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Title: Gollum: A Behind the Scenes Guide of the Making of Gollum (The Lord of the Rings) by Andy Serkis ISBN: 0-618-39104-5 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 22 December, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.83 (12 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Splendid Inside Look at Gollum from actor Andy Serkis
Comment: Andy Serkis became a part of cinematic history when he agreed to join the cast of Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy. And he made an important contribution to that history by working closely with special effects people in acting the part of Gollum/Smeagol. Although Gollum is a CGI character, the CGI animators worked exclusively from Serkis's physical movements, mapping them using state-of-the-art computer technology and then using the digitized data to create Gollum's movements, resulting in the most realistic character ever created via CGI for film. Serkin's book is an important inside look into the years he spent acting on the set of "Lord of the Rings" which will be a valuable document not only for fans of the films but serious students of cinema too. It's the best book on the making of "The Lord of The Rings" I've read so far, filled with excellent commentary from Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens, noted Tolkien artist Alan Howe, and many others from WETA and other production crews involved with the making of these films.
I had the pleasure of meeting Andy Serkis last night at a Barnes and Nobles reading for this book. He's one of the nicest actors I have met associated with a major blockbuster film. I wish him much success in his future endeavors, and look forward to seeing him again in other brilliant roles on the screen (Incidentally, he might be superb playing a Dalek in the forthcoming BBC revival of "Doctor Who".).
Rating: 5
Summary: One Man's Tale.
Comment: GOLLUM is basically a memoir by Andy Serkis describing part of his journey on the odyssey that became THE LORD OF THE RINGS films. Serkis has become a part of cinematic history with his acting of Gollum-the first major completely CGI character based upon the actions of a real actor. The things that WETA and Serkis did with Gollum had been done in the past, but on a very much smaller scale and with very different techniques. The book is quite interesting and fairly easy to read. It's filled with pictures from the sets, letters from various cast and crew members, sketches, and diagrams. When reading the book, you don't feel like you're reading at all, but rather you're sitting down and listening to a man next to you tell a story. A great book for any LORD OF THE RINGS fan and a useful resource for cinematic gurus.
Rating: 4
Summary: A precioussss behind the scenes look at the making of Gollum
Comment: Even casual film fans are now familiar with the character of Gollum and the groundbreaking special effects that turned him into one of the screen's most memorable characters. Now, we get to see Gollum from a different perspective: through the eyes of the man who brought him to life, Andy Serkis. This memoir, written by Serkis (w/help from Gary Russell) is an entertaining and eye-opening look at the production of both the character in general and the films as a whole. Andy had done mostly small roles in films and plays when he received an intriguing casting tip from his agent: Apparently, New Line was making a trilogy of films based on the "Lord of the Rings" series, and needed someone to voice the character of Gollum. Serkis, unfamiliar with the trilogy (though he had read "The Hobbit" in school) initially balked, until his partner (later, wife) Lorraine--who HAD read the books--urged him to try out. Andy agreed, and began to try different voices that might fit the character. He was stuck, having tried many different voices, until inspiration hit in the form of his cat. (His gagging, hairball-infested cat.) Serkis, who had decided to approach Gollum as a character so full of guilt and obsession (he also compares Gollum to a hardcore junkie) that he was literally choking on it, imitated his poor gagging cat in front of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh...and the rest, as they say, is history.
Andy journeyed to New Zealand for what he though might be a bit of voice work. Instead, the role of Gollum turned into one of the most challenging undertaken to date: Serkis not only supplied the voice of Gollum, but also his movements as well (thanks to innovative motion-capture technology). Serkis would end up filming scenes multiple times: once in a blue suit, accompanied by Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, then again without them, and often again in a suit studded with dots (reference points for computer animators). Though tedious, this process allowed the animators to bring Gollum to living, breathing life, a genuine example of movie magic. (How detailed is the character of Gollum? A deaf man who saw "The Two Towers" was able to read his lips.) Andy studied the character, often referencing the books for little insights into the character and his psychological makeup in order to bring greater depth to Gollum. And perhaps a little bit of Gollum worked its way into Andy...because vegetarian Serkis suddenly found himself enjoying fish again.
Despite the frequent hardships of filming, Andy was able to keep a sense of humor and professionalism about him, and is able to look back at many of the more difficult moments and laugh. Indeed, his sense of humor sustains the book when it bogs down or becomes repetitive; Serkis felt the need to relate the details of motion-capture technology a few too many times, as if he were telling a multi-part story and needed to bring new readers up to date. He grouses a bit about his initial lack of recognition and appreciation, especially when he had to repeat long scenes in the blue suit while the other actors could relax. (The worst one: Repeating a scene that involved splashing in frigid water...and that blue suit was NOT insulated). But he chides himself for those feelings, and finds a great deal of humor in those difficulties now.
Serkis, who claims little knowledge of classical literature, belies it with frequent references to and quotes from Nordic literature, the Bible (Smeagol's murder of Deagol draws comparisons to Cain and Abel), Shakespeare's "The Tempest" (comparing Gollum to Caliban), Jekyll and Hyde, Frankenstein's monster, and more. His writing style is smooth, full of humor and frequent good-natured self-deprecation, especially when relating how he foolishly ventured onto a rapids-filled river with minimal supplies, only to be rescued by four Wellington city councilors. His feelings of unappreciation were greatly assuaged when he learned that he would actually be on-screen, playing the role of young Smeagol in a flashback, as we see how Gollum came into possession of the Ring. Though he would still find himself largely unrecognized: A flight attendant saw him reading the books and innocently asked him if he knew about the films, sighing all the while because Orlando Bloom had been on the plane just a few days before. Serkis resisted a strong urge to crawl on all fours and hiss in his Gollum voice. (I don't know if I could have).
This little book (119 pgs) contains all one would want to know about the creation and evolution of one of modern cinema's most unique characters, and is highly recommended.
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Title: The Lord of the Rings Weapons and Warfare by Chris Smith, Christopher Lee ISBN: 0618390995 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 05 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title: The Art of The Return of the King (The Lord of the Rings) by Gary Russell, Peter Jackson ISBN: 0618430296 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 02 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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Title: The Return of the King Visual Companion: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion (The Lord of the Rings) by Jude Fisher ISBN: 0618390979 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 05 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: The Return of the King Photo Guide (The Lord of the Rings) by David Brawn ISBN: 0618390987 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 05 November, 2003 List Price(USD): $8.95 |
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Title: The Art of The Two Towers (The Lord of the Rings) by Gary Russell ISBN: 0618331301 Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co Pub. Date: 15 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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