Emergency *ooof*: Thorin Onslaught

The onslaught continues. Or starts? The two-pronged assault on the collective ovaries of the fandom has started. Not only do we have to deal with the regularly scheduled mini-interviews with RA for the US-premiere of Strike Back Origins, but now we also have to brace ourselves for the Thorin images. The last couple of days has seen two new images emerge, and after taking a deep, deep breath, Guylty has pushed aside her extensive research for a regular *ooof* once again to delve into a quick assessment of the new images.

The action is about to take off. Well, we have already seen plenty of action in the first instalment of THAUJ, but as we all know, great adventures are waiting for the company of Thorin Oakenshield and his dwarves in part 2, The Desolation of Smaug. Hence, new images have to be produced for the promotion of the movie. New images? Well, they are by this point probably a couple of years old, shot all in one big session as they were still filming the main bulk of the movie in 2011. I assume this, because today’s image looks similar to some of the promo images from THAUJ.

Thorin Oakenshield, poised and ready
THTDOS promo still
Sourced via comicbookmovie.com

There he is, the majestic dwarven king. Dressed in his battle gear, with mailed tunic and heavy leather waistcoat, Thorin is brandishing Orcrist. Poised for whatever fate is about to throw at him, he is leaning into battle, shoulders squared forward, the strong forearms in a protective arc in front of his torso. His mouth is slightly open (?) or his lips are pursed, drawing in breath, a threatening, assertive stare in his dark eyes, the whites showing. The sword in a firm grip, ready to swing and swerve right through he who dares to challenge this warrior. A bear ready to pounce – or a bison prepared to charge, to stay with RA’s preferred animal analogy.

Would you think the subject is a dwarf – suspending your knowledge that he is being played by a gloriously tall, 6’2” actor? No. Have you asked yourself why? Much of that comes from the perspective the image has been shot with. The viewers’ eye level here is roughly at Thorin’s elbow height, we are effectively looking up to him, and his slightly downturned face and hunched-forward stance emhasises this impression. However, Thorin logically should be shorter than us, and therefore looking up at the action = us. The question is, whether this is intentional or an oversight when the stills were being shot. On the one hand, Jackson wants us to believe in the glorious majesticity of the Prince of the dwarves, Thorin’s battle prowess and unwavering courage and determination, and he will emphasise that impression with all means, i.e. giving him (literally) heightened status. On the other hand, the viewer needs to see that this “creature” is not a man but a dwarf, and as such considerably shorter than ourselves. Not that easy to shoot when the actor in question towers over most people, possibly including the photographer… But presumably the stills photographer and the art department knew what they were doing.

How was this shot, anyway? The evidence of the grey backdrop behind Thorin makes it clear that this was a posed shot, not an action image taken from an actual scene of the film. (Those tend to be unusable for promo purposes as the quality of individual film frames does not reach that of actual still photographs. The latter have much higher resolution.) In practical terms that means that during a regular principal photography day, the actors were taken aside, in costume, to pose for the stills photographer. In this particular shot, there is action evident in the pose, and yet the image was most probably not “acted” but statically composed in order to get a clear and sharp image without any movement blur. However, the action feel is nicely evoked by Thorin’s flowing locks on his right. I find myself rather impressed by the hair acting. To me, it has almost become an independent extension on Thorin, emphasising his majestic beauty and noble, royal lineage. I get quite distracted by this hair porn. Richard, watch out – the old saying goes “never work with animals or long locks… Rather than making Richard flick his head or run forward to make his hair act, I find it more likely that a wind-machine was used. It is a small detail, but it enhances the image greatly as it adds the impression of forward movement to the shot.

These particular images are not “production stills” but “in-costume stills” (a production still is shot simultaneously as the scene is being acted for the film camera; an in-costume shot is produced off-scene with the actor in costume). As such they are an opportunity to characterise the particular movie character further while they are in front of a neutral, undistracting background. This is quite clearly the intention of the grey-background stills of the main TH characters. If you have a look at the complete series of stills on page 2 of the IMDb gallery for TH  you can see how the distinct personalities of the 13 dwarves are represented in each portrait. For instance, we see a slighty geeky, shy Ori, or a cheeky Bifur, a goodnaturedly smiling Dori, and a fierce Thorin. Published prior to film release these stills give the viewer the opportunity to gauge the character, and to connect with them even before we have seen the film.

That is further highlighted by the fact that the characters actually look at us, the viewer. By looking directly into the camera, a connection is established between character and viewer. In a way, the characters are here breaking what is known as “the fourth wall” – the imaginary (glass) wall through which we, the viewers, watch the action in a play or movie – or perceive a character/person in a photograph. However, as opposed to drama theory, the act of looking at the camera in this instance does not mean that the character is acknowledging his fictionality – he is merely reaching across the invisible boundary between himself and the viewer, using the locked gaze as a means of communication and connection while remaining the character. At the same time he is acknowledging the presence of a viewer, searching for a pair of eyes behind the fourth wall. This is effectively a parasocial relationship – or is it parafictional? – between Thorin and you. A delicious thought? And Thorin uses his fierce stance, his determined gaze and even his violent pose to beat us into submission. “Kneel! I am your King!” Ok, sorry, that is Loki, but the analogy is clear.

Although most of my *ooof*s have been images of Richard Armitage the actor, I do feel that Armitage is particularly effective as a photographic model when posing in character. Almost all of his major characters have me melt in a puddle or alternatively quiver in my clogs – either with strong, unwavering stares a la Thornton, Porter and North, or sweet, vulnerable glances courtesy of Kennedy and Standring. The method actor seems particularly good at posing when he can be someone else… And he is more inclined to look at the camera and thus us, than in posed RL shots (excluding fan candids, btw… an interesting observation that says a lot about RA.)

He lowered his gleaming sword and flicked the strands of his long hair from his face. Despite his aching arms and his tense muscles, he was irritated by the pause in the action. They had been fighting orcs, and screaming their battle cries. He was hoarse and sore, but while his companions were dropping their weapons and already half way off the platform to take a rest, he was catching his breath and trying to get the surging adrenaline under control. He hated unforeseen interruptions. And he was confused. Who had given them leave to turn their backs to their leader? His task had to be finished, the goal was so near, why stop now? A growl was building up inside of him, making its way from the depths of his belly, forcing itself up his throat. When a hand touched him softly on his quivering biceps, he jumped irritatedly. “This way please, we need you over there.”

“What is this interruption?” he demanded authoritatively. But the young woman did not answer his question. She had already turned her back and was walking away from him, expecting him to follow. Him, follow? He was the leader of the dwarves, the king under the mountain, he didn’t follow, he barged ahead. He had a mind to ignore the woman, insufferable peasant. Did she not know who he was? But seeing that he was standing all alone among the greenery, looking a bit of a fool, he turned and followed her… Grudgingly.

He was brought before a young man of Elvishly slim build with a curious black box in his hand. “Sorry to interrupt you, but I thought we could…” “What is it that you want me to do?” “Just… actually, hold that, that’s great…” He glared. Was he surrounded by imbeciles? Hold what? “Hold what, you fool? My tongue?” He was getting more irritated by the second. Not least because of the breeze that was pulling at his hair. He had to fish in his mouth with his stubby fingers and retrieve some greying hairs. He nearly spat them out. The peasant had the gall to giggle. “No, just stay as you are, turn towards me, a bit to the left.” “You dare command me, as if I were a lowly peasant?” he rumbled as his eyes began to glower dangerously with barely subdued rage. He pulled himself up to his most impressive height, leaning forward to tower over that ignorant rat of a stiff-necked Elf impersonator. “You shall taste the pain of your forefathers’ own creation, Elf-filth!” He raised his sword in a gesture of threatening menace. “Great, that’s fantastic!” Just as he was about to bear the sword down on the dim-witted cretin, a flash of lightening blinded him. He closed his eyes, Orcrist nearly slipping from his fingers. He swayed unsteadily for a split second. And then something snapped in his brain. When he opened his eyes again, the photographer was nodding at him with a wide grin. “Thank you Richard, you acted that marvellously. Done in one shot! That’s a new record.” He blinked. That could have been a close shave, he sighed inwardly.  

All text © Guylty at me + richard armitage, 2013. Please credit when using excerpts and links. Images and video copyrights accrue to their owners.

~ by Guylty on October 29, 2013.