‘I even learned things about the production that I hadn’t known before. A wonderful read for filmmakers, creatives, and fans alike.’ Kiran Shah, MBE, stunt artist
Twenty-five years after the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this landmark oral history takes readers behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious and beloved film productions ever undertaken.
Drawing on interviews with almost 100 cast and crew members, journalist Sam Moore chronicles the extraordinary journey that brought J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic to the screen. From director Peter Jackson’s struggle to get the films made and the challenges of adapting a supposedly “unfilmable” masterpiece, to the groundbreaking visual effects innovations that transformed modern filmmaking, There and Back Again reveals the story behind the story.
Featuring contributions from stars including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies and Andy Serkis, alongside writers, designers, technicians and key creative collaborators, the book captures the passion, ingenuity and camaraderie that defined the production. Readers will discover how Gollum was brought to life through revolutionary motion-capture technology, how New Zealand became Middle-earth, and how a cast of relative strangers forged lifelong friendships that endure to this day.
Insightful, entertaining and packed with previously untold anecdotes, There and Back Again accounts the making of a cinematic phenomenon that changed fantasy filmmaking forever.
Twenty-five years after the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, this landmark oral history takes readers behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious and beloved film productions ever undertaken.
Drawing on interviews with almost 100 cast and crew members, journalist Sam Moore chronicles the extraordinary journey that brought J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic to the screen. From director Peter Jackson’s struggle to get the films made and the challenges of adapting a supposedly “unfilmable” masterpiece, to the groundbreaking visual effects innovations that transformed modern filmmaking, There and Back Again reveals the story behind the story.
Featuring contributions from stars including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies and Andy Serkis, alongside writers, designers, technicians and key creative collaborators, the book captures the passion, ingenuity and camaraderie that defined the production. Readers will discover how Gollum was brought to life through revolutionary motion-capture technology, how New Zealand became Middle-earth, and how a cast of relative strangers forged lifelong friendships that endure to this day.
Insightful, entertaining and packed with previously untold anecdotes, There and Back Again accounts the making of a cinematic phenomenon that changed fantasy filmmaking forever.
Reviews
'Sam Moore's THERE AND BACK AGAIN is rich proof that, twenty-five years later, there is still so much more to be unearthed about these incredible films. It is a trove of fascinating, anecdotal detail - a truly intimate account of an epic tale.'
'An absorbing, entertaining behind the scenes look at the making of one of Hollywood's most iconic, beloved film trilogies. Sam Moore's definitive oral history, THERE AND BACK AGAIN, will thrill readers on every page.'
'THERE AND BACK AGAIN is the ultimate story of the fellowship that conquered all odds to bring J.R.R. Tolkien's seemingly unfilmable novel to life on screen in a trio of unforgettable films. Reading it feels like listening to friends regale their adventures over second breakfast.'
'An epic oral history about the epically entertaining Lord of the Rings franchise. Thank you, Sam Moore, for reminding us that Hollywood can give us nice things.'
'Sam Moore's THERE AND BACK AGAIN is a well-sourced love letter to director Peter Jackson and his talented team of artisans and performers'
'Tolkien's most passionate devotees will find this book indispensable. Even casual fans might get a kick out of some of the remembrance'
'Sam Moore's revelatory, behind-the-scenes look at the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy is just as riveting as J.R.R. Tolkien's classic books.'