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Elven
Doriath
Nov 23 2008, 6:03pm
Post #1 of 5
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Sohaib talks to Hobbit Illustrator Michael Hague about The Hobbit films.
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Hi tornsibs 
This week on Fictional Frontiers Sohaib talked to Michael Hague who is one of the illustrators of Tolkien’s The Hobbit.
I thought it was really lovely interview. Below is the partial transcript, the bit regarding the Hobbit ...
Some of Michaels art work for the Hobbit below.
But some of my questions that have come out of this interview ..
Is Mike Mignola going to be one of the conceptual artists that Guillermo mentioned he would like to hire from the animation style illustrators?
Why do you think, with such a seemed willingness to work on the Hobbit, that Michael Hague is not involved?
Enjoy!
Cheers
Elven x
Sohaib:
Talk about your work on The Hobbit, and also what inspired you to work on so many classic Children’s works. Because obviously Aesop’s Fables, the Wind in the Willows, Peter Pan, Mother Goose – I mean, it seems that you really have a love for works that really touch the hearts of Children. Was that something that you sort of sought out to do, or was it just something that you fell into – because you know some people have a proclivity for that?
Michael:
It was something that I actually fell into, I mean, I would love to do anything, but the Wind in the Willows was the first big book of mine, and it was a huge hit. The way an actor might get typecast, I think I got typecast as somebody that did classics. Um, I don’t regret it, I had fun doing it, so ... but that’s how I really fell into it. I didn’t say I wanted to do (?) just classics.
Sohaib:
As I’ve mentioned you’ve worked on, you’ve done illustration work for The Hobbit. I’m sure you’re aware that they’re actually going to be producing new Hobbit films prequels to the Lord of the Rings series – Peter Jackson should be working with Guillermo del Toro. And I talked to Mike Mignola, who actually was the illustrator creator of Hellboy, he said he wanted to work on the Hobbit films if at all possible – I don’t know if they’re gonna allow that to happen because not only have John Howe and Alan Lee done such an amazing job and as I say too many cooks spoil the broth – but have they approached you and would you be interested in working on the Hobbit films?
Michael H:
Oh sure I’d be interested! But no, I haven’t been approached – don’t expect to be approached – [good humoured]. [Sohaib laughs]. I’m just excited as a filmgoer to watch these films when they come out. I’m jazzed by it!
Sohaib:
What did you think about the – because obviously your work on The Hobbit came quite a long time before the films reached the big screen, as far of the Lord of the Rings trilogy is concerned – What was your take on Peter Jacksons vision of Tolkien’s seminal work.
Michael H:
It thought it was terrific. I loved everything about it, That’s why I’m thrilled about the Hobbit. The two of them together – hopefully they’ll get the same artist to work on it. So, I’m jazzed about it! [laughs]
Sohaib:
A couple of weeks ago we actually spoke to Howard Shore, and he’s actually already started working on the score for the Hobbit, so at least we know a lot of the team is coming back, and obviously the score is such a integral part of the film making process. Given that you’ve done such work, and incredible work on The Hobbit – as an artist, how much of a thrill is it to see I guess, a different representation of a work that you’ve actually worked on the Silver Screen, or be it maybe (in) comic form or on the small screen?
Michael H:
As you said, I did the book The Hobbit early in my career and if I were to do it again it would be quite different. I do remember being rushed on it, one of the things you can’t quite go back and re-do, I guess. But I’m just thrilled to see new versions. Especially as I just loved the movie – I’m such a fan of it.
Sohaib:
The reason I bring this up is al lot of our visitors are visitors to theonering.net fan website and we do a bi-monthly segment with them so, for them the Lord of the Rings is the series – we always have a lot of Star Wars fans as well. It seems that you’re now you’re involved in some capacity in the film industry yourself ..
(snip)
transcript by Elven
Swishtail.
Tolkien was a Capricorn!!
Russell Crowe for Beorn!!
Avatar: Liberace - The other Lord of the Rings.
Quote of The Week: The thing is I always write in the morning, and I know that if I go to the Net I won’t write ... you can start in the most scholarly website and end up at Paris Hilton dot com .. GdT
(This post was edited by Altaira on Nov 23 2008, 8:22pm)
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squire
Gondolin
Nov 23 2008, 6:56pm
Post #2 of 5
(591 views)
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The illustration of Beorn on the left is by Ted Nasmith.
The illustration of Beorn in the center is by Michael Hague.
The illustration of Beorn on the right is by the Brothers Hildebrandt.
I felt bad reading that interview. Hague made it very clear that he had no connection with the Hobbit film project and no interest in being considered a "Tolkien illustrator", and the interviewer kept going back to it. That forced Hague to comment further on his Hobbit paintings, to the effect that he now looks back on them as early and flawed work.
That made me uncomfortable for the poor guy; I felt the subtext was: "Howard Shore's been invited back, the other designers are being invited back, and you mean to say they haven't even called you yet? Isn't it going to be weird watching another artist's Hobbit on the screen when it could have been you?" How can one respond to that?
squire online:
RR Discussions: The Valaquenta, A Shortcut to Mushrooms, and Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
Lights! Action! Discuss on the Movie board!: 'A Journey in the Dark'. and 'Designing The Two Towers'.
Footeramas: The 3rd TORn Reading Room LotR Discussion; and "Tolkien would have LOVED it!"
squiretalk introduces the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: A Reader's Diary
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Elven
Doriath
Nov 23 2008, 7:02pm
Post #3 of 5
(595 views)
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Whoops - will get they changed! Thanks Squire!! //
[In reply to]
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Swishtail.
Tolkien was a Capricorn!!
Russell Crowe for Beorn!!
Avatar: Liberace - The other Lord of the Rings.
Quote of The Week: The thing is I always write in the morning, and I know that if I go to the Net I won’t write ... you can start in the most scholarly website and end up at Paris Hilton dot com .. GdT
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grammaboodawg
Elvenhome
Nov 25 2008, 1:02am
Post #4 of 5
(554 views)
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to see artists of Tolkien's world who like what's been accomplished so far. I would be thrilled to see Hague's re-work of The Hobbit and LotR. Nasmith and others have evolved their works on Tolkien... always to a great improvement. I think much of Hague's work is spot-on in evoking emotions in his interpretations of Tolkien's text.
Thanks so much for this, Elven :D Once again... you've totally made my day!!! *hugs*
"Barney Snow was here." ~Hug like a hobbit!~ "In my heaven..."
I really need these new films to take me back to, and not re-introduce me to, that magical world.
TORn's Observations Lists
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Elven
Doriath
Nov 26 2008, 8:04am
Post #5 of 5
(554 views)
Shortcut
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Swishtail.
Tolkien was a Capricorn!!
Russell Crowe for Beorn!!
Avatar: Liberace - The other Lord of the Rings.
Quote of The Week: The thing is I always write in the morning, and I know that if I go to the Net I won’t write ... you can start in the most scholarly website and end up at Paris Hilton dot com .. GdT
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