But even back in the studio days, the promotions department would make lots of little featurettes that would get attached to the double features, or shown on "Disneyland," which were about the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes into making whatever blockbuster they were promoting at the time. I remember seeing lots of little films on the DVD release of My Fair Lady and Mary Poppins.

LotR EEs created their own pedestals and hopped up on them, what with the attention to a million details we never saw

Yes, this.

I actually like the generosity that PJ and crew demonstrate in showing us the fuck-ups, and almost-fuck-ups. It's so different from the Hollywood style of director's cut or additional footage or DVD extras. And in this case, I'm going to be a bit less critical of the final on-screen product now that I know what we were saved from. And to me, seeing that their first ideas were not always brilliant and that they kept working to refine them makes those creative pedestals higher, rather than pulling them down.

Actually the attention-to-a-million-unseen-details is pretty un-Hollywood too. Weta was no Lucasfilm or Skywalker Sound, with a million demands on their time and rigorous contracts to meet. I bet the creative guys in Hollywood would love to have years on a film with complete access to whoever and whatever they needed (but they'd probably like to keep their current salaries).

even back in the studio days

Maybe I just wasn't paying attention, but in the pre-comprehensive-DVD days, I had no simple access to the amount of details I do now. If I didn't troll the 'net, it was all down to the media junket, which certainly didn't tell me about the fart jokes that didn't make it in, or the actor's choices at a given point in the movie, or the composer's train of thought just here.

I bet the creative guys in Hollywood would love to have years on a film with complete access to whoever and whatever they needed

I can just imagine ...

I'm breathtaken by what was accomplished, and the DVDs make it even more impressive, but part of me also wanted to regard PJ (or any creator of something I like) as someone who never committed a misstep to celluloid (or whatever those crazy kids use these days).

And if I'm remembering correctly, PJ has said he'd love to give out even more gory details, but can't right now. Specifically, I think he means the machinations that went down getting the films green lit (and also the Stuart Townsend fiasco - talk about things that would have been a mistake).

PJ has said he'd love to give out even more gory details, but can't right now

I think they are saving this and some of the un-shown footage for the LOTR Christmas Special. Which, with any luck, will be mostly written by Billy and Dom.

Which, with any luck, will be mostly written by Billy and Dom.

They need to do all the narration too. Or maybe just Billy. Even after a month or so of watching lots of random Scottish actors (the cadence reminds me so of Jamaica, yet is still different and interesting), Billy's voice sends me over the squee-edge. Not least of all because of the cutiehead things he keeps saying. Such a delight.

Even after two weeks of living among Scots, Billy Boyd is The Scot for me. Love his voice, accent, the whole bit.

Have you watched the Disc 4 intro? I love that, at the end, Billy says, "And make sure you get out of the house once in a while."

Billy says, "And make sure you get out of the house once in a while."

Which is an astonishing example of knowing the audience. Advice I'm occasionally successful at taking.

Billy Boyd is The Scot for me.

Hoy! Grumble, grumble. 1000 years of damage to world culture and that little pippin-come-lately represents us? Well, could do worse, I suppose. And have.

Well, could do worse, I suppose. And have.

::grin:: There's always you, hon. You're our own personal rep.