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You were here almost a year ago today.
Elijah Wood: We did do this a year ago. Wasn't I talking about like you..guys were going to order pizza?
Host Jessica: we were going to watch a movie. Your memory is almost as good as mine.
Elijah Wood: How nice to speak with you again.
Host Jessica: Everyone is so excited you are spending the next 30 minutes
with us. How are you doing?
Elijah Wood: I am in a car on the way to a hotel from the
J.F.K. airport because I just
got in from Paris.
Host Jessica: Let's catch up a bit.
Do you still love your
fellowship tattoo as much as you
did last year?
Elijah Wood: I am not regretting it.
In fact it's one of those things
that I see every so often.
I don't really pay much
attention to it as much as I did
when I got it.
It's one of those things that
will always be important to me.
It will be profound regardless
of what happens to those
relationships because of the
importance of the experience.
Host Jessica: here is one from Barbara from bra still.
There are people from all over
the world.
Elijah, what was the most
difficult thing for you to
perform as a different character
in the movie or was there
trouble bigger than the behavior
changes?
Was it hard for you to adjust to
the changes in Frodo?
Elijah Wood: Sure.
It was.I think what made it a challenge
particularly was the fact that
we were shooting out of sequence.
We would -- the schedule was
changing so much as well, but we
would shoot something from film
three one day and film two the
next day.
So in terms of the evolution of
that character, we were bouncing
around quite a lot. That proved to be the most difficult aspect of actually,
you know, changing the character
over that period of time.
Host Jessica: all right.
do you think your role is more boring in the second movie?
Elijah Wood: Do I think it's
boring?
Host Jessica: more boring.
Elijah Wood: Well, considering
that the first one was incredibly boring --
Host Jessica: I guess they're
asking the way your role
changed, if you thought it was
more boring.
Elijah Wood:
Well, I don't really think it's
all that boring, but then again,
you know, I am kind of
interested in the psychological
journey of the character.
But if you are not, then it
could very well be kind of a boring thing, and I can understand that.
Host Jessica: I seriously doubt
it will be boring.
Elijah Wood: I could see how
Viggo would be more interesting
in terms of the battle.
Host Jessica: all right.
Well, this one is from darkringrider, a big fan of the trilogy.
You have many adoring fans. I am one of them. Your role as Frodo and many
others have inspired me to become an actress.
It is because of you that I am
living my dream. How do you feel knowing that everywhere people admire you?
Elijah Wood: Wow.
Host Jessica: lots of love for
you here tonight.
Elijah Wood: That's very sweet.
When you put it that way, it's
an incredible honor when people
come up to you, particularly
people that are interested in
becoming actors or working in
the industry.
That kind of use you as an
inspiration. I have gotten that every so
often and it's always really
sweet.
It's also kind of an interesting
feeling to get used to.
It's not something that you do
get used to, that you do have
people out there that care that
much about you because it's not
something you think about on a
regular basis.
And it's only those kind of
moments when people mention that
or bring it to your attention
that you actually do think about it.
So it's sometimes quite a shock
actually, to be honest.
Part two:
Host Jessica: you do have a ton of fans.
There is a huge audience here tonight.
Elijah Wood: Wow.
Host Jessica: all excited to have you here.
Speaking of your talented self,
this one comes from gigi943242.
Elijah Wood: That's a lot of
numbers.
Host Jessica: in the acting categories at the academy awards, I think that "Lord of the Rings" should have had more nominations.
Do you think that this year will be different?
Elijah Wood: I don't know. I wouldn't even want to wager a guess.
I think that the movie will be
nominated again for technical
achievements because it's kind
of a shoo-in for those kind of
awards because of the fact that
it's so kind of epic in its scope.
It succeeds in terms of its aim
to be kind of technically brilliant.
But in terms of the actors, I don't know. I wouldn't know. I wouldn't want to know.
Host Jessica: Thank you.
Host Jessica: speaking of awards
shows, do you like attending awards shows? The carpet can be so maddening.
Host Jessica: Yes, well, I don't really.
That's a good question, and I
will be completely honest.
I am not a huge fan of awards shows.
It's a little -- it can be a
little overwhelming and it's not
-- it was fun for "Lord of the
Rings" and I enjoyed the
process, the first couple of
times for the first couple of
award shows, but once you've
been to five in a row, it's a
lot of fanfare that gets kind of
Aold, especially if you're not
particularly interested in the awards.
I don't find it to be all that important. I would rather be home watching those kind of things on television. To be honest.
Host Jessica: well, we all wish you best of luck.
Host Jessica: it probably seems a lot shorter from home.
Elijah Wood: My God, the Oscarswere -- I think itwas like five hours.
Host Jessica: they were really long.
Elijah Wood: I was nearly falling asleep on camera. It was funny.
Host Jessica: here is one from kuby27.
Which talk show is your favorite
to be a guest on and why?
Elijah Wood: That's a good question.
Probably the Conan O'Brien show.
Host Jessica: isn't he great?
Elijah Wood: He is awesome. I love watching the show.
It keeps getting better and better.
He is a really sweet guy and very funny, too.
It's also a little bit looser,
that show in terms of what the
actors or the guests have in
terms of responsibility. It seems like the format is a lot looser and it doesn't feel so intense.
Host Jessica: it's on later at night.
Elijah Wood: Letterman can feel intense.
As great as it is, there seems
to be a lot of pressure on you as a guest.
Host Jessica: Here is one from dancegirl 0002.
Which of the three series of
"Lord of the Rings" is your favorite?
Elijah Wood: The third, "the
retn of the king" will be the best.
I mean it's my favorite part of
the story, add I feel like --
and I feel like it will be the
best film, mainly because it
comes to an emotional peak.
It's at its most intense, the
characters reach their end, you know.
It's the conclusion for everybody.
But at the same time, it's just
so unbelievably sad and emotional.
I had such fun acting that
particular part of it because
for Frodo things get really, really dark. That was fun exploring that side of things.
Host Jessica: here is one from
vegechica 86. She says I am Amanda.
I heard you had to return to New
Zealand to film more scenes for "Lord of the Rings."
What was it like seeing everyone
again, and Elijah, I think you
Aare a very talented actor and
very good-looking, too. Had to say it.
Elijah Wood: Thank you.
Host Jessica: so what was it
like seeing everyone again? Was it a reunion?
Elijah Wood: It was awesome.
It's always awesome going back.
There is an intense feeling of
going home because we have spent
so much time there, going back
to Wellington, it literally feels like going home.
We catch up with so many people
and have breakfast at our
favorite breakfast spots.
Those little things mean everything to us. t's also just great to see all
the cast again and all the old
friends on the crew. o it was wonderful. And we are going back next year
which is going to be both great
and kind of sad in the sense
that it will be the last time
that we actually are called on
to film new material for "Lord of the Rings."
It will be a bittersweetexperience.
Host Jessica: you still have a year, another year.
Elijah Wood: That's true
Host Jessica: enjoy it.
Everyone wants to talk about the video game.
This one comes from Georgie9, he
says let's talk about the new
video game. Is it weird that people
everywhere will be controlling a
video image of you that has your voice?
Elijah Wood: No, I think that's cool.
It's fun. I love video games myself.
So if I can actually be a part
of it as a character, then you
know, it's kind of a dream come
true to a certain degree.
Host Jessica: when you play the
"Lord of the Rings" game which
character do you play?
Elijah Wood: I play the Aragorn
character, but apparently in the
next game, you will actually be able to play Frodo.
Host Jessica: you can play yourself.
Here is one from rings9.
We all ne that the ring has the
power to make the wearer invisible.
If you could be invisible, where
would you go and what would you do?
Elijah Wood: If I could be
invisible, where would I go and
what would I do? You know, this sounds kind of
interesting. Maybe -- because I've had this
question before
Host Jessica: I asked you it
last year and I wanted to see if
your answer had changed.
Elijah Wood: And it's going to change.
I've got a new idea. Put the ring on,
completely disappear and just
step into planes and take free
flights around the world.
Host Jessica: yeah?
Elijah Wood: You see, so you
don't have to pay for transit?
Host Jessica: you could travel everywhere.
That's a very economical and
adventurous answer.
last year you said that you would go
to Disneyland and hide when it closed.
Elijah Wood: That's right.
Host Jessica:which I thought was also fun.
You have talked about bonding with the cast.
Has there been a time recent
when you thought to yourself
wow, this is a perfect moment
and that's from Jenny.
Elijah Wood:Yeah, I -- I don't
think there is ever such thing
as a perfect moment, but I think
that there are incredible
moments and I feel like I am all
the time, be it moments that I
have with my friends where I am
going out, and, you know, I
recognize how great my friends
are and how close we are.
In terms of the entirety of the
moment of the -- that these
"Lord of the Rings" movies are
out and things are going so
well, I can certainly recognize
how fantastic that is, but I
tend to appreciate all of the
moments that make up the bigger picture.
And I feel like I am constantly saying that. Which is pretty damn good.
Part three:
Here is one from daystar.
I heard New Zealand is beautiful.
Is it really that amazing?
Elijah Wood: Yes, it is. It really is.
We keep talking about how great it is.
I hope we don't, you know, build
up the image of New Zealand so
much that people go out to New
Zealand and it's not nearly as
good as they expected it to be,
but it's beautiful.
I don't think you can overhype New Zealand. It's incredible. It's one of those places in the
world that is largely unspoiled
by the modern world in terms of
population, buildings, things like that.
It's nature is kind of wild and
free, particularly in the South island.
So it's one of those kind of
magical places that feels like
it's untouched by the rest of the world.
Host Jessica:That's exactly how it looks on film. Rare to find places that are not tainted anymore.
This one is from sunshine7342
who submitted a load of
questions, a big fan. : We all heard about
how you like to surf but what
about your other hobbies?
P.S., if you say photography,
you get extra points.
Elijah Wood: I get extra points
then because photography is
something I am interested in,
but I don't pay nearly enough
attention to it.
I am still kind of working on that.
The problem with me is I love so
many different things and I get
a little bit scattered, and I
start to lose focus.
And that makes me slightly lazy.
But there's tons of things I am interested in.
Video editing is another that I
am now getting into.
I really want to kind of work on
that, for possibly taking that
somewhere in the future in terms
of making films.
I am still a music nut, so I
collect music constantly.
I mean, I certainly consider that a hobby. Yeah, there are all sorts of
things I am interested in.
Host Jessica: This one is from
cc4, and she says, this Friday
is Friday the 13th.
Are you a superstitious person?
Elijah Wood: I am not a
superstitious person, really.
Although there are certain
things that I won't do, like I
won't walk underneath a ladder.
Host Jessica:Why tempt it?
Elijah Wood: Exactly.
But I wouldn't necessarily
consider myself superstitious to
the point where I did walk under
a ladder that I would be
worrying about it.
Host Jessica:By the way, is it
just me or have we had like five
Friday the 13th this year.
Elijah Wood: Have we had one?
Host Jessica: I just feel like
there is always one just coming
up or just past.
Elijah Wood: I love the idea of
Friday the 13th. I think it's great.
Anything that is slightly shady
and freaks people out.
That's probably why I am into
horror movies as much as I am.
Did you see "The Ring"?
Elijah Wood: That made me smile.
What a great movie.
Host Jessica: I hope the sequel
is as good as the first.
I hope they do the sequel.
Have you seen the Japanese version?
So there we have an Elijah Wood
movie recommendation.
Elijah Wood: There you go
Host Jessica: Speaking of
special days in the near future
aren't we getting close to your birthday?
Elijah Wood: We are, January 28.
Host Jessica: Any big plans?
Elijah Wood: I do.
I did a movie called "Try
Seventeen" that comes out
sometime next year.
And there is a movie called
"Thumbsucker" that I am probably
going to start working on
sometime in the new year.
But other than that, there is
nothing actually happening at the moment.
I kind of took the summer off to
just enjoy some free time with
friends, which was kind of
totally necessary, especially to
lead up to this whole mayhem.
But this has been fun, too.
I feel like I have been working
on this press junket for two years.
Host Jessica: Yeah, because you
are all over the world, right?
Elijah Wood: Yeah.
We started like early crush in
November, the actual trip didn't
start until the first week of December.
But it still feels like it's
being going on for a while.
It's been fun, though.
Host Jessica: Yes, it was awesome.
Elijah Wood: Last time, I said I
was going to Vegas.
That never happened.
This time I've got another
harebrained idea that I am sure
in keeping with the fact that I
didn't do anything last year, I
probably won't do this either.
But the plan at the moment is to
go to Hawaii for a week.
Host Jessica: You can go surfing.
That would be so much fun
Elijah Wood: Wouldn't that be cool?
Host Jessica:: The waves are
better in the winter.
Elijah Wood: I know, exactly.
Host Jessica: Here is a question from
Toby1158. What other movies are you
working on right now?
You have upcoming projects, right?
Host Jessica: It can be
stressful, though.
I've been there.
Elijah Wood: I haven't slept at all.
I got 2 1/2 hours of sleep the
other night and I had to do a
whole day of television, press
interviews in Paris.
Host Jessica: We will hae to
try to look at those cps.
Elijah Wood: Yeah, exactly.
Look out for the European press
and see how dog tired I look.
I managed to pull it off ok though.
Host Jessica: Here is one from fonz 518.
Hello, Elijah.
You are my idol because all of
the hard work and determination you have.
What in your opinion was the
biggest physical challenge in
making "The Two Towers"?
Elijah Wood: The biggest
physical challenge was getting
through the challenge of the
endurance of the schedule, the
length of time that we were in
New Zealand.
The schedule was constantly
changing and the hours that we
were having to deal with and
halfway through the movie, we
were doing like six-day weeks.
It was just -- there was an
intensity to the process that
after the first, like, three or
four months, it starts to wear
you down, and when there is no
sign of it letting up, it
literally takes quite a lot of
strength to push yourself
through and keep yourself
motivated and passionate about the film.
Host Jessica: Well, I have to
ask this question because it's
the most-asked question tonight
and the girls would kill me if I didn't.
I think that nina42 put it best
when she said is there a special
girl in your life?
Elijah Wood: At the moment, there is not.
That was probably the best way to ask.
Host Jessica:: I think you just
made 10,000 people's days by
that one sentence.
So here is one from diva.
Did you ever not want to be a
hobbit and play a different role?
Elijah Wood: In the film,
probably not, no.
It's funny because it's only
recently that people started
asking me that question. I love Frodo.
I wouldn't want to be any of the
other characters.
I love a lot of the other
characters as well, but I
wouldn't want that responsibility.
I enjoyed the responsibility
that I had.
That kind of internal struggle
and the fact that he is a hobbit.
I love hobbits. I relate who hobbits quite well.
Host Jessica: We've got time for
a couple more questions.
This one comes from toro 5girl,
speaking of upcoming projects,
has it been difficult to move on
to other projects after you
completed "Lord of the Rings"
given that it was such an
unprecedented experience?
Elijah Wood: It hasn't been ease
dwroy jump into other things --
easy to jump into other things
particularly smaller movies.
Right after I did "Lord of the
Rings" I didn't want to work at
all, but when I did want to work
and projects started to become
available, the idea of doing
something smaller and completely
different from "Lord of the
Rings" was really exciting.
Kind of a relief.
It was nice to be on something
that was a little bit more
focused and not as massive in
scale and just simply not as
long, two months to do a film
was kind of a relief.
So in that sense, it was, you
know, it was good to get back.
But hard in the sense that I had
been away from -- I had been in
that comfort zone of "Lord of
the Rings" for so long.
It was difficult to imagine
myself on another project.
So from that perspective in a
lot of ways, it was actually
difficult to move on because it
meant that I had to kind of
break free of that zone and put
myself in a different head space.
Host Jessica: Ok, well, here is
a really fun question from what
an angel 181 who was been
following your career.
Did you have fun spending time
with the Osbournes?
You were on an episode last season.
That was fun.
Elijah Wood: It was cool.
The Osbournes are great.
I haven't seen them in quite some time.
I saw jack recently at a party in Los Angeles.
He organized some crazy party
and it was very funny.
He is a character.
I haven't seen Kelly in ages.
I actually saw Amy a while ago.
But they're fantastic. I love the family.
I think they're very sweet and
incredibly -- it's odd for a
television family that are
seemingly so controversial.
I feel like they represent the
truth in what a family is all
about more than most reality
shows would or even fake
television programs.
That try and capture that
essence of what it means to be a family.
I think they capture it better than anything.
Host Jessica:That was a funny
episode that you were on because
you were cleaning --
Elijah Wood: Cleaning up urine.
Host Jessica: It's not a fun activity.
Elijah Wood: What you didn't say
later on is that we made ramen
and grilled cheese sandwiches.
Host Jessica:How could they leave that out?
Elijah Wood: It's not as rock'n' roll.
Host Jessica: Two more questions.
This one from Phoebe.
She asks, what is the most
interesting celebrity gossip
that you've seen in a magazine
that's caught your eye lately?
Do you think it's funny?
Elijah Wood: I don't know what's
going -- I don't know what the
new gossip is. I don't know.
You know, I think the j-lo-Ben Affleck.
Host Jessica: it's all of that
and Britt knee-Justin.
Part four:
Elijah Wood: I could honestly
not give a -- some of it is
interesting on a pulp level but
I find it offensive that it
reflects on us that we as a
society are fascinated by other
people's lives and need that
kind of information and it's
more sensitive when you are kind
of in the middle of it and you
recognize that that could kind
of be you at some point or
people could be that interested
in your private life and it's
a weird thing. It's bizarre.
I still find it incredibly
strange, the breakup of Brad and
Gwyneth made the front page of newspapers.
That's our focus? That's kind of sad.
Host Jessica: I can't decide
which would be more frustrating,
hearing a story about you that's
not true or having the press
find out something juicy that is true.
I don't know which would drive
me more crazy.
Elijah Wood: It actually drives
you more crazy when they print
something that's true.
I find the stuff that's not true
to be really funny and easy to
-- because you are in a
righteous position at that point
because you know you had nothing
to do with it or whatever it is
they're printing is completely false.
It puts you in a position of,
you know, freedom.
Even though you feel like if
it's something really intense,
you have that moment where you
feel like you have to speak out against it.
Most of the time, I don't even care.
I think it can be really funny.
Especially when they put you
with, like, in terms of dating,
they put you with people that
you would never have dated.
Why would they ever write that?
Host Jessica: They're like
Elijah Wood and Christina Aguilera.
Elijah Wood: Some stuff is so
good you don't want to contest it.
You want to let people believe
what they want to believe.
Host Jessica: The last question
is from hemesyvenom.
Elijah Wood: What a story there.
Like evil cognac.
Host Jessica: Reminds me of a
snake or something.
Elijah Wood: That's strange.
Host Jessica: Do you think that
"The Two Towers" will leave
people wondering what is to come next?
Elijah Wood: Like the first
movie, it does achieve that same
kind of feeling of what is the
last or what is the next chapter
going to reveal?
However, this film -- I feel
"The Two Towers" actually leads
into the third movie a lot more
than the first into the second.
It's much more of a cliffhanger
ending. The scenes in this movie kind of
-- it kind of -- it moves you
forward and progresses you
forward more into the third than
the second because we are in the
middle of the journey now
whereas at the end of the first,
they were about to embark on their journey.
Whereas right now we are in the
middle of one giant progressing story.
So I feel like this movie
actually leads into the third
quite a lot more than the first one.
Which is great, but also really
frustrating for those that can't
wait to see the next movie.
Host Jessica: I was just going
to say if they're that
frustrated they can read the book.
So they have that option.
Well, I am so sad because we are
out of time. Elijah, I think you are my
favorite AOL guest ever.
I think the audience will agree with me.
Thanks so much for chatting with you.
Elijah Wood:Thank you.
Wait, you still have my e-mail address.
Host Jessica: I do.
Elijah Wood: You should e-mail
me and don't pay attention to
the fact that I don't reply
because I am an idiot.
Host Jessica: Ok.
Well, I can't wait to see the
movie on December 18.
That's like six days and six hours from now.
Elijah Wood:Wicked.
It's very cool.
I am sure you will love the film.
Host Jessica: Is there anything
you want to say to your fans?
I wish we could have gotten to
more questions.
Elijah Wood: Thank you all for
waiting in line.
It's such a thankless thing when
everybody gets in the chat room
together and there is not any
way for all the questions to be answered.
So I appreciate everybody
waiting around, even if they
didn't get their questions answered.
Thank you for your support and your love.
And enjoy the next "Lord of the Rings."
End.
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