The NZ Herald carried a small report yesterday on the effect that LOTR and other huge productions like Vertical Limit have had on the local film industry. If you’ll remember, Vertical Limit was being filmed in Queenstown last summer at the same time as LOTR, kick-starting a whole second economy in the area.
The Film Commission has noticed that now, overseas producers approach them with a much clearer idea of what NZ offers as a film location, and a realisation that the crews and equipment they need are here already.
To give make their article more interesting, the Herald paired it with a photo captioned “Lord of the Rings has shown NZ to be a good location for producing films.” What a pity the actual picture appears to show one of the puppets or models for the local condensed version of Wagner’s ‘The Ring of the Nibelungs.’ I think it’s Alberich.
This potted Ring was made in Auckland this year for children’s television, in collaboration with the BBC’s Channel 4. On which more later, we hope.
UPDATE: So we’re not perfect either. Robin from the BBC informs us that the BBC (or ‘auntie’) is a seperate entity from Channel 4.
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The film crew’s packed up and gone home from their work in Titahi Bay, just north of Wellington and a stone’s throw from where Peter Jackson grew up. My correspondent Flick wrote:
“Unfortunately my camera was in Auckland at the time (and I was crook) otherwise I would have taken some shots for you. Titahi Bay over looks the sea and Mana Island is in the back ground, if that helps. Apparently they were after the sky line.”
Mana Island is a small grass-covered flat-topped island, far enough out to sea that it usually appears a little hazy with distance. I wonder what they wanted it for?
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I’ve been away and had dodgy access to news and email. I couldn’t open any attachments on mail I did get; nor did the mail I sent all get where it was going. So if anyone who’s emailed me in the last 10 days thinks I’m ignoring them, try again.
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Reading between the lines, it looks like some of the great Rohan scenes are being filmed this week at Mt. Potts, where the Edoras set has been built. The Timaru Herald was able to bring the world an update. (more)
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More of your LOTR cast members on the small screen. [More]
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Tuesday, September 26
Hugo Weaving (Elrond) ‘Proof’ IFC
Andy Serkis (Voice of Gollum) ‘Among Giants’ HBOSIG
Miranda Otto (Eowyn) ‘The Well’ Sundance
Orlando Bloom (Legolas) ‘Wilde’ Show2
Elijah Wood (Frodo) ‘Deep Impact’ Showtime2
Ian McKellen (Gandalf) ‘Apt Pupil’ TMC
Liv Tyler (Arwen) ‘Plunckett and Macleane’ TMN
Sean Bean (Boromir) ‘Airborne’ MAX
Wednesday, September 27
Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Miranda Otto (Eowyn) ‘The Thin Red Line’ MOMAX
Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) ‘Pushing Tin’ HBOPL
Sean Astin (Sam) ‘Kimberly’ TMC & ‘Toy Soldiers’ MAX
John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ SCIFI
Thursday, September 28
Ian McKellen (Gandalf) ‘Gods & Monsters’ Sundance
Sean Astin (Sam) ‘Bulworth’ Cinemax
Brad Dourif (Grima) ‘Childs Play’ TMN
Friday, September 29
John Rhys-Davies (Gimli) ‘The Great White’ BET
Ian McKellen (Gandalf) ‘Restoration’ Encore
Ian Holm (Bilbo) ‘eXistenZ’ Showtime
Liv Tyler (Arwen) ‘Cookie’s Fortune’ MOMAX & ‘Plunkett and Macleane’ TMN
Sean Astin (Sam) ‘Boy Meets Girl’ TMN
Saturday, September 30
Hugo Weaving (Elrond) ‘Reckless Kelly’ TMC
Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) ‘Paradise Road’ Bravo
Liv Tyler (Arwen) ‘Armageddon’ Starz
Ian McKellen (Gandalf) ‘Gods & Monsters’ TMN
Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) ‘A Walk on the Moon’ TMN
Sean Astin (Sam) ‘Like Father, Like Sun’ TMN
Thanks to Gamgee for the help!
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