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The Lord of the Rings Pavilion was a huge success at this year's San Diego Comic Con. The Sideshow Weta Collectibles booth featured Life-size statues of a Ringwraith on Steed and the menacing Urak hai Captain, Lurtz. Weta Workshop custom designed a gigantic Cave Troll display, whose large head peered at LOTR fans with arms and hands outstretched to display the LOTR collectible product. Fans were able to purchase product as well as view new product releases such as The Rivendell Print and Film Collectible, The Miniature Weapons Collections, The Cave Troll Bust and the upcoming Balrog figure.

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Richard Taylor, two-time Academy® Award winning Supervisor of Weta Workshop, several Weta crew members, as well as Lawerence Makoare (Lurtz in LOTR, Die Another Day /Bond Film) and Sala Baker (Sauron) were on hand in the booth throughout the weekend to sign autographs, answer questions and speak about the LOTR collectible product. Dominic Monaghan (Merry in LOTR) made a surprise appearance as well and was gracious enough to chat with fans and autograph product!

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TheOneRing.net (The web site forged by and for Tolkien fans) rounded out the LOTR environment with their groups of Elven archers, fully costumed Ringwraiths and Orcs. They were on hand to assist the actors and crew, give away great LOTR print materials and raffle product donated by the LOTR Pavilion participants New Line Home Entertainment, Sideshow Weta, Games Workshop, Houghton Mifflin Publishers, EA Games and Decipher (The Official LOTR Fan club).

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On Friday, Taylor and the Weta Crew (Falconer, Acevedo, Docherty, Mahy) gave a presentation about the making of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring film. Lawerence Makoare and Sala Baker joined Richard on stage to offer unique views on the make-up appliances, which they endured for up to 18 hours at a time, as well as the behind-the-scene interaction of the cast with the crew.

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During the presentation, Weta's Gino Acevedo and Jason Docherty performed an Orc makeup demonstration on fellow Sideshow Weta teammate Heath Hammond. The full facial make-up was completed with custom Orc dentures and an authentic Orc leather hide and pelt costume from the film. Orc Heath was turned onto those crowded into the auditorium and rewarded a few lucky people with custom made LOTR belts. Fans were also treated to a few video clips of the Two Towers trailer, The Weta Workshop FX reel and LOTR collectible product reel. This LOTR collectible clip was especially interesting as it captured some of actors’ reactions to their characters in product form. Sculpting of the Sideshow Weta product began as the actors were completing principal photography for the third film in the trilogy. Thus many of the actors were able to give feedback on the product as it was being sculpted. The clip featured a lovely Liv Tyler viewing the Arwen sculpture while in costume, Ian McKellan reviewing the Gandalf figure while still in his Gandalf beard, Orlando Bloom marveling at the tiny replica arrows of the Legolas figure, and Dominic Monaghan , Sean Astin, Elijah Wood and Billy Boyd mugging with their figures.

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New collectible figure lines were debuted at the show, including, The Holy Grail, Outer Limits and Universal Studios’ Classic Monsters.

Prince Herbert and the Swamp King will be the next editions to the hysterical Holy Grail 12 inch figure line. Pallid Prince Herbert will come with a feather quill pen, a long bow, and an arrow with a note. The ambitious Swamp King will come with a knife and a knotted bed sheet escape rope. Both figures are scheduled to ship Jan / Feb '03.

O.B.I.T from the episode The Helosian’ and Andro from The Man Who Was Never Born’ are the next exciting and strange figures to join the 12 inch figure Outer Limits line. (Ship schedule TBD)

The Universal Studios Classic Monster line continues with the editions of the Werewolf of London and the Mole man 12 inch figures with exciting accessories such as lab equipment and mushrooms, respectively.

Sideshow Collectibles exhibited an exciting new line of pre-painted polystone collectibles based on the Games Workshop property Warhammer 40,000 universe. These pieces capture the essence of the various chapters of the Space Marines in 4.5" tall polystone figures.

A new partnership was also announced between Sideshow Collectibles and Morpheus International which will produce collectible products under the Sideshow / Morpheus Collectibles brand. This new entity will develop fine art colectibles based on the art of such artists as H.R. Giger, Wayne Barlowe, caricaturist Sebastian Kruger and many others.

Upcoming properties were also announced for Sideshow Weta Collectibles, which include busts for Star Trek and The Simpsons. We look forward to seeing you at next year's Comic Con.