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Interview With Michael Regina,
Editor in Chief/Segment Producer of
"TheOneRing.Net" (TORN) (added 2003)

[Wendy at Dreamish.com] I sought out an interview with the co-founder of TheOneRing.net , Michael Regina. I am such a Lord of the Rings fan who likes to keep up on the latest news on the TORN website. So, I just had to dig up some details about the site. Read more...


[Wendy at Dreamish.com] You are the Editor and Chief of the popular site, TheOneRing.net (TORN). How did you get started with the site? Do you have experience with writing/editing?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] I was almost an internet newbie when I started TheOneRing.net, I didn't know much about the web. Basically, I was getting my feet wet in building websites from one of those free homepage sites when I met Tehanu online. We started chatting about books and films when she told me that LOTR was being made down there where she lived. I told her to send me newspaper clippings or photos and I’d put them online. We did that and instantly people began viewing the site. Weeks later Calisuri introduced himself along with Corvar. They told me they had the capabilities to make a fully functional online site with our own domain. So we signed on, and that is how TheOneRing.net came to be.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] Tell me a bit about the people of TORN. How many people are involved and what is their role?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] Well, we have a core group of about 40 around the world who do all manner of different things. We have people who work mainly on background code and server-side issues. We have other staff working on contests or articles. Basically we work as a unit to keep the site functioning. One day you could be working on a contest, the next you could be interviewing someone from the movie, and the next you'd be answering emails. This is how we work...it really is 'organized confusion'.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] How did you start getting traffic to the TORN website? Did you think it would turn out to be as popular as it is today?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] Well like I said we were basically getting hits from day one, but I think we really hit our stride when people from New Zealand were sending us scoops on a daily basis. That is really how we work, the fans from around the world contribute on a daily basis, it really is 'by fans and for fans'.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] Do you know who visits the TORN website? Do any of the people that have a role in the books or movies visit?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] I think at some point or another most of the production has visited the site. I know there was a lot of interest back when they were filming, they wanted to know what we were saying and what we we're reporting about. A lot of the members of the WETA crew thank us to this day for giving them news about the sets or even their own departments! Elijah Wood recently commented that he likes to go to the front page and catch up on what his friends are up to. We get a lot of flack for reporting non-lotr things, but I think a lot of people like to see what their favorite actor or crew member is up to.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] Since TORN has such a large Tolkien fan following, have you been contacted to help promote any of the Lord of the Rings movies, etc.?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] Yeah, we get asked to be involved in almost all things Tolkien, and some things that aren't even close! We try our best to promote cons and other events. We've worked out a good routine of reminding local people about smaller events that they may not hear about elsewhere. And of course we report from the big events with tons of photos and reports.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] Do you worry about anything that is published on the website? Do you ask permission before anything is published?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] Well, we are always aware of copyright infringement, we will always respect people's wishes if they call and ask something to be removed. Most of the time magazines and reporters do not mind that we post their stories, as long as we credit them or reassure them that we will not copy and paste an entire magazine online.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] Have you been invited to any of the premiers/parties for The Lord of the Rings movies?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] I think most of the major staff people have attended some form of special event related to the films. We aren't invited as VIP's, but we are given a spot in the press pool or we are allowed to snap a few photos. In the grand scheme of things unfortunately we aren't that high up the totem pole.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] What was your favorite TORN gathering, and why?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] Well, I love the Oscar Parties myself, I’ve always dreamed about going to the Oscars or holding one on stage and now I've done it! I haven't attended every TORN gathering, but I've read about them all and we love to get together. We are very much a family unit, we know about each other’s families and loved ones, and we try to get together often.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] How many hours do you put into the TORN website each day? Do you work in your pajamas much?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] Hahaha, I'm in my PJ's now! How many hours a day is a rough one. I can spend up to 6 hours on a good day, sometimes I just don't have the energy or the time to work on it. As I am writing this there are 372 emails in my inbox that I need to look through. And much more to do besides that. If you include the hard work and dedication of every TORN staffer....I think TORN is being worked on 24 hours a day. It may be server-side issues or adding things to the scrapbook..or posting news on the front page....but something is always being worked on. TORN is like the queen bee that is so busy making babies someone else needs to feed her to keep her alive.



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] TORN is obviously a labor of love, does it profit enough to cover expenses?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] We get by, we donate most of our money to some charities. So we don't have anything in our pockets, we are fortunate enough however to pay for plane tickets or other items if we want a staff member to go to an event. We are always looking for more profits for both ourselves and our charities of course!



[Wendy at Dreamish.com] If you had a role in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie, what part would you play and why?

[Michael Regina - (Xoanon)] Oh that's a good one...I think if PJ and New Line had their choice I'd be the Orc that got his head cut off and was eaten! But I would have loved to play Gimli or Gollum...I love doing voices and being someone else...I think it's the most fun when you can completely change who you are and get into another character.


Thanks so much for the interview Michael. I had so much fun learning more about TheOneRing.net . You have come so far along with The Lord of the Rings. I believe we should do a follow-up interview in the future to see where this all leads....   :)


    Since its publication J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings has become one of the best-selling books of all time. In 1999 Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema began the momentous task of bringing Tolkien’s epic to the big screen.  TheOneRing.net (TORn) was forged by the combined vision of the four founding members to meet the groundswell of interest in the film adaptation of the book. Since May of 1999, TORn has become something that was scarcely imagined at its inception.  With 45 staff members living in 15 countries and readers from over 150 countries, TORn must be thought of as a culmination of worldwide Tolkien fandom.

About TheOneRing.net:

·    #1 internet source of up-to-date Lord of the Rings news and information.
·    Front Page News updated at least three times daily.
·    One of the original and most trusted Tolkien movie websites.
·    Features more than 10 different sections with over 800 pages.
·    Contains extensive information about Tolkien’s books and film adaptations.
·    Offers up to date news and information about the cast and creators of The Lord of the Rings.

TORn Statistics:

·    Monthly page views average at 14,000,000.
·    Daily page views average at 500,000.
·    Unique visitors average at 2,300,000 a month and 95,000 a day.
·    Home of fan.TheOneRing.net Community of 20 international websites devoted to The Lord of the Rings.
·    Home of the official Peter Jackson Fan Club site.
·    Average Alexa.com ranking of 6,114 with a high ranking of 2010 in September 2003.

TORn Demographic Info:

·    Target 14-34 year olds.
·     Fans of Fantasy and Science Fiction films, books, media, games, etc.
·     Massive English-speaking International audience
·     Appeals to men and women.

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings was released on December 19, 2001. To date it has grossed roughly 800 million dollars at the box office worldwide. The second film in the trilogy, The Two Towers, was released in December of 2002 and has already out performed its predecessor. The Return of the King, the final film, will be released in December of 2003.
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TheOneRing.net is in no way officially affiliated with New Line Cinema, Tolkien Enterprises or the Tolkien estate. Copyrights and trademarks for the books,  films, articles and other promotional materials are held by their respective owners and their use is allowed under the fair use clause of the Copyright Law.  TheOneRing® is a registered service mark with exclusive right to grant use assigned to the One Ring, Inc.
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