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Andy "Gollum" Serkis Speaks

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the we-loves-to-reads-it dept.

Jondor writes "The BBC has an article in which Andy Serkis answers questions about his role as Gollum. Can't wait so spend a whole 9 hours watching for the full DVD release of LOTR!"

53 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. Bad picture at the begining by RalphBNumbers · · Score: 3, Funny

    It seems ironic to me that they felt the need to do such a horrible job of compositing the actor over his beautifully rendered counterpart.

    Come on people, you don't need this kind of photo-trickery, and when you do it that badly, it really takes away more than it adds. If you're not going to spend the resources to do it right, just don't do it.

    --
    "The worst tyrannies were the ones where a governance required its own logic on every embedded node." - Vernor Vinge
  2. his "roll", eh? by gasgesgos · · Score: 4, Funny

    What kind of roll did he have as gollum? does the character of gollum even like rolls? and what about smeagol?

    I would think smeagol is more of a donut man... errr... little slinky thing...

    1. Re:his "roll", eh? by JudgeFurious · · Score: 4, Funny

      "Smeagol hates rolls, nasty tricksy rolls with sesame seeds give Smeagol indigestion.....What's donuts?"

      --
      Appended to the end of comments you post. 120 chars.
    2. Re:his "roll", eh? by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, his first roll was an 18, as he landed on top of Frodo and Sam doing 1D4+1 damage to each of them. Unfortunately, he was hit in return with a Natural 20 and got himself captured...

    3. Re:his "roll", eh? by Nathdot · · Score: 3, Funny

      Ahh, actually I believe in the original screenplay it was indeed a roll. It was changed because Peter Jackson thought he wasn't being faithful enough to Tolkien's book.

      SNIPPET FROM ORIGINAL SCRIPT:

      ELROND
      We must return the roll to the bakeries of
      Morrrrdorr. It is to be cast into the
      firey oven of the Mount Doom "Buns N' Loaves"
      where it was first baked!

  3. heh...roll by fjordboy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "...his roll as Gollum"

    hehe..."Roll."

    Besides the typo, I think Andy Serkis did an excellent job. Watching the Oscars get handed out tonight will probably be an unfortunate reminder to Serkis that the Academy just isn't ready for a computer generated actor.

    I think Gollum's performance was amazing, and after reading about it on lordoftherings.net and watching the little video about Andy Serkis (and from the bonus footage on FoTR), I think it is simply amazing how everything down to the facial expressions came from a real actor. That's just incredible.

    --
    The anti-salmon
    1. Re:heh...roll by Pike65 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Actually, I never realised quite how much he did do for the part - I just assumed he was a voice actor. I always thought the whole Serkis-for-Oscar-nomination-please people were just being facetious, but I'm inclined to agree with them now.

      In a completely different direction, how did they do the compositing if he was actually in the original shots? Erase him out and then stick Gollum in? Seems like a lot of work.

      That reminds of something the DVD commentry when Bilbo is invisible and running back to Bag End. Either Dominic Monaghan or Billy Boyd said that they shot the scene with Ian Holm in it and then edited him out. I was never quite sure if they were taking the piss or not . . .

      --
      "If being a geek means being passionate about something, then I pity those who aren't geeks." - Pike65
    2. Re:heh...roll by fjordboy · · Score: 2

      From what I understand watching the DVD extras and all the stuff on Lotr.net, I think they just used a video overlay technique and actually put the body of Gollum right over Andy. They didn't actually erase him, they just sort of put Gollum right overtop of him. At least, that's how I understand it. That just shows you how much of his action and movements made Gollum.

      Yeah, if you read the article, Serkis talks a lot about some of the stuff he did..he thought he was going to originally be a voice actor too, but in the end the entire character of Gollum *is* Andy...just with some digital skin.

      As far as the DVD commentary, I'm not sure...it would make sense that they shot it with him once...just to get all the angles right so it looks like it is from his perspective, but I wouldn't think they'd edit him out, that sounds sort of ridiculous. Any film experts have an opinion?

      --
      The anti-salmon
    3. Re:heh...roll by silverhalide · · Score: 2, Informative

      I can't remember where I read it, but they did the composting by doing all the gollum shots with the actors, then doing the shots without the actors with the exact same camera movements, then hours of painstaking composting where Gollum and the actors actually interacted with each other.

    4. Re:heh...roll by jo_ham · · Score: 2, Informative

      They'd shoot background plates with no actors, the same shots with the actors including Andy dressed in a tight fitting all over suit in one colour, then again on the motion capture stage.

      Using a combination of the background plates, matte shots and the motion capture they can key out the real Andy and put Gollum in his place.

      It takes a long time to do though, and rendering those frames is no picnic.

  4. In his spare time.. by Gortbusters.org · · Score: 5, Interesting

    But in my time off I love to go - there's great walking and climbing to do and I go horse riding and canoeing, the scenery's absolutely stunning and so much varied scenery, it's just a wonderful place to explore.

    I would love to visit (or even live in) New Zealand. Unfortunately, it's a quick couple thousand for plane tickets. As for the immigration, they have a lovely point system to keep unscrupulous people out (as well as eldery from using it as a retirement center) -- way to go NZ!

    --
    --------
    Free your mind.
    1. Re:In his spare time.. by donnz · · Score: 5, Interesting

      As an immigrant I can definately agree that would NZ benefit from more of us! Seeing the xenophiobic discussion in /. during the recent H1-B story made me think we were not alone with stupid immigration laws and attitudes. I won't even go close to that troll from Australia...

      On topic, there has been a great LOTR exhipition in Wellington at Te Papa (the Natinal Museum). Lots of vidoe clips, that I guess will come out on DVD, explaining how things were done, along with costumes and props. The best video was the one showing a clip of Gollum from the film against Sarkis. They took the entire movement and facial expressions from him. He was shot three times over, at least for each scene. Once with the other actors (that's him wrestling with Sam), once doing all the physical movements so that they could animate Gollum accurately and once doing the voice overs and facial expressions.

      I wish we'd designed the web site!
      -------------

      --
      -- Free software on every PC on every desk
    2. Re:In his spare time.. by Paradigm+Lost · · Score: 2, Informative

      Your Museum link is broken. It should be here. Very cool exhibition, but it finishes at the end of the month. Apparently, some of the items will then be used for RotK reshoots, and then the exhibition will tour overseas for a couple of years.

      Funny thing is that it costs as much to see the exhibition as the movie.

      --
      -Dead Lesbian Witches! Think about it!
  5. trollbait away! by Flak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Come on. These questions are by 10 to 15 year olds! The questions read just like an episode of askslashdot.

    1. Re:trollbait away! by Acidic_Diarrhea · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, these kiddies weren't exactly hard-hitting were they? I have a quarrel with Oliver, 14 who asked, "Did you feel intimidated working with such a high profile cast?" Pardon me, but the cast of LOTR was high profile? I didn't think they had any real big names in there. Sure, Ian McKellen was quite well respected but that's different than high profile. He certainly doesn't draw the kind of attention that $CURRENT_HOLLYWOOD_STAR does or the attention that $FORMER_HOLLYWOOD_STAR and Sylvester Stallone did. Or is Oliver referring to the behavior of the cast while out and about in public? Ah, the mind of a 14 year old...a very strange place to be indeed.

      --
      I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
    2. Re:trollbait away! by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Informative
      Ian McKellen was the bad guy in X-Men, so is a bit actual. Hugo Weaving was an agent in Matrix, also very actual.Christopher Lee is almost a legend, maybe it not appear a lot on modern movies (?) but it is on most of the clasical horror movies. And Elijah Wood has acted in a lot of actual movies, including Deep Impact. And not forget Cate Blanchett and Liv Tyler.

      I think that a 14 years old boy would know most of this actors, saw previos movies with them in leading roles, but probably they hear about Andy Serkis (and about most of the rest of the cast not named here) just on this movie.

  6. Roleing about laughing by Telex4 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Great! Golum's part was really funny - in fact it had me rofl (roleing on the floor laughing)!

  7. I Found it interesting by mesach · · Score: 3, Interesting

    when I watched some sort of "the making of" that golum looks like a strung out version of him...

    I know that animators some times get thier inspiration from the voices of the actors (Jeremy Irons as Scar in the Lion King), and that he also did the acting for it, but this was uncanny

    --
    moo.
  8. Please take pity by frankthechicken · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yeah it's quite surprising, I didn't think I'd get recognised as much as I do but because the animators designed the facial structure of how Gollum actually looks on screen to be very close to mine

    I feel truly sorry for the poor guy.

    1. Re:Please take pity by EverDense · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, but with eyes that size I'm sure he'd
      go down a treat with the Anime crowd.

      --
      http://jesus.everdense.com/
  9. Expected.. by Metallic+Matty · · Score: 2, Funny

    As expected, throughout the interview he made several references to what he called "his precious" in a rather creepy, serpentine voice.

  10. lol! by fjordboy · · Score: 4, Funny
    These questions are hilarious! What is this? A bunch of kids asking questions? Oh...

    This one was probably my favorite:
    Who do you think would win in a fight between Gollum and Dobby?

    Andy Serkis: I think Gollum probably would, I think Dobby would probably knock himself out.

    So true.
    --
    The anti-salmon
    1. Re:lol! by fjordboy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah right! The average slashdotter would have asked a much better question: "Who would win in a fight between Gollum and Wil Wheaton?" Or "Did they use a beowulf cluster to render your body?" etc. Trust me, no self-respecting slashdotter would have asked about Nobby.

      --
      The anti-salmon
    2. Re:lol! by Trebuchet · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You spelled "Dobby" wrong. The name has 2 Bs.

      If you run the googlefight with Dobby spelled right, guess who wins?

      That's right, Gollum!!

      --

      Malcolm solves his problems with a chainsaw,
      And he never has the same problem twice.
    3. Re:lol! by fjordboy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Sorry, I'll be sure to indicate my sarcasm with blinking lights next time.

      --
      The anti-salmon
  11. in case of /.ing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    question: do you like fish?

    Yes, usually quite raw.

    question: do you hate P. Jackson for having you roll around in that cold stream for hours?

    Weees will hasss our revenge.

    question: what is the worst thing about being a computer generated actor?

    Trying to convince people that you have to stop for a real pee and that a virtual pee doesn't cut the mustard.

    question: have you read the book?

    Yes, yes, I've read it about 50 times and watched the movie.

    question: did you run away and join the circus?

    You horrible little man take that *blam* *yeeeow*

  12. The only important tidbit... by Anthony+Boyd · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...comes at the end of the interview. Apparently, there is talk about the Hobbit being done as a TV miniseries. Andy replies to this by saying, "Well I'd heard that it wasn't a TV series, that it was going to be another movie but I mean there have been various rumours about it." Whatever the case, it looks like my LOTR DVD collection will eventually include the Hobbit. I hope Ian reprises his role.

    --
    My Greasemonkey scripts for Digg &
  13. Battle of the Comic-Relief Chars by YokuYakuYoukai · · Score: 3, Funny

    Gollum could definatly take Jar Jar in a fight. I don't think it would even be close.

    --

    Won't you be my my neighbor?
  14. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  15. Spoiler Alert! by po8 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Philip: How do you see your character developing in the Return of the King?

    Andy Serkis: I don't want to give too much away actually...

    Insightful question (remember, this is the adult interviewer asking) and answer. Now that he's seen the scripts, just think how much money Serkis could make selling the secret ending to LotR!

    [Please tell me the above is just a joke, BTW. They wouldn't change the ending. Would they?]

  16. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 4, Informative

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  17. Has he even read the books? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Some of his answers seem a bit far out, especially the one concerning what Smeagol would do with the ring if he finally got it:

    Elizabeth, 6, Madison USA
    What do you think Gollum would do if he actually got the Ring back?

    Andy Serkis: That's a good question. I think Gollum would probably want to try and turn back time so he could go back to being Smeagol before he killed his cousin for the Ring.

    Which, of course, is not at all what LotR tells us (Gollum even says outwardly that that he'd pay everyone back). That said, it seems somewhat odd that the actors haven't read the book, or if they have they haven't read it very closely.

    1. Re:Has he even read the books? by dillon_rinker · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You're forgetting that the characterization of Gollum/Smeagol in the movie differs drastically from that of Gollum in the books. I doubt that Elizabeth, aged 6, has read the books. I think it's safe to say that Serkis is answering based on Jackson's vision of the character in the movies, not Tolkien's vision of the character in the books.

    2. Re:Has he even read the books? by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · · Score: 2, Insightful
      That seemed like a very strange answer to me too [...]

      Not when you consider he was answering to a 6 year old girl.

    3. Re:Has he even read the books? by GuruJ · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I think even more than that, Serkis doesn't want to tell little 6-year old Elizabeth that Gollum would go and slit everyone's throat...

      --
      -- Askari: Give JavaScript the bird.
  18. I always preferred Brother Theodore's voice myself by Faust7 · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Not meant as a knock against Serkis or anything, I think he did a fantastic job, but for me the definitive voice of Gollum has always been Brother Theodore from the animated films. It was rough, accented, relentless, and always carried a faint flavor of the disrepute that eventually overtook Gollum's character (under-the-surface foreshadowing, love it). By comparison I found Serkis' voice to be squeaky and just not quite as substantial, though very well-acted nevertheless.

    If you're wondering who Brother Theodore is, here's his filmography. I remeber him best from The 'Burbs as the acerbic Uncle Reuben Klopek, for whom he uses nearly the same voice as he did for Gollum.

    --
    The coolest voice ever.
  19. Enough with the 'roll' jokes by SoftwareTechie · · Score: 5, Funny

    They're getting stale.

    --

    --
    Political Correctness is doubleplusungood.
  20. Hmm by Henry+V+.009 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    When I hear so much praise heaped on these movies, I get the feeling that most people didn't enjoy Tolkien's books for the reasons that I enjoyed them.

    I liked reading Tolkien because of the atmosphere and mythos he was able to create. I enjoyed how he was able to tie together familiar myths and legends into a new and beautiful work.

    Jackson's movies simply don't share Tolkien's atmosphere. All they seem to share are hobbits, dwarves, elves, orcs, and what not. In fact the movies ultimately fail, in my opinion, because Jackson doesn't recognize that he can't replicate the books on screen and fails to supply the necessary artistic imagination of his own to flesh out the work. What he does add or change is filler. If you are going to adapt a written work for the screen, do it like Kubrick did so often. Ditch the plot and show them what you can make of the work yourself.

    But most people really enjoyed the movies. So do they like Tolkien just because he uses words like 'Ent' and 'Balrog'? It makes me feel a little bit alone.

    1. Re:Hmm by humblecoder · · Score: 4, Interesting


      In fact the movies ultimately fail, in my opinion, because Jackson doesn't recognize that he can't replicate the books on screen and fails to supply the necessary artistic imagination of his own to flesh out the work. What he does add or change is filler. If you are going to adapt a written work for the screen, do it like Kubrick did so often. Ditch the plot and show them what you can make of the work yourself.

      And if Jackson had done that, you'd probably have somebody screaming bloody murder that he dared to alter the holy canon of Tolkien. Of yeah, I forgot... in fact you did have people complaining about the changes and omissions (i.e. Bombadil's omission, increased role for Arwen, etc, etc). It goes to show that you can't please everyone, so you might as well concentrate on pleasing yourself. Judging by the interviews I've seen with Peter Jackson, I'd say he was very happy with the final product.

      As far as the Jackson-Kubrik comparison goes, Kubrick had the luxury of adapting books that weren't nearly as popular as the Lord of the Ring books. I mean, how many people have actually read _2001_ or _Clockwork Orange_ or even _The Shining_? I would wager that if you add up the number of people who have read these books combined, the total would be nowhere near the number who have read LOTR. In that sense, he was limited in what he could do.

      To be honest, I am impressed that Jackson was able to inbue the movie with the spirit of the books as much as he did. I was very skeptical when I heard that LOTR was coming out as a film. It didn't seem like the type of books that could be adapted to film, given their scope. However, I thought that he did an admirable job of capturing their feel, given the limitations of the medium. In particular, I thought that the art direction, the sets, and the cinematography really captured the "atmosphere" in the same way that Tolkiens prose did. Apparently, Jackson hired two well known "Tolkien" artists to head up the art direction on the film. They were in charge of the overall designs for the sets, props, and costumes. Their vision for the world of Middle East really helped shape the movie in a very subtle, but profound way. For instance, they used very consistent motifs for all of the sets and props associated with the different cultures of Middle Earth. Some of it was based upon Tolkien's own writings and some of it was based upon their interpretation of the books. The level of care and detail that went into the design process was really amazing - especially for props that had very limited screen time.

      If you want more details, I advise you to watch the "making of" DVD's in the Extended Edition of FOTR. If you are a fan of the atmosphere, like you say, you might gain a new appreciation of the movie.

      --

      ------

      www.moneybythenumbers.com

  21. In other news... by SWroclawski · · Score: 2, Funny

    In other news, David Sedaris will be playing Gollum in the next movie...

    Not only will he keep the ring, but he'll interspese that with witty commentary and stories about his family, being a Christmas Elf and Santa Claus around the world.

    - Serge Wroclawski
    (wondering if anyone will get it)

  22. Re:Andy Serkis wasn't gollum... by TheCrimsonUnbeliever · · Score: 4, Informative

    He acted and the animation followed him - As did his facial expressions - Watch a 'making of' video and you will get it

    He did do a lot of work and special work at that

  23. No LOTR Logo/Icon? by halo8 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Why oh Why Dear Slashdot Editors dose Lord of the Rings not have a Logo? Starwars has a Logo.. the Ipod has a Logo.. why dosent LOTR?

    Think about it.. all the Posts that are going to be made over the next +2 Years for LOTR.. Movie Reiviews, Spoilers, Trailers, DVD's, DVD Reviews, Special Ed. DVD's, Cast Interviews, Award Shows, ect.. ect... ect..

    LOTR DESERVES its own Logo/Icon

    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=48383&cid=49 16 794
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=49299&cid =4983 792
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=49969&cid =5033 027
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=53467&cid =5280 387
    http://slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=55587&cid =5416 129

    --
    The More Knowledge you have the Luckier you Get- J.R. Ewing
    1. Re:No LOTR Logo/Icon? by bwags · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I second the motion... all in favor...

    2. Re:No LOTR Logo/Icon? by Jondor · · Score: 3, Interesting

      aye!
      (actualy I was somewhat supprised there wasn't one already..;)

      --
      Nobody expects the spanish inquisition!
  24. Love how he avoids spoilers. by Sebbo · · Score: 4, Funny

    Philip
    How do you see your character developing in the Return of the King?

    Andy Serkis: I don't want to give too much away actually but obviously Gollum's fate is very much bound up with that of Frodo and Sam and the Ring of course. And so you get to see them continue on their journey and it reaches an enormous climax in Mordor.

    Psst, kid! I know where you can get top-secret information about what happens in Return of the King--it's called a library!

  25. Psst by bonch · · Score: 2, Insightful

    He's talking character-wise. Obviously, they've played a bit with Gollum's psychosis compared to the books. I imagine he doesn't want to reveal how Gollum's mindset has been fleshedout in the final film, and how he acted it as a result.

  26. Ouch by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Josh, 13, Malden
    Is it true that you actually had to dive into the freezing cold water in the scene by the waterfall yourself and if so what was that like?

    Andy Serkis: Yeah it's absolutely true, they spent the whole morning before we actually shot that scene - the whole mountain was under cover of snow and the crew had to defrost this entire area using high pressure hoses and wind machines and all sorts of things and then -     but the water was still sub-zero - and so when I went into the water it was absolutely freezing, I could hardly move, my whole body froze up and we had to repeat the scene a few times. But it is true we did do that.

    Wouldn't it hurt diving into ice? :-/

  27. hmm, no one else seems to have picked up on this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Hannah, 16, Sutton I noticed that loads of the actors on Lord of the Rings had to have prosthetics. Are you particularly glad you didn't have to go through that? Andy Serkis: Well funnily enough in the third film - I'll let you into a bit of a secret - I did have to go through that but I'm not going to say anymore.

    So....... erm..... my guess would be that he means he gets a cheeky cameo as a normal "human" actor. Playing an elf or dwarf or something in the corner of one scene.

    Any other interpretations of this bit?

  28. Shrek by gmuslera · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Today in Cinecanal they show "Shrek" (here in spanish).

    As the movie was translated (not subtitled), the part at the start where they put the names of Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy and John Lithgow, that did the "voices" was cut. Now, if the character's expression was taken from their acting while they did the voices, I think that this was unfair with those actors, in the same sense that they are doing with Serkis with Gollum, their acting was more than only put the voices.

  29. I think Chris Kattan plays a better gollum by cylcyl · · Score: 2, Funny

    And would save Peter Jackson Millions in special effects :)

  30. A Scene from the Academy Debate Over Andy Serkis by Nova+Express · · Score: 3, Funny

    S: I think Andy Serkis deserves an Oscar nomination for playing Gollum in The Two Towers.

    G: No!! We hates him, hates him!

    S: What are you talking about? He did a wonderful job!

    G: No! He ruined the precious with all his nasty scampering about!

    S: Oh come on! His was far and away one of the most interesting performances in the movie.

    G: No! Not he, it. Yessss, it, horrible machine with all its nasty little bits running like ants! We hates the terrible computer eye, hates it! HATES IT! No, we keeps the precious little statue...

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  31. Think of Ross Perot after ten years on the Atkins by use_compress · · Score: 2, Funny

    from Anthony Lane of The New Yorker
    Gollum, who guides Frodo on his quest, is white-skinned and blue-veined, like a moldering cheese, and his shrunken frame is topped by a triangular head with protruding eyes. Think of Ross Perot after ten years on the Atkins diet, and you're almost there.
    http://orlijah.net/archive/article108.html

  32. CG Hair by PegQuin · · Score: 2, Funny

    Does Gollum's hair look more real than Andy's, or is it just me?

    --
    PegQuin--I've got a sneakin' suspicion