Filming of the scene where Bilbo and the dwarfs escape from the elves by hiding in barrels has been taking place at the Aratiatia rapids near Taupo in New Zealand.

Spill gates from a dam were used and every time there was a dam release 20 to 25 barrels were released. You can read the full story here

In a recent interview for Entertainment Weekly, Canadian actress Evangeline Lilly discussed her role in the action movie 'Real Steel' and also described what it is like playing a warrior elf in Peter Jackson's ' Hobbit' movies. For the original interview click here.

Click here to watch Peter Jackson explain how to The Hollywood Reporter how much more filming remains to be done on the first Hobbit movie.

Elijah Wood talks about his filming experience on The Hobbit with Collider.com.

Casting calls for extras for The Hobbit are being held in New Zealand. Learn more about it at here.

On Jan 13th Andy Serkis gave an interview and Q&A session to the La Times 'Hero Complex' division. Click here for the video of this rather extensive interview in which Serkis discusses screen capture and its use in his roles in TinTin, Rise of The Planet of the Apes, and The Hobbit movies.

The L. A. Times, in its 'Hero Complex' section, has just posted a new picture of Martin Freeman, looking somewhat the worse for wear, as Bilbo. To see the picture, and read the accompanying article, click here.

Richard Armitage has just been named to MTV's 'Ones to Watch'.
Click on this link to go to MTV's interview of the British actor in which he discusses his career making role, playing Thorin, in Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' movies.

Actor Andy Serkis has publicly thanked James Franco for championing him as a Best Actor Oscar nominee, branding his support "extraordinarily bold". See the article, from Contactmusic.com, here.

in 1961, C. S. Lewis nominated J. R. R. Tolkien for the Nobel prize in literature, a prize that ended up being awarded to Yugoslavian writer Ivo Andric.
The workings of the Nobel Committee have been kept secret for 50 years but now, according to this article in the Guardian and this article in The Daily Mash, we learn that The Professor was turned down over both his questionable prose, and for his choice of subject material.

In 1966, an animated, almost 12 minute long, version of The Hobbit was screened. For more information, and to watch the film, click this link to iO9.com.

According to this article at Empire Online, Benedict Cumberbatch may have hinted at some changes being made in the plot of 'The Hobbit' movies.

Click here for Peter Jackson's Q&A session, in which the director discusses both TinTin and The Hobbit movies, with reporter Neala Johnson of News Limited.

Former Olympian sword fighter Bob Anderson, who worked on countless movies as a fight teacher and choreographer including Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, died at 89 .

Director Peter Jackson left a message on his Facebook page, saying It is a rare, even within the film industry, that you get to work with a legend which was why I was thrilled when Bob Anderson agreed to come on board The Lord of the Rings as our sword-master. In fact, it took a while for it to sink in that I was going to get to work with the same man who had helped create some of cinema's greatest fight sequences - from Star Wars to The Princess Bride. Bob was a brilliant swordsman and a gifted teacher; I will remember him as a wonderfully patient man, possessed of a terrific sense of humour. It was a privilege to have known him.

Today is the 120th anniversary of J.R.R. Tolkien's birth and by tradition lovers of his literature will toast the author at 9:00 pm with the phrase: “The professor”.

So today, let's all raise a glass to celebrate the birth of the man who is the reason for us all to meet here; to 'The professor'.