‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ Chronicles: Cloaks and Daggers’ by Daniel Falconer is a sumptuous book of detailed behind-the-scenes information about ‘The Hobbit’ films. Photo credit: Weta, Warner Bros.
My most vivid memory of the experience I had watching Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring for the first time was thinking, with each new set, each new location, each new design element we encountered, “It looks perfect; it’s absolutely right.” The design of those films resonated deeply with my own visions of Middle-earth, built up over decades of reading the books over and over again, and encountering Tolkien-inspired art by great artists like Alan Lee, John Howe, Ted Nasmith, and the Brothers Hildebrandt.
The Hobbit films have, in my opinion, continued that beautiful artistry in design and craftsmanship. The Hobbit Chronicles book series, written by Weta designer Daniel Falconer, provides insights into the processes of creating the various artifacts that contribute so much to bringing Middle-earth to visual life on the screen: costumes, sets, props, hair and makeup, and digital design.
The latest volume in ‘The Hobbit Chronicles’ series is filled with photos of props, costumes, and other production elements. Photo credit: Weta, Warner Bros.
The latest volume in the Chronicles book series is ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug’ Chronicles: Cloaks and Daggers, on sale widely on July 8, 2014 ($32.56 US from Amazon.com, £25.43 from Amazon.co.uk), with signed copies available now from Weta ($39.99 US). Like the other books in the series, Cloaks and Daggers is a sumptuous volume filled with beautiful photographs of magnificent 3Foot7 and Weta Workshop designs and handiwork, accompanied by fascinating text. I am happy to own all the books in this series so far, but this book may well be my favorite volume yet.
Actress Evangeline Lilly wrote the book’s foreword, and costume designer Ann Maskrey wrote the introduction. Most of the narrative in the book is in the form of quotes from dozens of people who were involved in the making of the films, including actors, designers, artisans, and crew members. Through the quotes, the reader has the opportunity to see the process from every perspective. Hearing the thoughts of so many people who contributed to making the films only deepened my already vast appreciation of the level of detail, care, and skill invested in every element of the production. Daniel Falconer has done a lovely job of tying the narrative together and giving the reader overview and context as the book explores the characters, cultures, and locales that unfold in the journey through Middle-earth.
‘Cloaks and Daggers’ lets the reader explore locations and cultures in Middle-earth, including the Shire, Mirkwood, and Lake-town. Photo credit: Weta, Warner Bros.
If you are curious about some aspect of production in The Hobbit films, this book probably has information about it. Do you wonder about the food props in the film? Did you think about the problems of scale? Do you want to know just what is in all those packs the Dwarves carry on their journey? All of those questions are addressed in Cloaks and Daggers, along with many more.
I admit to being particularly drawn to the information about costumes. The amount of costuming detail in this book is the main reason for my earlier proclamation of “favorite” for this volume. Besides having experience in theatrical costume design, I am beginning to venture into cosplay. Cloaks and Daggers is a veritable treasure trove for cosplayers. There are several pages devoted to the costumes of each major character, and numerous photos of costume details such as trim patterns, fabric, buckles, leather designs, and the Dwarves’ hair jewelry. The details of the costumes are simply stunning, and give each character and each of the peoples of Middle-earth a distinctive, identifiable look.
Cosplayers, rejoice! ‘Cloaks and Daggers’ contains tons of costume details and close-up photos of trims and other details so you can make your cosplay even more authentic. Photo credit: Weta, Warner Bros.
The book includes ample attention to the other design elements as well. Many pages are devoted to props, set dressings of all types, and weapons. The reader gets to see items from many sets. Bag End, Rivendell, Mirkwood, Beorn’s house, Lake-town, and Smaug’s treasure hoard are all represented.
This is a beautiful book that reflects the passion of all these artists for their work, and the staggering complexity of producing the films. Whether you want an insider’s behind-the-scenes look at the design of The Hobbit films or just want to look at beautifully crafted things, this book is a great choice. As for me, I will look at this book and think: “It STILL looks perfect.”
Contents:
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction
A Creative Fellowship
Hobbits of the Shire
The Order of Wizards
The Company of Thorin
Dwarves of Erebor
Elves of Rivendell
Minions of Darkness
Beorn and His Home
Elves of Mirkwood
Lake-town and Its People
Dale and Its People
Collectible Props, Costumes & Art
Credits
You can get a copy of ‘The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Chronicles: Cloaks and Daggers’ by Daniel Falconer from:
Amazon.com ($32.56 US)
Amazon.co.uk (£25.43)
Wetanz.com (signed by author Daniel Falconer and Weta artists, $39.99 US)
One Comment