me!!. Much to my disappointment, JN did not flirt with me this time,  but he did remember me and commented
how I looked different with my hair down. Got his auto
on an 8*10.

Both he and JN noticed my paua shell
necklace from NZ and asked about it (who knew!) and
wanted to know what I was studying. JN thought it was
great that the world certainly needed it as the way we
were going and the rate was suicidal. JRD also thought
it was good. When JRD found out I was from MN he
quoted Garrison Keillor's "description of MN" which
was very cool. I told him I'd see him in two weeks and
he said that was great, he looked forward to seeing me again. Highlight was him signing my photo "for beautiful Alyssa. From
John Rhys-Davies and Gimli" Isn't that just too
awesome??? I LOVE it!  ;D

I'll post pictures when I get them. Hopefully you guys enjoy reading this report.

It sounds like you had a great time!

I can't wait to see some pictures... have a spring BBQ and invite some friends round and finish off your film  ;D

I am secretly dying to know what political beliefs JRD expressed that you didn't agree with... what was it on - the Iraq war?

Well it sounds like over in Oz JN comes over as the life and soul of the party, last time I saw John Noble was at Fellowship festival and he looked tired and was having a fag - perhaps he feels the jetlag badly over here  ;D

to be honest I really dont' remember a lot of the political stuff he said. I definitely wasn't going to write it down and tried to tune it out. He didn't mention the war or really much specific.
The one thing I do remember wasn't so much political as religious I guess but it really offended me (and I certainly dont' want to offend anyone here). He said that being an atheist said more about how closed-minded that person was then the universe. I'm not an atheist but I have some good friends that are and they are wonderful people. I found that statement very insulting and very closed minded itself.
Seeing him and Sean A in less than two weeks will be very interesting... Good thing they aren't on stage together for any sort of panel or talk!

I'm looking for an excuse to take the last four pictures or so on the roll. I'm too broke to be able to waste them!

Thank you for an excellent review!!   :)