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News from Bree
spymaster@theonering.net
Feb 27 2011, 4:37pm
Post #1 of 35
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Confirmed: Ngila Dickson NOT Working on Hobbit Costumes
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Since production of The Hobbit began ramping up we have been getting emails from curious fashionistas about costume designer Ngila Dickson, will she be continuing stunning her work on The Hobbit? Our answer has always been 'we'll let you know as soon as we know!'. Well the answer now comes in the form of a 'Reel Late with Kate' interview. Moa hunter brings us the news: "Reel Late with Kate [TV3-NZ] last night included an interview with Ngila Dickson. At the end of the programme the presenter (Kate Rodger) said that Ngila Dickson would not be working on The Hobbit because of existing contractual obligations." Sad news indeed! So, who do you think should get the gig? Post on our Message Boards!
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Milknut
Rohan
Feb 27 2011, 11:13pm
Post #3 of 35
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The cake is a lie. The cake is a lie. The cake is a lie. The cake is a lie. The cake is a lie___
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Faenoriel
Tol Eressea
Feb 28 2011, 1:13am
Post #4 of 35
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I was about to make a thread about this just earlier this day... oh what ever. Ngila is such a genious, but I'm who ever steps into her shoes is cabable of filling them. In PJ I trust. That guy knows how to collect talented people around him.
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Steerpike
Bree
Feb 28 2011, 4:05am
Post #5 of 35
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I'm sure some of the old costume designs and themes will carry over to the new movies - Rivendell, Galadriel, hobbits - but this is a great chance to mix things up a little and bring in some fresh ideas for the Mirkwood elves, Laketown, goblins, dwarves, etc.
(This post was edited by Steerpike on Feb 28 2011, 4:06am)
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Earl
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Feb 28 2011, 6:09am
Post #6 of 35
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... but I don't think it's the end of the world. I mean, it's not like ALL of the folks at Weta who worked on LOTR are working on TH... many have moved on! I'm happy just to know the production is in capable hands I will miss Ngila Dickson though
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Arwen's daughter
Half-elven
Feb 28 2011, 6:22am
Post #7 of 35
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And we all know that costume designers never have new ideas after 10 years of working on other movies...
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Ngila Dickson is one of the most versatile designers in film, imho. Her work on LOTR was unparalleled, also imho. She brought together different races and different cultures and managed to make each look different while still designing each to look like they were part of a greater whole. Do you truly believe she would not have been able to do the same for the new cultures in The Hobbit?
My LiveJournal My Costuming Site TORn's Costume Discussions Archive
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Owain
Tol Eressea
Feb 28 2011, 6:52am
Post #8 of 35
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I didn't take SteerPike's post to imply...
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That Ngila Dickson was incapable... just that it would be interesting to see a fresh perspective... much like Guillermo Del Toro was to be.
Middle Earth is New Zealand! "Question everything, embrace the bad, and hold on to the good."
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Steerpike
Bree
Feb 28 2011, 7:00am
Post #9 of 35
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I didn't say that she couldn't
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and I have no doubt that she could. Please excuse my optimism, but I don't see this as too great a tragedy, as I'm sure there are other designers who can take things in new and interesting directions, that Ngila, despite her experience, may never have considered, and yet still fit within the greater framework of Peter Jackson's take on Middle Earth. In the same way, I look forward to seeing Guillermo Del Toro's designs, which I'm sure will still fit within the greater whole and yet take things in new directions that the earlier design team would have probably never considered, despite their continuing experience in the field.
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Owain
Tol Eressea
Feb 28 2011, 7:09am
Post #11 of 35
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Ngila did a fantastic job on the trilogy...
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she hasn't really done anything of note during/since, save Blood Diamond and The Last Samurai.
Middle Earth is New Zealand! "Question everything, embrace the bad, and hold on to the good."
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Arwen's daughter
Half-elven
Feb 28 2011, 7:10am
Post #12 of 35
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I see your point more clearly post-edit
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And I hope that you'll forgive me for jumping to conclusions after your original post. I don't believe that I did call this a tragedy and I certainly never meant to imply it. You're right that there are certainly other designers who will do a great job with this film. When GDT was named as director to these movies I was all for the change in view. I guess I'm finally getting a taste of what the PJ supporters were feeling then. While I'm excited to see what this unnamed designer comes up with, and I've known for a long while that Ngila wouldn't be on these films, I feel a certain sense of disappointment that I won't get to see Ngila's designs in exchange for seeing these others. Again, thank you for clarifying your position.
My LiveJournal My Costuming Site TORn's Costume Discussions Archive
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Owain
Tol Eressea
Feb 28 2011, 7:24am
Post #14 of 35
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Yeah... I thought The Prestige was a way better film...
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which came out around the time of The Illusionist. I don't really recall the costumes in that film because I didn't really think the film was that great... I digress.
Middle Earth is New Zealand! "Question everything, embrace the bad, and hold on to the good."
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Owain
Tol Eressea
Feb 28 2011, 7:39am
Post #16 of 35
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Cool... in any event, an amazing designer, to be sure.
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And she is more than capable of the task that is The Hobbit films. Too bad she won't be on this go around.
Middle Earth is New Zealand! "Question everything, embrace the bad, and hold on to the good."
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stormcrow20
Gondor
Feb 28 2011, 7:39am
Post #17 of 35
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I'm sad to see this. I was hoping as many of the "Rings" family would be returning as possible. With so many of the great actors and other behind-the-scenes artists already confirmed to return, it looked as if that would happen. Ngila's work was complete and beautiful perfection. I am optimistic for the new talent this will bring, but I am definitely disappointed that we won't be seeing more of Middle-earth from Ngila. At least the newcomers will have her styles as guidelines to start from. Hopefully they will use one of Ngila's original "Grey" costumes from LotR for Gandalf, with a just few minor touches added (such as a silver scarf).
A greenlight from the shadows shall spring!
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duats
Grey Havens
Feb 28 2011, 7:46am
Post #18 of 35
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To see Gandalf the Grey's costume tweaked to fit more with Tolkien's description/s. ...an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which a white beard hung down below his waist, and immense black boots Gandalf's hat was wide-brimmed [..] with a pointed conical crown, and it was blue; he wore a long grey cloak, but this would not reach much below his knees. It was of an elven silver-grey hue, though tarnished by wear - as is evident from the general use of grey in the book... But his colours were always white, silver-grey, and blue - except for the boots he wore when walking in the wild...Gandalf even bent must have been at least 5 ft. 6... Which would make him a short man even in modern England, especially with the reduction of a bent back I also would have loved to see Gandalf the Grey with the massive beard, but I guess they'd deem that too outlandish/cartoonish for live action.
(This post was edited by duats on Feb 28 2011, 7:48am)
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Rosie-with-the-ribbons
Forum Admin
/ Moderator
Feb 28 2011, 11:07am
Post #19 of 35
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I totally loved what she has done for LOTR. Giving a distinct feel to all the various races, all fitting with the design of other parts for them. Now I'm curious who will get the job and what they will come up with, although a lot is probably copied from LOTR.
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Alientraveller
Lorien
Feb 28 2011, 11:11am
Post #20 of 35
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They dubbed it the Santa beard
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I also would have loved to see Gandalf the Grey with the massive beard, but I guess they'd deem that too outlandish/cartoonish for live action. As I recall in the making of books the make-up artists (both named Peter) saw McKellen was struggling with such an enormous beard. It's a shame Ngila Dickson can't work on The Hobbit, I hope she's ok if it's due to family issues because I can't see why PJ wouldn't ask her back. I loved Ngila's approach from the documentaries and books, where she talked about ageing all the clothes to make them authentic.
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DrDeath153
Lorien
Feb 28 2011, 11:14am
Post #21 of 35
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It's a real disappointment to be sure
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Ngila Dickson was obviously extremely good at what she did even if it was less in the limelight than the great work done by Weta and other parts of the design team. I also found Ngila in the interviews she gave to be a very appealing person- a real gutsy kind of woman with a dry sense of humour, so yes, i'm very sad to discover she won't be involved. Whoever they have got to replace her (and i imagine they've already been hired- even before you start fitting costumes to actors there's a lot of work that already must have had to be done: hiring of the rest of the department, gathering the raw materials, designing the costumes alongside Weta etc) i daresay will do well enough- i don't think there'll be a perceivable drop in quality, but obviously they won't have the same flair as Ngila. Oh and duats- no thanks. Immense black boots? Cloaks which ride comically short brushing against his calves? Do you want eyebrows that stick out beyond the brim of his hat too? Personally i prefer to go with what looks right rather than what Tolkien necessarily says- it's the image he evokes rather than the words he says which make Tolkien such a good writer and the design team on LotR by and large knew exactly when to deviate- Tolkien was not a costume designer and i think we should always acknowledge his limitations in those elements. Then again, i do with they had stuck more to his descriptions of Fangorn rather than turning it into some sub-tropical jungle- when it came to landscapes and forests that man did know what he was talking about. Dr Death
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Darkstone
Immortal
Feb 28 2011, 2:38pm
Post #22 of 35
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One might argue that the work of a new designer might inherently give a sense of the 60 year gap. However, Ms. Dickson ably showed such would not be a hurdle for her. As for a replacement, I'd suggest eight time Oscar nominated, three time winner Sandy Powell. She has a very impressive portfolio: Rob Roy, The Crying Game, Shakespeare in Love, Interview with the Vampire, Gangs of New York, Shutter Island, and Young Victoria to name a few. I especially loved her work on Orlando.
****************************************** Pippin: "When you guys fall in the forest, does it make a sound?" Bregalad: "Are you kidding? Scott fell last week and he hasn't shut up about it since!"
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WilliamJESnider
Bree
Feb 28 2011, 4:41pm
Post #23 of 35
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Her work on The Lord of the Rings was phenomenal, and I'm confident that he work will be honored by whoever follows in her footsteps, but I can't imagine anyone else being able to do quite as good a job.
admin of http://www.facebook.com/pages/Martin-Freeman-should-portray-Bilbo-Baggins/101180775324
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Otaku-sempai
Immortal
Feb 28 2011, 4:43pm
Post #24 of 35
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Weta's Richard Taylor is also credited with costume design for all three LOTR films. I'm sure that he will be involved with costuming for The Hobbit in some capacity.
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