Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro Hold a 'Hobbit' Online Chat
A massive transcript for you to sink your teeth into
WETA Host: Will WETA be releasing figures for this film like it did with Kong and Narnia?
Guillermo del Toro: I would hope so!! I want them all!!
Galdor_Felagund: How does Christopher Tolkien feel about the two new films?
Peter Jackson: Hi Galdor – Christopher Tolkien did not wish to be involved in the Lord of the Rings movies and I would assume his feelings are the same with these two films. I totally respect him for that since he is looking after the legacy of his father's books and does not wish to be involved in someone else's interpretation of those stories.
WETA Host: Having recently reread the Hobbit with my children, it strikes me that the Hobbit contains a fairly linear story that doesn't necessarily follow the "three act" formula typical of movies. What do you see as the biggest challenge adapting the story to the big screen?
Guillermo del Toro: There are so many- I am all for trying to preserve every idiosyncrasy the novel has- the very things that seem "un-filmable" and that – in my mind- will make it thrilling as a film. The novel is much, much more inventive and dislocated in its narrative (Bilbo being hit by a rock during the Battle) than you may think at first. I think that you can treat a classic like a museum piece -stuffed and mounted- or you can make it a living, breathing narrative that is unfolding right then and there.
Peter Jackson: Structure is important in film, but as Guillermo says, there's often structure to be found in the most unlikely of places! It's quite possible to build a structured story and retain idiosyncrasy. It's going to be part of the joy of writing this.
Lukas-Eldarion: Will you do another chat later on in the process?
Guillermo del Toro: Gladly- gladly- I'm in!!
Peter Jackson: Hi Lukas – we would love to this has been a lot of fun. Let us just get the last of the official questions out because we are working down to the most popular ones in the final few.
WETA Host: Will Gollum play a role in the second film? If not, any plans to find a different role for Andy Serkis? Because, and I think most will agree with me, everything is better with more Serkis.
Guillermo del Toro: Yes! As all of you know, Gollum has a rather fascinating arch to go through and his alliance to Shelob or his period of imprisonment in Thranduil's, etc but it is early still- so early in fact that to reveal more would tie our hands and be counterproductive.
Guillermo del Toro: There can never be "too much Andy"
WETA Host: Hello from New Orleans! What production challenges do you feel will be different for The Hobbit and the sequel compared to the experience of making The Lord of the Rings?
Peter Jackson: Yikes! Every film is a challenge. I always say that making a movie is like film school – you're always learning. But unlike most schools, you never get done with it. You never learn everything. Over time, you get to anticipate problems a little better – but new ones hit you. You get to figure out solutions, but there are always extreme problems you could never guess.
One of the things I'm going to enjoy in this experience, is that I'll be better placed to help anticipate the problems and fix them. When you're directing, you're right at the coal face, always exhausted, often emotional – and I'll enjoy being a couple of steps back from that and simply helping where I can. Having done it 3 times as director, there's a lot I know that can help smooth the way for Guillermo.
WETA Host: Hello Mr. Jackson and Mr. Del Toro! Thank you very much for this time. My question is one that I think you will hear a lot of from many of us…from what material will you pulling the second movie from? I know it'll be great with you two on board, but I am mighty curious. I am a huge fan of both of you and I look forward to more Tolkien films!
Guillermo del Toro: The idea is to find a compelling way to join The Hobbit and FELLOWSHIP and enhance the 5 films both visually an in their Cosmology. There's omissions and material enough in the available, licensed material to attempt this. The agreement is, however, that the second film must be relevant and emotionally strong enough to be brought to life but that we must try and contain The Hobbit in a single film.
Peter Jackson: Let's do a few more random questions before the final grand question.
WETA Host: Hi Guys my question comes in two parts. Firstly will we notice a significant shift in visual style from Lord of the Rings to the Hobbit due to Guillermo's unique aesthetic? And if so will there be a complete re-imagining in the design of places seen in both books (i.e. Bag End and Rivendell) due to this differing style?
Guillermo del Toro: GDT The basic designs, the pre-established designs will be only "updated" insofar as the epoch difference. Half a century more or less which in Middle Earth terms is not that much but- think about how much our world has changed from – say 2001 to now… The new settings and designs should blend in enough not to feel like a completely different world but yes, the movies are bound to have some distinctive stylistic imprint.
WETA Host: Gentlemen, a two part question. 1st, shooting on film or HD? 2nd, scope or flat?
Guillermo del Toro: I normally use 1:85 but I thoroughly plan to respect Peter's choice of format used in the Trilogy (2:35:1) but it is my intention, for now, to shoot this on film, not HD.
WETA Host: How will the new Gollum differ from the Gollum of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, if at all?
Guillermo del Toro: Once again, only in the passage of time (he's half a century "younger") but it will be Andy and the established design will be our Template
WETA Host: Will the Mirkwood Elves be different from the Rivendell Elves of the Lord of the Rings trilogy?
Guillermo del Toro: That is definitely my intention but I cannot reveal anymore at the moment.
WETA Host: Considering that you're stretching The Hobbit into 2 movies can we assume that Beorn will be featured and will not be given the Tom Bombadil treatment?
Guillermo del Toro: I may be in the minority, but I absolutely LOVE Beorn and I intend to feature him in the films. BTW I also like TB quite a bit…
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