Official Fan Club Q & A Session

with Brian Sibley

Do you have any plans to do speaking in the US? ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-13:43

I was asked to go to Comi-con, but my publisher decided it was too expensive ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-13:46
especially with my last book being almost a year old by then! However, I may be coming to the US in December (still not sure) to promote the NEXT book about the films.

Hullo, Brian. If you do come in Dec., do you know where you will be? I assume either NY or LA?nt ... Lithilien Quicksilver ... 05.04-13:50

Brian says (he's busy typing another answer) If he comes it will be 6 cities including... ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-13:53
the two you mention. It's basically one day in a city, one day's flying for 12 days. But it's a question of whether I can manage it because I should be working on the third book ROTK in December

Brian, welcome! What started you in this - was it the radio adaptation work... ... Primula ... 05.04-13:44
or something before that?

Long before the radio series! ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-13:51
When I first read THE HOBBIT when I was 11 or 12 and then (ten years later read TLOTR): that - coupled with seeing the Ralph Bakshi film - kept my interest - no, PASSION! - for JRRT's books on the boil --- and then I heard that PJ was going to film the LOTR with MY Frodo as his Bilbo! How could I resist begging and pleading with HarperCollins to let me write the books about the film?

How much input did PJ have on the book, where you under certain restrictions as to what you (txt) ... Hobbitlove ... 05.04-13:54
put in the book?
- Peter spared what time he could while I was in NZ ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-13:59
  And, yes, of course there were limitations on what I coulkd talk about - or SHOW! Hence no pix of Gollum in the first book - or the Balrog. The next book will be quite different with much more info and (I hope) insight into the film-makinh process.
How long where you in NZ? nt ... Hobbitlove ... 05.04-14:10

How long was Brian in NZ? Answer: 6 weeks. nt ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-14:19

Do you have a background in journalism or writing - or was this a "new" career for you? nt ... Primula ... 05.04-13:59

Brian says "I started writing for radio 25 years ago and amazon.com will give a list... ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-14:21
of all my publications eg CS Lewis Narnia, Winnie the Pooh, film animation etc."

How are the sales going for the Official Guide, and is it what you expected? nt ... StefBaggins ... 05.04-13:45

What did I expect??? ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-13:54
Sixteen weeks on the New York Times 'Best-Seller' List getting to No. 2 was a very pleasing thing to happen - but I'm still waiting to earn some royalties: probably because my % is rather small -- but who cares about Dragon-gold or Orc-hordes!

I very much enjoyed your book! It had quite a bit much more information and (txt) ... Goldilocks Brownlock ... 05.04-13:45
covered areas (such as the dialog coaching) that I hadn't thought about. It was very well laid out too, quite easy to read, and lovely photos. Do you do your own layout or do you have a designer to work with at HM?
I'm looking forward to the next book very much! :-)

Brian says "I have a designer. And if you think the first book has a lot of behind the scenes.... ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-14:02
information, you ain't seen nothing yet. There will be a lot more stuff in the next book TTT.

Before I bombard you with my questions..welcome to the PP... ... Dandy ... 05.04-13:47
Now Can I throw them at you..
1/ If there is one scene you would do over again- for the radio program what would it be and why..

2/ If you could add a new scene what would that be.

and a thank you for the wonderful book...and for the ones coming out in the future..

Sitting back with a Spatan to await the answers..

Welcome again
Dandy Baggins

Yes! The final battle at Bag End. It was supposed to be the Battle of Bywater (as in the book) ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-14:12
But the closing episodes were over-running and cuts had to be made - so, overnight, I re-wrote the episode to include the fight AT Bag End! It was never quite the way I wanted...
And as for a NEW scene -- why, yes! TOM BOMBADIL! Then people wouldn't keep asking why I left him out!! Actually, I later dramatised Tom's exploits in TALES OF THE PERILOUS REALM (See BBC Tapes), but I wished he'd been there to start with...

Concerning some of the content of future Movie Guides [txt] ... Tinidril ... 05.04-13:49
Hi and welcome to this online madness!!
It seems that most the basic topics of movie making were covered in the FOTR Movie Guide, will you be covering any of these same topics in more detail in subsequent guides since all three movies were filmed at the same time? Things such as the Weta Workshop, language and speech coaching, scenery, sets, etc...

Or, will there be totally new topics? (besides the additional actor bios)

Thank you so much and God bless!

from a grateful 3-yr. charter member of the fan club, Tinidril

Some new topics... ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-14:03
Some dealt with in OMG but now explored in greater detail: lots of stuff on make-up and costume (How do you give Grima dandruff? Why is Gandalf's hat kept in a dustbin?) as well as such things as an account of Howard Shore's music for TFOTR.

Question from Eridana... What is it like watching someone adapting something that you did yourself? ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-13:50
- Fascinating! ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-14:16
  I envied Peter Jackson being able to do things I couldn't do in sound - the Balrog for example - but I was lucky in being able to include many of the songs and poems that would have slowed down the visuals!
hullo Brian, i was wondering, about how long did it take for the BBC Radio adaption (txt) ... Yavanna Kementari ... 05.04-13:54
to be completed? I think that it's brilliant!!
~ Yavanna

Years! Well from the day that I first read LOTR ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-14:06
But I took two or three months to write the sysnopsis for the original 26 (later 13) episodes and 6 months to write the episodes and another 4 to record. Glad you enjoyed it!

Do you think HM and yourself might include a ref to the incredible upwelling of fan support in... ... Sauron's Truss ... 05.04-14:00
one of the upcoming guides?

Brian says there will be some public response and fan response in "The making of a film trilogy".... ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-14:11
(the title of the next book). It also opens with a description of the premiere in London and ends with a selection of critical responses from around the world.

Do you have any sneak-peeks or news you can give us? Hints? ANYTHING? :) nt ... deliz ... 05.04-14:05

What can I tell you? ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-14:29
You'll love seeing the transformation of Smeagol into Gollum after the murder of Deagol as he goes further and further into the passageways beneath the Misty Mountains; you'll love the Battle of Healm's Deep and the transition of Gandalf the Grey into Gandalf the White - oh, yes, and seeing Grima Wormtongue and the fabulous scene in which Gandalf liberates King Theoden from Grima (and Saruman's) power... There's so much to look forward to - Treebeard... Well, you KNOW and, like me, can't wait! The new book also tells you how Weta produced a ARTIFICIAL Boromir for that scene where he goes over the falls of Rauros! Loadsa goodies! Promise!

It is such a pleasure to have you Brian..... ... Rosie(moderator) ... 05.04-14:07
You must be getting hungry with all this typing!!
::offers a slice of fresh strawberry pie, and a mug of ale::

It is wonderful of you to take the time to visit us here in the Prancing Pony. Ian has been great to fill me in on some of the background into the making of the BBC production.

It has been an incredible experience to have another window into Middle Earth, via the BBC radio production. It is a piece of art in itself. The new prologue done by Ian Holm, as well as the extra CD are fantastic, and I don't go a day without at least listening to the music.

My question is:
What was your first introduction to Tolkien, Hobbits, and LOTR, and how did it affect your life.

Thank You again Brian!! (((((((((Brian Sibley)))))))
It is an honor to have you with us!!

Hi, Rosie, and thank YOU! ... BrianSibleyGuest ... 05.04-14:21
For your enthusiasm AND for the fab picture which you sent of the hobbits in the Prancing Pony. I love it!
First read THE HOBBIT, the all the short fiction: Farmer Giles, Tom Bombadil, etc - but I found LOTR VERY hard to get to grips with. Then when I was 21, I was in hospital for 4 weeks and finally got to read The Big One! Yes, it has changed my life and I have been very, very lucky...
Brian

Do you think Peter Jackson has drew some inspiration for his adaption from your BBC adaption?(nt) ... Garoc ... 05.04-14:12

Brian says Many of the cast, executives, technical crew etc listened to the series as a way... ... irascian(moderator) ... 05.04-14:14
.. of getting to know the story. Sean Astin told me that the two most helpful pieces of research in his process of getting to understand the character were Alan Lee's illustrations and my radio version.