Peter Jackson’s enthusiasm for the process of making movies is not only obvious, but contagious. He’s already shared so much of the behind-the-scenes making of his newest adaptation of a J.R.R. Tolkein book, The Hobbit, and now he’s given us another, just in time for Christmas.  Production Diary #5 takes us inside the process of moving this massive production from the studio to location shooting. We get glimpses of the incredibly beautiful New Zealand landscape and the areas that will be transformed into “Hobbiton” in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, as well as its sequel The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

We also hear from some of the members of the crew as well as cast members Andy Serkis and Elijah Wood (He’s gone from age 19 to 30 while working on the Lord of the Rings films!) and see the dwarves and Sir Ian McKellan in costume. Mostly, though, it’s just a joy to listen to director Jackson talk about the making of his film.

Enjoy the video! The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey starring Wood, McKellan, Serkis, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage, Hugo Weaving, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, Stephen Fry, Christopher Lee, Benedict Cumberbatch…to name but a few, come to theaters December 14, 2012.

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Yet another kids’ movie had its big premiere this weekend, this one again in LA. George Miller’s Happy Feet 2 got a gala blue carpet (icy=blue. Get it?) shindig Sunday November 13 at the Grauman’s (or Mann's) Chinese Theater with stars Elijah Wood (who will look like a Hobbit until the day he dies), Robin Williams, Sophia Vergara, Common, Alecia Moore (otherwise known as Pink) , Camryn Manheim, Hank Azaria and Benjamin “Lil -Pnut” Flores, Jr. Carlos Alazraqui, who voices Nestor, was carrying around a baby in a penguin suit.

Some other Hollywood types with nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon (no, seriously most of them brought their kids) like Billy Bob Thornton (looking cadaverous), Holly Robinson Peete, Marcia Gay Harden and Kate Flannery also showed up.  Pink brought along hubby Carey Hart and their adorable new baby Willow. I’m including a pic of composer John Powell, who did the music for the film, simply because I ADORED the score (hey that rhymed) for How to Train Your Dragon. (This is not news to some of you.)

Happy Feet 2 opens Friday in the US and Canada and 2 December in the UK. Enjoy the pics!

It seems like it’s been forever since Peter Jackson gifted us with yet another in a series of video blogs that go behind the scenes of production of the eagerly anticipated The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. We love Peter Jackson. He still gets as excited as any fanboy, not only about all things Tolkein, but particularly for the technology behind bringing these stories to life.  Where would the cinematic world be at this point, without his WETA Studios?

Looking particularly Hobbit-y, Jackson introduces this video that talks about the 3D process. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is his first 3D film (unless you count The Adventures of Tintin, but he “only” produced that one.) He talks about the 16 different cameras that capture the stereoscopic 3D and while that should make my eyes glaze over, his enthusiasm is contagious.

Synopsis: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins , who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey , Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever… Gollum who holds the simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

The cast includes Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan , Cate Blanchett , Orlando Bloom , Ian Holm , Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving , Elijah Wood , Andy Serkis , Richard Armitage, Stephen Fry , James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Aidan Turner, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, and Barry Humphries .

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on December 14th, 2012, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again will follow a year later.

We had the Kim Kardashian “death” photo for you the other day.  Now we’ve got a bunch more.  If you are into morbid stuff, you’ll enjoy them.  And if you are into supporting a great cause, you’ll have a look at the posters and then you’ll donate to the Keep a Child Alive fund.  Thanks to Leigh Blake and Alicia Keys for founding this great cause.

Alicia Keys Wants You To BUY LIFE [PHOTOS]

All of the stars participating will be “dead” until at least $1 million is raised to fight the war against HIV/AIDS. Go Buy A Life and make a huge difference.  You can see Jay Sean, Swizz Beatz, Kim Kardashian, Daphne Guinness, Elijah Wood, and Serena Williams all in their respective coffins below: (more…)

Minka Kelly gets top honours in the gown department at  the Art of Elysium’s 3rd Annual Gala.  This wonderful organization:

encourages working actors, artists and musicians to voluntarily dedicate their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions

Actually Minka Kelly and Rumer Willis were the best dressed ladies of the night in my humble opinion.  Someone whose outfit I didn’t get was Ashley Olsen.

She looked a little bit Stepford Wife like in her Victorian gown and way too dark lipstick. Almost like she walked out of a horror film.  I don’t mean to be mean, but I’m always baffled that someone as wealthy as her with any help available to her at her beck and call can walk out of the house looking like that.

Some of your favourite celebrities attended:

• Adam Lambert
• Katy Perry
• Russell Brand
• Nicole Richie
• Dita Von Teese
• Anna Paquin
• Amy Smart

and lots more.  Click on ‘continued reading’ to view all the photos

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The east coast is full of excitement what with TIFF in Toronto and the IMG Mercedes Fashion Week in New York!

The Bachelor’s Jillian Harris and fiance Ed Swiderski attend the Kati Stern Venexiani show

Ciara, Beth Ostrosky (love her), American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi, and Amber Rose catch the Nicole Miller fashion show

Jill Hennessy is seen at the Cynthia Rowley fashion show

Elijah Wood, Pamela Racine, Charlize Theron and her life partner Stuart Townsend attend the Rag and Bone show

Samantha Ronson supports her sister at the Charlotte Ronson show

Pictures after the break

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