Rebekah sent us word of another Guest of Honor that will be appearing at TolCon: Peter Lyon, the Sword Master and creator of the “hero” swords in Lord of the Rings and “Peter’s Sword” (Rhindon) in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, is our newest Guest of Honor at TolCon!
December 6: DVD on Disney’s new film adaptation The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (Info); DVD details TBA; $19.99 SRP
Nothing else is known about this release at this time. I hope to hear some details shortly.
From Cinema Confidential comes three more pieces of concept art from the upcoming “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” This time it features The White Witch’s Castle Environment, Edmund approaching the entrance to the White Witch’s Castle, and Mr. Tumnus leading Lucy to his home.
The website for the “‘Past Watchful Dragons’: Fantasy and Faith in the World of C.S. Lewis” conference to be held November 3-5, 2005 on the campus of Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA (which will include The Nashville Symphony’s performance of Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings Symphony) has been thoroughly updated to include the specific details about the event. Online registration and ticket sales begin April 1, 2005. The Call for Papers remains open through May 1, 2005.
Belmont University invites scholars, students, church and community members to attend this exciting event featuring Doug Gresham (stepson of C.S. Lewis and Consultant to the film); Christopher Mitchell (Director of the Marion E. Wade Center and Assistant Professor of Theology, Wheaton College); Bruce Edwards (Noted Lewis Scholar, Associate Dean, and Professor of English at Bowling Green State University); David Payne (British actor and President of Rising Image Productions, specializing in dramatizations of the works of C.S. Lewis); and Glass Hammer (literary progressive rock band specializing in original music based on the writings of C.S. Lewis).
Inspired by the forthcoming Walden Media/Disney Film of the classic Narnia story The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, this conference celebrates C.S. Lewis’s contribution to literature, theology, apologetics, scholarship, popular culture, myth, and imagination.
‘Past Watchful Dragons’ will also consider the work of the constellation of writers associated with Lewis such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Charles Williams, Owen Barfield, and Dorothy Sayers.
Weta Collectibles is proud to present our new range of exclusive collectible polystone sculptures. The Collection celebrates the release of the first installmanet of “The Chronicles of Narnia”, Disney’s “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe”, directed by Kiwi, Andrew Adamson. Hand sculpted at Weta Workshop by the same team of artists who designed the armour, weapons and many of the creatures for the film. Darkhorse comics have joined with us as the premier distributor for this exciting limited edition collection.
The Quantity of the product line is only estimated at this point, as are the designs of the statues and exactly what products will be available. This is a very exciting line, one that could grow by the time the movie comes out.
Orieus Polystone Statue
US Suggested Retail Price: $175.00
Release Date: 9th December 2005
General Otmin Polystone Statue
US Suggested Retail Price: $150.00
Release Date: 9th December 2005
White Witch Polystone Statue
US Suggested Retail Price: $180.00
Release Date: 1st October 2005
Peter on Unicorn Polystone Statue
US Suggested Retail Price: $300.00
Release Date: 1st October 2005
White Witch Castle Polystone Environment
US Suggested Retail Price: $150.00
Release Date: 9th December 2005
Satyr Design Maquette
US Suggested Retail Price: $150.00
Release Date: 1st December 2005
Includes “In insight to the design process” booklet on the development of the character
Girls on Aslan Polystone Statue
US Suggested Retail Price: $300.00
Release Date: 1st October 2005
Minoboar Design Maquette
US Suggested Retail Price: $150.00
Release Date: 1st October 2005
Includes “In insight to the design process” booklet on the development of the character
Tumnus Design Maquette
US Suggested Retail Price: $150.00
Release Date: 1st October 2005
Includes “In insight to the design process” booklet on the development of the character
Lion & Witch Polystone Bookends
US Suggested Retail Price: TBD
Release Date: 1st October 2005
Another Adult Cast: Peter the Magnificent. The role may be played by actor Noah Huntley. Here’s the report that I received today:
I didn’t know if you already knew, but Noah Huntley is playing adult Peter. I run Noah’s website, and have known about it for a while. He’s filming for 2 weeks, starting 4th April.
Noah Huntley has been seen in The Mists of Avalon (TV Series), 28 Days Later, and Megiddo: The Omega Code 2.
Christian music’s reigning artist of the year, its hottest act and its most-often honored performer will join together with more than a dozen other Christian recording artists — plus the winners of two Christian music talent searches — at the 23rd annual Night of Joy, Sept. 9 and Sept. 10 in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort.
During two evenings of music and theme park fun, a total of 21 acts will present concerts at stages throughout the Magic Kingdom. Night of Joy begins at 7:30 p.m. (after regular park hours) and continues until 12:30 a.m.
MercyMe, the 2004 GMA Music Awards’ Dove-Award Artist of the Year, tops a talent-laden lineup that also features Mark Hall and Casting Crowns, who are individually and collectively nominated for more than a dozen Dove Awards, including “Artist of the Year,” in 2005. Completing the triumvirate is Steven Curtis Chapman, a five-time Grammy Award winner whose 47 Doves make him Christian music’s most decorated performer.
But the artists with award-winning resumes don’t stop there. The lineup also features tobyMac, Cece Winans, newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, Nicole C. Mullen and Donnie McClurkin. Among them, they’ve earned 11 Grammy Awards and more than 60 Dove Awards.
Six other acts are among the nominees for Gospel Music Awards in 2005: Mark Schultz, Tree 63, Matthew West, Big Daddy Weave, Kutless and Further Seems Forever. This year’s GMA Music Awards will be presented by the Gospel Music Association (GMA) on April 13 in Nashville.
Rounding out the lineup of recording artists will be Superchic[k], stellar kart and Vicky Beeching.
Exciting News
Night of Joy 2005 will feature exciting new elements as part of the event:
As an exclusive for Night of Joy guests, some of the top Christian Music artists performing at the event will debut live performances of music inspired from Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media’s upcoming blockbuster release of “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”
Walt Disney World and the GMA will collaborate on two events this year. Walt Disney World Entertainment will provide judges for the GMA’s 31st Annual “Music in the Rockies” event (July 31 – Aug. 6, 2005); and one of the over-all winners from the Rockies event’s annual Spotlight talent competition will come to perform at Night of Joy.
Night of Joy 2005 will also be a stage for the winner of another national Christian music talent search. Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off 2005 is a competition for youth church Gospel choirs — groups with members’ ages 10 to 20 — from selected cities. Groups will perform during the Sing Off 2005 tour during July, with the winners being announced in August. Teen Gospel sensation Kierra “KiKi” Sheard, national spokewoman for the Gospel Sing Off, will also perform with the winner at Night of Joy.
Something for everyone
As in previous years, the Night of Joy lineup for 2005 is musically diverse, with pop, rock, urban, Gospel and praise and worship. Ten acts will perform each evening.
Tickets go on sale March 25. Single-night tickets are $37.95 plus tax (in advance) and $42.95 plus tax (at the gate, if available). Two-night tickets are $61.95.
Walt Disney World Resort has presented Night of Joy annually since 1983. More than 100 Christian music artists have performed before a combined audience of more than 800,000 people in the Magic Kingdom.
For more information or to purchase tickets for Night of Joy at Walt Disney World, guests can call 407-W-DISNEY or go online to check out http://www.disneyworld.com/nightofjoy .
Just the Facts
* What: Night of Joy at Walt Disney World
* Dates: Friday, Sept. 9, and Saturday, Sept 10.
* Times: 7:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
* Details: 21 Contemporary Christian music acts at the Magic Kingdom.
Sept. 9: Steven Curtis Chapman, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Audio Adrenaline, Mark Schultz, Nicole C. Mullen, Big Daddy Weave, Matthew West, Vicky Beeching and a contest winner from the Gospel Music Association’s “Music in the Rockies” event.
Sept. 10: newsboys, tobyMac, Donnie McClurkin, Cece Winans, Kutless, Tree 63, Superchic[k], Further Seems Forever, stellar kart, Kierra “KiKi” Sheard and a contest winner from the Kellogg’s Gospel Sing Off 2005.
* Ticket Prices: Single-night tickets are $37.95 plus tax (in advance) and $42.95 plus tax (at the gate, if available). Two-night tickets are $61.95.
* On Sale Date: Tickets go on sale March 25.
* For More Information: For more information or to purchase tickets for Night of Joy at Walt Disney World, guests can call 407-W-DISNEY or go online to check out http://www.disneyworld.com/nightofjoy
IMDb.com has posted that New Zealand actor Mark Wells has been chosen to play the role of Edmund as an adult. Three other actors will be chosen to play the roles of the other adult siblings – Peter, Susan, and Lucy. I’ve also received early word on the actor that may be up for the role of Peter as an adult, but I’m lax to reveal it until I can confirm it. In The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund becomes known as “Edmund the Just”.
Mark Wells has been seen in Nicolas Nickleby and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
In a marriage of modern mythmakers, the Walt Disney Co. is marketing a film based on C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia. And in doing so, Disney will take a page from Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, based on Lewis’ novel for children and Christian allegory, will be released Dec. 9.
For Disney, the Christian marketing campaign represents a sharp break with corporate policy. Apart from Disney World’s annual Night of Joy concerts, the film is the company’s first undertaking with the religious community. For some evangelical leaders, it represents the effective end of their Disney boycott.
The entertainment giant, which bills itself as a “Magic Kingdom,” has carefully avoided religion for most of its history. Yet Disney has launched a 10-month campaign aimed at evangelical Christians to build support for Narnia, a $100 million, live-action and computer-generated animated feature it is co-producing with Walden Media.
Disney has hired several Christian marketing groups to handle the film, including Motive Marketing, which ran the historic, grass-roots efforts for The Passion. That film has grossed $611 million worldwide and is now in re-release. “From a marketing point of view, it could be a marriage made in heaven — if the movie is any good,” says Adele Reinhartz, professor of religion at Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada.
Dr. Armand Nicholi, who for decades has taught a Harvard seminar on C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud, agrees. The entertainment world realizes there’s a big audience “that embraces a spiritual world view,” he says. How well these groups interact “will determine how successful this marriage is.”
Paul Lauer, founder of Motive Marketing, declined to comment on his campaign for Narnia, apart from confirming that his firm is handling it.
“Disney, as the consummate corporate animal, is looking at Paul as the guy who delivered the audience of The Passion,” says Barbara Nicolosi, of Act One, a program designed to bring Christian writers and executives into the entertainment industry.
Another Christian firm, Grace Hill Media, also has been hired, and several groups have joined the marketing effort. For instance, the Christian Web site hollywoodjesus.com launched a special feature on its site last week devoted to The Chronicles of Narnia.
For its part, Disney is trying to play down the Christian marketing approach, noting that it will reach out to the science-fiction and fantasy communities, as well.
“We don’t want to cater to one fan base over the other, or at the expense of another,” says Dennis Rice, Disney’s senior vice president for public relations.
A familiar sacrifice
Since it was published in the 1950s, Lewis’ Narnia series has sold 85 million copies worldwide. Disney’s animated features have been international staples for nearly 75 years.
In the Narnia story, a lion named Aslan is a Christ-like figure who offers himself as a sacrifice to save another character. He is tortured and killed, and then resurrected to transform Narnia into a heaven on Earth.
So far, small groups of Christian leaders and opinion makers from Western states have been invited to Disney’s Burbank studios for briefings and screenings of sequences from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
Ted Baehr, founder of the Christian-oriented Movie Guide, called the presentation a “wonderful dog-and-pony show. I think they’re going to do a great job marketing to the church.”
Baehr is author of the forthcoming overview of Lewis’ work, Narnia Beckons: C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe — and Beyond, which is being published by an arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.
There is reason for skepticism about how Lewis, who is beloved by Christians for his religious commitment and his influential collection of essays, Mere Christianity, will be treated in popular culture.
In 2001, HarperCollins, the U.S. publishers of the Narnia books, issued an internal memo — revealed by the New York Times — in which executives urged colleagues to downplay the books’ religious dimensions to market them to a mainstream audience.
Any efforts to de-emphasize the religious aspects of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe film are bound to backfire with Christians, according to Take One’s Nicolosi.
“Disney and [co-producer] Walden Media are aware that there’s a proprietary sense about the Chronicles of Narnia,” she says. “C.S. Lewis is our guy. They better not take that away from us.”
Brian “glumPuddle” sent us this e-mail: I work at a Christian bookstore and we recently recieved this 5-page Narnia catalog entitled “The Summer of Narnia Spectacular.” The catalog is primarily about the summer re-releases of the Focus on the Family radio dramas (with a special low price). Here is a brief description of each image….
COVER: The cover features a picture of Aslan and the tag line “Aslan in on the move…”
PAGE 1: Pictures of the Magicians Nephew and Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe audio dramas.
PAGE 2: The whole series at a special low price.
PAGE 3: Promotion plan for 2005. Includes 1/4 page ad in USA Today and Summer of Narnia web site.
PAGE 4: Since this catalog is aimed at bookstore owners, here is a picture of Narnia display (which my boss ordered for the store!).
PAGE 5 (back): Another picture of the CDs at a low price.
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