22 May 2012

Oh to be a Hobbit

31/08/2011 8:58:00 a.m.

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Patrick Spadaccino and his goblin alter ego.

Patrick Spadaccino and his goblin alter ego.

THERE’S a man in the States who’s desperate to join the stars who are returning to Wellington to continue filming The Hobbit. Patrick Spadaccino is a life-long Tolkien fan and he would love to play even the smallest role in telling the story. As flying to New Zealand was prohibitive he’s attempted an alternative means of auditioning. He’s created a website and launched a mini social campaign called I Wanna Be in the Hobbit Movies. He performs  scenes in orc and goblin makeup with original music and dialogue. His goal is to capture the attention of Peter Jackson, and hopefully attain his dream. So Sir Peter, if you’re reading this, we have Patrick’s number.

Name: Patrick R. Spadaccino
Age: 45
Occupation: Web designer
Place I call home: Middletown, Connecticut, USA.
My passion is: Reading, web design, writing, photography, music.
My hero is: Jesus Christ.
If reincarnated I’d be: Thinner!

Why are you so passionate about JRR Tolkien’s writing and worlds?
I was a boy when I first read The Hobbit and I became an instant Tolkien fan. Tolkien’s writing transports me to the places he describes, makes me love his characters and want to share in their trials and triumphs, and sets forth wonderful ideals regarding what it means to be brave, kind, generous, strong, and heroic.
I loved that Gandalf saw something in Bilbo that Bilbo himself could not yet see: courage and deep-seated strength. Bilbo was not a typical hero. He made mistakes but kept trying, bolstered by everyone’s faith in him. That resonated with me. I spent my childhood alone, bullied and afraid. I was inspired by this hero who started out humbly, but eventually attained greatness.
Summarise the plot of The Hobbit in 25 words.
Gandalf the wizard recruits hobbit Bilbo Baggins to accompany thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim their lost home and treasure from the dragon, Smaug.
Why did you set up your website?
I love Sir Peter Jackson’s work, so when I heard that he would be directing The Hobbit, I thought, “I HAVE to be part of that.”
Auditions for extras are rare, so I tried something different. I filmed myself performing as orcs and goblins, and created the website to showcase those videos. I used social media and contacted anyone who would listen, trying to capture Peter Jackson’s attention and earn an opportunity to participate in the production.
On your website you perform as a goblin and an orc, so what have you got against hobbits?
That’s easy: their feet! I’m on a mission: as a public service, feet that vile should be kept hidden.
How did you create your costumes, dialogue and original music?
To create my alter egos, I used latex makeup prosthetics, which took about two hours to apply.
I wrote original dialogue to create an audition video that was uniquely my own. Since The Hobbit doesn’t contain much goblin dialogue, I re-read portions of the novel where goblins appear and created three monologues based on what they might have been thinking and doing during those key moments.
I’m a musician, so I wrote a theme called “The Shire” to use as background music; I recorded it using Apple’s GarageBand.
How much time have you spent on this project?
I began on April 7, 2011 and have devoted about 400 hours to this project, plus hundreds of dollars in makeup, video equipment, and advertising.
Who is your favourite Tolkien character and why?
It’s difficult to pick just one! I love Sam because he’s an ideal friend: courageous, protective, generous, fiercely loyal, utterly dependable…that’s the kind of friend I aspire to be.
What do you know about Wellington and New Zealand?
My wife and I have wanted to visit New Zealand ever since we saw the amazing beauty of your country in LOTR. We discovered Wellington because it’s home to the Weta special effects companies that were (and are) instrumental in bringing Tolkien’s world to life on the big screen.
Wellington is our favourite kind of city, with its picturesque waterfront and a host of attractions within easy travel distance.
Please finish these sentences:
I wish I could speak Elvish because… I’m tired of elves talking behind my back. I get it… I’m an orc. But if I spoke elvish, I could bridge the gap (and sound cool)!
Hairy feet are a plus because… I’m hard on my shoes—the curse of having high arches! Hairy feet would help me avoid constant shoe replacement, while providing a measure of protection. Attractive? No. Practical? Yep.
When Peter Jackson calls me I’ll… be filled with the most profound gratitude. I’ll thank him for his brilliant work, for taking the time to speak with me, for his faith in me, and for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime!
You can catch Spadaccino in action on http://www.iwannabeinthehobbitmovies.com/
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