Peter Jackson: The Hobbit Won’t Hold Him Back

Peter Jackson says the negative reaction this week over new technology he’s using to shoot The Hobbit won’t hold him back, and he hopes moviegoers will give it a try and judge for themselves.

“Nobody is going to stop,” he said. “This technology is going to keep evolving.”

When Warner Bros. showed off 10 minutes of footage this week at CinemaCon, the annual convention for theater owners, many attendees complained that this version of Middle Earth looked more like a movie set than the atmospheric, textured world seen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

There was a lot of love for Jackson’s storytelling — the scenes of young Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman, from the British version of The Office) battling a trio of goblins, and Ian McKellen’s Gandalf exploring the tombs of the now-reanimated wringwraiths, received universal praise. Complaints only centered on the technology used to capture and project the footage.

Jackson hopes critics of the format will change their minds when they see the finished film, but notes that it will also be available in traditional formats in many theaters.

“At first it’s unusual because you’ve never seen a movie like this before. It’s literally a new experience, but you know, that doesn’t last the entire experience of the film–not by any stretch, [just] 10 minutes or so,” Jackson tells EW. “That’s a different experience than if you see a fast-cutting montage at a technical presentation.”

So what does he say to people who just decide they don’t like the glossy new look of the format he’s using?
“I can’t say anything,” Jackson acknowledges. “Just like I can’t say anything to someone who doesn’t like fish. You can’t explain why fish tastes great and why they should enjoy it.”

Right now, every second of a motion picture is made up of 24 images, or “frames,” but Jackson is shooting his two Hobbit films at 48 frames per second, which he says creates a more lifelike picture and will make 3-D less of a strain on the eyes.

When it debuts Dec. 14., The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be the first major performance for 48-frames, while this week’s showcase was just an audition. Jackson says those who remain unconvinced should wait to see more before closing their minds completely. “There can only ever be a real reaction, a truthful reaction, when people actually have a chance to see a complete narrative on a particular film,” he said.

Some representatives from smaller theater chains, unwilling to speak on the record, grumbled privately about the cost of upgrading their projection equipment (which could be thousands of dollars per screen) to accommodate something they fear could attract a backlash from customers.

Jackson, however, says he noticed one thing in the press: Critics seemed to like it more as the show went on.

“A couple of the more negative commenters from CinemaCon said that in the Gollum and Bilbo scene [which took place later in the presentation] they didn’t mind it and got used to that,” Jackson says. “That was the same 48 frames the rest of the reel was. I just wonder if it they were getting into the dialogue, the characters and the story. That’s what happens in the movie. You settle into it.”

The Hobbit has become the touchstone in a larger conversation happening within the film industry about how to make movies more immersive and appealing.

While Jackson and Avatar‘s James Cameron are advocates, not all directors are sold on the 48 frames format. Ang Lee – who was at CinemaCon to show footage from his upcoming 3-D epic Life of Pi – told EW he hadn’t seen The Hobbit presentation but worries that 48-frames may be too much of a good thing. “I have mixed feelings. I don’t think 48-frames solves everything. Each time you solve a problem you can bring in others — because you make the problem look more clear, maybe, ” he said with a laugh. “It takes time. It sounds like a good idea, but I’m a little skeptical.”

Despite the mixed reaction, Jackson and Warner Bros. did not lose any major support from exhibitors they need to get this format in front of audiences. Large exhibitors remained committed to at least giving 48-frames a try, based on Jackson’s track record as an innovator. Amy Miles, CEO of Regal Entertainment Group, said she hoped to upgrade between 2,500-2,700 of the company’s 3-D projectors to show films at 48 frames per second.

“At end of the day, we have to do everything we can to widen that experience gap between what you see in the theater and what you see in the home,” Miles told EW. “Bringing the option to our customer is what we’re doing. Ultimately, let’s be clear, that’s who decides what’s going to be successful going forward.”

Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros., suggested audiences may just need time to get accustomed to the new presentation. “It might not initially be accepted by all, but eventually [Jackson] feels it will be and eventually it can only improve,” he said.

Fellman also pointed out that some of the Hobbit footage was unfinished. In a pre-taped intro, Jackson warned the audience that many visual effects were not yet in place. Fellman said the rawness of the material may have been at least partly responsible for the negative response. “I think by the time he presents this film finished, the majority of moviegoers will accept it and be pleased,” Fellman said.

The studio won’t have to bet its entire box office earnings on the foundation of 48 frames per second.  The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey will be available in six different ways: 3-D, 2-D, and IMAX 3-D, each one in both the traditional 24-frames style and the new 48-frames version.

Josh Thompson Was Never Supposed To End Up A Country Music Star

Josh Thompson was never supposed to end up a country music star. Rather, there was a time when it looked as if the Wisconsin native was destined for a career in concrete — that is, until the day he decided to jump off the truck and pick up a guitar.

“My whole family was in the concrete industry, from my father to my grandpa to my uncles and cousins — that’s just what we did,” recalls the long-haired, self-proclaimed bachelor who left to pursue his musical dreams in Nashville, Tenn., at the age of 27.

“But then I got a guitar for my 21st birthday and I started picking out songs by ear from the radio,” Thompson says. “After three or four years of stockpiling these songs, the passion really grew and I reached a point when I realized that if I was going to move to Nashville and see if I could establish a career in country music, it was going to be now or never.”

This life-changing decision propelled the Midwesterner to burst onto the country music scene in 2010 with his Top 10 debut album “Way Out Here,” spawning hits such as “Won’t Be Lonely Long,” “Way Out Here” and “Beer On The Table.” Playing more than 250 live shows last year, the RCA Nashville recording artist finds himself on the road again this spring, including a stop at Chicago’s Joe’s Bar on April 13.

“I have always felt that one of the most important things is getting out there in front of the fans face-to-face and gaining them the old fashioned way,” he says.

As he prepares to release his second album, “Change,” this summer, Thompson is busy touting his latest single “Comin’ Around,” which tells the story of just about anyone who gets older and realizes the road behind them is just as important as the road ahead of them.

“Your youth almost forces you to hate your parents’ music and where you grow up and the idea of going to church,” chuckles Thompson, who has also established himself as quite the songwriter, penning hits for country music heavy-hitters such as Jason Aldean and Brad Paisley.

“I think everyone goes through that and reaches a point when you realize those things are part of your life and are the reason why you are the way you are.”

Describing the recording of his second studio album as quite the “painstaking” process, Thompson says he is excited to get 12 new songs in the hands of his fans.

“This album has what I like to call ‘the drivability factor’,” he says. “It’s something you can pop in and drive and listen to the whole thing. It’s not something you are going to want to fast-forward or slow down.”

Describing Joe’s Bar as a “country music island in the middle of an ocean,” Thompson says he always loves coming to Chicago, especially when there is a chance to play some new music.

“The last track on the new record is a duet I recorded with Justin Moore called “Livin’ like Hank,” a rowdy barroom kind of song that is going to go over great live.”

Thompson will return to the area in late June when he plays Bridgeview’s Toyota Park as a featured performer on the 2012 Country Throwdown tour. “I have been a fan of Gary (Allan) since his first song came out,” he says. “That’s just another part of what I love about what I do. Gary is someone I have looked up to forever, and now I get to spend two months out there with him and watch his show every night and hang out afterwards? It’s surreal.”

Joshua Ledet Ran Ahead Of The Competition On "American Idol"

Joshua Ledet ran ahead of the competition on “American Idol” Wednesday.

The booming 20-year-old singer from Westlake, La., had the Fox singing competition’s judges on their feet for his lively rendition of Bruno Mars’ up-tempo tune “Runaway Baby.” After Ledet’s routine, which featured a horn section and go-go dancer, Randy Jackson told him it was “another unbelievable performance” and he’s got everything going for him.

“You can sell a song like a work of art,” beamed Steven Tyler.

Other singers who pleased the panel during the evening of tunes from 2010 to the present included 18-year-old country rocker Skylar Laine of Brandon, Miss., accompanying herself on guitar with Kellie Pickler’s “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You,” and 16-year-old vocalist Jessica Sanchez of San Diego with Jazmine Sullivan’s passionate “Stuttering.”

“Jessica, every time I hear you sing, I forget where I am,” Tyler said.

“Idol” mentor Jimmy Iovine laid down a gauntlet between 20-year-old rocker Colton Dixon, of Murfreesboro, Tenn., and 21-year-old pawn shop worker Phillip Phillips of Leesburg, Ga. Dixon delivered an emotional take on Skylar Grey’s version of the Eminem and Rihanna hit “Love the Way You Lie,” while Phillips failed to flourish with Maroon 5’s “Give a Little More.”

“It was just a little bit underwhelming for the Phillip Phillips I love,” said Jennifer Lopez.

After landing in the bottom three last week, 28-year-old teacher Elise Testone, of Charleston, S.C., bounced back by closing the show with Lady Gaga’s “You and I,” and perfection continued to evade demure 18-year-old singer Hollie Cavanagh of McKinney, Texas. The show’s judges weren’t wowed by Cavanagh’s rendition of Pink’s “Perfect.”

“It wasn’t perfect, but it’s a lot better than where you were last week,” said Jackson.

Between the individual performances, the seven finalists paired up for two duets and a trio: Phillips and Testone got together for “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye; Laine and Dixon crooned “Don’t You Wanna Stay” by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson; and Cavanagh, Ledet and Sanchez took on “Stronger” by first-season “Idol” champion Kelly Clarkson.

On Jennifer's much younger boyfriend Casper Smart, Skylar commented, "We've seen Casper." The country music beauty added, "I've never met him, but I've seen him. He wears sunglasses a lot. It's whatever she wants. I'm sure he's a nice guy. She looks taller than him which is kind of funny. Maybe it's her heels."

Jessica Sanchez also gushed on the couple's relationship, simply saying, "They're cute together." Meanwhile, Elise Testone admitted watching Jennifer and her boy-toy on "Dance Again" music video made her feel like she "was invading their personal space."

Still, she added, "But she's so beautiful, and I really do look up to her. I think she was rocking what she's got, and that's all you can do while you're here on Earth. If I looked like J.Lo, I would do that all the time!"

Phillip Phillips, on the other hand, enjoys watching the clip which is filled with steamy scenes as telling E! Online, "The video was mmm-mmm-good!" He added with laugh, "I wasn't complaining."

Marc Anthony filed for divorce from Jennifer Lopez on Monday, April 9, but it's not until Wednesday, April 4 that the news broke out. The couple, who tied the knot on June 5, 2004 in a secret ceremony, has been separated since July 2011.

The Eli Young Band Are Up For Three Honors At the ACM Awards

Count the guys in Rascal Flatts among the fans of “Crazy Girl,” the song that took the Eli Young Band to the top of the country chart and earned the Texas quartet three nominations at the Academy of Country Music Awards, which will be aired Sunday.

The veteran trio has tapped the act for its “American Band” tour later this year and guitarist Joe Don Rooney recently raved of lead singer Mike Eli’s performance on the song: “He sings his butt off.”

But as enamored as they are with the Eli Young Band, the Rascal Flatts members also had some advice for the rising group.

“You’ve got to follow it up,” said bassist Jay DeMarcus. “That’s the hard part. The easy part’s having a hit, but you’ve got to follow it up.”

“Yeah, but then you’ve got to follow that up and you’ve got to follow that up,” Gary LeVox said with a laugh.

It’s a lot of pressure, but it’s a challenge the band — which includes guitarist James Young, bassist Jon Jones and drummer Chris Thompson — seems ready to tackle. After all, they spent a decade of hard work growing from a partnership between two roommates at the University of North Texas into a tight, ambitious outfit that relentlessly toured and grew its fan base one show at a time.

“No matter what comes along — hits or no hits — I think that you can work hard at capitalizing on what you already have built and then try to move forward with it and use your music to get to that point,” Eli said. “Hits will definitely make that happen. They’re not the only way, but they definitely will help. We’ve been very fortunate and very lucky to so far have this career, and I think that it’s turning into something really cool.”

They’ve already experienced some of the cool moments. This week, they wrapped up a trip to Australia, came home for 12 hours and then jumped on a plane to Las Vegas, where the ACMs are going to be held. (The awards will air beginning at 7 p.m. Sunday on WBBM-Channel 2.) “Crazy Girl,” a love song that rolls along like a drive down a two-lane blacktop, is up for song and single of the year, and the band is up for vocal group of the year.

Originally scheduled for a one-off festival appearance in Australia, a promoter suggested them to Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, and they found themselves as the superstars’ opening act.

“This is definitely one of those situations where it’s been a blast to be here,” Eli said in a phone interview from Australia. “I didn’t realize how many fans we could really make here and how well we’d be embraced coming over from the U.S. It’s been really cool.”

They earned their way into these opportunities with a rocking country sound that recalls the mellow smooth of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and the raucous nature of the Texas live music scene where bands are required to bring it every night. They had put out four albums and had a hit, “Always the Love Songs,” about four years ago. But the band’s latest album, “Life at Best,” and the song “Crazy Girl” took off the band to another level; that album was released last year.

Their latest single, “Even If It Breaks Your Heart,” cracked the top 20 last week and is one of the fastest rising songs on the Billboard country songs chart. But whether they’ll have another No. 1 remains to be seen. To be honest, they’re not really sure why “Crazy Girl” captured the imagination of so many people. There was the hard work and the support of label Universal Republic. But there’s no explanation for why lightning struck.

“I think anybody that’s in the national spotlight, timing is really everything — timing and the people you have behind you,” Young said. “There’s so many talented musicians and songwriters, it’s just we were lucky. We had kind of a top 10 and disappeared for a few years. We never quit touring or making records, and then with ‘Crazy Girl’ the time was right. It just happened.”