Weta Coming Back To Middle Earth

[woodsy]

Hi there

Sorry for the delay in reply. We are currently preparing for a Halo promotion in Sydney tonight. Look for it on the net !

In reply to your questions, I can't go into too much detail as these contracts are confidential.

Let's just say we are able to offer miniature collectables on a global basis. "Miniature" would include pieces approx 15cm high or lower. "Characters" could be creatures or characters (eg : human, hobbits, elves, etc) from the trilogy.

We are getting good feedback from this site and the Shadow and Flame forum. Pelase keep it coming

The shields will open for pre-order in the next couple of days !

Many thanks

Tim

So based on a maximum of 15 cm or 6" high is it safe to say these miniature characters will be 1/12 scale?

 

[oldduffer]

That'd be 1/11.9489 Woodsy

 

[woodsy]

That'd be 1/11.9489 Woodsy

I stand corrected. Anyway you slice it though these little fella's are going to be just that....little. Not quite sure how well these will go with the SSW 1/6 scale pieces, or even the 1/9 scale SS dio's. ....time will tell.

 

[Fritz]

Hi Everyone,

We have just returned to New Zealand after an incredibly exciting time at Comic Con. We wanted to share some background information with you, which I hope will help explain some of the the things Weta are doing.

Firstly, I want to sincerely thank all of you for all your comments on this forum, both positive and negative. We think it's absolutely wonderful there are so many passionate LOTR collectors out there who want to express their views on this forum. We really do appreciate your feedback and criticism. Please keep it coming !...

Thanks for coming here Tim and responding!

I think some of you were kind of harsh with your comments. What's wrong with a company that's primary function is not to be a collectables company doing high end collectibles? Although Weta originally had the LOTR license, they were technically a designer/contractor/sculptor. Sideshow pretty much handled all the collectibles end of that relationship.

...I just find the statement a bit curious as I don't see how a colour statue based on colour artwork would be distracting to the sculpture itself...

Probably because John's seen some of the paint apps that come from the factories and doesn't want it to screw up his sculpts.

 

[Dark_Lord_of_Moria]

Weta rocks bring out more lotr statues please!!!!!

 

[gabberjawa]

The shields are up for order! https://www.wetanz.com/lotr/

 

[Gwindor]

Hi Tim,

Thanks for your engaement in this and other forums, it's really great that someone so closely involved with the products informs us about whats happening and about your plans. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your upcoming products when you are allowed to reveal them.

I wanted to ask if there are any plans of releasing a book about the lines of Sideshow Weta LOTR products? A large, nice "coffee table" style book with presentations of the artists involved, a chapter about the process (ideas/sketches, sculpting, casting, painting (sure, this was covered on the Gollum DVD but a book would be incomplete without it)), lavish pictures of all statues, busts, helms etc. with measurment and edition size info, and notes (articles) about at least the major pieces, if not all. And of course a bonus chapter about never produced concepts! I do realize that this would be a major undertaking but something I'm sure would be greately appreciated, by the collector community and LOTR fans in particular. I remember that Daniel Falconer wrote a few articles some time ago about some of the SSW products and at the time I read them it felt like those could have been the first steps towards this kind of book...?

I'm crossing my fingers!

Thanks again.

 

[FrodoEyes]

I agree, i'd buy it!! We could have little insights into reasons why Galadriel wasn't with the mirror (It being too big) and things like that in the bonus chapter.
And why some idiot thought it would be a good idea to hack up your beautiful Argonath diorama for a set of bookends. BOOKENDS!! I ask you...

 

[woodsy]

I agree, i'd buy it!! We could have little insights into reasons why Galadriel wasn't with the mirror (It being too big) and things like that in the bonus chapter.
And why some idiot thought it would be a good idea to hack up your beautiful Argonath diorama for a set of bookends. BOOKENDS!! I ask you...

That certainly was a stroke of genius replacing the awesome Argonath prototype environment with the DVD bookends that are too light and small to actually function as bookends. I too would love to know who came up with that one....I believe a good flogging would be in order.

 

[Lembas Eater]

That certainly was a stroke of genius replacing the awesome Argonath prototype environment with the DVD bookends that are too light and small to actually function as bookends. I too would love to know who came up with that one....I believe a good flogging would be in order.

I've heard that NewLine made that decision and insisted on it.

 

[LOTRFan]

I've heard that NewLine made that decision and insisted on it.

If you have the SS Cat #10 DVD they give an answer on it.

 

[woodsy]

I've heard that NewLine made that decision and insisted on it.

Like I said, whoever came up with the moronic idea should be flogged....

 

[FrodoEyes]

If you have the SS Cat #10 DVD they give an answer on it.

Yes, i believe it went something like this:

"Yes, we really were a complete bunch of morons that day. Two of our merchandising department actually had brain transplants the previous day, and got monkeys brains instead. As for the rest of the team, well, it was Bill's birthday the day before our meeting, and we all ended up drinking in the office all night and falling asleep on our desks. As all we wanted to do the next day was go home, someone shouted 'BOOKENDS!' in their sleep - it might have been one of the guys with the monkey brain - and we all agreed on the action and went home."

 

[LOTRFan]

Yes, i believe it went something like this:

"Yes, we really were a complete bunch of morons that day. Two of our merchandising department actually had brain transplants the previous day, and got monkeys brains instead. As for the rest of the team, well, it was Bill's birthday the day before our meeting, and we all ended up drinking in the office all night and falling asleep on our desks. As all we wanted to do the next day was go home, someone shouted 'BOOKENDS!' in their sleep - it might have been one of the guys with the monkey brain - and we all agreed on the action and went home."

Eh, sort of.

They also answered why they changed the Weapon-X weapon set and a few others.

 

[CAhobbit]

That certainly was a stroke of genius replacing the awesome Argonath prototype environment with the DVD bookends that are too light and small to actually function as bookends. I too would love to know who came up with that one....I believe a good flogging would be in order.

Hmmmm....I actually do use mine as actual bookends. Granted it's for my paperback copies of LOTR, The Hobbit and The Sil, but they work perfectly for me as bookends for some lighter books.

 

[gabberjawa]

Despite what the hardcore collectors think of it, it was a stroke of genius from a marketing POV

 

[FrodoEyes]

Despite what the hardcore collectors think of it, it was a stroke of genius from a marketing POV

Thanks. i AM hardcore!

 

[GrueSam]

Despite what the hardcore collectors think of it, it was a stroke of genius from a marketing POV

Yeah, I gotta agree there.
If it hadn't been for that "moronic idea", I never would have gotten addicted to SSW polystone and have a collection that I love with all my heart!

 

[LOTRFan]

Yeah, I gotta agree there.
If it hadn't been for that "moronic idea", I never would have gotten addicted to SSW polystone and have a collection that I love with all my heart!

The Gollum DVD was a stroke of genius!

 

[theguru1]

The Gollum DVD was a stroke of genius!

And that was the final nail in the coffin.... money, meet polystone