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ShireHorse
Nargothrond
Nov 25 2012, 5:13pm
Post #1 of 69
(2217 views)
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Outstanding French Magazine Interview (possible spoilers)
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This has already been mentioned briefly elsewhere but it is so very good that I thought it deserved a thread of its own rather than becoming buried and missed on other threads. I hope the mods don't lock it.
It is an interview with Richard Armitage by L'Ecran Fantastique. The interviewer asks all the questions that I would want to ask and RA, as usual, answers in depth and very thoughtfully. You can find it on RichardArmitageNet which has also translated it for us. Scroll down a bit and click on "partial translation):
http://www.richardarmitagenet.com/news.html#nov24
The interview discusses what it is like to work with PJ and Andy Serkis, desribes the casting process, gives an interpretation of Thorin's character, gives make-up details and the problems caused by fake ears, describes Thorin's weapons and his fighting techniques, tells us about special effects, talks about the brotherhood of the dwarves on and off set, discusses how much humour there is in the film and reveals RA's favourite moments when playing Thorin.
IMO, this is the most insightful interview we've had so far. My thanks to RichardArmitageNet and the translator, lexie. (The translation is in progress and so there's possibly more to come.)
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Faenoriel
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 5:44pm
Post #2 of 69
(1011 views)
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Thanks, that was a good read! //
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But every word you say today
Gets twisted 'round some other way
And they'll hurt you if they think you've lied
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Lacrimae Rerum
Hithlum
Nov 25 2012, 5:54pm
Post #3 of 69
(1118 views)
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In particular - on humour ....
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"Yes, and what's more, it was one of the things that all the actors who played the Dwarves and all the crew enjoyed very much because, once this group of characters sets off, so many things happen that there's very little room for laughs. The events which unfold plunge everyone into so many dangerous situations that they have to stay focused and serious. That is why we always try to make the most of those little moments where we can inject a dose of humour."
One of the clearest comments we have had thus far on the balance of humourous and serious in the films.
LR
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imin
Doriath
Nov 25 2012, 6:05pm
Post #4 of 69
(1024 views)
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Yeah that comment has made me feel much better
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That there will be a real balance and contrast to two aspects of the film.
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Antalasse
Lindon
Nov 25 2012, 6:08pm
Post #5 of 69
(974 views)
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It's really nice to see Richard Armitage has given Thorin's character this much thought.
...in every wood in every spring there is a different green...(c)
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ShireHorse
Nargothrond
Nov 25 2012, 6:10pm
Post #6 of 69
(997 views)
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would cheer a few people up, LOL. And, I honestly think that, as the films progress, they will get more and more serious. The early humour will only underline the tragedy of the unravelling story.
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Bagheera
Nevrast
Nov 25 2012, 6:21pm
Post #7 of 69
(1003 views)
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When he says (regarding the "Over the Misty Mountains" song,
"When I recorded this song, I imagined it had been sung to
Thorin time and time again when he was still a little baby in his crib, and that it also aroused
a strong emotional identification amongst the other Dwarves."
How on earth would a song written about the desolation of Smaug have been written and sung to Thorin while he was a baby? You'd think the actor playing him would see the incongruence, rather than use it to inform his acting.
Nerdy nitpicking aside, I still think what we've heard of the song is wonderful and Armitage did a great job singing it, and he also looks to be a great choice for Thorin (despite his age). I just think it's funny when actors say silly things like this, as if it really improved their acting. They should give themselves more credit...they're marvelous actors, they don't need to invent backstories that don't even make sense. The script is already there for all of that (though I'd imagine it makes sense).
Enjoy the trailer for my fantasy novel:
We Kill Death
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sycorax82
Nargothrond
Nov 25 2012, 6:23pm
Post #8 of 69
(980 views)
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Richard does the best interviews
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You can tell he knows Thorin so well. It's brilliant to see him talk about Azanulbizar!!
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ShireHorse
Nargothrond
Nov 25 2012, 6:51pm
Post #9 of 69
(940 views)
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Here's the last piece of translation
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which has yet to go up on RichardArmitageNet. It concerns the making of the Stone Giant sequence:
Was it sometimes difficult to keep your energy as an actor during the shooting against the green screen of those scenes meant to be finished with special effects? And which was the most difficult scene to shoot?
When one plays a character for such a long time, some of the most important things are knowing how to save one's energy, staying focused on the role and understanding what one has to do to play the character sensibly. Peter helped us move forward and improve in every take trying out new things. He was always ready to shoot one more take. It was as if he were waiting for the moment for you to tell him that you'd given your best, that you have no more strength left in you to shoot another take, just because he wants one to feel the characters are very tense. Peter also prevents actors from being too “comfortable” when acting because that will become evident on the screen and as soon as the audience notices it, they won't believe in what we put on scene and will stop caring about what's happening.As regards the special effects, I'd say that the most complex scene to shoot was the one in which we face the stone giants on the slope of the mountain. We shot that in the studio with a huge wind machine which threw a heavy rain upon us. I was wearing a harness under my costume and was hanging from cables to help me climb down the side of the cliff to rescue Gloin and Oin. When you're carrying the harness, the padding of fake muscles, the costume, the bags and the accessories in addition to your make-up and wig, and everything is soaking wet and weighs you down, it becomes extremely difficult to stay on your feet while having to withstand strong gusts of wind. It was exactly what the dwarves were supposed to be going through at the time, an arduous and dangerous test. However, it was also necessary to be able to keep going physically to carry out the sequence successfully... When we left the set we thought of weighing ourselves to find out how much heavier the water which was still soaking what we were wearing had made us. We realised then that each of us was moving around carrying a total weight of 25 to 30 kilos of soaked accessories and costumes! Getting through such an ordeal contributed to bring us even closer to one another.
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Lusitano
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 7:21pm
Post #10 of 69
(899 views)
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is a moment of fervour almost religious in nature, which marks the beginning of their quest
towards the Blue Mountains.
Blue Mountains??
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ShireHorse
Nargothrond
Nov 25 2012, 7:27pm
Post #11 of 69
(900 views)
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LOL, he's been reading the Appendices or The Tales of Erebor
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and is thinking of when he was a smith in the Blue Mountains whilst in exile.
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Estel78
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 7:31pm
Post #12 of 69
(851 views)
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Still, i remain somewhat sceptical, the ads paint a different picture.
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Antalasse
Lindon
Nov 25 2012, 7:33pm
Post #13 of 69
(873 views)
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Too much Tolkien for one actor?
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...in every wood in every spring there is a different green...(c)
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Lusitano
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 7:33pm
Post #14 of 69
(855 views)
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I think he has immersed so much in the mythology and Tolkiens writings that hes getting confused with all the names and locations
On the other hand, he used that name because we will see something to do with the Blue Mountains. It has been my belief that it is too good an opportunity not to show Thorin in exile, slaving away in the forges of the Blue Mountains...
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Antalasse
Lindon
Nov 25 2012, 7:37pm
Post #15 of 69
(866 views)
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Well, in the Conceptual Art book
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there was a picture of Thorin working in the smithy.
...in every wood in every spring there is a different green...(c)
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ShireHorse
Nargothrond
Nov 25 2012, 7:38pm
Post #16 of 69
(857 views)
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But Armitage ALWAYS gives himself a back story.
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MF just walks on and "does" it but method actors like Mortensen and Armitage must "become" it. And, if this produces a good end result, who are we to quibble about how they get there?
But, like you, I had to read that paragraph twice. He obviously knows he was a "young Thorin" when Smaug attacked because he's done that scene; so I suggest that he is explaining how he got the emotion by imagining a cradle song. Whatever. It worked.
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Estel78
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 7:52pm
Post #18 of 69
(833 views)
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I dunno why they should misadvertise Hobbit
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I doubt it was families and kids that was the primary audience for the LOTR movies, so why cater to them in trailers?
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Bagheera
Nevrast
Nov 25 2012, 8:02pm
Post #19 of 69
(808 views)
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if it works it works. I guess I just think of cases like Heath Ledger's (playing the Joker), going above and beyond the script and giving us an incredible performance, and then becoming so exhausted he made a tragic mistake regarding the mixture of certain drugs...
Obviously you can't blame method acting for Ledger's death, but nor do I think that it can be credited for his wonderful performance. It was the great script combined with his talents that brought about the Joker, not whatever made-up "Joker diary" he kept on his own when not filming.
Then you have fellows like Martin Freeman, who, like you said, walk on set and simply act. I'm not trying to say Method Acting is a stupid waste of time, and honestly I don't care how the actors approach it, as long as the performance is good. It just amuses me to read things like, "Oh yeah, I figured that Thorin has known this song since he was an infant, so it's really important to his people, like a hymn." When I'm over here saying, "Dude! You're a great actor...and the song has reverence because it's about an act of terrorism your people suffered...one that you actually experienced! Tolkien put all that there. You can take a breather, it's all been structured long before you came along. You're doing good, you don't have to impress us with anything more than your acting."
Hope that doesn't come across as harsh (though it is rambling). Believe it or not, it doesn't really matter much to me, it just makes me laugh, and I have total faith that Armitage will give us a truly admirable portrayal of Thorin in a few weeks.
Enjoy the trailer for my fantasy novel:
We Kill Death
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Lacrimae Rerum
Hithlum
Nov 25 2012, 8:04pm
Post #20 of 69
(791 views)
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I'm not sure where misadvertising comes into it. It is simply the case that what is shown in trailers is rarely a proportionate sample of what occurs in the film.
If we look at the Skyfall trailer for example (as one I saw recently) then more than half of the trailer focuses on the first twenty minutes of the film.
Similarly if we see five comic moments in a three minute trailer there is no reason to suppose that implies 300 comic moments in a three hour film. All we really know is that there are at least five (and possibly no more than five)
LR
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Bagheera
Nevrast
Nov 25 2012, 8:05pm
Post #21 of 69
(811 views)
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In his defense there are so many stinkin' mountains and valleys and forests to keep track of in Middle-Earth...and Tolkien named them all. I have a hard enough time remembering real-world geography as it is.
Enjoy the trailer for my fantasy novel:
We Kill Death
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Lusitano
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 8:12pm
Post #22 of 69
(790 views)
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Yes! I knew it! In your face Doubt!
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Estel78
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 8:13pm
Post #23 of 69
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It's not about counting the number of comedic moments
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A trailer should give a good indication of the tone of the move. When i look at the trailers and posters, i almost get a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs vibe.
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Lusitano
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 8:16pm
Post #24 of 69
(772 views)
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I dont have that much trouble with that
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but i can sympathise with RA.
At least he didnt say towards Mount Doom
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Lusitano
Dor-Lomin
Nov 25 2012, 8:17pm
Post #25 of 69
(765 views)
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about a Fat Hobbit and the Thirteen Dwarves 
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