Update: Unfortunately, New Line have requested that we not share these images any more – which is disappointing, as they only serve to make fans more excited for the upcoming film. The original post is still below, so you’ll just have to imagine the images..
We’ve received full scans from the cast and crew booklet we wrote about last week. Much thanks to Chris for the scans, who describes the booklet thusly:
“It has a stated edition size of 1000 copies and also mentions that it
has only been given to cast and crew. It contains 155 pages of cast and
crew pictures and is very reminiscent of many published ‘making of’
books. There are a few pages dedicated to Philip Pullman’s various
visits to the set, and the title page is his drawing of Lyra (as seen in
the UK edition of GC and his website).”
“Most of the pictures are of behind the scenes people going about their
business, electricians, plasters, etc. Unfortunately, at 155 pages there are too many pictures to send them all
across, but I’ve picked out some of my favourites – which are all new.”
There’s certainly a heap of new shots within: Dakota Blue Richards on set, concept art and models of daemons for the first time, close-ups of the alethiometer and spyfly, Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig together, the inside of the Gyptians’ boats and more.
Darren also writes in to let us know of his photos from backstage at Shepperton studios. They’re all available to view on his website. There is also a video of his on YouTube of a field converted into snow to be used as a set for the film, which you can click here to view.
Israel’s annual science-fiction and fantasy convention runs this year on 3-5 April, in Holon. Jointly managed by the Israeli Tolkien society and the Israeli HDM community, the convention will have several talks of interest to His Dark Materials fans.
“His Borrowed Materials” by Netanela Davidovich: How did Milton inspired Pullman? Why Lewis is turning in his grave, and how does ‘Genesis’ fits in? This lecture describes the inspiration sources of “His Dark Materials”, the trilogy written by the British writer Phillip Pullman. From Adam and Eve’s myth as it appears in “Genesis”, through Milton’s “Paradise lost” and completing with Oxford writers from the last centaury.
“Tell me what your Daemon form is and I would tell you who you are” / Hagit Wienner – In almost every human culture there is a humanization of animals, in many fantasy books talking animals take part, and the idea of humans that become animals is known there as well, but in “His Dark Materials” Philip Pullman has made the animal an inseparable part of humans. What are the human qualities we gave to different animals? And is there a real connection between the Daemon’s form and his human personality?
Read more on the convention’s official website or visit our community member, HDM.co.il
Chris emails in to let us know of a Golden Compass booklet he snagged from eBay this week. A pictorial journal of the making of the film, it was given to crew members on completion of the project. We’ve added the eBay photos to our promotional material movie images album and will have some full scans soon. In the meantime, keep an eye on eBay for it others come up for auction!
A brief note also: Bob Shaye, the founder and co-chairman of New Line Cinema, was interviewed in the Times today. Asked about The Golden Compass, New Line’s biggest ever spend on a single film, he replied (apparently with a shudder): “It’s a big bloody investment.”
