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Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > Gollum : How We Made Movie Magic review
Film-making history was made when, in The Two Towers, an actor's performance and digital animation were seamlessly integrated to create the world's first totally lifelike computer-generated character. Now Andy Serkis tells his own story about how a three-week commission to provide a voiceover for Gollum grew into a five-year commitment to breathe life and soul into The Lord of the Rings' most challenging creation.
- Did the voice of Gollum really start with a cat being sick?
- What was it like acting in a bodysuit covered in dots?
- How much was Gollum modeled to look like Andy?
- What surprises does The Return of the King hold in store?
Fully illustrated with more than one hundred exclusive behind-the-scenes photos and drawings, and with contributions from the many designers and animators who brought Gollum to life, this book examines the transition to the big screen of one of literature's most unforgettable creatures. As the filming takes him from London to Wellington, and from the Misty Mountains to Mount Doom, Andy Serkis explains the methods - and the madness - behind the most amazing five years in this actor's life.
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Review by: black-kat (Dave)
Dated: 13th of July, 2004
When I first saw this I thought 'Here we go another ACTOR trying to be an author', well how wrong I was.
This is a well written, witty and insightful look into how the most advanced CGI movie character to date was created. But it wasn't just about all the technical nuts and bolts of the process, in fact far from it, it's a personal look at the person behind the ex-hobbit and his experiences both on and off the set.
Apart from the expected stuff about the processes involved in the creation of GOLLUM, there are also little annecdotes scattered throughout of how he spent his time when he wasn't working, and this stuff just makes the book so much better.
One thing that sets this aside from other 'How they made' books was the fact that this was written by the one person most qualified to write it, rather than someone who wasn't even involved in the process telling everyone how it was done.
And lastly I have given the Person Choice points to Andy's huge sense of humour that made this book, the best read i've had this year.
Definately one for the Bookshelf.
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