"A Day in the Life of a Hobbit"

[Frodo's Love]

I'm sure nearly everyone has seen the process the actors who are playing the hobbits had to go through. There is some material included on the FotR Extended DVD, and there are for sure lots of pics to be found on the internet.
(Perhaps Win could include some pics? :grin: )

In this thread we will discuss the transformation processes and the result... and of course all the little things that lie in between.

That means that we need your opinion! :)

What do you think e.g. about the fact that the actors had to get up at 4.30am to get their hobbit feet, wigs and ears? Do you think the result is marvellous or did you expect something else? Are the furry feet furry enough? Or do the hobbits perhaps look too thin?

Okay, I think you get the idea. ;) I' m looking forward to some interesting discussions on the Periannath...
:grin:

[Hobbit]

Hehe I love that part of the DVD. ( Although: hobbits talking ill about eachother! :o Some of Elijah's comments even had to be cut out! Very unhobbitlike lol)
Well, I feel bad for the chaps: early days long waiting at the make-up session with the feet and all (which they sometimes didn't even needed) and of course the long, hard and sometimes very difficult way (with blue screen and all) of filming, but the results are really , really good :thumbs:

[Frodo's Love]

Originally posted by Hobbit
Hehe I love that part of the DVD. ( Although: hobbits talking ill about eachother! :o Some of Elijah's comments even had to be cut out! Very unhobbitlike lol) Yesss. Nasssty hobbitsesss. :nono: lol
Well, I feel bad for the chaps: early days long waiting at the make-up session with the feet and all (which they sometimes didn't even needed) and of course the long, hard and sometimes very difficult way (with blue screen and all) of filming, but the results are really , really good :thumbs: The blue screen parts must have been extremely difficult indeed. It must be hard if you don't know precisely where you have to look at and perhaps cannot imagine what it should look like later.

Oh, Sean Astin told that they had to put on the feet about 50 times when they were actually not to be seen and it was completely unnecessary. Such a waste of time. ;)
Poor hobbits! lol

[Kenzie]

yhea i thought it was funny how they were saying sean kept count of how many days they didn;t need their feet lol

[Hobbit]

Yeah that was great. lol
But the man is right though. Getting outta bed two houres earlier then normal just to get some fakefeet you don't even need that day and then waiting anoter two houers in the eveinhg to get them of, must be very annoying.

[Beleriel]

Oh... I just love this part of the Extras... I think I must know every single word that is said in it! :rolleyes:

The results? Well what can I say? Perfection in my opinion. I love the hair... the dirt..... :p the ears... dont know about the feet though...why did they have to make them SO big??

I suppose they are effective, but the Hobbits look awkward walking in them at times dont you think? Especially Sam! (Im thinking of him walking in the corn field) lol

Awww ... Elijah wasnt really mean was he? I didnt know about stuff cut out! Please tell. I thought the two of them were supposed to be mega close??

eek! dont shatter my illusions will you?? *cowers*

[Lessa]

Don't cower B you're not the only one who is in the dark about Elijah needing to be censored. :o
Well can you give us details or is it a closely guarded secret.

Lessa

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

Maybe it'll interest you to know that the hairs on the hobbit feet had to be sort of 'knotted' up manually to give that straggly effect lol

[Frodo's Love]

Hey Bel, Elijah wasn't mean, no! lol The four hobbits were joking about the others...and some words had to be censored.
I will listen to the dialogues when I come home and then I'll type them here.
Think it will mostly look like this: blabla***bla*** ;)

[Beleriel]

Oh sorry! I misunderstood you I think! :rolleyes:

Yeah, I know the bit you are talking about now. I thought it was really well done, but Elijah did seem to be 'better' at it didnt he?

or is he just a natural talent? *sigh* probably thats the answer eh? lol

[Kenzie]

i'm confused what part are you talking about the bleaping things out??

[Beleriel]

Well, I think they are talking about where the 3 hobbits are playing up to the camera ... they are waiting for a take or something... and they take it in turns leaving and then the others take the mickey out of them... but there was some VERY bad language from Elijah! mostly! :rolleyes:

But...... it WAS funny! lol At least I thought so! roflmao

[Frodo's Love]

Yeah, that's the part we're talking about. lol Elijah gets censored very often indeed. :nono:
But right, it was funny. I had to wipe some tears from my eyes because I couldn't stop laughing while watching the insanity ;)

*looks at Bel's avatar again* :drool: *thud* ;)

[Kenzie]

i remember that part lol ... vvveerryy funny

it wasn't only lijah if i recall that had some bad language .. i think billy had a little too!

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

Erm... not meaning to be a party pooper, but I think Lij's censored language should be discussed at the Cast Chat. ;)
Let's get back to the hobbit feet, ears and costumes in the meantime ;)

The team that designed Frodo's hobbit costume said they wanted to give Frodo this kinda 'gentlemanly' touch, which is why the material of his costume is of a velvety material. If you've noticed, the clothes of the other hobbits are quite different ;)

Oh, and I remember Lij saying that the prosthetic hobbit ears sort of covered the entire ear, so when the other actors were saying their lines, they had problems hearing. That must have really been irritating lol

[Catz]

thats true.......unlike the elf ears, which were essentially tips the hobbit ears were whole ear prosthetics......poor guys
and yeah, i know they had to have the feet on often when they werent used, but then youre filming, you have to take advantage of every shooting opportunity, so that may mean wearing makeup thats never used, just to be ready.......the deadlines are TIGHT......so you may end up shooting something you never expected to, just cos theres space to do so
:catz:

[Frodo's Love]

Oh yes.. poor guys. I really don't want to know how often they must have cursed on everything :o lol
Of course, these astounding results (I mean that the guys really looked like hobbits, so incredibly real) must have had some uncomfortable results for the actors. They all had to take huge efforts to make everything seem so real. I'm really looking forward to the comments on TTT on the extended DVD. I hope they will include some more stuff in there...
And just think of all the re-shoots they are doing right now for RotK... more prosthetic feet and ears and getting up early. ;)

On the hobbit costumes: it's amazing indeed. They are working with such subtle details, but it works out perfectly. Sam's clothes e.g. look more earthy and rough, while Frodo appears to look quite elegantly. (At least in the beginning ;))

[Beleriel]

I also like the way Merry had a richly decorated waistcoat too because the Brandybucks were quite wealthy as well werent they? AND the Tooks.... come to think about it.

But .... back to a day in the life... I loved hearing about those four guys getting ready together each time... and it is fascinating to see in Return to Middle Earth... how the situation changes for Elijah and Sean when they begin filming the TT sequences and end up in there on their own! awww...

[Melian]

The official site www.lordoftherings.net, just released new RotK pictures. There was one of PJ talking to Sam during filming. It was funny, because it looked like Sam was taller than PJ. They do such a good job of convincing us that the hobbits are under 4 ft tall, it is really strange to see a picture in real perspective.

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

Yep, with forced perspective, scale doubles, big rigs, different sizes of props, blue screen effect etc... all the effort was worth it!

[Kenzie]

(i was so excited wheni saw those ROTK pics!!! lol)

did anyone find billy boyd's porige kinda weird looking? lol

in the life of a hobbit thing (i think anyway) billy was talking about his porrige... and they showed a picture of it... kinda scary looking lol

[Frodo's Love]

Hehe, I'm not that keen on Billy's porridge either.lol
It's quite amazing how they made us believe that the actors playing the hobbits look so small... and yes Win, you're right, it has been such an effort with all the forced perspectives and so on. It must have been quite tough for everyone to make it look as real as it has become. :thumbs:

The ROTK- pics made me jump literally!

[A! Elbereth]

I amost wish they were that small! lol It does take you by surprise sometimes, when you see them at normal size while in costume.

I'm not sure if this was 'In the Life of a Hobbit', but Sam got into a few scrapes because of those feet, as well as Merry. But, no pain no game, eh? ;)

[Hobbit]

You're right there A! E (you don't mind me calling you that, do you?)

Aw... poor Sam and Merry :(

Hehe it's kinda cool that when you see Sean Astin standing next to PJ he's taller then him. It shows how good the film gave the impression that hobbits are real small :thumbs:

[A! Elbereth]

Yup, I'm usually called A! E, anyway! :grin:

Though.. that one time when Sam got hurt at Amon Hen was a little funny once there was a lighter mood :)

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

And Lij was so disgusting to be talking about the blood clots being so fascinating as they are coming out in globular forms (Sean Astin hurt his foot when filming the scene of him going into the water after Frodo):o Goes to show how much effort and hardship the crew went through ;)

And Dominic said he almost cried because they were filming in a cold environment and the glue for the prosthetic feet felt like ice.

[A! Elbereth]

Yeah, Lij must like gore... :huh:

Dom really doesn't take being uncomfortable lightly. And we all know splinters are his worst enemy. lol ;) I don't remember the part with him talking about the cold and icy feet.

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

hee... the 'splunter'...
oh the cold and icy glue might have been from a quote elsewhere.
But the hobbit actors had to kneel for certain scenes when forced perspective or scale doubles didn't work out right?

[Hobbit]

Yup, You're right Win.
When at the counsil of Elrond when the entire fellowship stands together the hobbits we're forced to sit on their knees and John Davies too, for the perspective thing.

[Frodo's Love]

Originally posted by Hobbit
Hehe it's kinda cool that when you see Sean Astin standing next to PJ he's taller then him. It shows how good the film gave the impression that hobbits are real small :thumbs: Isn't PJ a hobbit, too? :huh: lol

Oh my, these painful scenes with the prosthetic feet. When Sean got injured at Amon Hen I hardly could look at that. :o Poor, brave hobbit. And Dom also, of course.;)

Oh yeah, the council of Elrond... the guys had at least some blankets to kneel upon...lol

[Beleriel]

I think it was Billy wasnt it who said he felt so cold outside the gates of Moria that he thought he wasnt going to be able to carry on? The others also commented on how cold he was.

He said it was the coldest he had ever been! Awww.. poor Billy... *hugs* for him! lol

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

oh yeah, perhaps it was Billy. lol Poor fellows went through alot. I still think it's quite horrid that they had to go about with those prosthetic ears that covered their entire ear. I can't stand it when I can't hear things clearly! lol

[Hobbit]

Me too. And Hobbits also had to be filmed the most (espicially Elijah, who had almost no days off)
It must have been pretty hard for those fellows :o :(

[Luvara]

yeah, they are in the most scenes! :( but hobbit's are strong, aren't they? lol

[Hobbit]

You said it...

One thing I love about this part of the DVD is that the Hobbitactors act very hobbitlike.
Very friendly, playing around and having a good ale from time to time..
They didn't only became Hobbits physically, but also in their minds...

[Luvara]

yeah, that's lovely! they actually are hobbits! (well, no, but... lol)

[Frodo's Love]

I think I get what you mean, Hobster... to me they seemed to be very hobbity - not only because of very good acting, but also because of the friendship that has been grown between the actors. When I watch the movie, I can believe hobbits could be real.;) lol
And they remained to be that hobbity behind the scenes also. :) And the friendship shines through in the movie. I think it wouldn't have been that intense and believable if the actors hadn't become such good friends.

Hm, I think I got a bit carried away here. But I hope you know what I want to say...;)

[Hobbit]

I do: thefriendship was real and that more believeble then any actors can play. They looked really like buddies becouse they were buddies...

[Bonos-Girl]

yep, it was great that they didn't all hate each other or anything! it was good to let them have 'bonding' time as well before they started filming. it probably really helped.

[Gwaihir]

Uhh, the poor little Hobbitses! They are so sweet! :loveyou: I love all their interviews... Especially "A day in the life...". Dom is really funny in that one! lol Interviews with Elijah, Billy, Orli, and Dom together are so fun! :)

[Hobbit]

I agree: they're just great together :)
Hehe, it's quite funny yet scary when they're suddenly talkin ill about each other (Elijah, Dom and Billy did) when the other is gone....
hehe... very unhobbitlike lol :nono: lol

[Luvara]

I watched the Cast chat today, and the "hobbits" are just hilarious!! lol

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

*Ahem* back to cast chat again eh? :nono:
All right, Miss Party Pooper strikes again. Sorry, but please limit yourselves to the props, prosthetics, scaling and stuff related to behind the scenes stuff :)
All the funny antics of the actors can be discussed over at the Cast Chat forum lol

[Hobbit]

Miss party pooper is most welcome to keep us all on topic for it is her job and she does her job really well lol :thumbs:

I think the hobbitfeet were great, for when you see them close up, it's hard to see that they aren't Elijah's, Dom's, Billy's or Sean's real feet.
It diffinatly worth the long and hard make-up session...

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

lol Thanks for the compliment. But soon, I won't be the only party pooper around here lol

Yup, they look like real feet. And this is going to be embarrassing, but I have to admit that when I saw FotR on vcd (I never got to see it on the big screen :o ) I never noticed those feet weren't theirs! Just thought they looked a little weird lol

[Frodo's Love]

Originally posted by Winyaél Greenleaf
lol Thanks for the compliment. But soon, I won't be the only party pooper around here lol :o OMG. That sounds like a threat, Miss Party Pooper. lol ;)

The only thing I didn't quite like in the beginning about the hobbit feet was that they are that immensely big. I thought hobbit feet would look more furry and less big, actually. But now I simply love the look of the feet! ;) And it was absolutely worth the effort. :)

[Hobbit]

Are you gonna get help from another mod soon Win? That's nice :)

I didn't notice the feet weren't the actors real feet too, the first few times I saw the movie. (which is what the make-up crew is trying to accomplish ;) )
My dad always says I've got Hobbitfeet aswell becouse my feet are quite huge comparred to my lenght lol
I love the Hobbitfeet in the movie becouse they are so big and hairy. I want to have a pair of them lol
They were absolutly worth the effort as FL said. ;)

[Frodo's Love]

I also want a pair of hobbit feet! :whoohoo: lol
When I was eleven I had hobbit feet as well. My feet were just as big as today, but I was 20cm smaller! That was a sight...roflmao Some friends tease me because I have slightly pointy ears. Quite funny, actually. They began to see me as a hobbit as well. lol

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

lol You want hobbit feet?
Here ya go, maybe you'd like to try a hand at making 'em ;)
http://www.alleycatscratch.com/lotr/makingem/Makeup/Feet/YourOwn.htm

[Frodo's Love]

:whoohoo: Thank you Winster! :smooch:
I'll give it a try, I think! lol

[Hobbit]

Thanks Win :whoohoo:
Maybe I should try too lolIf someone is to try it he/she should really send in a pic lol

[Beleriel]

ooh! I just HAVE to have a go at that Win! :thumbs:

I wondered how I was gonna do my feet for a major meet I was going to! lol

[Hobbit]

Your going to a meet of LotR...
You lucky thing.... grrr! lol J/K
Once you've got a costume,ears and feet you should send in a pic of Hobbit you, Beleriel...

[Frodo's Love]

:whoohoo: You surely have to, Bel! :grin: I still didn't begin on my hobbit costume... :blush: Perhaps I should ask New Line to send me Frodo's costume?! ;) lol hehe

[Hobbit]

Hehe, great idea! ;) lol
Can you ask them the schematics of a hobbitpipe aswell?

I only hope you don't have to become "entirely Hobbit" FL ;)
Sitting through the entire make-up session as those guys at the movie did doesn't looks to pleasant

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

Will they send out Frodo's costumes??? Oh my! For a high price I expect.
Which reminds me that Tobey Maguire's Spiderman costumes got stolen a couple of times by crazy fangirls... Now whoops, that's quite beside the point anyway. :trout: myself lol

I think the hobbit pipe is cool too. Is it different from Aragorn's pipe?

[Beleriel]

I think the Hobbit pipe is more ornate than Aragorn's - his being a Rangers and all! ;)

oh.... maybe not!

http://www.tolkientown.com/TolkienShop/Collectibles/Hobbit'sPipe.htm HOBBIT

http://www.tolkientown.com/TolkienShop/Collectibles/Rangerspipe.htm RANGER

they look pretty similar actually!!

[Frodo's Love]

Yes, there are only little differences in height and shape...

I want a hobbit (pipe)! ;) lol

But I will give the hobbit feet a try, really. I'll make sure to take some pics then :o lol

[Hobbit]

I'm already looking forward to the pics FL :p lol

It's a pity they didn't showed more about the costumes and Hobbit stuff at "a day in the life of a Hobbit" part...
They barely mentioned those great wigs! :o :(

[Winyaél Greenleaf]

Yup, those wigs were really part of the stuff that really creates the full transformation of the actors into hobbits lol Notice that in 'A Day in the Life of a Hobbit', Lij mentions that, save for the hobbit wardrobe, he's now a fully transformed hobbit only after he got both the feet and the wig on, which shows that the wig plays an integral role in the hobbit make-up, not just the prosthetic feet and ears. I think the wigs really look 'hobbity'!

[Hobbit]

I agree... Tolkien mentioned that the Hobbits had curly, (dark) brown hair and the wigs make them live up to that discription. They sould have showed more about those great wigs that were essential in the Hobbit-transformation!

[Frodo's Love]

You're right. Perhaps they will give it a try on one of the following extended dvd's? I'd like to see that... :)

[Hobbit]

That's possible, although I don't think they'll have a whole part about Hobbits again: otherwise they would repeat much from the first EE DVD.
But they might include a special part about elves or something and they wear wigs too ;)... or maybe some part including wigs and clothes of all the people of Middle Earth. (including hobbits ;) )
Let's keep our fingers crossed...

[Goldilocks Underhill]

In the book the hobbits were discribed as fat, but in the movie they are not!! But even though I like the hobs more in the movie, they look cuter than they were discribed in the book. I think the result of getting up soo early and get on those feet/ears & clothes (what else?) is perfect!! Although you can see some mistakes in the movie. No movie is perfect!!

[Gwaihir]

It must have been really hard waking up that early in the morning. And having to stand the whole time while they do their feet! :o It made me sick looking at the part when Sean Astin got his foot pierced by a twig. Ouch!

[Pearl Took]

They had to show that on the TTT DVD & the FOTR EE...why? I don't need to see poor Sean Astin's foot bleeding twice! That was gross.....yuck yuck. hehe lol

[Goldilocks Underhill]

And didn't Aragorn broke his teeth while surfing? I think they should've shown that in the DVD in a new section: lord of the injuries!! lol

[Radagast]

I really loved the disc 4 in the EE fotr dvd.

All the docu's defining what it was like on set an so on... COOL!

A cool part in A day in the life of a Hobbit was when Sean Astin (Sam) starts discussing his foot, with the guy who is working on his feet... Sean Foote... COOL!!!

[Catz]

Sean Foot........no e ;) lol
:catz:

[Radagast]

Hehe!!! Awsome Astin!

[A! Elbereth]

I laughed my head off the first time I heard Sean Astin say that. Loved the little jig of his head as he says 'no e.' :grin:

[Radagast]

Yeah... so cool!