HobbitCon 3: Third Time's a Charm

John Callen & Peter Hambleton (Oin & Gloin)

It’s been a long time since the Q&A panels of the two elderly gentlemen from Thorin’s company, the brothers Oin and Gloin, remained half-empty. John Callen and Peter Hambleton, in real life theatre actors and directors, easily demonstrated how they can attract audiences. Especially Callen, whose dignified manner and way of speech were in a striking contrast with his mischievous jokes. Hambleton did not fall behind: the chubby chameleon actor who has no resemblance to Gloin in real life at all, looked really happy about the audience’s attention and was in perfect tune with Callen.

— How do you like being at HobbitCon?

John Callen: Wonderful! A diet of red wine and chocolate works really well!

On the history of the two brothers, Oin & Gloin:

John Callen: Peter Hambleton and I have made all that backstory for our characters. We figured that Oin helped to deliver Gloin’s son Gimli. And at some moment he dropped him — on his head!

— Who invented this phrase: «Oin and Gloin, sons of Groin»?

Peter Hambleton: Actually, this phrase in its entirety sounds like this: «Oin and Gloin, fruits from the loins of Groin»!

John Callen: I’d like to think that it was my invention, but in fact, it was Sir Peter Jackson’s.

— Who is more grumpy, Oin or Gloin?

John Callen: Gloin himself has recognized he is the grumpiest dwarf of all!

Peter Hambleton: Do you mean the grumpiest dwarf or the grumpiest actor? Because there’s one actor who sat down and complained: «I hate these whiskers! I hate this beard! Can’t stand them!» But we won’t tell who it was, we won’t mention Mark Hadlow’s name.

About the work conditions on «The Hobbit»:

John Callen: I’d say, the catering was bloody excellent! The coffee was excellent, and thousands of liters of it were not wasted!

— Did you keep any souvenirs from the set?

John Callen: What do you mean, like «stealing»? Goodness gracious me — yes! I got my hearing aid. As we were filming in the treasure, lots of coins mysteriously have slipped in our footwear. We were given our weapons, and I also have some of Oin’s prosthetic faces.

Peter Hambleton: I have a full set of Erebor props in my shed, and I play with them every day!

— In the Government Under The Mountain, what functions would you like to have?

Peter Hambleton: Minister of finance!

John Callen: Minister of wine and cheese!

For the answer to our question, if the actors now get more recognized in public after «The Hobbit», Hambleton and Callen were joined by the MOC, Mark Ferguson.

John Callen: I often get confused with Ian McKellen! I also get confused with Mick Jagger. And with many people who are actually dead! But I prefer to remain anonymous in order to keep doing my mischievous stuff!

Peter Hambleton: Nobody recognizes me. I like it that way. I have no profile whatsoever!

Mark Ferguson: That’s New Zealand! You should know, everybody is like that there. I once was knocking some wood together and went to the hardware store to get some nails. And someone suddenly calls me: «Mark!» And it was Lucy Lawless! She was standing at the grill, sizzling sausages as a fundraiser for her son’s school excursion.

John Callen: There was a story of a certain film star who was caught speeding. And as the copper pulled him over, he had the nerve of pulling the «You know who I am» card! And the copper said «I dunno, mate.» And he: «I’m Orlando Bloom!»

On bloopers during filming of «The Hobbit»:

John Callen: There were actors, not from New Zealand, we shall not mention their name. After they stumbled, they went into a most vile outburst of language!
Let’s say, Martin’s performance that’s not in the movie is the biggest blooper of all!

About the most remarkable moments in life:

Peter Hambleton: I had such an experience one day before the premiere of the first «Hobbit» in London. I was invited into Ian McKellen’s own pub, «The Grapes» in Limehouse. And I found myself sitting on a couch between Sir Ian McKellen and Sir Ian Holm, talking about Shakespeare. That was the most amazing experience in my life.

Jeffrey Thomas (Thror)

Jeffrey Thomas was a little bit shy as a guest and talked rather little. The elder Welsh actor who moved to New Zealand, used to play the father of Batiatus (John Hannah’s character) in the series «Spartacus: Blood and Sand». In the prologue of the first «Hobbit» he had a role with a very heavy makeup: he played Thror, grandfather of Thorin. Still, you could easily recognize the actor beneath the Thror mask, by his eyes.

— When I got this part, I actually didn’t tell any member of my family. They found out about it through the press, where my name was listed along with three other actors.