I did it even in New Zealand just now, probably to return the favor of what I got out of being there as a photographer and a writer and so forth, and to share it with them, but also because it’s something I continue to do anyway, wherever I am. I had two exhibitions that opened a week ago in Wellington of photography, and I did a poetry reading. The reading was a benefit for a university, a writing program there, and I read with a bunch of other New Zealand poets. It was great because we were going to read in a small space like you would normally in a poetry reading, and we had to change to a huge theater to accommodate everyone. A lot of the people, if not most of them, were movie fans, and came for that reason. But in the end what was great about it was that they came and they heard a poetry reading and they got to know four other poets as well, New Zealand poets. And to think about that just for an hour, an hour and a half, before going out into the pre-world premiere frenzy and all that. Same with the photography.
A lot of people came to these places, these spaces that haven’t been used for awhile and which now will be I think. We had another benefit for a university there, and again, a lot of the “Lord of the Rings” fans came. Then all of a sudden instead of talking about, you know Saruman and Sauron and what not, they were talking about photography and how is this done, or this reminds me of such and such, and, “I’ve never been to a photo exhibit, and I think I’ll start going now.” Or, “I’m going to get my little camera out of the drawer, and I’m gonna start doing it, or maybe I’ll buy a camera.” I like that, that there’s that possibility, and I know that some of the other actors have other interests in that way, too. I think it’s all part of the same thing.
I feel as an actor, or a photographer, or a writer, or painter, or whatever, or even making those records, it’s about interacting with people, about in the end being where you are, being present. It’s a habit I have of having a camera, or thinking in terms of how I can tell a story about something that happened. It could be us sitting here and I’m thinking of something. It just means that I’m paying a little more attention. I’ll remember that you had four tapes and you had the magazine and all those things. If I was just in here and not thinking in those ways, I wouldn’t remember how many windows. Those things are just part of, it’s a way of grounding yourself where you’re at. As an actor it helps you relax, so that if you’re in a scene with somebody, and they say or do something, you actually see what they do on that take. You’re looking at someone and you’re not seeing them, if you only, in your own tunnel vision you’re thinking, “I’m going to do this performance to suit myself.” Something happens unusual and you go with it. The director tells you something between takes and you actually hear him and try to help. You don’t just go, “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” because you’ve got your own [agenda]. It’s just a way of being presenting, of communicating, asking questions.
PAGE 4: "Lord of the Rings" Fans and the Books vs. the Movies
Additional “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” Press Junket Interviews:
John Rhys-Davies, Sean Astin, Bernard Hill, David Wenham/John Noble, and Richard Taylor/Barrie M. Osborne
“The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” Premiere Coverage:
Orlando Bloom/Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Elijah Wood/Ian McKellen, Dominic Monaghan, David Wenham/John Noble, John Rhys Davies/Bernard Hill, and Peter Jackson/Richard Taylor
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
"Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” Photo Gallery
"Return of the King” Trailer, Credits, Soundtrack Info and Movie News
