Downton Abbey Extras - news, games & stuff

So what's up with Downton lately?

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Dan Stevens is almost unrecognisable in his new role in a Hollywood Blockbuster

‘I guess I’ve been eating better since I moved here,’ he said ‘And I stopped drinking. At the same time I started filming here, for which I needed to slim down a little.’

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday’s Event magazine Dan revealed the secret behind his dramatic transformation.
The new role comes less than a year after Dan made his Broadway stage debut opposite Zero Dark Thirty star Jessica Chastain in The Heiress.

Dan relishes his new life in New York with his wife, South African-born singer Susie Hariet and their children Aubrey, one, and Willow, three.

He said: ‘I was walking round with my dad the other day. They live in a little village in Sussex and this couldn’t be further from it. 'He was fascinated by this way of living and I am too.’

But he admits leaving Downton Abbey was ‘one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to face’.
The star, who had appeared in all three series of the award-winning show, said: ‘On paper it looked mad to walk away, but it felt like the right time.
'I’ve got an appetite to learn new things. It’s nothing more than that.’

Dan in his new movie 'A Walk Among Tombstones'

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Who’s getting ‘Lost’ with Mrs. Hughes?

When it comes to worlds colliding, we really cannot think of two worlds that are any more different from each other then “Downton Abbey” and the mind of J.J. Abrams. After all, period pieces are not the man’s forte. He is known instead as being the driving force behind hit television series such as “Lost” and “Alias,” and the director of the upcoming “Star Trek Into Darkness” as well as the upcoming “Star Wars” feature film over at Disney.
So what in the world is the man doing in the photo here? Apparently he’s just having a little bit of fun. This photo was posted to the Twitter of Abrams’ Bad Robot production company, and it clearly shows the director spending a little bit of time with Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) inside of where the servants prepare some of their meals for the likes of Robert, Cora, and their daughters.

In case you are wondering whether or not this means that Abrams had an opportunity to visit Highclere Castle, the downstairs portions of the show are shot at a studio rather than on location, as the kitchens at the castle are much more modern than they would be at the time of Edwardian England.
Abrams was in the UK in order to help support the launch of “Star Trek Into Darkness” which came out this week.

information from www.cartermatt.com

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Producer talks Mary’s expectations, changes ahead

Executive producer Gareth Neame recently shared his thoughts on new and recurring characters in Downton Abbey season 4, as well as the approach of the creative team to important changes in the Crawley’s lives.

E! Online has shared a recent interview with Gareth Neame, executive producer of ITV’s popular drama Downton Abbey, discussing Mary Crawley, Gary Carr, and what viewers can expect in the upcoming season 4. The future of Lady Mary is a particularly sensitive topic of speculation (and some anxiety) among fans, especially since the show cast actor Tom Cullen in the role of an appealing suitor, Lord Anthony Gillingham. Neame allayed fears that Matthew’s widow would be moving on too quickly for comfort, however.

But Lady Mary will not be seeking suitors in Downton Abbey season 4, Neame promises. “Mary is a woman in a state of deep bereavement and there’s no way she’s looking for anyone else,” Neame assured fans. Unfortunately, Mary’s status might force her into scenarios she is not yet ready for. “She is, nonetheless, a very beautiful and eligible young woman,” Neame said, “So I have no doubt there’s going to be male interest in her.” Mary herself, however, is “definitely not on the look for love.”

Neame also adressed what remains the massive elephant in the drawing room: how the departure of Dan Stevens (and thus the death of Mary’s husband Matthew) will affectDownton Abbey season 4 in general. “It clearly will make a huge difference,” he admitted. “But I can assure you that it’s given the show a whole new impetus. We’ve gone off in a whole new direction and it’s very exciting to see the whole new season come together.” Though Matthew will undoubtedly leave a large car shaped hole, Neame promises that the creative team has “Some great new ideas. The show’s in really good health.”

In addition to Mary’s suitors, another source of buzz for Downton Abbey season 4 is the addition of the character of jazz musician Jack Ross, played by Gary Carr. Carr will be the first black character on the show, though Neame doesn’t consider the choice particularly groundbreaking. “I don’t think it’s a huge story to us,” he said, “But obviously, we’re set in 1920… in rural Yorkshire – it wasn’t a diverse time.” In order to craft a story line that remains “authentic” to the period, Carr’s character will be an American singer who travels to London. “That would have happened at that time,” Neame said, “But of course, it allows some interesting plays on attitudes to race and people who are different.”

“The show will feel the same as it’s always felt,” Neame concluded, “But hopefully with great new stories, and a new energy.”

Filming for Downton Abbey season 4 is currently ongoing, and the show will return to ITV in the fall. The new seasons will air on PBS in early 2014.

from www.hypable.com 

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and now some fun stuff....

There are 20 words that describe Lady Mary...Which ones can you find?

Fill in the missing words to complete this phrase from Lady Edith.

Can you spot the differences between the two photos?

Buffer

So what's up with Downton lately?

---------------------------------------------

Dan Stevens is almost unrecognisable in his new role in a Hollywood Blockbuster

‘I guess I’ve been eating better since I moved here,’ he said ‘And I stopped drinking. At the same time I started filming here, for which I needed to slim down a little.’

In an interview with The Mail on Sunday’s Event magazine Dan revealed the secret behind his dramatic transformation.
The new role comes less than a year after Dan made his Broadway stage debut opposite Zero Dark Thirty star Jessica Chastain in The Heiress.

Dan relishes his new life in New York with his wife, South African-born singer Susie Hariet and their children Aubrey, one, and Willow, three.

He said: ‘I was walking round with my dad the other day. They live in a little village in Sussex and this couldn’t be further from it. 'He was fascinated by this way of living and I am too.’

But he admits leaving Downton Abbey was ‘one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to face’.
The star, who had appeared in all three series of the award-winning show, said: ‘On paper it looked mad to walk away, but it felt like the right time.
'I’ve got an appetite to learn new things. It’s nothing more than that.’

Dan in his new movie 'A Walk Among Tombstones'

---------------------------------------------

Who’s getting ‘Lost’ with Mrs. Hughes?

When it comes to worlds colliding, we really cannot think of two worlds that are any more different from each other then “Downton Abbey” and the mind of J.J. Abrams. After all, period pieces are not the man’s forte. He is known instead as being the driving force behind hit television series such as “Lost” and “Alias,” and the director of the upcoming “Star Trek Into Darkness” as well as the upcoming “Star Wars” feature film over at Disney.
So what in the world is the man doing in the photo here? Apparently he’s just having a little bit of fun. This photo was posted to the Twitter of Abrams’ Bad Robot production company, and it clearly shows the director spending a little bit of time with Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) inside of where the servants prepare some of their meals for the likes of Robert, Cora, and their daughters.

In case you are wondering whether or not this means that Abrams had an opportunity to visit Highclere Castle, the downstairs portions of the show are shot at a studio rather than on location, as the kitchens at the castle are much more modern than they would be at the time of Edwardian England.
Abrams was in the UK in order to help support the launch of “Star Trek Into Darkness” which came out this week.

information from www.cartermatt.com

---------------------------------------------

Producer talks Mary’s expectations, changes ahead

Executive producer Gareth Neame recently shared his thoughts on new and recurring characters in Downton Abbey season 4, as well as the approach of the creative team to important changes in the Crawley’s lives.

E! Online has shared a recent interview with Gareth Neame, executive producer of ITV’s popular drama Downton Abbey, discussing Mary Crawley, Gary Carr, and what viewers can expect in the upcoming season 4. The future of Lady Mary is a particularly sensitive topic of speculation (and some anxiety) among fans, especially since the show cast actor Tom Cullen in the role of an appealing suitor, Lord Anthony Gillingham. Neame allayed fears that Matthew’s widow would be moving on too quickly for comfort, however.

But Lady Mary will not be seeking suitors in Downton Abbey season 4, Neame promises. “Mary is a woman in a state of deep bereavement and there’s no way she’s looking for anyone else,” Neame assured fans. Unfortunately, Mary’s status might force her into scenarios she is not yet ready for. “She is, nonetheless, a very beautiful and eligible young woman,” Neame said, “So I have no doubt there’s going to be male interest in her.” Mary herself, however, is “definitely not on the look for love.”

Neame also adressed what remains the massive elephant in the drawing room: how the departure of Dan Stevens (and thus the death of Mary’s husband Matthew) will affectDownton Abbey season 4 in general. “It clearly will make a huge difference,” he admitted. “But I can assure you that it’s given the show a whole new impetus. We’ve gone off in a whole new direction and it’s very exciting to see the whole new season come together.” Though Matthew will undoubtedly leave a large car shaped hole, Neame promises that the creative team has “Some great new ideas. The show’s in really good health.”

In addition to Mary’s suitors, another source of buzz for Downton Abbey season 4 is the addition of the character of jazz musician Jack Ross, played by Gary Carr. Carr will be the first black character on the show, though Neame doesn’t consider the choice particularly groundbreaking. “I don’t think it’s a huge story to us,” he said, “But obviously, we’re set in 1920… in rural Yorkshire – it wasn’t a diverse time.” In order to craft a story line that remains “authentic” to the period, Carr’s character will be an American singer who travels to London. “That would have happened at that time,” Neame said, “But of course, it allows some interesting plays on attitudes to race and people who are different.”

“The show will feel the same as it’s always felt,” Neame concluded, “But hopefully with great new stories, and a new energy.”

Filming for Downton Abbey season 4 is currently ongoing, and the show will return to ITV in the fall. The new seasons will air on PBS in early 2014.

from www.hypable.com 

---------------------------------------------

and now some fun stuff....

There are 20 words that describe Lady Mary...Which ones can you find?

Fill in the missing words to complete this phrase from Lady Edith.

Can you spot the differences between the two photos?

Buffer

Quotes I Loved this Week

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The Floating Building in my Town

Trick photography? Nope, just a little restoration project going on in Provo where the Tabernacle used to stand, which was badly damaged in a fire in 2010. Thankfully, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is salvaging the 112-year-old building with a little levitation. When finished, this will be the second LDS temple in Provo Utah.  (There is even a secret tunnel being built to connect to the government buildings across the street!)

Engineers gutted the ruined interior, and lifted the structure onto scaffolding about 40 feet in the air in order to save the facade and add a two-story basement below. The old church didn't have to be moved at all. It appears to be floating, but there's no religious trickery going on—just a pretty amazing feat of engineering.

Is this cool or what???  I drove by just the other day and it really is quite amazing to see.  Thought it would be cool to share it.

This is what the finished temple will look like:

Photo & information from Gizmodo.com

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Trick photography? Nope, just a little restoration project going on in Provo where the Tabernacle used to stand, which was badly damaged in a fire in 2010. Thankfully, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is salvaging the 112-year-old building with a little levitation. When finished, this will be the second LDS temple in Provo Utah.  (There is even a secret tunnel being built to connect to the government buildings across the street!)

Engineers gutted the ruined interior, and lifted the structure onto scaffolding about 40 feet in the air in order to save the facade and add a two-story basement below. The old church didn't have to be moved at all. It appears to be floating, but there's no religious trickery going on—just a pretty amazing feat of engineering.

Is this cool or what???  I drove by just the other day and it really is quite amazing to see.  Thought it would be cool to share it.

This is what the finished temple will look like:

Photo & information from Gizmodo.com

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