Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge - Day 2

Favorite Character Design?


My favorite character design is not just one character, but 13 characters. 




The dwarves are my favorite character design because I believe Peter Jackson and the very talented people at WETA and the Make-up and hair and prosthetic artists accomplished what they set out to do, make 13 distinctive characters and looks.  






Thanks to fansshare.com

Please check out the creator of The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge at the link below:


Monday, December 30, 2013

The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge - Day 1



Who is your Favorite Dwarf?

This is a tough one isn't it!? Who is the bravest, handsomest, most majestic dwarf? 



Thorin Oakenshield


Son of Thrain, Son of Thror

is my favorite dwarf

(Surprise!)


"...in their songs they spoke ever of the Lonely Mountain far away, and the treasure and the bliss of the Great Hall in the light of the Arkenstone...The embers in the heart of Thorin grew hot again, as he brooded on the wrongs of his House and of the vengeance upon the Dragon that was bequeathed to him."  Unfinished Tales
J.R.R. Tolkien



Thought I would have some fun while we are all still in DOS mode and take up Peregrint's The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge.

I know this was created for Tumblr so I hope they will forgive me for taking up the challenge here on my blog. 

Please check out the creator of The Hobbit 30 Day Challenge at the link below:



If you haven't read the book, beware of spoilers as the challenge hopefully continues for the next 29 days









Thursday, December 26, 2013

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Feliz Navidad - Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays Everyone for 2013






This is my favorite version of Misty Mountains because you can hear the voices without any technical enhancements---- from The Hobbit: AUJ Extended Edition.  My best wishes to all for this Holiday Season.


Wouldn't be Nochebuena if I didn't include the song my family would listen to every December 24. Brings back memories of happier times.





However you celebrate this season, wishing you all the best of times with your friends and family.

Feliz Navidad

Sunday, December 22, 2013

New Hobbit Behind the Scene Video from Italian Site COMING SOON -Beware of SPOILERS

Thanks to El Anillo Unico - Big Spoilers - looks like part of the behind-the-scenes future DOS Extended Edition:

In English with Italian subtitles - cast interviews.





What is it with Richard Armitage and deep, dark, forests? 


Also great article for those that have seen the film from Smithsonian.com (thanks to the OneRing.net for the link):

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/The-Tolkien-Nerds-Guide-to-The-Hobbit-The-Desolation-of-Smaug--236566281.html#ixzz2nylopS8C

Peter Jackson used more from Tolkien's writing in the new Desolation of Smaug film than we might think.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Museums and TV: The Museum of Contemporary Art Experiments with New Series

MOCATV Ambience Man Cast (from ArtDaily.org)


Museums around the world are experimenting with social media to try and reach a new and younger audience. 

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles video extension on YouTube will debut a new comedy series on December 20 starring Fred Armisen and Jack Black. 

Art Daily Newsletter describes the series as "part sketch comedy and part subversive artistic commentary...drawing upon and referencing the art historical. "  The series is the creation of artist Alix Lambert. 






MOCA wants to reach the large comedy audience on YouTube and so far has reached over 5 million views on their channel. 


More Information: http://artdaily.com/news/66920/MOCAtv-to-debut-new-art---comedy-series-Ambiance-Man-created-by-Alix-Lambert#.UrJZ3vRDuSo[/url]
Copyright © artdaily.org



Saturday, December 14, 2013

My Two Richards




I'm not sure why I'm writing this today. Have second and third thoughts about writing this.  Maybe because I've been reading too many of my fellow bloggers posts about meeting Richard, or about whether or not they should meet Richard, or about whether some of us are too old to fangirl over Richard. All of it very interesting thought provoking reading. All of this reading have caused me to think about meeting Richard Armitage a little over a year ago now and about my own feelings about meeting him. 

Would I do it all over again? In a New York minute!

I also know I shouldn't really talk about it anymore, should keep it as my private thoughts only, though I confess it was my favorite moment of all last year. Well, one of my favorite moments of many years really, and will be in my memory forever (or until age leads me to forget who I am.) Now with the new Hobbit movie opening and all the excitement and the videos and interviews it's brought it more than ever back in my mind and my emotions.

I could comment on my fellow RA fan blogs I suppose, but believe me, nothing stops a discussion cold in it's tracks faster than a comment from me anywhere on the blogosphere. Twitter demands fewer words and is more and more the place I interact with my fellow RA fans.  Not right for everyone, but somehow right for me.

I've so enjoyed reading the stories of all that have met or seen Richard Armitage "in the flesh" from LA, to London, to Berlin to Madrid...did I miss one?  I've always so enjoyed reading about fans meeting Richard, from the early days of Robin Hood and even before, way before Thorin, to these past few weeks. Every meeting is special, every one of them, for all of us, we do share in the pleasure and excitement of every fan. 

So why am I writing this? I don't really know, I just am, and this is my blog, so I can.  Maybe because part of me wants to encourage those who doubt whether they want to meet Armitage the person to do so if they have the opportunity.  But I've also been a fan of someone else for 20 years, and I've never met him. You see, I have no issue with fangirling since I've been doing it for a very long time,  and I'm older than many fans, older than Richard.

So here I come to the part about my two Richards. 

Richard #1: I was more than lucky last year to meet Mr. Armitage and even luckier to engage in a group conversation with him.  I like the person, the human being, Richard Armitage very much. My experience of him that night was that he's an unassuming, natural, reserved, funny, sweet, gentle, intelligent, interesting, and interested, man. He's thankfully not someone who "turns on the star quality" when you meet him, he's naturally charming and engaging. He's also a gentleman, and was much so with the three of us there. Our conversation was not long enough for me to even say I know this man, but what little I know, I like very much. Yes, he's a man, a human being, working on his career, being his own person, and living his life, same as the rest of us. This Richard is in a special place in my heart and I care for his well being and success.

Richard #2:  The Richard Armitage I deal with most on a daily basis when I'm on the Internet, or visiting fansites, or just daydreaming, or fantasizing, about him, is my "fantasy Richard".  This "Richard" is made up of bits and pieces of Lucas North, John Thorton, Thorin Oakenshield, Guy of Gisborne, and photoshoot Armitage. Yes, also a bit of the real "in the flesh" RA as well. My "fantasy Richard" responds to what I want and need him to be at any given time. He's my very private and personal "Richard." Whenever I need consolation, or a bit of good cheer, or a shoulder to cry on, or anything else, he's there.  I demand much of him I think, and often have fun making videos or posting about him on my blog and elsewhere. This "Richard" also has a place in my heart, and I'm glad he's in my life.  He helped me at a difficult time, and continues to do so.

It was a an emotional moment when the fantasy met the reality just a little over a year ago. But I'm grateful for that moment, and the chance to see him last month at the TH fan event as well. I'm grateful that I shared both moments and had lots of fun with lovely RA friends.

Yes, I miss his messages to his fans, and wonder if we'll ever get another one.  I understand why we might not, but will still miss them. (I've only been active in the fandom to experience them "live" since 2009 by the way!)*****

These past two weeks have once again been a treat, and I'm still catching up with all the photos, interviews, videos, and already looking forward to Hobbit film #3.

I know many of us say this, but it's true for me as well. A great bonus of being a fan of Richard Armitage is all my fellow fans, and several I'm also very happy to call friends. They bring joy to my life every day, and for that I'm very grateful to Richard Crispin Armitage.

Tomorrow I go and see The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug and finally I'll see for myself what all the talk, and videos, and reviews are all about!





 ***** Anyone who wanders why I love this man so much, read this Christmas message from Richard, Dec 19, 2013:












 Thank you Annette and Richard Armitage Online for everything you've done for RA fans all these years. You have been an invaluable source for me, and so many other Armitage fans. 



Thursday, December 12, 2013

Video from Accion Cine - The Hobbit Madrid Premiere - Richard Armitage and Luke Evans Interviews and few minutes of Red Carpet




Richard Armitage and Luke Evans signing autographs starts at 17:00 and Richard is interviewed twice starting at 22:00 or thereabouts.  Luke is also interviewed just before. 

Most of the video is fans talking about their favorite characters, the films, how long they've been standing in line, book vs movie, and etc. 

Don't forget today is the last premiere event (as far as we know). Richard Armitage and Luke Evans will possibly be presenters at a music award show.

Details about the event:

Live Streaming starting at 16:30 - That's 10:30am EST US for the "Blue Carpet" 


and follow on Twitter

#premios40principales



Este aƱo la alfombra azul empezarƔ un poco antes, a partir de las 16:30 y hasta las 18:30.

La gala darĆ” comienzo a las 19:00  
PodrƔs seguir la gala en directo y ademƔs, comentarlo en Twitter con el hashtag #premios40principales

¿DƓNDE PUEDO VER LOS PREMIOS?

 Se retransmitirĆ”n en directo:

A travƩs de los40.com: en web, tablet y smartphone.
En 40 TV.
En la radio en tu dial de Los 40 Principales.
En DIVINITY.
Y a travƩs de las redes sociales de Los 40 Principales te iremos contando minuto a minuto todo lo que ocurre durante el evento.
Y recuerda, si aĆŗn no tienes la app oficial de los Premios 40 Principales ya puedes bajĆ”rtela!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Heirs of Durin - How do I Love Thee! Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner, Dean O'Gorman Interviews



Fun and Informative Interview with the best brother team in Middle-earth





I'm adding the above interview from Warner Bros France with Richard Armitage to my list of favorites from the DOS Premiere Press onslaught. 

Uncle Thorin, I'm falling in love more and more, and I haven't seen the movie yet.


I really want all of them to go back to New Zealand for more pick-ups next year, they all seem to have had such fun, and bonded as friends, and they all want to see each other again, and work together again, I hope they do.  

(and I think Aidan is wearing the Durin family T-Shirt!)



Thanks to Middle Earth News, Richard Armitage Central, 
Warner Bros France, Collider 



Madrid Premiere: Richard Armitage and Luke Evans - Watch Live



Madrid Premiere - 8:30pm in Spain/2:30pm EST in the US

Live Streaming at www.warnerbros.es

Also, I would check out WB Spain YouTube channel just in case:


and tomorrow, December 12, Richard and Luke will be at the
Los Premios en 40

We can watch live streaming and the "blue carpet" at 17:30 or 11:30am EST US:



Friday, December 6, 2013

Thursday, December 5, 2013

All I Want For Christmas



Dear Richard,

Come and see me this Christmas! This could be yours!  

All my love,

Fabo





Tuesday, December 3, 2013

"The embers in the heart of Thorin grew hot again"

 Richard Armitage DOS Premiere
December 2, 2013,  Los Angeles, CA











screencap from RichardArmitageCentral.com

Monday, November 25, 2013

Sean Bean Wins Best Actor International Emmy Award



Sean Bean wins Best Actor for his role in Accused at the International Emmy Awards November 25, 2013.

The awards honor excellence in TV programming outside the U.S.

Congratulations Sean!  















Video of Sean Bean winning his Emmy



Saturday, November 16, 2013

New Interview with Dean O'Gorman: The AU Interview at Supanova 2013


Dean O'Gorman has given another interesting interview for an Australian online site, theaureview.com. I think it gives a bit of insight into what not just Dean but the entire dwarf cast and their leader have been experiencing since the premiere of AUJ.  Dean is always thoughtful with his answers and always modest. 

Here are a few excerpts I found interesting and a link to the entire interview below. 

Okay, so obviously, The Hobbit has been doing amazing things…one of those things being giving you the opportunity to travel and attend events like Supanova. Have you had time to reflect on it all?

No, not at all!

Do you think it’d be a scary thing if you did? Overwhelming?

I don’t really think I could ever really get a perspective on it, because I’ve got such a different way of looking at this, because I’ve been so involved in the process. At things like premieres and, to a lesser extent, things like the conventions, I experience the reach that these films have. I don’t know, I don’t really think about it because it’s not really a lot of point in thinking about it, you know? People that weren’t doing the film would tell me lots of their opinions on what this was going to do, or what this meant, but nobody really knows until things happen or not. I don’t really think about it because I don’t feel like I can think about it with any kind of objectivity.

****
Was it one of those things where, once taking on a job like this, everything else and any further project need to be brought into mind and perspective? Does it cut the amount of time you have to get involved in other projects?

I have been…we only finished shooting in August and we did have some hiatuses, but I was shooting for a TV show on those hiatuses, so I really have been fortunate to be really busy. It does mean other things, even just general life things… I’ve been living out of a suitcase so I do feel quite discombobulated. You know, over the next few months or whatever, things will settle back down to relative normality and I can get on…If anything, the experience has shown me that you just never know where your life’s going to go, you know? I guess actors are more prone to that, because you can get a job out of the blue so quickly and it changes things, but it’s a really good example for me. In the next few years…who knows where I’ll be or what to expect, really.
***********
(He was asked about being one of the "Hot Dwarves")

[Laughs] No! I can just bask in the glory of Aidan’s handsomeness! I don’t know, what people find attractive and what people don’t…That’s the thing with The Hobbit, like The Lord of the Rings, some people approach it from ‘the world’, from the Tolkien world, so they like 'characters' from within that world. I don’t necessarily think it’s about me, I think it’s about how they perceive the character and how attractive that character is to them. I look a bit different too…well, I’d like to think that I look a bit different! But yeah, I don’t know…

I’m going to be mentioning in this write up, ‘As he shrugged casually…’

Ah yeah, "He shrugs…", I mean it all became relative too, because the other dwarves had hardly been hit with the handsome stick, had they? Apart from Richard Armitage, I don’t really think I had a fierce comparison with, like...Gloin! [Laughs] Although in the Dwarven world, ironically, Fili and Kili would be seen as having to grow into their looks. The hairier and wrinklier they are, the more they’re expected. I mean, Dwarvish women, according to that world, have beards and that’s considered pretty hot!
*******

To read the entire interview click on the link below:






Dean O'Gorman's pic from fuckyeahdeanogorman.tumblr.com





Thursday, November 14, 2013

The RAin in Spain: The Hobbit DOS Grand European Tour December 2013


The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug is premiering all over Europe this December

Several Updates - See below


For Richard Armitage fans the most important recent announcement is that Ricardo will be in Madrid for the DOS Premiere on December 11 

We'll be following several of the websites and blogs from our fellow fans in Spain, including ForoArmitage and El Anillo Unico 
Warner Bros Spain and also on Facebook

Oh yes - Luke Evans will be there too 

Richard and Luke will also be at an awards show in Madrid on December 12 



The Premios 40 is a music award show and gala, hopefully will be televised and some lovely RA fans in Spain will record it all for us around the world.  The Hobbit chose well to have two men who can sing and know music to represent DOS at this awards show. Looking forward to all the interviews too. 


Looks like there will also be a "meet and greet" with the guys for some lucky ticket winners:


Update 12/22/2013



Madrid Premiere - 8:30pm in Spain/2:30pm EST in the US

Live Streaming at www.warnerbros.es

and tomorrow, December 12, Richard and Luke will be at the
Los Premios en 40

We can watch live streaming and the "blue carpet" at 17:30 or 11:30am EST US:



Update 11/27/2012 Thanks to El Anillo Unico

Cines Kinepolis has decorated one of their theaters as the interior of Erebor and it will be inaugurated
on December 11 by Richard Armitage and Luke Evans

Warner Bros EspaƱa

To see and read more (you can always use Google Translate) go to
El Anillo Unico at the link below:


Here's more thanks to my friend palo about the Kinepolis Erebor theater (remember Google Translate):




The European tour will bring us 
Aidan Turner  
Dean O'Gorman  and Sylvester McCoy 
Zurich on December 10 


No word on why Aidan Turner can't make it to the Zurich premiere after all, but I'm sure it's disappointing for him as well.



 December 9 will be the premiere in Berlin  Richard Armitage is now confirmed as attending
by TheOneRingnet and interview with RA

Update November 28


Thanks to El Anillo Unico more information about the Berlin Premiere. It will be at the Sony Centre – Cinestar of Berlin. The Red Carpet will start at 17:30 Berlin time and in attendance will be:  Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt, Aidan Turner, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Adam Brown, Graham McTavish, Dean O’Gorman, Ryan Gage and John Bell.  Ed Sheeran will perform I See Fire during the premiere.

Have I missed any of the European Grand Tour so far?  I'll update this post as we find out more.

For some of us in the US, European time is not the best to watch live streaming, since some of us will be at work at the time, but look forward to checking out all the great RA sites for news in December. 

Oh yes, there's the World Premiere in Los Angeles on December 2 to look forward to!  Richard Armitage confirmed as attending, plus many others in the cast. 

I know what I'll be doing Monday night Dec 2





 My Beautiful Dwarves

There is supposed to be a press event November 30 in LA with Richard Armitage and Luke Evans in attendance, but closed to the public. They are reported to be inaugurating The Book of New Zealand exhibit - more in TheOneRingnet:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2013/11/29/83432-tourism-new-zealand-is-opening-the-book-of-new-zealand-in-la/

Hope we get a report from someone in attendance.

News:  Hobbit Q&A at Waterstones Piccadilly on December 6 - Richard Armitage and Luke Evans

Sunday, November 10, 2013

The King Beneath the Mountains




The King Beneath the Mountains,
The King of Carven Stone,
The Lord of Silver Fountains
Shall Come Into His Own!


His crown shall be upholden,
His harp shall be restrung,
His halls should echo golden
To songs of yore re-sung, 



The woods shall wave on mountains
And grass beneath the sun;
His wealth shall flow in fountains
And the rivers golden run, 




The streams shall run in gladness,
The lakes shall shine and burn,
All sorrow fail and sadness
At the Mountain-king's return!










Lyrics to song "The King Beneath the Mountains" from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, caps by screencapped.net with my edits, image by Richard Armitage France, YouTube 

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Hobbit Fan Event New York - November 4, 2013

My Hobbit T-Shirt from Nov 4

I'm tired, and my feet really hurt, and I may be suffering from delayed frostbite, but I would do it all again tomorrow.


Richard Armitage and Two Other Guys*

I'm sure I'll need a few days to catch up with all the blogs and websites of  Armitage fans  and Hobbit fans who were there yesterday. The details of the evening have been more than covered by now I'm sure, especially for those that watched the streaming portion of the evening, so I really wouldn't be adding much to what you all have already read and said. 

Standing in line was also much fun thanks to my great line companions and the company of two wonderful RA Friends. 

I'm glad Richard wasn't "styled" and was just his wonderful, quiet, lovely, self, wearing his favorite black long-sleeve Lucas T-shirt, and that gorgeous leather jacket.  I'm still in a state of bliss and grateful for having the good fortune to be there and to see him.

As a special treat for those lucky few of us in theaters around the world, we did see 20 minutes of footage from Desolation of Smaug (DOS).  Peter Jackson asked us not to give too many details, but don't think there's harm in saying we saw scenes in Mirkwood, Laketown, and lots of barrels.  I was impressed by what we saw.  

This morning when I was trying to hail a cab at 3:30am across from Central Park in New York to get to the train station on time, I thought of Richard, the new New Yorker.  Had there been an opportunity, might have asked him if he's settled in the new apartment. 


*Anderson Cooper and Orlando Bloom




Wednesday, October 30, 2013

University Study - What it Means to be a Dog or a Cat Person


A report on EverydayHealth.com  about a University of Bristol study on cat and dog people and what it means to identify as one or the other says the following:

"What Your Pet Preference Says About You

As this new evidence emerges, it seems that a person's answer to the question "Are you a dog person or a cat person?" may say a lot about his or her background and personality. Researchers believe it may be that some people naturally mesh better with the characteristics of a dog, and others mesh better with a cat."

If you are a dog person, you may share or be drawn to characteristics common in dogs. Dogs tend to be:

Outgoing
Loving
Loyal
Structured
Personable


Outgoing?  Well, maybe not,  but "loving, loyal" yes, from all accounts, I would stay definitely "structured" when he's working, and he's more than "personable" he's adorable. 



If you are a cat person, you may share or prefer some of the following characteristics that are common in cats:

Independence
Adaptability
Silly antics
Poise
Beauty


He might argue, but I think he shares most cat traits as well!

"Take a moment to think about whether you prefer dogs or cats — and have some fun with it. Do other people in your life share your preference? Now think about what these pet preferences say about you and your loved ones. Now, proclaim yourself a dog person or a cat person — and be proud of it!"

To read the entire article click on link below:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/pet-health/are-you-a-dog-or-cat-person.aspx?xid=tw_depression_20120130_pet