Andy "Gollum" Serkis Speaks 222
Jondor writes "The BBC has an article in which
Andy Serkis answers questions about his role as Gollum.
Can't wait so spend a whole 9 hours watching for the full DVD release of LOTR!"
We're here to give you a computer, not a religion. - attributed to Bob Pariseau, at the introduction of the Amiga
Bad picture at the begining (Score:4, Funny)
Come on people, you don't need this kind of photo-trickery, and when you do it that badly, it really takes away more than it adds. If you're not going to spend the resources to do it right, just don't do it.
his "roll", eh? (Score:4, Funny)
I would think smeagol is more of a donut man... errr... little slinky thing...
Re:his "roll", eh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:his "roll", eh? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:his "roll", eh? (Score:2)
Re:his "roll", eh? (Score:4, Funny)
SNIPPET FROM ORIGINAL SCRIPT:
ELROND
We must return the roll to the bakeries of
Morrrrdorr. It is to be cast into the
firey oven of the Mount Doom "Buns N' Loaves"
where it was first baked!
heh...roll (Score:5, Interesting)
hehe..."Roll."
Besides the typo, I think Andy Serkis did an excellent job. Watching the Oscars get handed out tonight will probably be an unfortunate reminder to Serkis that the Academy just isn't ready for a computer generated actor.
I think Gollum's performance was amazing, and after reading about it on lordoftherings.net [lordoftherings.net] and watching the little video about Andy Serkis (and from the bonus footage on FoTR), I think it is simply amazing how everything down to the facial expressions came from a real actor. That's just incredible.
Re:heh...roll (Score:5, Interesting)
In a completely different direction, how did they do the compositing if he was actually in the original shots? Erase him out and then stick Gollum in? Seems like a lot of work.
That reminds of something the DVD commentry when Bilbo is invisible and running back to Bag End. Either Dominic Monaghan or Billy Boyd said that they shot the scene with Ian Holm in it and then edited him out. I was never quite sure if they were taking the piss or not . . .
Re:heh...roll (Score:3)
Yeah, if you read the article, Serkis talks a lot about some of the stuff he did..he thought he was going to originally be a voice actor
Re:heh...roll (Score:3, Informative)
Re:heh...roll (Score:2)
Re:heh...roll (Score:3, Informative)
Using a combination of the background plates, matte shots and the motion capture they can key out the real Andy and put Gollum in his place.
It takes a long time to do though, and rendering those frames is no picnic.
A "roll"? (Score:1, Funny)
In his spare time.. (Score:5, Interesting)
I would love to visit (or even live in) New Zealand. Unfortunately, it's a quick couple thousand for plane tickets. As for the immigration, they have a lovely point system to keep unscrupulous people out (as well as eldery from using it as a retirement center) -- way to go NZ!
Re:In his spare time.. (Score:5, Interesting)
On topic, there has been a great LOTR exhipition in Wellington [wcc.govt.nz] at Te Papa (the Natinal Museum) [tepapa.govt.nz]. Lots of vidoe clips, that I guess will come out on DVD, explaining how things were done, along with costumes and props. The best video was the one showing a clip of Gollum from the film against Sarkis. They took the entire movement and facial expressions from him. He was shot three times over, at least for each scene. Once with the other actors (that's him wrestling with Sam), once doing all the physical movements so that they could animate Gollum accurately and once doing the voice overs and facial expressions.
I wish we'd [catalystmultimedia.com] designed the web site!
-------------
Re:In his spare time.. (Score:2, Informative)
Funny thing is that it costs as much to see the exhibition as the movie.
Re:In his spare time.. (Score:2)
Re:In his spare time.. (Score:2)
trollbait away! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:trollbait away! (Score:2, Funny)
Re:trollbait away! (Score:3, Informative)
I think that a 14 years old boy would know most of this actors, saw previos movies with them in leading roles, but probably they hear about Andy
Re:trollbait away! (Score:2)
To expand on Christopher Lee a bit... Here's one role most of us have seen him in (SW:EPII):
http://us.imdb.com/Credits?0121765 [imdb.com]
Here's his bio page on IMDB:
http://us.imdb.com/Name?Lee,%20Christopher [imdb.com]
That page lists 258 films he's been in dating back to 1948. So I agree, Christopher Lee qualifies as a movie legend in my book.
Re:trollbait away! (Score:2)
Re:trollbait away! (Score:2)
Roleing about laughing (Score:5, Funny)
I Found it interesting (Score:4, Interesting)
I know that animators some times get thier inspiration from the voices of the actors (Jeremy Irons as Scar in the Lion King), and that he also did the acting for it, but this was uncanny
Please take pity (Score:5, Funny)
I feel truly sorry for the poor guy.
Re:Please take pity (Score:5, Funny)
go down a treat with the Anime crowd.
Re:Please take pity (Score:2)
Expected.. (Score:3, Funny)
The Best One (Score:2)
lol! (Score:5, Funny)
This one was probably my favorite:
So true.
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:2)
The question about intruding on the relationship between Frodo and Sam was very good.
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:lol! (Score:3, Insightful)
If you run the googlefight with Dobby spelled right, guess who wins?
That's right, Gollum!!
Hey Moderators! (Score:2)
Re:lol! (Score:2)
Thanks for pointing this out.
in case of /.ing (Score:5, Funny)
Yes, usually quite raw.
question: do you hate P. Jackson for having you roll around in that cold stream for hours?
Weees will hasss our revenge.
question: what is the worst thing about being a computer generated actor?
Trying to convince people that you have to stop for a real pee and that a virtual pee doesn't cut the mustard.
question: have you read the book?
Yes, yes, I've read it about 50 times and watched the movie.
question: did you run away and join the circus?
You horrible little man take that *blam* *yeeeow*
Re:in case of /.ing (Score:2)
Q:If you could keep any prop from the movie, what would you keep?
A:I think I would keep the precious.
The only important tidbit... (Score:5, Interesting)
...comes at the end of the interview. Apparently, there is talk about the Hobbit being done as a TV miniseries. Andy replies to this by saying, "Well I'd heard that it wasn't a TV series, that it was going to be another movie but I mean there have been various rumours about it." Whatever the case, it looks like my LOTR DVD collection will eventually include the Hobbit. I hope Ian reprises his role.
Re:The only important tidbit... (Score:2)
Ian Holm, alas, will probably be too old to play a young Bilbo, prostetics and computer help nonwhitstanding. They'd probably get a younger actor who looks like a young Holm, which probably would not be too bad (after the LOTR movies, Jackson's cating people have my full trust).
Battle of the Comic-Relief Chars (Score:3, Funny)
Comment removed (Score:5, Informative)
Spoiler Alert! (Score:4, Interesting)
Insightful question (remember, this is the adult interviewer asking) and answer. Now that he's seen the scripts, just think how much money Serkis could make selling the secret ending to LotR!
[Please tell me the above is just a joke, BTW. They wouldn't change the ending. Would they?]
Re:Spoiler Alert! (Score:2)
http://bbspot.com/News/2003/01/jaromir.html
Has he even read the books? (Score:4, Insightful)
Elizabeth, 6, Madison USA
What do you think Gollum would do if he actually got the Ring back?
Andy Serkis: That's a good question. I think Gollum would probably want to try and turn back time so he could go back to being Smeagol before he killed his cousin for the Ring.
Which, of course, is not at all what LotR tells us (Gollum even says outwardly that that he'd pay everyone back). That said, it seems somewhat odd that the actors haven't read the book, or if they have they haven't read it very closely.
Re:Has he even read the books? (Score:2)
Re:Has he even read the books? (Score:3, Insightful)
Not when you consider he was answering to a 6 year old girl.
Re:Has he even read the books? (Score:2)
It's plain in the interview that he has read the book closely -- multiple times!
I thought the answer was a little weird myself. It may have to do, however, with his characterization of Gollum. Serkis seems careful to make sure that the pathetic comes through in his portrayal, in addition to the malice.
Gollum is a warped creature; and maybe Serkis believes, in creating the character for screen, that somewhere, deep down, Gollum knows knows what the ring has cost him and regrets it.
Re:Has he even read the books? (Score:2)
It is said plainly many times that Gollum both loves and hates the ring, both in the books and the movie adaptation. Perhaps Serkis is playing to that more to the surface to give the character a little more depth.
I always wondered if Gollum was playing the hobbits for a chance to take the ring, or if he was actually trying
Re:Has he even read the books? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Has he even read the books? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Has he even read the books? (Score:2)
I always preferred Brother Theodore's voice myself (Score:3, Interesting)
If you're wondering who Brother Theodore is, here's [imdb.com] his filmography. I remeber him best from The 'Burbs as the acerbic Uncle Reuben Klopek, for whom he uses nearly the same voice as he did for Gollum.
Enough with the 'roll' jokes (Score:5, Funny)
--
Re:Enough with the 'roll' jokes (Score:2)
What a pun..oh man.
Hmm (Score:3, Interesting)
I liked reading Tolkien because of the atmosphere and mythos he was able to create. I enjoyed how he was able to tie together familiar myths and legends into a new and beautiful work.
Jackson's movies simply don't share Tolkien's atmosphere. All they seem to share are hobbits, dwarves, elves, orcs, and what not. In fact the movies ultimately fail, in my opinion, because Jackson doesn't recognize that he can't replicate the books on screen and fails to supply the necessary artistic imagination of his own to flesh out the work. What he does add or change is filler. If you are going to adapt a written work for the screen, do it like Kubrick did so often. Ditch the plot and show them what you can make of the work yourself.
But most people really enjoyed the movies. So do they like Tolkien just because he uses words like 'Ent' and 'Balrog'? It makes me feel a little bit alone.
Re:Hmm (Score:5, Interesting)
In fact the movies ultimately fail, in my opinion, because Jackson doesn't recognize that he can't replicate the books on screen and fails to supply the necessary artistic imagination of his own to flesh out the work. What he does add or change is filler. If you are going to adapt a written work for the screen, do it like Kubrick did so often. Ditch the plot and show them what you can make of the work yourself.
And if Jackson had done that, you'd probably have somebody screaming bloody murder that he dared to alter the holy canon of Tolkien. Of yeah, I forgot... in fact you did have people complaining about the changes and omissions (i.e. Bombadil's omission, increased role for Arwen, etc, etc). It goes to show that you can't please everyone, so you might as well concentrate on pleasing yourself. Judging by the interviews I've seen with Peter Jackson, I'd say he was very happy with the final product.
As far as the Jackson-Kubrik comparison goes, Kubrick had the luxury of adapting books that weren't nearly as popular as the Lord of the Ring books. I mean, how many people have actually read _2001_ or _Clockwork Orange_ or even _The Shining_? I would wager that if you add up the number of people who have read these books combined, the total would be nowhere near the number who have read LOTR. In that sense, he was limited in what he could do.
To be honest, I am impressed that Jackson was able to inbue the movie with the spirit of the books as much as he did. I was very skeptical when I heard that LOTR was coming out as a film. It didn't seem like the type of books that could be adapted to film, given their scope. However, I thought that he did an admirable job of capturing their feel, given the limitations of the medium. In particular, I thought that the art direction, the sets, and the cinematography really captured the "atmosphere" in the same way that Tolkiens prose did. Apparently, Jackson hired two well known "Tolkien" artists to head up the art direction on the film. They were in charge of the overall designs for the sets, props, and costumes. Their vision for the world of Middle East really helped shape the movie in a very subtle, but profound way. For instance, they used very consistent motifs for all of the sets and props associated with the different cultures of Middle Earth. Some of it was based upon Tolkien's own writings and some of it was based upon their interpretation of the books. The level of care and detail that went into the design process was really amazing - especially for props that had very limited screen time.
If you want more details, I advise you to watch the "making of" DVD's in the Extended Edition of FOTR. If you are a fan of the atmosphere, like you say, you might gain a new appreciation of the movie.
Re:Hmm (Score:2, Interesting)
Jackson has pleased the Tolkien fans. However, 'Middle Earth experts' do an atmosphere make. I've seen the spirit of Tolkien in surrealist science fiction movies and in history textbooks. It goes so far because his work had real elements of greatness. I don't see that spirit in m
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Vision of Middle Earth, one would think. I'm one to talk, though; I identified a Whopper as coming from McDonalds a few days ago on Slashdot.
Re:Hmm (Score:2)
Jackson did try to make this particular toaster wash dishes, as you put it. He failed for preciously that reason. It's not an adaptation that he has created, it's a replication.
In other news... (Score:3, Funny)
Not only will he keep the ring, but he'll interspese that with witty commentary and stories about his family, being a Christmas Elf and Santa Claus around the world.
- Serge Wroclawski
(wondering if anyone will get it)
No LOTR Logo/Icon? (Score:5, Interesting)
Think about it.. all the Posts that are going to be made over the next +2 Years for LOTR.. Movie Reiviews, Spoilers, Trailers, DVD's, DVD Reviews, Special Ed. DVD's, Cast Interviews, Award Shows, ect.. ect... ect..
LOTR DESERVES its own Logo/Icon
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=48383&cid=4
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=49299&ci
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=49969&ci
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=53467&ci
http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=55587&ci
Re:No LOTR Logo/Icon? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:No LOTR Logo/Icon? (Score:4, Interesting)
(actualy I was somewhat supprised there wasn't one already..;)
Love how he avoids spoilers. (Score:5, Funny)
How do you see your character developing in the Return of the King?
Andy Serkis: I don't want to give too much away actually but obviously Gollum's fate is very much bound up with that of Frodo and Sam and the Ring of course. And so you get to see them continue on their journey and it reaches an enormous climax in Mordor.
Psst, kid! I know where you can get top-secret information about what happens in Return of the King--it's called a library!
Psst (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Psst (Score:2)
[SPOILER ALERT!]
[SPOILER ALERT!]
[SPOILER ALERT!]
[SPOILER ALERT!]
[SPOILER ALERT!]
Re:Psst (Score:2)
More like ten and a half? (Score:2)
Only 9 hours? Come on, if you can't watch all 10 1/2 hours of all three extended editions back to back youâ(TM)re not serious! Except of course for the 5 DVD changes.
Don't call him Gollum! (Score:2)
Ouch (Score:3, Funny)
Is it true that you actually had to dive into the freezing cold water in the scene by the waterfall yourself and if so what was that like?
Andy Serkis: Yeah it's absolutely true, they spent the whole morning before we actually shot that scene - the whole mountain was under cover of snow and the crew had to defrost this entire area using high pressure hoses and wind machines and all sorts of things and then - but the water was still sub-zero - and so when I went into the water it was absolutely freezing, I could hardly move, my whole body froze up and we had to repeat the scene a few times. But it is true we did do that.
Wouldn't it hurt diving into ice?
Re:Ouch (Score:2)
Re:Ouch (Score:2)
hmm, no one else seems to have picked up on this (Score:2, Interesting)
So....... erm..... my guess would be that he means he gets a cheeky cameo as a normal "human" actor. Playing an elf or dwarf or something in the corner of one scene.
Any other interpretatio
Shrek (Score:3, Interesting)
As the movie was translated (not subtitled), the part at the start where they put the names of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and John Lithgow, that did the "voices" was cut. Now, if the character's expression was taken from their acting while they did the voices, I think that this was unfair with those actors, in the same sense that they are doing with Serkis with Gollum, their acting was more than only put the voices.
I think Chris Kattan plays a better gollum (Score:2, Funny)
9 hours? (Score:2)
A Scene from the Academy Debate Over Andy Serkis (Score:4, Funny)
G: No!! We hates him, hates him!
S: What are you talking about? He did a wonderful job!
G: No! He ruined the precious with all his nasty scampering about!
S: Oh come on! His was far and away one of the most interesting performances in the movie.
G: No! Not he, it. Yessss, it, horrible machine with all its nasty little bits running like ants! We hates the terrible computer eye, hates it! HATES IT! No, we keeps the precious little statue...
Think of Ross Perot after ten years on the Atkins (Score:3, Funny)
Gollum, who guides Frodo on his quest, is white-skinned and blue-veined, like a moldering cheese, and his shrunken frame is topped by a triangular head with protruding eyes. Think of Ross Perot after ten years on the Atkins diet, and you're almost there.
http://orlijah.net/archive/article108.html
Is it only me... (Score:2)
Disturbing.
12 hours (Score:2)
CG Hair (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Serkis also has split personality... (Score:2)
It kinda makes you wonder...
Re:Serkis also has split personality... (Score:2)
Comment removed (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Andy Serkis wasn't gollum... (Score:4, Informative)
He did do a lot of work and special work at that
Re:Andy Serkis wasn't gollum... (Score:2)
Also, the actor who generally just stood around had no idea that his voice was going to be dubbed, and as I recall was rather upset when he saw the final version of the film and discovered that his own voice had been replaced by that of James Earl Jones.
Re:Just 9 hours?? (Score:2)
I make that more like 19.5 (9 hours for the theatrical release, then 10.5 for the extended edition....)
It was nice of him to mention that there will be an "extended" (in other words, not cut as severely) version of Return of the King.
Quote:
"...it'll be, four years all in all, over fours years, until we've done the final extended DVD on the Return of the King, which will be about this time next year..."
So remember to wait fo
Re:Just 9 hours?? (Score:2)
That's just for the films. Don't forget the special features on the DVDs!
Minor quibble (Score:2)
Heck, the stories of the Silmarillion were started way back when Tolkien was in the trenches of WW1...
Re:its ROLE you stupid fucking morons (Score:2)
it's = it is
its = belonging to it (being one of the only times that the possession apostrophe is not used)