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What would have happened for the release of the second and third films, if the first film had not been a hit?
BARRIE OSBORNE: We were budgeted to do all three films; we had shot all three films. What would have happened is I think it would have been a lot tougher and the budgets, money would have been taken out of them. We would have been forced to go make a much lower-grade product in post-production.
Why do you think this series of films has really been able to touch people emotionally?
BARRIE OSBORNE: I think that?s a tribute to Peter as a director, and also the cast themselves.
They brought a three-dimensionality to their characters. You could identify with them and be drawn into the journey that they were on. That?s what compelling storytelling is all about.
Did New Line give the production a lot of independence?
BARRIE OSBORNE: Yes, we were in a unique set of circumstances for a number of reasons. Number one: we had distance. I always like doing things out of the country. You have more freedom and they?re seeing footage so their understanding is good. Certainly after the first movie, that was even more true. After Cannes, that first screening at Cannes of 20 minutes of film was crucial to our well-being because that convinced everybody.
RICHARD TAYLOR: The elation from the press people was tenable at Cannes, and that just heightened the enthusiasm of New Line. The press people were a godsend because the press people invariably at Cannes are tired, they?ve walked the paces around these bloody screenings and they came out of there and they were explosive in their praise and their cheering.
There have been other attempts at bringing Tolkien to the screen and this film must have had to overcome lots of potential setbacks.
RICHARD TAYLOR: The greatest issue had been that everyone had tackled it as a fantasy film and it?s not. It?s a historical document, a historical reality ? it just happens to be in a fantastical environment. Peter set about doing exactly what Tolkien did, which was draw on every historical reference he could from Northern Europe to bring it down to a piece of writing that has a substance and a historical reference that fits it. Grandeur on an epic scope.
At no time, unlike so many fantasy movies, did the actors ever have to turn to the audience and sort of wink at them to ask them to just kind of keep buying into it. The audience was in it, even without saying.
Are the visual effects the best in the third film?
RICHARD TAYLOR: We definitely improved everything about what we were doing. We always said it was about 'heartware,' not 'hardware.' The people who have learned the technology have upped their skills.
What was the hardest effect to work on?
RICHARD TAYLOR: Without question, Gollum continues to be the most difficult thing. Gollum now suggests that anything that humans can dream up can be on the screen. I believe Gollum has had such an impact on the world stage because as an audience, we stop analyzing him as a technical achievement. We now accept him as a character in his own right.
Additional ?The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? Press Junket Interviews:
Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Bernard Hill, David Wenham/John Noble, and John Rhys-Davies
?The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? Premiere Coverage:
Orlando Bloom/Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood/Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, David Wenham/John Noble, John Rhys Davies/Bernard Hill, and Peter Jackson/Richard Taylor
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? Photo Gallery
"Return of the King? Trailer, Credits, Soundtrack Info and Movie News
What would have happened for the release of the second and third films, if the first film had not been a hit?
BARRIE OSBORNE: We were budgeted to do all three films; we had shot all three films. What would have happened is I think it would have been a lot tougher and the budgets, money would have been taken out of them. We would have been forced to go make a much lower-grade product in post-production.
Why do you think this series of films has really been able to touch people emotionally?
BARRIE OSBORNE: I think that?s a tribute to Peter as a director, and also the cast themselves.
They brought a three-dimensionality to their characters. You could identify with them and be drawn into the journey that they were on. That?s what compelling storytelling is all about.
Did New Line give the production a lot of independence?
BARRIE OSBORNE: Yes, we were in a unique set of circumstances for a number of reasons. Number one: we had distance. I always like doing things out of the country. You have more freedom and they?re seeing footage so their understanding is good. Certainly after the first movie, that was even more true. After Cannes, that first screening at Cannes of 20 minutes of film was crucial to our well-being because that convinced everybody.
RICHARD TAYLOR: The elation from the press people was tenable at Cannes, and that just heightened the enthusiasm of New Line. The press people were a godsend because the press people invariably at Cannes are tired, they?ve walked the paces around these bloody screenings and they came out of there and they were explosive in their praise and their cheering.
There have been other attempts at bringing Tolkien to the screen and this film must have had to overcome lots of potential setbacks.
RICHARD TAYLOR: The greatest issue had been that everyone had tackled it as a fantasy film and it?s not. It?s a historical document, a historical reality ? it just happens to be in a fantastical environment. Peter set about doing exactly what Tolkien did, which was draw on every historical reference he could from Northern Europe to bring it down to a piece of writing that has a substance and a historical reference that fits it. Grandeur on an epic scope.
At no time, unlike so many fantasy movies, did the actors ever have to turn to the audience and sort of wink at them to ask them to just kind of keep buying into it. The audience was in it, even without saying.
Are the visual effects the best in the third film?
RICHARD TAYLOR: We definitely improved everything about what we were doing. We always said it was about 'heartware,' not 'hardware.' The people who have learned the technology have upped their skills.
What was the hardest effect to work on?
RICHARD TAYLOR: Without question, Gollum continues to be the most difficult thing. Gollum now suggests that anything that humans can dream up can be on the screen. I believe Gollum has had such an impact on the world stage because as an audience, we stop analyzing him as a technical achievement. We now accept him as a character in his own right.
Additional ?The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? Press Junket Interviews:
Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Bernard Hill, David Wenham/John Noble, and John Rhys-Davies
?The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? Premiere Coverage:
Orlando Bloom/Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood/Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, David Wenham/John Noble, John Rhys Davies/Bernard Hill, and Peter Jackson/Richard Taylor
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King? Photo Gallery
"Return of the King? Trailer, Credits, Soundtrack Info and Movie News
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