Chapter 350: Hand of the King

What was the purpose of filming The Lord of the Rings trilogy? There was only one true answer, but when facing the press, Duke certainly wasn't foolish enough to say it out loud. Naturally, he opted for the response that would most benefit the film and its promotion.

"From the very beginning, I've had only one goal: to use realistic filming techniques and a stunning visual style to pull audiences into Tolkien's fantasy world. I want to use modern technology to capture the greatest scenes from the text and treat the audience to an unprecedented visual feast."

Given Duke's current status and reputation, his words naturally carried immense persuasive power.

It was the inherent confidence of a top-tier director.

Although this was an unprecedentedly massive production, Duke had long since resolved to give two hundred percent to make it a success.

"From the initial concept to the ongoing shoot, I've spent five years on this film, throwing myself wholeheartedly into every detail," he added. "Faced with countless loyal fans across the globe, this is the most basic expectation I have for myself. More than that, my crew and I must pour our utmost effort into the production."

"My writing team and I spent a full two years just working on the script. In the first installment, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, we will introduce Tolkien's various characters and settings in detail. We hope to build a realistic world so the audience can fully immerse themselves in the thrilling adventure and suspense, leaving them eager for what happens next."

When he chose to cooperate, Duke was absolutely the favorite interview subject of every reporter.

Sarah's pen flew across her notepad. As soon as Duke finished speaking, she looked up and asked another question.

"Duke, could you talk about your filming philosophy? Also, people who have read the original novels are ultimately in the minority. Will you take that into consideration during production?"

Duke thought for a moment before replying at a measured pace. "From the very beginning, I didn't want to make a cliché fantasy film. I wanted it to feel more grounded in reality. Tolkien described everything vividly, and we want the first installment to give the audience that same feeling, letting the story develop naturally from there. The crew referenced the novels extensively—not just for the script, but in every aspect of production. Before shooting any scene, we'd go back and see how it was written, and we did the exact same for casting."

"Every time I reread it, I gain new inspiration and ideas. I never come up empty-handed."

At this point, Duke raised a hand and rubbed his chin. "As for the audience members who haven't read the books, I took them into consideration from the moment the project was greenlit..."

The Lord of the Rings trilogy had sold over a hundred million copies, and the number of people who had read it was incalculable. Yet compared to the population of the Western world, that group remained a tiny fraction. Duke knew very well that if an adaptation was tailored strictly for fans, it would only appeal to a niche market.

In this era, a movie catering purely to fans could never sustain such a massive production.

"Through the entirely different medium of film, I also hope to bring a breathtaking surprise to audiences who have never read the books, or who don't know what hobbits, elves, or dwarves are."

Compared to his earlier statements, Duke's current words aligned more closely with his actual philosophy.

"I can't put every single detail onto the big screen, so I had to make some changes during the adaptation process," he said. "I'm confident that the vast majority of the audience, whether they've read the source material or not, will be equally satisfied."

Setting down her pen, Sarah chatted with Duke about the audience for a few moments before asking, "Directors all need inspiration. What do you do when you can't find yours?"

The traditional approach for Hollywood directors was to seek inspiration from a muse.

However, no one would be stupid enough to admit that out loud.

Duke simply gave a relaxed reply. "When I lack inspiration and don't know how to continue filming, I close my eyes and imagine the characters in my head... That way, before the cameras even roll, I can figure out exactly what every character and scene should look like."

Sarah obviously didn't buy that, but this was a mutually cooperative interview, and she had no need to dig deeper.

"Could you tell us the theme of the film?" she continued.

"The film will reflect some of the original themes, but the more you read the source material, the more complex you realize it is. Although everything is contained within the original work, its scale is unimaginably vast."

Crossing his arms, Duke weighed his words carefully before answering slowly. "Within such a massive and complex plot, I want to focus on a central theme: justice versus evil, and friendship versus corruption. The core of the movie is the clash between good and evil, but how friendship overcomes turmoil in chaotic times is also a crucial motif. We hope to weave this throughout the trilogy."

"I'm also trying to translate the books into film while highlighting these ideas. Although it's impossible to completely and faithfully adapt an epic over a thousand pages long, I'm trying very hard to integrate the themes Tolkien cared about into the movie."

The undisputed place of The Lord of the Rings trilogy in fantasy culture, and indeed the entire history of Western literature, couldn't change the fact that it originally skewed toward being a children's story.

Tolkien had originally written this series for his own children; otherwise, the factions of good and evil wouldn't be quite so black and white.

Sarah stopped writing and asked her final question of the day. "Duke, there has never been a case in cinematic history where a trilogy was shot simultaneously. This implies an enormous risk. What are your thoughts on this?"

"I believe that to stay true to the original work, it has to be filmed as one massive epic. Although it's three separate films—each offering the audience a highly unique experience—the three combined form the true essence of the novels: a magnificent epic. Once all three films are released, I look forward to audiences sitting down and watching the entire trilogy in one go, because it will be a fantastic adventure."

This was the West, where modesty and subtlety weren't particularly valued. Duke himself understood the importance of promotion.

"Before prep even started, I made the decision to shoot all three films at once," he said without holding back. "This is an unprecedented approach in film history, and it will be a blockbuster that consumes the most time, manpower, and resources ever seen. The filming process is incredibly arduous..."

At this point, Duke's tone suddenly shifted. "But as a director, I have a lot of room to experiment boldly. The story is incredibly rich. Once completed, each of my films will feature deeply moving plots, massive battles, breathtaking special effects, and profound character transformations. My greatest hope is that the audience will love this series."

The interview lasted less than twenty minutes. Sarah said her goodbyes to Duke and went to interview her next target, Charles Roven. Duke returned to the exterior set to continue filming. There were no shots involving the main cast today; aside from isolated scenic shots, the rest were scenes of hobbits working in the fields.

Compared to places filled with strange creatures and danger, The Shire was undoubtedly a sanctuary within Middle-earth.

After the day's shoot wrapped up, Duke returned to the crew's base camp, washed up briefly, and had dinner with Charles Roven. They discussed some of the crew's upcoming work plans. Then, as he did most days, he took his assistant for a walk into Blenheim Town.

Because Tina Fey had returned to Los Angeles to handle affairs for Daylight, Ivanka Trump was the only assistant left by Duke's side.

She had returned to New Zealand in early December. In the Wharton School of Business curriculum, practical internships accounted for a significant portion.

Seeing Duke step out of the base camp, a few entertainment reporters immediately followed him. However, since this was practically his daily routine to unwind, the reporters were well used to it. Most just snapped a few pictures to fulfill their work quotas.

During filming, reporters and the crew maintained a certain unspoken understanding. The production team would periodically release news to the press, and the press wouldn't overly disrupt the shoot. These two industries were mutually dependent—both antagonistic and cooperative. It could be said that neither could survive without the other.

This time, Duke didn't walk down Cron Road like he usually did. Instead, he bypassed the outskirts of Blenheim Town and headed north toward the pastures. Animal husbandry was New Zealand's pillar industry. While Blenheim Town had a small population, there were several large ranches on the relatively flat grasslands to the north, serving as a crucial source of income for the locals.

The sun had already dipped below the horizon, and the sky was gradually darkening. Duke remained silent, pondering tomorrow's schedule, while Ivanka Trump flipped through the electronic logbook that used to belong to Tina Fey, ready to answer at a moment's notice should Duke ask a question.

Trailing behind the two were a pair of bodyguards, and further back were the entertainment reporters. Realizing there was absolutely no news to write about, and seeing that Duke was just taking a simple walk as he had for the past two weeks, they found it rather dull and gradually slowed their pace.

"Evie, I saw in the media that your father is going to host a reality show on NBC?" Duke asked, turning his head slightly.

"Yeah, he's been planning this show." Ivanka didn't deny it, closing the electronic logbook. "It'll probably launch in the second half of the year. It's focused on wealth and inspiration."

She thought for a second and added, "He also plans to have me make a cameo if the ratings are good."

There were some things Ivanka left unsaid. She understood Duke well enough to know he definitely wouldn't agree to the invitation her father had passed along, nor did she think her father's request was reasonable to begin with.

Blenheim Town wasn't very big. After chatting with Ivanka for a bit, Duke realized they had already reached the northernmost edge of town. Here sat a small livestock farm holding a mix of sheep, cows, and other animals. Given that it was midsummer, the drifting smell was far from pleasant.

"Let's head back."

Turning around, Duke started walking back the way they came. Before he could take more than a few steps, however, a roar suddenly erupted from the direction of the farm. It was impossible to tell what kind of animal had made the sound, but as it pierced their ears, it was so harsh and horrific that it felt like it could tear a person's soul apart.