Billy Boyd narrates Hobbit stage production

Billy Boyd to narrate the story of the first-ever Hobbit stage production on BBC Radio 4 this Saturday

This Saturday (August 4) at 10.30am, Billy Boyd will narrate the story behind the first ever stage production of of J.R.R.Tolkien’s The Hobbit on BBC Radio 4.

The very first stage production, written by Humphrey Carpenter with music composed by Paul Drayton, was performed at New College School in Oxford in 1967.

Some of the choristers in that first production are now eminent in the musical world: choral conductor Simon Halsey, Opera North’s Martin Pickard and artist’s agent Stephen Lumsden. Composer Howard Goodall watched his older brother Ashley perform. They talk about their memories and of Tolkien’s presence in the audience on the last night.

Thanks to Ringer Andrew for the heads-up.

Update: Ringer HuanCry adds that Radio 4 is also broadcasting a documentary Tolkien in Love the day before.

Source: The One Ring

As this was broadcast yesterday, here's the link to listen again - BBC Radio 4

John Barrowman: forthcoming appearances

Forthcoming appearances

• Attack of the Show G4 TV

John will be a guest presenter on G4's nightly Attack of the Show from Tuesday, 4 September to Friday, 7 September inclusive.

G4 is a cable network channel available in the USA. Attack of the Show is live weeknights at 7.00pm Eastern Time.

• The BBC 999 Awards

You'll be able to see John presenting an award on the BBC 999 Awards on BBC1 at 8.00pm on Thursday, 16 August 2012.

The awards show (pre-recorded) is presented by Kirsty Young and Lenny Henry.

• Fan Expo Canada 2012

John will be at the Fan Expo Canada 2012, which is due to take place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from 23 to 26 August. John will attend for three days, from 24 to 26 August.

Fan Expo Canada is the third largest pop culture event in North America, featuring comics, sci-fi, anime, horror and gaming.

• Dragon*Con Atlanta

John is now confirmed as a guest at Dragon*Con which this year runs from 31 August to 3 September. This huge popular culture convention takes place each year in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and focuses on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film. John is currently expected to attend on the first three days.

Source (and more information): John Barrowman's official site

Tweet update by John Barrowman News:

John Barrowman is thrilled to support Down's Syndrome Scotland @DSScotland you can see more about their fantastic work http://t.co/KN1wtovw / http://www.johnbarrowman.com/fanzone/charityindex.shtml

Source: @Team_Barrowman on Twitter

Interview: Robbie Coltrane and Kevin McKidd discuss Brave

Disney-Pixar’s Brave finally opens on “home” turf this week, as the year’s most Scottish film lands in cinemas from Orkney to Galashiels.

For Scottish audiences, used to hearing the accent getting mangled on screen (Brigadoon anyone?), Disney-Pixars’ decision to use Scottish actors, including Robbie Coltrane and Kevin McKidd as Lords Dingwall and MacGuffin respectively, is a welcome one.

The Lords and their sons are seen to arrive at DunBroch Castle, home of Merida (Kelly Macdonald) and her parents, King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson), just before things start to go very wrong in the Kingdom.

One thing immediately noticeable in Brave is that the actors haven’t been forced to tone down their accents, at least not too much.

“They were very tolerant of us putting in Scots words people won’t have heard before, but in the context of the settings you’d understand them,” says Coltrane. “Everybody instinctively knows what ‘jings, crivvens, help ma boab’ means, even if they’ve never heard it before.”

Unlike live action roles, the actors don’t resemble their characters in Brave. Was it odd for Coltrane to voice such a small character?

“The size of the body, throat and chest size have to be right or the public won’t accept it. The guys at Pixar know exactly how to do that. It was great fun to do, we’d try different things. All the production costs go into the animation so when you’re in the studio you have all the time in the world.”

“They make you do things in many permutations,” adds McKidd. “That gives them the option to use what they want.”
Read more at Reel Scotland

STV also have a video interview as do Movie.ie

Acting Seminar in Edinburgh

Message via Twitter from Surviving Actors:

Book your Seminars 4 Surviving Actors Edinburgh @ survivingactors.com
A day to CREATE - DEVELOP - SUSTAIN!
http://www.survivingactors.com/home.html

Casting call for The Dying Eye - independent film

Message from Shiphrah Meditz:

Hello,

I'm an independent filmmaker from Texas. This Oct. I'm producing and directing my feature film, "The Dying Eye," a psychothriller set in Edinburgh.

I'm looking for Scottish actors to cast the entire film. I've attached the casting list and synopsis for you. This is a microbudget film. Positions will be low-pay/unpaid. Food, beverages, and transport (within city limits) will be provided. Lead actors will get partial ownership in the film. The film will be sent to international film festivals and optioned for distribution.

For further questions, I can be reached at shiphrahmeditz@gmail.com

To learn more about "The Dying Eye," see:

My Film Campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/TheDyingEyeMovie

Production Blog: http://meditzproductions.wordpress.com/

Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you,

Shiphrah

Note: The Production Blog includes a casting list.

Weekly schedule for Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Mo 8/6: Stephen King, Dave Barry, the Rock Bottom Remainders

Tu 8/7: Rachael Ray, the Imagineers

We 8/8: Chris Hardwick, Carla Gugino

Th 8/9: D.J. Qualls, Wolfgang Puck (R 5/29/12)

Fr 8/10: Steve Carell, Don Winslow (R 6/19/12)