My Three Thorins

 Love and hugs to all three!  and to the entire cast. 

I'm nostalgic already 

Richard and the two other Thorins belong to Peter Jackson's FB page from tonight:

https://www.facebook.com/PeterJacksonNZ

We're battling on, shooting Thorin in a climatic duel for the third movie. Finishing the entire shoot with the end of his story. Fitting I guess. It's obviously not the very end of the movie itself. That scene was actually shot about 2 years ago. But it's tough emotional stuff to punch on with into the night. Keeps us on our toes until the bitter end!

From Peter Jackson's FB Page tonight

Goodbye to Friends and Reflections on Life as an Actor

Very sad today to read two tweets, one from Graham McTavish and the other from Jed Brophy, about the end of Hobbit Filming:


"Jed Brophy: 
The finish Line is in sight. There will be tears. It is hard to describe how this experience has been. The body knows though, i feel the years today. Uncountable Ocs have felt the wrath. Last days in middle Earth . I have been so very fortunate.xxjedi"

"Graham McTavish:
The finish line is in sight, 3 more days. we have said farewell to some of my dwarven brothers. So proud to have shared this with them."

I was already feeling sad, expecting that the "goodbyes" for them were coming soon, and thinking of their sadness but also their satisfaction for a job well done, and thinking of Richard Armitage of course, wondering how he's feeling.

Then also this morning I read an article in The Guardian by Michael Simkins:

Paul Bhattacharjee and Cory Monteith deaths: is acting today just too tough?

and reflected on this quote from the article:

"And that's the problem. Despite the undoubted camaraderie, the laughs, the jollies and the sense of tribalism that attends any acting project, the profession remains a notoriously lonely one. Friendships are intense but brief; when the gig ends or the curtain runs down, you can soon find yourself back home staring at your mobile and wondering if any of it really happened. Memories are short, time moves on, fame is transitory. Look at the number of stars who were once regular guests on Mavis Nicholson's show, all of whom are now nothing more than clues in old Puzzler books. Who's Mavis Nicholson? Exactly."

  

I know in my heart it won't be that way for the dwarves cast and for the rest of the cast, they will remain friends forever, but it won't be the same. They all have busy lives, families...and reunions are great, but it will never be quite the same again as those 18 plus months working together. 

We've been so lucky, the fans, to have such a wonderfully charming cast, most willing to share with us the experience through Twitter and Facebook.  Lucky to have Peter Jackson sharing the VLogs with us too.

(I was also lucky to meet almost all of them on an unforgettable night last December - and they are truly that charming in real life too.)

I'm still thinking about the Simkins article.  You see, it was about the difficult profession of acting.  

It was also about an actor who died recently:

"Paul Bhattacharjee was a supremely gifted performer, liked and respected in equal measure. That's no small achievement in itself – but he also seemed as secure as any individual can be in the precarious business of acting. When his body was discovered near cliffs in East Sussex last week, having disappeared during rehearsals for a new play at the Royal Court, the news sent shockwaves through the acting profession."

I knew Mr. Bhattacherjee mostly for one role, in one of my favorite TV series, in an episode I've seen over and over through several years:

Through the years of watching UK television I recognized his face a few times beyond Spooks. I wish I would have seen him on stage.  I wish I would have cared to find out more about him when he was alive.,

I've been thinking of all the actors and actresses I've seen in my life, from starring roles to small parts, and how much enjoyment and solace they've brought to my life. The article makes me even more sad today. But also today, at work, when I looked at my "unglamorous" life, I was very grateful for it.

"People often ask me what the essential difference is between professional actors and amateurs. Their presumption is invariably that it's to do with talent. But in fact the only defining difference is whether you have the stomach for the lifestyle – one in which rejection, disappointment and despair are part of your daily routine. The statistic is often trotted out that 92% of the profession is out of work at any one time. Yet, as the case of Bhattacharjee suggests, even if you're in the 8%, it's harder than ever to make ends meet. Theatre has never been particularly well-paid (unless you're prepared to walk the treadmill of a long West End run), and the glory days of TV repeat fees are long gone, a victim of the multi-channel era in which traditional contracts have been shredded into a thousand bespoke arrangements and sub-clauses." (The Guardian - M.Simkins)


All day after reading the article I've also been thinking of other quotes:

"There was a time when I thought, and my agent thought, it wasn't going to happen for me.We both sat down and I actually said I don't know if I can stay in this state. The interesting roles have only come since I got into my 30s. But I didn't know that was going to happen." (Richard Armitage - The Daily Record Interview)

"I’m a bit of an all or nothing kind of guy. To be honest, I had no blind faith in myself. I don’t think I could have stayed around as a jobbing kind of actor." Richard Armitage (The Daily Record, I rarely turn down work after years of struggling … , October 24, 2009, Richard Armitage Central)

There are days when as a fan I am also extremely grateful.

I do recommend if you're interested in acting or love movies or theater, or have a favorite actor or actress, whoever they may be, (doesn't have to be my favorite actors of course), that you read the entire article by Mr. Simkins.  He is also an actor.

See link below:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/jul/23/paul-bhattacharjee-cory-monteith-acting?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Decorating and Storage for Small Vintage Apartments

I live in a small one-bedroom apartment in a "vintage" building (if you consider the 1960's and 1970's vintage) and I know the frustrations of decorating a small space with little storage. One thing I've learned is that furniture must have more than one purpose and have built in storage if possible.

I'm always happy to share ideas about how to work with a limited space, and recently I've had several friends over at different times who have helped me look at some space issues with new eyes.

So in case there's anyone out there that may be looking to discuss some small apartment decorating ideas, brainstorm some ideas with someone with a similar issues, especially in an older vintage building, I just want them to know I'm here.

I know it can be challenging, even for someone with a visual mind who loves architecture.  I'm not an architect or decorator, but I dwell among them during the daylight hours.

Now, talking to someone I feel is a kindred spirit here, I'm sure that searching Google for small apartment ideas is always a fun activity to indulge in.  In order to get the brainstorming discussion going, I offer a few ideas.

Decorating a small apartment office, for instance, you need to think vertical for storage:

The same goes for living rooms - you want to go vertical (something some of us may be more familiar with than others)- and as I said, go for multipurpose usage, especially when storing or archiving things like movie scripts, for example, or sheet music:

Kitchens are always an interesting decorating challenge, because you have appliances to consider. Now, I rent, so I don't have a choice as to the type of appliances I have once I selected this apartment for rent. But, some of us may be lucky enough to have the option of buying new appliances for a small kitchen. Given the vintage nature of some apartments, you may want to stay within that theme:

I know from watching HGTV that lots of of homeowners these days go bonkers if they don't have stainless steel appliances, but I think I might be safe in suggesting (kindred spirits and all) a refurbished or replica 1920's range like the one above:

Or something new, but with a more vintage look like the one pictured above.

What about going black? Something like the very well named Kitchen Range Majestic for the majestic in some of us.

Update 8/24/13: I think I found the perfect stove for the perfect Guy, I mean guy:

Perfect for a vintage 1920's era apartment building

I know I'm still moving furniture around in my new apartment and looking for better ways to use the space in the future. A challenge (especially for those of us financially challenged like me), but a fun challenge. A friend said to me recently she hoped my apartment was my sanctuary, and I hope to make it so, and hope everyone's home is their sanctuary.

Now for some admin and thanks:

Decorating ideas from the following sites if you're curious:

http://st.houzz.com/simgs/f88191c60032b594_4-7571/traditional-kitchen.jpg

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1446168/1920-s-Historic-Kitchen-traditional-kitchen-seattle

http://www.stuartwestmorelandappliances.co.uk/smeg-tr4110p-719.html

http://www.appliancist.com/ranges/ilve-kitchen-range-majestic.html

http://www.lushome.com/modern-furniture-small-spaces-15-great-ideas-decorating-small-apartments-homes/107141

http://homeanddecor.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Small-Living-Room-Storage-Ideas.jpg

Thank you to Servetus for the "what kind of kitchen range?" question.

Thank you Richard Armitage Central for the RA screencaps.

Poll Results Update! Poll: What Kind of Cereal Would Richard Armitage Be?

UPDATE 7/28/13 - Poll Results are in

Richard is Chocolate Malt-O-Meal 

It's hot, and it's chocolate 

Thank you sahraobsessed for her winning cereal entry:

sahraobsessedJuly 14, 2013 at 10:45 PM

Chocolate Malt-o-Meal
1)It's a HOT cereal - Richard is HOT
2)It's a chocolate cereal - Richard loves chocolate
3)It's a nutritious cereal - Richard is fit
4)It's delicious - I eat up everything about him
5)I'd lick the bowl clean -'nough said

Poll is on the right hand sidebar

 Why the poll and why cereal?  Read the post below this one to find out more and also read the comments to see the cereal suggestions and why the commenter selected a particular cereal as being "Richard Armitage"

(There was also one suggestion from a twitter pal)

You can vote until the evening of July 27 (EST)

I'll update this post with the results after July 27

Thank you all who commented and contributed your cereal suggestions and thank you Servetus for encouraging contributions to the poll on your blog.

*Dear Richard, if you're reading this by some miracle of the heavens, don't forget to vote for your favorite.

What Kind of Cereal Are You Richard Armitage?

Servetus posted a link to a post of a fan who met Richard at the World's End premiere the other night, and he mentioned someone asked him what kind of cereal he ate.

Now some of you may be old enough to remember that Barbara Walters (Famous US TV interviewer for those that don't know) used to ask celebrities "if you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?"  

Inspired by Barbara Walters, I think a better question for Richard Armitage would be, "if you were a cereal, what kind of cereal would you be?"  

I think he would be  whole grain Count Chocula.

Purpose of this instant post is to ask for your suggestions, what kind of cereal do you think Richard would be?   If I get even 5 suggestions I'll run a poll and we can see what cereal wins.  (Of course I would love more, but I'm realistic here on my blog). 

Would love suggestions in the comments below :)

(OK - I'll run a poll in a week in any case, but would love them to be your suggestions rather than just my ideas)

Apologie sto Phylly3 for not including her contribution - I just found it in my emails today (Aug 31). Too late for the poll, but here it is below, a great suggestion:

My favourite cereal is Kellogg's Just Right cereal.

And isn't Richard Armitage "Just Right" for everybody?
  From
Phylly3

North and South with Richard Armitage on US TV Channel INSP July 14

My hope is that after this Sunday, July 14, Richard Armitage will have many new fans in the US after they watch him as John Thornton on the Inspiration (INSP) network.

Don't miss the "INSP Network Premiere" of all four episodes of North & South starting at 8:00pm this Sunday, July 14.  

To find out if you have INSP in your area with your cable or satellite TV service provider click on the link below and type in your zip code:

http://www.insp.com/insp-channel-finder/

I have never watched INSP before, but I found out my cable provider did indeed have this channel. Though I own the DVD  I will tune in at 8:00pm on Sunday and watch part of it thinking of all the people around the country watching for the first time, or those like me, watching to feel we are joining in the moment. 

Below is a link to the INSP page about North & South:

http://www.insp.com/shows/north-and-south/


 and below the trailer on their site:

THANK YOU INSP

Images thanks to Fanpop

Playing with Thorin

For my Twitter background

Or with Sean Bean and Guy? 

My Favorite Moments from the latest Hobbit Vidlog