Q&A with Ian Brodie - Author of the Award Winning LOTR Location Guide Books

His photographs have been printed on commemorative NZ stamps, his LOTR Guide books have won international awards and are NZ’s top selling non-fiction. Peter Jackson, himself, allowed him to photograph LOTR in the making! He co-produced the documentary “The Real Middle-earth” and has appeared as a co-presenter on NZ’s Discovery Channel. Working for Hobbiton Tours, he gets to walk the Shire everyday, and in 2005 he became a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for Services of Tourism for the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Meet Ian Brodie: Tolkienist, photographer, author, producer, presenter, and pilot!

You first read LOTR when you were 14, what was your reaction and how did that carry over to your love of Tolkien’s work today?

When I first read Tolkien I was immediately drawn into the world of Middle-earth. It was so complete with a history and a geography that was so real. The way Tolkien describes the country is breathtaking. I immediately wanted to explore more of Middle-earth and soon realised that I was actually living here. My first reading coincided with a family holiday which included a stop in Tongariro National Park and a walk to a waterfall. That walk immediately became a stroll through Ithilien to Henneth Annun. We also went down to the South Island and I was not seeing New Zealand as we travelled but Middle-earth again. In homage to my first walk in Tongariro and that first reading there appears in my extended Location Guide an image of Tawhai Falls. Some 28 years later when it was announced that The Lord of the Rings was to be filmed here I knew immediately that the country would be one of the major stars. I also thought that there might be some people that might like to visit the locations, such as I had in my mind all that time ago. The book was written with a love of my country and a love of Tolkien. What I totally underestimated was the interest there would be. Ten years later and we have sold 450,000 copies of the guide, making it the most successful of all The Lord of the Rings film tie in books and one of the top five selling books in New Zealand history. It shows the power of Jackson and Tolkien!

It says on your website that your love of photography began when you started taking pictures from airplanes. Can you take a moment to tell us about your passion for flying?

My love of airplanes started when I was about five, with the photography love coming along a couple of years later. I was very fortunate to be able to combine the two when I started taking images of aircraft air to air in the 1980s. There is something special about being in an aircraft with either no door or canopy and being 10 feet from another aircraft. Air is fluid like water and to watch the other plane move up and down with the movements as you fly with beautiful scenery as a backdrop is a truly amazing experience. Photography is my love and I really enjoy sharing my images. I try to put at least two images a week up on my Facebook page which links back to my portfolio. If I get any comments about the images it makes my day!

You hold the current title of “Media and Communications Manager” at the Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours. What’s it like working and living life out in what many call the real Middle-earth, New Zealand?

I believe I get paid for my hobby and there is nothing better than that. Occasionally I do get to take tourists on our tours and that is a real tonic as I get to see it through another fans eyes. The ability to visit Hobbiton Movie Set whenever I feel like it is priceless. I have a large number of images taken of the set over the last 18 months which I am hoping I will be able to release after The Hobbit films come out.

Not only are you a photographer, but an an award winning author as well, can you take a moment and give us some incite on what the book-writing process is like?

For me, writing is a discipline and it is writing early morning. I tend to get up at 4-00am and go for it. Planning is important and if you have not gathered the information in the field you will find it difficult as you start to collate and turn thoughts into words. Writing Cameras in Narnia was easy for me, mainly because it was using the words of the brilliant people working on the film from many interviews I undertook.

 Richard Taylor, of Weta Workshop, wrote a raving review about your writing and photography. Who else has your job brought you into contact with?

Working on the LOTR location guide brought me into contact with many of the cast and crew. As a fan, I was like a kid in a candy store. Peter Jackson graciously allowed me to be on set for a few weeks during pickups for The Return if the King. Not only were my son and I allowed to sit in on filming we both also ended up with small extra parts. It was like being part of history. I will still never forget the look on my 9 years old daughters face when we met Orlando Bloom! Proudly hanging in my office is a copy of my guide surrounded by signatures of many of the cast and it is a constant reminder of some of the happiest days of my life. I loved being in the set of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and watch such clever people bring a film to life. I don't think that many people can comprehend the amount of sheer hard work that goes into the making of a film. I was also fortunate to be allowed to photograph The Waterhorse whilst it was filmed in NZ and Scotland. I have so much gratitude to people like Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Andrew Adamson, Barrie Osborne and Jay Russell who gave me these opportunities.

The Hobbit is currently in production, and many of the shooting locations have been chosen, do you plan on writing a location guide for the film, as you did for LOTR?

I would love to and I guess all I can say is "watch this space". My fingers are crossed.

What scene from The Hobbit are you most looking forward to?

I can't wait to see Smaug but for me it will be how New Zealand is again interwoven with Middle-earth and the landscapes that will again appear.

You can follow Ian Brodie on his website, Twitter, and Facebook.
All images copyright Ian Brodie and used with permission.

Due to Personal Reasons, Robert Kazinsky Has Left ‘The Hobbit’

It came as a shock to all The Hobbit fans, when Peter Jackson broke the news on his Facebook page, that Robert Kazinsky (Fili the Dwarf) has had to leave the project due to “personal reasons”. It was just last week, fans watched him on Jackson’s first video blog release, as he waved enthusiastically to the camera. Through Twitter, the former Fili had this to say, “Thanks for all your support, Peter and team have been the most wonderful and supportive team to work for and it's with a truly sad heart that things have turned out this way. The Hobbit will go on to be as great as I've seen and I will miss the family and friends that I've here. ‘From every disaster I've tried to make an opportunity.’ -John D. Rokerfeller" Jackson assured fans, Kazinsky’s absence would not hinder filming, as they are currently working with Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), giving them time to hunt down a replacement.

Robert Kazinsky has been a big part of middleearthnews, really he was the reason this news source came into being. I had never even been on Twitter, let alone, understood how it worked, when I happened upon a small post on TheOneRing.Net. There, in 140 characters or less, he told the world of Twitter, “farewell Los Angeles, Hello Middle Earth”. He was leaving LA and was headed to New Zealand to prepare for ‘The Hobbit’. It was so simple, but it amazed me that I could follow him on his journey, and so he became the first person middleearthnews followed. You can’t imagine my excitement when he followed me back, and continued to support my news source. What an honor that has been. So it is with a heavy heart that I write this today. My thoughts and prayers are with him as he tends to whatever has caused his leaving, and be assured middleearthnews will keep you updated with all his goings on.

Fantasy Flight Games releases The Lord of the Rings Card Game

On April 20th, Fantasy Flight Games released their Lord of the Rings Card Game. The game itself appears to be something new and exciting in the world of card gaming. It is not a Collectible Card Game (like Magic: The Gathering or Pokemon), nor is it a static card game such as Poker. Fantasy Flight is calling it a "Living Card Game."

The game begin with a 226 card core set that allows two players to cooperatively tell new and exciting adventures in Middle-Earth. In the future, Fantasy Flight will be releasing monthly 60-card expansions (called Adventure Packs) to the game. These will be fixed sets, and the players are not required to constantly buy packs searching for a particular card - but instead they can choose new adventure packs at their leisure and change the game the way they choose to!

In addition to this innovation in card games, the cards themselves offer a feast for the eyes. The art appears to be all new and original, though I could not find information confirming or denying this in my search.

The first of a 3-part cycle of Adventure Packs (Shadows of Mirkwood) is already listed on Fantasy Flight's website. They are The Hunt for Gollum, Conflict at the Carrock, and A Journey to Rhosgobel.

The Tolkien Professor Announces 'Exploring The Hobbit' Book

In an exclusive interview, The Tolkien Professor (Corey Olsen), revealed to Middle-earth Network’s radio listeners his next bold project. With the blessing of the Tolkien Estate backing his work, he will be writing a book called Exploring The Hobbit. It’s being published by Houghton Mifflin, and is due to grace bookstores September 22, 2012. That date holds special meaning for Tolkien fans, as it’s the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien.

The Tolkien Professor is widely known for his free podcast lectures, detailing Tolkien and his novels and gaining over a million downloads on iTunes. Just this week, he has moved all of his content over to My Middle-earth, a rapidly growing fantasy-based social network. Now you can not only listen to his podcasts, but chat with him in the Tolkien Professor Chat Room, and join in on his group discussions.

With Middle-earth Network’s addition of Corey Olsen and many other prominent figures in the Tolkien word, it’s clear they’re giving fantasy fans what they’ve needed: access to music, videos, news, authors, artists, scholars, gamers, chat rooms, blogs, and 24 hour radio -all in one place. Quite an amazing network, and as their site says, “It’s only the beginning!”.

LOTRO's 4th Anniversary

Today begins Lord of the Ring Online's 4th Anniversary Celebration! As you quest across Middle-Earth, vile monsters and fell beasts you encounter will drop tokens that can be traded at a Keeper of Gifts. These Keepers can be found in The Delving Fields, Celondim, Rivendell Valley, Caras Galadhron, the Twenty-First Hall of Moria, Parth Aduial, Esteldin, and Nain Enidh. You'll also find Games-Masters in some of these locations selling cosmetic items and housing decorations in return for Anniversary Tokens.


You'll also find the Battle for Glorious Beer in Thorin's Hall. After all what is more worthy of going into battle than a fine mug of ale?

In addition, the Horse Races will be active once more and this coming weekend, from April 21st to 24th all characters will receive double XP for monster kills!

What's All This Buzz About a Fantasy-Based Social Network?

A new social network has hit the web, and it’s all centered around fantasy. Middle-earth Network is quickly gaining ground, after their radio station launch last month. Since they hit the air, many prominent figures in the Tolkien world have joined forces with them, and now they’ve gone a step further. My Middle-earth Network became available in it’s beta form to the public just last week, and already it has been flooded with members. Now Tolkien fans have access to forums, chat rooms, calendars, and news as well as the ability to post photos, videos, music, create groups, and write blogs - and it’s all in one place!

Among those to join: Weta Workshop, Ted Nasmith, LOTRO, The White Tree Fund, A Casual Stroll to Mordor, Green Dragon Inn, The Lonely Mountain Band, Gandalf’s Fist, Turbine, Jef Murray, Middle-earth Minutes, Mad Dwarf Workshop, The Tolkien Professor, Arjan Kiel, SQPN etc.

And the news doesn’t stop there. This Tuesday, April 19th at 9:30 PM EST, The Tolkien Professor ( Corey Olsen) will be on Middle-earth Network Radio, LIVE, with a special announcement. It’s rumored that a crazy news journalist ( yours truly) is ready to bombard him with all kids of questions, so be sure to tune in.

You can follow Middle-earth Network on Facebook and Twitter.

EXCLUSIVE: Q&A Interview with Dr. Dimitra Fimi

Dr. Dimitra Fimi

One of the most fascinating things about J. R. R. Tolkien’s novels, is the sheer depth and amount of time he put into creating the world of Middle-earth. Every culture has a rich history, ready for the reader to explore and enjoy. And no one is more versed in his work than Dr. Dimitra Fimi. Her passion and profession is Tolkien. Author of Tolkien, Race and Cultural History: From Fairies to Hobbits, as well as numerous articles on his work, Dr. Fimi’s on-line classes are as extensive and thorough as one of Tolkien’s stories. Meet the Professor who can help take your knowledge of Tolkien, and his life’s work, a step further.

What prompted you to study, and later teach, Tolkien?

I first encountered Tolkien when still an undergraduate of English Language and Literature at the University of Athens, Greece. From childhood I was fascinated by Classical mythology, Greek and Roman, which was – of course – part of my heritage, but also the main reason that led me later on to study folklore professionally (my Masters degree focused on Celtic myth and folklore). What I found really intriguing in Tolkien’s work was his undoubted success in creating a coherent mythology, something very similar to primary, or “real” mythologies: he managed to compose a body of interconnected tales and legends, that is usually the product of an entire culture or even nation. That’s what triggered my first research questions that later led to my PhD.

You are not just a professor, but an author as well. Would you take a minute to talk about your writing?

I have published a series of articles on Tolkien’s work: on the Victorian fairylore inspirations of his early work; his creative reshaping of Celtic material in the legends of Middle-earth (see here and here); his use of Old Norse material culture; and there is also a forthcoming essay on the uses of folklore in Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. But the most important writing project on Tolkien I have undertaken is my book, Tolkien, Race and Cultural History: From Fairies to Hobbits (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008) which won the Mythopoeic Scholarship Award in Inklings Studies. The book focuses on Tolkien’s cultural and intellectual context: it attempts to explain the centrality of the Elves in Tolkien’s extended legendarium; it explores Tolkien’s language invention as an integral part of the Middle-earth cosmos; and it argues that Tolkien’s work changed from a ‘mythological’ to a ‘historical’ mode when he started writing The Lord of the Rings.

Out of all the classes you have taught, is there one in particular that is your favorite?

I am a lecturer in English at UWIC (University of Wales Institute, Cardiff) and I have been teaching Tolkien for a while now, at undergraduate and Masters level. My favourite class is my online MA course: J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth and Middle-earth in Context which explores Tolkien’s mythology in terms of its medieval roots and its contemporary cultural milieu. I really enjoyed writing this course, and I was given generous funding to enrich UWIC’s electronic library, so now my online students have full access to the journal Tolkien Studies, the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia (ed. M. Drout) and a great number of e-books and digitised material from the best of Tolkien scholarship. Teaching online is a great experience: I moderate a lively Discussion Board on which my students have to respond to specific questions and tasks every week. Since the course it taught entirely online, I have had students from all over the world, including the US, New Zealand, Asia, and Continental Europe. It’s great to meet students from each corner of the world who want to study Tolkien in a serious, academic way. The course will actually run again starting in May 2011. More information can be found here.

What is it about Tolkien that you find so alluring?

The depth and richness of his invented world. Middle-earth has often been described as one of the main characters of The Lord of the Rings, and the reason for this is that its peoples, languages, and cultures had existed in Tolkien’s imagination for many years before The Lord of the Rings was ever conceived. The amount of detail that went into the construction of this secondary world is just mind-boggling!

Are there any future lectures, books, or projects we can look forward to?

At the moment I am finishing a paper on Tolkien and Kipling for the Tolkien sessions at Kalamazoo in May. There is also an article in preparation with more on Tolkien, faith and the fairies. In June I will be leading a ‘Literary Walk’ to the Brecon Beacons in Wales, talking about Tolkien’s Welsh connections and inspirations, and in 2012 I will be speaking at The Return of the Ring (the Tolkien Society’s next international conference). There are numerous other projects in progress, but I can’t talk about them yet!

I’ve heard it said by some that Tolkien’s novels come across a bit sexist because of the lack of feminine characters. What’s your take on this?

I think this is a very ‘easy’ and broad-brush approach to Tolkien, which takes a sweeping look at the big picture but ignores the detail (a lot of misguided criticism of Tolkien does exactly that – but as I hinted above, in Middle-earth God is in the detail!). Tolkien’s strongest female characters appear in less known works such as Aldarion and Erendis: The Mariner's Wife in Unfinished Tales, and The Debate of Finrod and Andreth in volume 10 of the The History of Middle-earth (Morgoth’s Ring).

What advice would you give to someone who is interesting in reading Tolkien?

Be patient and take your time to digest the sheer wealth of tales and interconnected legends that make up Tolkien’s legendarium (and don’t skip the poems!). Don’t stop at The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: they are just the tip of the iceberg! The real journey starts with The Silmarillion, and the most exciting revelations are to be encountered in the 12 volumes of The History of Middle-earth.

Favorite characters in The Lord of the Rings? The Hobbit?

Sam Gamgee and Gandalf!

Favorite scene/moment from his novels?

Far too many to choose from! But at the moment I would go for Eriol’s sojourn in Tol Eressea in The Book of Lost Tales. Oh, and Frodo’s parody of ‘The Cat and the Fiddle’ in the Prancing Pony.

Did you watch the LOTR films, and if so did you enjoy them?

I did watch the films and I enjoyed a lot some parts of them (other parts did not work so well). They were a noble effort to bring Tolkien’s work to the screen.

Are you looking forward to ‘The Hobbit’ films?

Yes – I am particularly looking forward to seeing a real dragon on the big screen!

That ends the Q&A interview. However, if you are interested in taking Dr. Dimitra Fimi’s upcoming online class, J.R.R. Tolkien: Myth and Middle-earth in Context, watch the introductory video below: