Philippa boyens biography template
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Philippa Boyens
Bringing to reel life the imaginary world of millions of readers, author J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary “Lord of the Rings” trilogy hasn’t been an easy task for Philippa Boyen, who’s been on the job for the gods three years. (Screenplay kredit is shared by Boyens, screenwriter Stephen Sinclair, writer-associate producer Fran Walsh and director-producer Peter Jackson; the three pics were written simultaneously.)
Since October 1999, the films have been shooting concurrently, with production scheduled to end this December.
“Madness,” comments Boyens on her experience writing and revising three screenplays at the same time. When reached at her New Zealand home, Boyens had just returned from a mountaintop location on the country’s South Island.
Although there’s only two months left in the 14-month production schedule, Boyens feels she’s still in Middle Earth, the setting of the films.
“One of cha
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Screenwriter Philippa Boyens on The Hobbit, Tolkien Trivia, and Dwarf-Elf Sex
Want to spar with someone on The Hobbit team about Tolkien trivia? When Über-fan Stephen Colbert was in New Zealand for his cameo spot in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, he did just that, deciding screenwriter Philippa Boyens was the one to beat. Against all odds, he actually won the challenge by three questions (though he admitted later that one of his answers was wrong). Thankfully, that has not deterred Boyens from geeking out with other fans — Vulture included — about all things Hobbit. Herewith, our conversation about orc crushes, elf-dwarf sex, and creating a new character from scratch.
When we last spoke at the premiere of the first Hobbit movie, I asked you about something that you said would be in the second movie, and then it wasn’t. So I have to ask: Why we didn’t see Thráin, Thorin Oakenshield’s father, give Gandalf the map and key?
Ah, yes. That’s going to be in the ex
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Boyens, Philippa
PERSONAL: Born in Auckland, New Zealand; daughter of John (a primary school principal) and Jane Boyens; married Paul Gittins (an actor); children: Calum, Phoebe.
ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o New Line Cinema, 116 North Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048.
CAREER: Worked as a script reader and editor; New Zealand Writers Guild, executive director. Appeared in documentary films, including National Geographic: Beyond the Movie—The Lord of the Rings, 2001; The Making of the Lord of the Rings, 2002; The Lord of the Rings: The Quest Fulfilled, 2003; and Ringers: Lord of the Fans, 2005.
AWARDS, HONORS: Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay (with Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson), Academy of Arts and Sciences, 2002, for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring; Academy Award (with Walsh and Jackson) for best adapted screenplay, 2004, for The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.