Our story so far: Peter Jackson made three Middle-earth movies and people loved them. Now he is making two more and people already love them too. MrCere, Senior Staff, writer and photographer at TheOneRing.net (around since 1999) went to NZ to see what he could see. Landed in Queenstown, found lots of LOTR stuff, drove north to see the people of the ring, visited Hobbiton set and now is in Wellington, center of NZ’s cinematic empire.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — I thought, and it makes me chuckle now, that when I landed in Wellington I would finally be based in one place long enough to really crank out some copy. Ha!
Instead, Wellington has been a whirlwind but that is a great thing, not a bad thing. I often contemplate cancelling one of the events here so I can spend hours writing and posting photos but I haven’t cancelled anything yet and each time I go to do something, I find that I am very glad to have been along.
Some of those events have tourism ties and then end up having direct ties to things here at TheOneRing, even when I think they will not. Other things, like spending the day with the kids at Weta, are directly tied in. None of them so far have been worth sacrificing and time is running out fast. But stories I have in some stage of ready:
* Hobbit set visit with images
* An exclusive with Richard Taylor
* Chat with Erica Challis TORn co-founder Tehanu (and darn fun and entertaining as well)
* Visit with Red Carpet Tours
* Visit to many sights in the Wellington area used for LOTR filming
* Flash event at the now even improved Embassy Theater
* Tintin screening, chuck full of Andy Serkis
* A moot in Timaru
* Lots and lots of pretty pictures
* Conversation with LOTR location guidebook author Ian Brodie
* A kiwi named Frodo and another named Jackson
And on and on. Thing is, I have to go now, more stuff! But there is an excitement around these parts that is pretty fun and special to be able to catch wind of. The scent of The Hobbit filming is in the air. Before I go, thanks to all the many folks who have given me personally and TheOneRing.net support off all kinds. Your help is greatly appreciated and deeply felt. More soon. Promise!
