MundoNarnia has interviewed Storyboard Artist Mike Vosburg about his work on The Chronicles of Narnia. He did work on each of the films, including spending about a year working on The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. He has also spent some time working on Harry Potter as well as Walden Media’s Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D.
Welcome to the mailbag, where we answer fanmail that you send in, over the course of the week. For those that don’t know, we’ll take your questions, and if we don’t know the answers, we’ll try to get the answers from people that would know. We might even make something up! I have a very broad sense of humor, on top of a vast knowledge of film, music and comics with a wide range in taste and a great memory that serves to bring great comparisons or answers to your questions.
The last two weeks have been some of the busiest weeks I’ve had since re-launching the mailbag. Last week, in fact, was so busy that I didn’t get a chance to do the mailbag. I usually do it on Wednesdays, but there was something important that came up last week. You see, there was a movie that came out that has made nearly a half of a billion dollars worldwide, so far. Being a child of the 80s, I had to see it. Twice. On opening day. Yes, I am a geek, and no, I don’t recommend this movie for children to see. But I won’t be reviewing it entirely unless I am asked to write further on it, the film is Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and I loved it. Not every minute, but I thought it was great overall.
We now present to you, this week’s mailbag. I’m losing track of the days of the week these days. It’s been one crazy week, that’s for sure! Look out for Kansas City’s Union Station launch of The Narnia Exhibition, opening tomorrow! A press release will be available shortly. Just to give you the heads up on other stories that I’m working on: both involve Narnia art. Look for those as well, this evening. Let’s get to the letter answering!
Now for the thirtieth edition of the NarniaFans Mailbag! It’s good to be back, and I’m having a great time at this so far. I just need more letters. Then my esteemed team will be able to help answer questions (the earlier you ask them, the better). It gives us more time to do research and give you the best answer possible on the Thursday release date! This week’s questions cover the qualifications of Michael Apted, if there is any more Dawn Treader promotional material and scenes that a reader feels were missing from Prince Caspian.
Actor Liam Neeson is best known to NarniaFans as the voice of Aslan, and has played other notable roles ranging from Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Bruce Wayne’s mysterious mentor Henri Ducard in Batman Begins, and real life hero Oskar Schindler in the Academy Award ™ winning Schindler’s List. Now, he and Schindler’s List co-star Ralph Fiennes have signed on to go head to head once again in an upcoming remake of Clash of the Titans.
The next generation of geekdom came along, and made life good for young actors like William Moseley. “I was up for Harry Potter way, way back,” remembered the 20-year-old. “But I don’t quite fit the bill, I think.”
Instead, Moseley would later land the role of Peter Pevensie, one of the British children who were transported to a magical land in 2005’s “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and returned home with $300 million in domestic box-office money. And although Moseley will return to Narnia again next month with the sequel “Prince Caspian,” he admitted to us that he’ll always wonder what life would’ve been like behind eyeglasses and a lightning-bolt scar.
“It would have been fun,” he said of “Potter” possibilities. “But I was thinking the other day, if I could have chosen one part for myself, I would have chosen Peter every single time. It’s a dream come true to play a part that’s so heroic, and something that’s successful that people like. It’s such a privilege.”
Now, two more geek-tastic franchises are ready to join the party this winter, and Moseley told us that he’s a fan of both. “Twilight is just the next level,” he said of Stephenie Meyer’s book’s relation to “Narnia,” “Potter” and the others. “It’s got the vampire thing; I know exactly what you’re talking about.”
“It seems like they make every comic book into a film,” Moseley added, giving us a peek at his most beloved geek world of all. “‘Watchmen’ is my favorite of all-time.”
Prince Caspian. The Lord of the Rings. Harry Potter. Heroes. Battlestar Galactica. Science fiction and fantasy comprise some of today’s top entertainment.
In recognition of the best work within this genre, Denvention 3, the 66th World Science Fiction Convention, recently announced the nominees for this year’s highly coveted Hugo Award —the most prestigious award in the science fiction field. Diana Glyer, a Tolkien/Lewis expert and Azusa Pacific University professor, has secured a spot in the Best Related Book category.
“It is so rare for a book about Tolkien or Lewis to gain this kind of recognition,” said Glyer. “But this is about their interaction. I think there is a renewed interest in creative collaboration, even in business, science, and technology. We are in the age of Wikinomics: it’s not so much about being a solitary genius as it is about teamwork, relationships, and context.”
A book that has captured the attention of creative writers, Lewis and Tolkien scholars, and science fiction fans, Glyer’s The Company They Keep: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien as Writers in Community (Kent State University Press, 2007) explores:
The Inklings
Small-group dynamics
Transformation
The creative process
Glyer’s book describes writers in community, and her home life illustrates it. “My husband and I are both writers,” she said. “Our desks stand side by side in our converted garage. We constantly turn to one another for encouragement, and feedback.” Her husband, Mike Glyer, edits File 770, a science fiction news magazine. He is an eight-time Hugo winner, and File 770 has been nominated again this year for Best Fanzine.
The Hugo Awards, given for excellence in the field of science fiction and fantasy, have been awarded since 1953. Final awards will be announced at Denvention’s Hugo Awards Ceremony on Sat., Aug. 9. For more information on the nomination, visit www.devention.org or www.thehugoawards.org. For information on Glyer and her book, visit www.theplaceofthelion.com.
One of the biggest names in Hollywood is getting to become part of one of the biggest fantasy franchises. Sources indicate that child star Lindsey Lohan has received a role in the next installment of the Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. She has been tapped to play the small, but memorable character of the daughter of Ramandu.
Fans of the series will remember that Caspian, Lucy, Edmund and Eustace meet the character at the last island they landed on before they reached the edge of the world of Narnia. The character is the daughter of the wizard Ramandu, a retried star. She and Caspian fall in love and get married. The two of them become the parents of Prince Rillian, one of the main figures in The Silver Chair.
The character is never named, but expect the screen writers to amend that situation. The star’s agent says that this will be a great way for her to repair her image following her legal problems that were the subject of tabloids for weeks, as well as the box office failures of her recent films.
An executive from Disney said, “We are honored to have her coming back. She has had a great record with us.”
The actress has gone on to say, “I really like the books. They’re my favorite. Goblet of Fire is my favorite out of all of them. Wait, this isn’t Harry Potter? Oh well, a jobs a job.”
Please note the following in this issue of LOGOS: The C.S. Lewis Society Update (3/18/08):
http://www.lewissociety.org
1. Narnia News
2. Harper Collins Revamps C.S. Lewis Website and Blog
3. New Journal
4. Next meetings of the C.S. Lewis Society Bay Area Book Club
5. Other Events
1. Narnia News:
A. A massive interactive, 10,000-square-foot, educational exhibit, “The Chronicles of Narnia: International Museum Exhibition,” will premiere June 2008 at internationally renowned museums and learning institutions in a minimum of 10 cities around the world over a five-year span. The exhibit will allow visitors to enter three-dimensional settings of myth, magic and adventure that so embodied Lewis’s fantasy world.
B. In a poll to determine the best children’s books of all time and conducted among 4,000 parents, The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, the most famous in the Narnia series, was selected as the topmost book, beating out Harry Potter (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was ranked sixth) and others. The poll was conducted by Booktrust in England.
“Harry Potter straggles in a ‘disappointing’ sixth in children’s books poll” (Daily Mail)
“Potter Loses Out to Narnia, Others” (NewKerala)
C. Here also is the web site for the forthcoming, second film in the Narnia series, PRINCE CASPIAN, which will premiere May 16th: Narnia.com
2. Harper Collins Revamps C.S. Lewis Website and Adds New Blog:
According to Devin Brown (Professor of English, Asbury College): “Harper Collins, the publisher for most of C. S. Lewis’s books, has completed a wonderful new make-over of its Lewis website: www.cslewis.com. Among the new features are a new C. S. Lewis Discussion Board and a C. S. Lewis Books Blog featuring new articles from Lewis scholars around the world. Viewers can read and comment on the articles as they appear. The scholars involved in this project are Sarah Arthur, Robin Baker, Devin Brown, Andrew Cuneo, David Downing, Bruce Edwards, Diana Glyer, Dan Hamilton, Joel Heck, Zach Kincaid, Don King, David Naugle, David Theroux, Jerry Root, Leland Ryken, and Michael Ward.”
3. New Journal:
Founded by Tyler Fisher in January 2004 as a newsletter of the Oxford University C.S. Lewis Society, current editor Judith Tonning has expanded THE CHRONICLE into a full journal. The new issue includes an essay on Lewis’s views on women; a critical commentary on THE ABOLITION OF MAN; a piece of fiction by Lewis’s mother, Flora Hamilton Lewis, edited by Walter Hooper and published here for the first time, and other items.
The journal’s Table of Contents can be viewed, and orders made, online here.
4. The next meetings of the C.S. Lewis Society Bay Area Book Club will be as follows:
http://www.lewissociety.org/bookclub.php
Book for Discussion:
ORTHODOXY, by G. K. Chesterton:
Wednesday, March 19, 7:30 p.m.; Meeting moderator/leader: Andrew Dosa
Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 p.m.; Meeting moderator/leader: Andrew Dosa
In his scintillating prose, G.K. Chesterton, one of the 20th century’s greatest writers, explains the values and ideals that constitute the foundation of Christianity. Chesterton adopts an informal style in his arguments in favor of faith as an affirmation of human freedom — with ample doses of analogy, imagery, personal anecdotes, and humor. ORTHODOXY is a masterpiece of language and faith.
Here is an online outline of the book.
The meetings will be held at:
11990 Skyline Boulevard, Oakland, CA 94619 (atop the Oakland hills)
510-482-2906 phone
wine, soft drinks and other refreshments served
Here also are numerous articles on ORTHODOXY:
“ORTHODOXY: Chesterton on the ‘Delight’ OF Truth,” by James V. Schall
“A Review of ORTHODOXY by G.K. Chesterton” by Frederick Meekins
“G.K. Chesterton: Champion of Orthodoxy,” by Joseph Pearce
“ORTHODOXY,” by Wikipedia
“A Review of ORTHODOXY by G.K. Chesterton“, by Philip K. Weingart
ORTHODOXY is available in paperback
ORTHODOXY is available on audio tape
ORTHODOXY is available free as an online book
ORTHODOXY is available as a free MP3 audio download
ORTHODOXY is available as a free m4b audio format for the iPod and iTunes
Here also is the schedule of future Lewis Society book club meetings:
http://www.lewissociety.org/bookclub.php
Here also is information on C.S. Lewis:
http://www.lewissociety.org/aboutlewis.php
We hope that you and/or others you know will be joining with us! (Please feel free to forward this update to others.)
5. Other Events:
http://www.lewissociety.org/events.php
“The God Question: A Debate Between Dinesh D’Souza and Michael Shermer”
California State University, Fresno
April 18, 2008
“Sixth Frances Ewbank Colloquium on C.S. Lewis & Friends”
Sponsored by Taylor University, Upland, IN
May 29-June 1, 2008
“LionCon: A Narnian Convention”
Sponsored by LionCall.org
June 20-22, 2008
“Charles Williams and His Contemporaries”
Sponsored by The Charles Williams Society
Sr. Hilda’s College, Oxford, England
July 4-6, 2008
“Oxbridge 2008: The Self and the Search for Meaning”
Sponsored by the C.S. Lewis Foundation
Oxford University, July 28 – August 2, 2008
Cambridge University, August 3-8, 2008
Please contact me with any questions.
Best regards,
David
David J. Theroux
Founder and President
C. S. Lewis Society of California
100 Swan Way, Suite 200
Oakland, CA 94621-1428
(510) 635-6892 Phone
(510) 568-6040 Fax
http://www.lewissociety.org
Founder and President
The Independent Institute
(510) 632-1366 Phone
http://www.independent.org
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