PRIVATEStraits Times 29/04/05
Hobbit farm breeds Dragon
SINGAPOREANS from two local media companies have been roped in to work on an animated series by New Zealand's Weta Workshop.
The company is best known for its work on The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
Four employees from Singapore's Interactive Visual Lab and Lingan Mill are in New Zealand now for the production of the 3-D animated series Jane And The Dragon.
Another one will leave today for Weta's workshop in Wellington. The five-man team will stay till the project is completed.
Comprising 26 half-hour episodes, the series tells of the adventures of a and her dragon. It is co-produced by Canadian entertainment company Nelvana and is expected to air in North America, Australia and Europe early next year. Distribution is Asia, including Singapore, is still being negotiated.
This collaboration is part of the New Zealand-Singapore audio-visual co-production agreement signed last July.
Said Mr Richard Taylor, Weta's director: 'Having the Singapore group here during the pre-production was fantastically energising.
'Their enthusiasm and the new perspectives they brought have added to the approach that we're taking.'
PRIVATEThe Sydney Morning Herald 28/04/05
Hobbits fail the quest for stage success
Middle Earth has ditched The Hobbit. The Australian-produced stage show of the Tolkien classic has been withdrawn from New Zealand theatres after poor attendances, to the surprise of the cast members who had apparently thought things were going quite well.
The $10 million production, which opened in Wellington two weeks ago, received mixed reviews, with one critic calling a climactic sword fight "laughable" and pouring scorn on the fake beard worn by Bilbo Baggins, played by Ross Anderson. The Auckland season, due to open on Saturday, has been cancelled.
Executive producer Andrew Kay did not return calls yesterday, but issued a written statement that said ticket sales in Wellington hadn't been up to scratch. "The Auckland box office was following the same sales pattern, and we therefore had no choice but to make what was a very difficult decision," Kay said.
"Despite the disappointment ... we remain immensely proud of the production and our wonderful cast."
The production is still set for a tour of Australia, starting in Brisbane on June 25 before opening in Sydney. The organisers said ticket sales were going well.
The production is adapted and directed by Australian Christine Anketell, whose puppetry-based stage production of The Hobbit successfully toured venues in Australia from 1998 to 2000.
But New Zealand critics found the stage adaptation of The Hobbit confusing and some of the props amateurish.
"I never quite understood why there was a battle, which was fought with lots of waving of flags, clouds of billowing smoke, much rushing about, and flashing lights," reviewer Laurie Atkinson wrote in Wellington's The Dominion Post newspaper.
PRIVATEWaikato Times 28/04/05
HOBBIT HOBBLED
The $10 million stage production of The Hobbit has been cancelled after just 10 shows. Poor reviews and ticket sales have forced the show's Auckland season to be cancelled five days out from its planned opening night. The show was a joint venture between NZ and Australia producers
PRIVATEThe Times 27/04/05
The battle for middle earth;Profile;Steven Gerrard;Frank Lampard;Football;Champions League
An impossible task maybe, but TONY CASCARINO tries to choose between the midfield marvels in action tonight
STEVEN GERRARD v FRANK LAMPARD
STEVEN GERRARD
GERRARD FACTS
BORN May 30, 1980, Huyton
HEIGHT 6ft 1in
WEIGHT 12st 6lbs
JOINED LIVERPOOL 1988 as junior. 1998 as professional
LIVERPOOL DEBUT
v Blackburn Rovers (h), 29.11.98
LIVERPOOL CAREER 278 (+ 25) apps, 38 goals
ENGLAND DEBUT
v Ukraine (h) 31.5.00
ENGLAND CAREER 34 (+1) apps, 6 goals
OTHER AWARDS PFA young player of the year 2001; one of Times Football Yearbook players of year 2004; shortlisted for PFA player of the year 2004; named in PFA team of the season 2004, 2005
THEY SAY
"I think Gerrard is one of the best in the Premiership but I don't believe he is better than Frank Lampard. My players are always better than the others."
Jose Mourinho
"Wherever I put him, he'll be a very important player to this England team, because he has everything: strong, confident with good technique, whether defending or attacking."
Sven Goran-Eriksson
"I am just glad that he will be wearing the red of Liverpool because I think every Chelsea player would love him in their side. They know what a top player he is.
For me, he's the best player in England."
Jamie Carragher
HE SAYS
"Maybe the fans see me as something of a symbol of the team because I'm one of them. Perhaps some supporters know they can rely on me, count on me and put pressure on me to get results for Liverpool Football Club."
"Normally I'm not the type of player who gets bothered by criticism. I'm always the first to acknowledge if I've played badly, so if the fans have a go at my performance, I've always thought it was fair enough. But what has been really upsetting, though, is when I hear my commitment to Liverpool questioned."
PASSING
Wastes no time in pinging the ball like a missile through the air. Capable of impressive long-range passes. A more ambitious passer than Lampard.
SCORE 9/10
SHOOTING
An exceptional striker of the ball from outside the box who has come up with key goals for Liverpool. Has scored some wonderful goals in this and past seasons. Has probably got a harder strike than Frank. 8.5
TEMPERAMENT
He's growing up now, but I feel Gerrard sometimes loses it and makes rash tackles There have been a few over the years and he could easily have been sent off against Olympiakos earlier in the season, for example.
7
X FACTOR
Gerrard's ability to drive a team forward can inspire every player in the side.
He's capable not just of excellence but of inspiration as well -a rare quality.
No doubt that he is the soul of his team.
10
STAMINA
Steven just seems to keep going -and going, and going. I think he is probably more of a natural athlete than Frank, and his stamina level is higher.
9
DURABILITY
Steven suffers from nagging injuries and little niggles and does miss a few matches. However, this is one part of his game that has improved immeasurably in the past couple of seasons.
8.5
WEAKNESSES
Steven isn't a great header of the ball, suffers a few injuries and has had to endure the debate over whether he will join Chelsea hanging over him during the European Championship last summer. He hasn't looked so good in a more advanced role this term -I think he's best in front of the back four.
9
FRANK LAMPARD
BORN June 21, 1978, Romford
HEIGHT 5ft 10in
WEIGHT 12st 4lbs
JOINED CHELSEA from West Ham United, July 2001, Pounds 11 million
CHELSEA DEBUT
v Newcastle United (h), 19.8.01
CHELSEA CAREER: 211 (+13) apps, 46 goals
ENGLAND DEBUT
v Belgium (h), 10.10.99
ENGLAND CAREER: 32 (+8) apps, 8 goals
OTHER AWARDS: one of Times Football Yearbook players of year (2004); shortlisted for PFA player of the year (2004, 2005); named in PFA team of the season (2004, 2005)
THEY SAY
"Frank Lampard was always a big talent at West Ham United but I couldn't believe he would have developed into as good a player as he is now."
Sven Goran-Eriksson
"He has the vision, he's good on the ball and he's one of the midfield players who has been rated as the one of the best tacklers. He's good at winning the ball."
Tord Grip
"I've never known a player work so hard -except his dad. He's worked at what he's got, unlike a lot of others who think they've made it as soon as they get in a first team -they don't tend to be around much longer."
Harry Redknapp
HE SAYS
"It makes you feel great to get the headlines, especially when you've got a team full of so many star players and the manager who is the talk of the moment. When I see some of the things that are being said by great players, it's hard to think that it's me they're talking about. I feel quite humble and modest and it's the biggest confidence booster you can get."
"Whatever talent you have, you have to push yourself. I push myself to the limit and never stop. That will carry on through my career. I've established myself for Chelsea and England and I want to push on even further."
PASSING
Frank is also able to spray the ball accurately over long distances and good at short, sharp balls, but his delivery is generally a bit more delayed and deliberate than Steven's.
SCORE 8/10
Has a more accurate shot than Steven and so gets more goals. His totals are remarkable for a midfield player and this season he is so confident whenever he gets a sight of goal. You almost expect him to score.
9 TEMPERAMENT
Frank's is better -no doubt about it. He's extremely consistent in this area and has worked so hard to improve himself. The proof of this is that he has not been sent off since 2001.
8
X FACTOR
It would have to be his goalscoring. Frank produces match-winning performances because he gets vital goals at big moments in big matches. He can score ugly goals as well as elegant ones.
9
STAMINA
Frank Is fitter and more mobile than he was, a testament to all the hard work he has put in. Busy but also shrewd, in that he picks and chooses the right moments to expend his energy.
9
DURABILITY
Frank is remarkable. He doesn't miss a game, even though he plays a huge number.
You can count on him for more than 50 matches a season.
8
WEAKNESSES
Lampard is more of a complete package, although his passing is less sophisticated and less adventurous than Gerrard's at times. He used to lack mobility and seems to have less natural athletic ability than Steven, but he has now entered the elite because of his dedication.
9
TOTALS
THE VERDICT
Put them in the same team and that midfield would have everything: goals, tackling, passing, creativity. Overall, they are so closely matched but if forced to choose, I give the nudge to Steven, who is more technically gifted but has had the disadvantage of playing in a worse team than Frank. This season Frank has been better, but I feel Steven is more capable of producing the sort of truly magical performance that gets talked about for years.
PRIVATEAustralian Associated Press General News 27/04/05
PAC: Middle Earth finds Hobbit play not to its liking
HOBBIT By Peter Williams, New Zealand Correspondent
AUCKLAND, April 27 AAP - An Australian entertainment company has found that selling hobbits to Middle Earth is a tall order.
A stage production of JRR Tolkien's book The Hobbit has been shut down in New Zealand after bad reviews and poor ticket sales followed its world premiere 10 days earlier in Wellington.
The New Zealand capital was home to the production of Peter Jackson's Oscar-winning trilogy of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and temporarily renamed Middle Earth during the first film's premiere.
The show's run in Auckland scheduled to start on Saturday was cancelled after poor advance ticket sales, Melbourne-based International Concert Attractions (ICA) said.
"Maybe we're Tolkien-ed out," the Wellington theatre's marketing manager Lindsey O'Reilly told Radio New Zealand.
The $NZ10 million ($A9.32 million) production, adapted and directed by Australian Christine Anketen and featuring a cast of mostly New Zealanders, is scheduled to open in Brisbane on June 25 and later in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Anketen's puppetry-based production of The Hobbit successfully toured Australian venues from 1998 to 2000.
Journalists were flown from Australia and other parts of New Zealand to Wellington for the opening night as part of the show's promotion.
But New Zealand critics found the stage adaptation of The Hobbit confusing and some of the props amateurish.
"I never quite understood why there was a battle, which was fought with lots of waving of flags, clouds of billowing smoke, much rushing about, and flashing lights," reviewer Laurie Atkinson wrote in Wellington's Dominion Post newspaper.
Executive producer Andrew Kay said he regretted the cancellation.
"After disappointing sales in Wellington, the Auckland box office was following the same sales pattern and we therefore had no choice but to make what was a very difficult decision," he said.
"Despite the disappointment ... we remain immensely proud of the production and our wonderful cast."
The company has not yet confirmed if the Australian shows will go ahead.
AAP pw/hu/
PRIVATENew Zealand Press Association 27/04/05
HOBBIT SPONSOR DITCHES SHARES BEFORE SHOW FLOPS: REPORT
Wellington, April 27 - The executive producer of the canned $10 million stage production The Hobbit dumped his stake in the company bankrolling the show only weeks before it opened to bad reviews in New Zealand, The Australian newspaper reported today.
The paper said that
Andrew Kay sold more than 11 million shares or 10 percent of International Concert Attractions (ICA) in March below market value.
Mr Kay had been a shareholder since 2000 and ICA had netted more than $360,000 in the share sales, which also involved his company Andrew Kay Productions.
The production was cancelled yesterday after just 10 shows.
Poor reviews and ticket sales forced the show's Auckland season to be cancelled just five days out from its scheduled opening night.
The share sale had emerged as veteran show producer Kerry Jewell pushed for the company's board to be replaced, The Australian said.
Mr Jewell wanted to replace Ian Roberts and non-executive directors Bruce McLeod and Howard Tily.
In a letter to shareholders posted on the ICA website yesterday, Mr Jewell -- who has a 13.7 percent stake in the company -- gave four reasons why a change in the boardroom was needed. ``The fact The Hobbit lasted only a few nights in New Zealand backs up everything I say -- that the company is not being run correctly, nor by people that know the entertainment industry,'' Mr Jewell said.
It is understood ICA spent $1.4 million promoting the show in New Zealand.
ICA chief executive Lester McGrath would not comment on claims the production had already lost $400,000.
Christine Anketell's stage adaptation of JRR Tolkein's children's book The Hobbit premiered last week in Wellington.
Promoters spared no expense flying journalists from Australia and Auckland to Wellington for the opening night performance.
Dubbed the show's ``world premiere'', it received mediocre reviews.
Melbourne-based producer Liza McLean said Hobbit Productions was disappointed the Auckland show had to be cancelled but the show was losing money and an ``executive'' decision had to be made.
The actors would still be paid, and it was still hoped the show would open in Australia in June, she said.
The production was originally scheduled to have an 18-month tour of New Zealand and Australia.
NZPA WGT skr dl dj
PRIVATEThe Australian 27/04/05
Hobbit overlord ignores our rings
Entertainment
THE executive producer of the struggling stage production The Hobbit dumped his stake in the company bankrolling the production only weeks before the show opened to bad reviews in New Zealand.
Andrew Kay had sold more than 11 million shares of International Concert Attractions -- nearly 10 per cent of the company -- in March at prices below the market value at the time, it was revealed in a stock exchange announcement yesterday.
Mr Kay, a shareholder since 2000, netted more than $360,000 in the deals, which also involved his company Andrew Kay Productions.
Mr Kay did not return phone calls from The Australian.
The share sale came to light amid poor reviews for The Hobbit, mounting losses and a push from veteran show producer Kerry Jewell to replace the company board.
Mr Jewell wants to replace Ian Roberts and non-exec-utive directors Bruce McLeod and Howard Tily.
In a letter to shareholders posted on the ICA website yesterday, Mr Jewell, who has a 13.7 per cent stake in the company, detailed four reasons why there needed to be a change in the boardroom.
"The fact The Hobbit lasted only a few nights in New Zealand backs up everything I say -- that the company is not being run correctly, nor by people that know the entertainment industry," Mr Jewell said.
Remaining performances of The Hobbit have been cancelled in New Zealand following poor reviews and ticket sales, with the crew told to go home to Australia.
It is understood ICA spent $1.4 million promoting the show in NZ. Chief executive Lester McGrath would not comment on claims the production had already lost $400,000.
Christine Anketell's stage adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein's children's book The Hobbit premiered last week in Wellington, New Zealand, which has nurtured a burgeoning film and tourist industry built around Peter Jackson's movie trilogy of Tolkein's Lord of the Rings.
The Hobbit turned out to be a poor cousin to the films.
Ms Anketell said she hoped that children and s would use their imagination to fill out the fantasy.
But on first sight her adaptation failed to transport critics and audiences.
First night hiccups included an actor with an injured leg and an eagle's mask, brought over from Australia at the last minute, which had been damaged during an airport security check.
PRIVATENew Zealand Herald 27/04/05
An Australian-produced stage show of The Hobbit has failed to fire in New...
An Australian-produced stage show of The Hobbit has failed to fire in New Zealand, with the Auckland debut this week canned after unsatisfactory turnouts in Wellington.
The $10 million production, rehearsed in Melbourne with a mostly New Zealand cast, had its world premiere in Wellington nearly a fortnight ago to mixed reviews.
One reviewer said it was ``totally believable'' and praised the lead actors. But another said people left at half-time and the show failed to get off the ground. It had a ``laughable'' climactic sword fight and Bilbo Baggins' false beard was the worst the reviewer had seen.
Australian film production company ICA Australia confirmed yesterday the show in Auckland was cancelled but spokespeople did not return Herald calls. In a brief written statement The Hobbit executive producer Andrew Kay said the Auckland season was cancelled after disappointing sales in Wellington.
``The Auckland box office was following the same sales pattern, and we therefore had no choice but to make what was a very difficult decision. Despite the disappointment of not being able to bring The Hobbit to Auckland we remain immensely proud of the production and our wonderful cast.''
The Hobbit, a prelude to The Lord of The Rings trilogy, was an adapted stage play by Melbourne director Christine Anketell.
It was understood to be still scheduled to tour Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Actors auditioned in Auckland and Wellington to support 11 principal and ensemble cast members to create 40 different characters including wizards, hobbits, dwarfs, elves and goblins.
Show narrator George Henare told the Herald yesterday he thought it had gone all right in Wellington although it did not get full houses.
``The audience seemed to enjoy it.''
Mr Henare was philosophical about the cancellation of the Auckland show as ``that happens at times, it's the nature of the beast''.
Wellington's Westpac St James Theatre marketing manager Lyndsey O'Reilly said she could not divulge audience numbers due to confidentiality but the show had been particularly popular with boys, young men and families.
Ticket holders can obtain refunds from point of purchase or by sending tickets to Ticketek, Box 5440 Wellesley Street, Auckland, or courier Ticketek Level 2, 345 Queen St, Auckland.
PRIVATENew Zealand Herald 27/04/05
Auckland season ditched after Middle Earth shuns `Hobbit'
An Australian-produced stage show of The Hobbit has failed to fire in New Zealand, with the Auckland premiere this week canned after unsatisfactory turnouts in Wellington.
The $10 million production, rehearsed in Melbourne with a mostly New Zealand cast, had its world premiere in Wellington nearly a fortnight ago to mixed reviews.
One reviewer said it was ``totally believable'' and praised the lead actors. But another said people left at half-time and the show failed to get off the ground. It had a ``laughable'' climactic sword fight and Bilbo Baggins' false beard was the worst the reviewer had seen.
Production company ICA Australia confirmed yesterday that the Auckland season had been cancelled.
In a brief written statement executive producer Andrew Kay said sales in Wellington had been disappointing.
``The Auckland box office was following the same sales pattern, and we therefore had no choice but to make what was a very difficult decision. Despite the disappointment of not being able to bring The Hobbit to Auckland we remain immensely proud of the production and our wonderful cast.''
The Hobbit, a prelude to The Lord of The Rings trilogy, was an adapted stage play by Melbourne director Christine Anketell.
It is understood to be still scheduled to tour Australia's main centres.
Actors auditioned in Auckland and Wellington to support 11 principal and ensemble cast members to create 40 different characters including wizards, hobbits, dwarfs, elves and goblins.
Show narrator George Henare told the Herald yesterday he thought it had gone all right in Wellington although it did not get full houses.
``The audience seemed to enjoy it.''
Henare was philosophical about the cancellation of the Auckland season.
``That happens at times; it's the nature of the beast,'' he said.
The marketing manager of the Westpac St James Theatre in Wellington, Lyndsey O'Reilly, said she could not divulge audience numbers but the show had been particularly popular with boys, young men and families.
Ticket holders can obtain refunds from the point of purchase or by sending the tickets by post to Ticketek, Box 5440, Wellesley St, Auckland, or by courier to Ticketek Level 2, 345 Queen St, Auckland.
PRIVATEThe Australian 26/04/05
Concert climax as Hobbit hobbled
Entertainment
A BATTLE for boardroom control at struggling concert producer International Concert Attractions is likely to spill over at an extraordinary general meeting called for May 25.
A number of investors, led by veteran theatrical producer and major shareholder Kerry Jewel, last month asked to join the board and depose chairman Ian Roberts and non-executive directors Bruce McLeod and Howard Tily.
They were rebuffed by the board, forcing investors to call an EGM to put their proposition to shareholders.
The ICA board had initially tried to block the meeting, saying it was disruptive to a company making a "consistent recovery".
Mr Roberts said he would shortly make a statement about a range of claims made against him by disgruntled shareholders, which were handed to him on Friday. "I will definitely be refuting their claims," Mr Roberts said.
Since listing in 1994, ICA has failed to live up to its potential and has not been earnings per share positive since 1998. Its share price has dropped to 4c after listing at 20c. Last financial year it added more than $5 million in liabilities.
The EGM comes as the company has been forced to cancel Auckland performances of its family-oriented production of JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit after poor reviews in New Zealand, the country that embraced the film production of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.
Mr Roberts said he expected the Australian dates of The Hobbit to go ahead. Ticket sales in its first stop of Brisbane had been strong
PRIVATEThe Sunday Times 24/04/05
He's in the hobbit of recycling;Interview;Major Mike Taitt;Cover story;Pro perty
A retired army major has turned his grounds into a Tolkien-style fantasy haven, writes SUKI URQUHART
There is something of the Hobbit about Major Mike Taitt. In 1985 when he retired from being a regular soldier in the Gordon Highlanders, Taitt bought Newmains farmhouse and 10 acres of hillside above the village of Oyne in Aberdeenshire. He restored the ruined house himself, before turning his attention to the land.
Like Bilbo Baggins in Tolkien's classic novel, he loves his hillside home, but he sometimes misses the adventures he had in the army and on his epic bike rides through Mexico, Ecuador and north Africa. So when he is not restoring buildings for others, he fulfils his dreams by creating whimsical garden buildings on his windswept hillside, to the delight of visiting friends.
In Taitt's silver birch wood sits a large clay chimney. On closer inspection, a spiral of smoke curls upwards, a surreal sight as the chimney pokes up through the grass and there is no sign of a dwelling. But wait -descend the turf slope and a small overhang of painted corrugated iron reveals the green wooden facade of a tiny house set into the bank. A duck board path, to keep hairy Hobbit feet dry, leads up to a neat front door complete with door knocker and a letterbox, with the word "letters" carefully picked out in red.
A sign announces this to be Hobbit Hall. A wood store sits adjacent with a thumb stick propped up against it. Could the Hobbit be in residence? This is Taitt's most recent installation, created by digging a large hole and setting an old metal 500-gallon oil tank inside. Using recycled wood, Taitt panelled the tank inside and out and, breaking with Hobbit convention, used an old railway carriage door instead of the more traditional round entrance. A kettle sits on top of the wood-burning stove and beside the red wicker armchair are some appropriate books, such as a Black Bob annual, to read.
From all this, you might assume that Taitt is something of a loner, an eccentric even. But a quick survey of how he spends his working days lays this one to rest.
His building-restoration business started life when he worked with a friend to restore the privately owned Terpersie Castle near Alford in Aberdeenshire. This led to work on nearby Forbes Castle, for which he was commended by the Aberdeen Architectural Heritage Society. He now sits on one of its review panels that monitors the state of the county's architectural heritage.
A further award came from the Association for the Protection of Rural Scotland for work on the College of Scalan, a Catholic seminary in Glenlivet.
When he is not up to his armpits in old stones, Taitt is dispensing justice. He sits as a JP at Inverurie district court and is an elder of the kirk.
However, it is when working his land that he is most at home. "I am a tree man," Taitt says, and to this end he has planted mainly deciduous woods covering seven acres, with mown paths and rides through them.
In one area sits his bicycle park -a collection of about 20 antique bikes rescued from skips -and in another, the "umbrella tree" that he made from two metal cupola covers that were thrown out after his restoration of a local castle roof.
With his digger, he has channelled the burns