Here I was, all set to put together a diary about how egocentrism is not just for toddlers any more, why people seem to have such a hard time with the empathy thing, and how those in power at all levels seem to be doing everything they can to encourage us to let that part of our humanity wither and die. I came up with what I hoped was a clever title, "My Kingdom for a P.O.V. Gun". Except, of course, I would need a good link to tell you what a P.O.V. gun actually is. In the process, I found out more about the upcoming movie, and also about the
new radio series. Hello? New radio series? Why was I not notified about this? If you, like Demetrius and I, are a Hitchhiker's Guide fan, but somehow have been too busy with other things (you know, life, the universe, everything...) to keep up to date on the latest HHG news, then "excitement, adventure and really wild things" await you just below the fold.
Hitchhiker's set for last journey
The last instalment of the series, based on author Douglas Adams' final two books, will feature Stephen Fry, Jackie Mason and Jonathan Pryce.
Sandra Dickinson and Bill Paterson - who appeared in earlier adaptations of the stories - are making a return.
An unnamed "Hollywood heart-throb" is also set to join the cast during the final radio series, beginning on 3 May.
BBC Radio 4: Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
There's a link to the audio trailer on this site. Also, the story of how the "Tertiary Phase" finally came to be. Here is the production diary for the new radio series, which will air on BBC Radio 4 beginning May 3.
This is from "Behind the Scenes", about the new series, that, like the movie, almost didn't happen...
By September 17th, 2001 the Hitchhikers film seemed to have gone into another, ominous limbo, and any hope of a radio revival was long gone. It seems ridiculous now, but at Douglas's Memorial Service at St Martin-in-the-Fields it seemed as if his creative legacy would not include at least one of these projects, both of which he had cared so much about.
As I walked into the subdued interior, Bruce Hyman of Above The Title Productions handed me an order of service. Bruce is a creative producer with terrific instincts and we had worked together for the first time not long before. I had been thrilled to find that he feels as I do about radio - a unique - visual - medium. Now here he was, an usher at the service! It turned out he was great friends with Douglas and Jane.
At our next meeting I told Bruce how Douglas had wanted me to complete the Tertiary, Quadrenary and Quintessential phases of Hitchhikers on radio, and that I was still keen to make it happen, but it wouldn't be easy. Bruce was willing to take up the challenge, and has heroically stood fast through much uncertainty to see it through. These new series of Hitchhikers would not have happened without him, and also owe their survival to the hard work of our co-producer Helen Chattwell and the very active support of Douglas's wife Jane Belson and his agent Ed Victor.
It's the saddest irony that Douglas is not here to enjoy this Hitchhikers rennaissance. However it is possible to grant him a wish. One day in 1993, while discussing casting, he sat me down and played me a chapter from his audiobook reading of Life, the Universe and Everything. Then he asked me who I thought should play the paranoid creature on a mission of vengeance, Agrajag. Trying very hard to interpret his manic performance on the tape, I crossed my fingers and suggested, weakly, "John Cleese?" "No, you idiot!" thundered Douglas. "Me! But do you think Equity would allow me to play a part?"
"I'd insist on it.", I replied.
And so he does.
The UK HHG Movie site--seems to have some different games and things, (as compared to the U.S. site, but I haven't checked all of it out yet.
Marvin the Paranoid Android's blog: Sigh Robot
Zaphod Beeblebrox's Guide to the Galaxy
Arthur Dent's blog: I Like Tea
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Movie Blog
Here is a link to the transcript of a chat with Executive Producer Robbie Stamp.
Cisco: Hi - how accurately does the movie stay true to the book?
@Robbie Stamp: Its very faithful to the essence of Hitchhikers, hitchhikers has always been different in its different incarnations. You are not dealing with a single text in the way you are for example with LOTR or Harry Potter. Douglas himself was always up for reinventing HItchhikers so that it worked in its new medium. The good news is that a lot of whats new is brand new Douglas Adams himself.
Grant: How many of the creatures in the film are puppets, as opposed to digital? Is CGI used much for the creatures in the film?
@Robbie Stamp: Nearly all the creatures are "real" creatures. Our actors had to spend very little time acting off a tennis ball on a stick.
...
Radio C.: Can you tell us about the use of 3-D in the movie?
@Robbie Stamp: Yes, the actor who played Arthur in the original TV and radio series has been filmed in 3D - so bring your red green glasses!
And here is a report from an
appearance by Robbie Stamp in Melbourne
I have received two reports from Robbie Stamp’s presentation in Melbourne earlier today. First, here’s Alex Thompson:
I just got back from Robbie Stamp's presentation in Melbourne. It was really great listening to him speak, listening to how passionate he is about making the movie right and true to Douglas Adams’ vision. The cinema was almost packed, there must have been around 100-150 people in there.
Interesting things we saw/heard:
* The decision for Zaphod's second head was Douglas'. Robbie also mentioned that Douglas was trying to give the two heads different personalities; this should show up in the movie.
* We got to see the model of the Heart of Gold and a bit of a look at it while it was under construction. There are apparently over 4,000 light globes used in it, but they were aiming for 4,200...
* We were told that 'Journey of the Sorcerer’ will be used in the film. The rest of the music has been scored for the movie.
* We were told of a fake deleted scene for the DVD, which is really a joke against over-enthusiastic fans worrying about them destroying the movie. It will have in it Arthur running in, holding Marvin's arm, using it as a machine gun to save Trillian. The scene then breaks down into all the actors complaining and saying stereotypical lines.
* In test screenings the whale scene has usually ranked in the top three scenes. Robbie said that he considered this scene to be the test of the movie, if it is received well, he thinks the whole movie will succeed.
* We were told what the slappy things on the Vogon planet were for and why they slap. That, combined with evolution, explains a lot about the Vogons...
* That’s about all I can remember now. It was a really great presentation and all the audience left feeling more excited about the movie.
Thanks for that, Alex. Now here’s Mof Ster’s report, in which I have blanked out a few plot spoilers (highlight ‘em to read ‘em):
At the start of the show, the audience was treated to the first theatrical trailer on the big screen - the one with the ‘Ever have one of those days?’ title cards. The cinema was sold-out and completely full, wall to wall with Hitchhiker fans - as confirmed when Robbie Stamp took the stage and immediately asked how many people in the audience were familiar with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. After the unanimous hand-raising, Robbie hastily made his way through the introductory Powerpoint slides made for beginners and shared a few anecdotes about his experiences working with Douglas Adams over the years. Slides were shown with each of the main actors, with Robbie sharing his disbelief over the uproar caused by Mos Def's casting and directly responding to Ain't It Cool News' criticism about the film's romantic subplot, arguing instead that Trillian has been made more sassy and smart because she's the one who "gets things done while the men are faffing around."
Much behind-the-scenes footage was shown to the Melbourne audience, beginning with a mini-documentary on the animatronic aliens in the movie (of which over 90 were created), then one on the universe created by the special effects department (with some breathtaking shots of the Earth Mark II being built inside Magrathea), followed by one on the creation of Marvin (with a video of TV-series Marvin and movie Marvin on the set of the movie) and ending up with a feature on the correct spelling of the title, in which Mr MJ Simpson himself featured prominently, arguing over hyphens and apostrophes!* 'Mike Simpson' was mentioned frequently during the night, as well as Planet Magrathea! A short clip of the Earth's destruction from the film was then shown, as well as the internet trailer and an exclusive look at the DVD's documentary about building the Heart of Gold set (which required 4,000 lightbulbs, with technicians trying to get the number up to 4,200).
During the presentation, Robbie Stamp let slip a few tantalising details. The Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal will definitely be appearing in the movie, and Eccentrica Gallumbits will be mentioned in passing. ‘Journey of the Sorcerer’ will without a doubt be in the movie, and Robbie shared a rather interesting revelation about the fly-swatter scene. Apparently, the scene was written by Douglas Adams, and the fly-swatters do indeed appear on Vogsphere and are a key element in the Vogons' evolution, as they swat the faces of anyone who has an original thought on the planet's surface (the scene in the trailer is due to our heroes trying to formulate a plan), and are therefore the cause of the Vogons 'only doing what they are told' attitude.
Robbie also pointed out the attention to detail that has gone into the film, and the easter eggs that can be found everywhere - from the billboard he himself appears on during the panic in London (holding a sign: ‘Where's my biro?’), to the mural on the front of the HoG, to the Jatravartian temple in the shape of Douglas Adams' nose and the cameos his family makes during the Earth's destruction.
The Q&A session revealed that two mobile phone games are in the works for the Hitchhiker movie, one being a Space Invaders-type game where the player controls the Vogons destroying planets as they head towards Earth, and another allowing the player to play through levels from all parts of the movie (presumably in a platform/adventure game fashion). Asked about deleted scenes, Robbie talked about the shortening of many Guide segments, but how immensely proud he was of the fact that the whale scene has stayed in the film. Everyone who asked a question was treated to a showbag that contained chocolates, a large American movie poster, a Hitchhiker's Guide T-shirt made specially for Australia and a towel with the Guide logo, ‘H2G2’ and the Australian release date embroidered into it. A Babel fish was supposedly in one of the bags, but no shrieks of joy could be audibly heard. I netted myself a bag after commending Robbie and the crew on truly making the Vogon ships ‘hang in the air exactly the same way bricks don't.’ It is seriously the first thing that crosses my mind every time I see them.
All up, it was a great evening, with many laughs had, both with Robbie Stamp and the American compere present. Everyone came out of the event feeling enthusiastic about the film, so don't panic, it'll be great!