R.I.P. Ian Holm 1931 - 2020

Legendary actor Ian Holm passed away today surrounded by his family at the age of 88. For most people, they recognize him as Bilbo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. His career is much more then that beginning in the 1950s appearing in plays for British TV until moving to films with Ridley Scott's Alien. He was also in Time Bandits, Brazil, The Fifth Element and nominated for Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Chariots of Fire among many many other roles (life in pictures).

From Ridley Scott: “I had such a good time and fruitful one with Ian, and my only regret was not to have worked with him once again. Ian talked to me during production quite a lot, which I found to be very helpful. A great talent and a great man — we’ll miss him.”

Peter Jackson wrote a long message saying goodbye to Ian Holm, talking about working with him for the Middle-Earth films, its worth taking the time to read. He spoke about the first day of filming where Holm, and later how the actor took on the task of keeping the attention of young children for hours so a scene could be filmed. Later he spoke how Ian Holm, to help Jackson, agreed to reprise Bilbo despite suffering from Parkinson and knowing it would be the last time he would ever act professionally. To sum, he said "Watching Ian Holm perform taught me so much – as Ian was being his usual quiet self, that just somehow happened. It was a privilege to work with him, and a blessing to know him."

Condolences to his wife, children and grandchildren.

AICN's The Hobbit Set Report Part 1

Quint, of Ain't It Cool News, reminds us of why we should hate him or at least confuse intense jealousy for hate. He has been given a rare opportunity to not just report from a movie set, but to spend two months reporting from the sets of The Hobbit films. He will get to see first-hand what all the rest of us experience as brief glimpses in behind the scenes extra features. Did I mention he got to play a Hobbit extra? Yep, feeling the hate/jealousy.

The first report, which is just his first day on set, comes from Hobbiton. He reports from the first day the newly restored set started filming for the first time in 10 years. It begins with Frodo Baggins. Below is highlights (spoiler warning). The full report is worth reading, as includes a lot of little details and introduces you to some of the crew of the film. That can be found here.

Highlights:
- First scene shot is Frodo (Elijah Wood) getting the mail at Bag End. Later filmed placing a "No Admittance Except on Party Business", which is likely when the party of held for Bilbo Baggins in the opening of Fellowship.
- Ian Holm will reprise his role but through the magic of editing as his scenes where shot in London with Martin Freeman standing in on the Hobbiton set.
- The scene is Frodo wondering if Gandalf will show up with Bilbo saying he will to show off his "whiz-poppers."
- I guess this or something after leads old Bilbo to reminisce about when he was waiting on Gandalf as things transition to 60 years earlier as young Bilbo is smoking as Gandalf arrives to kick off his first adventure.
- Production intrusions went from the livestock not cooperating (runaway cow), to paparazzi showing up in loud plains and copters to takes pictures, ruining shots.