Wellington may play host to Hollywood stars as director Peter Jackson’s new film The Lovely Bones premieres in December. The red carpet has not been rolled out on Courtenay Place since King Kong launched in 2005. The Lovely Bones tells the story of a young murder victim who watches over her family and killer from heaven. Cast members include Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz and Susan Sarandon. More..
BARNEY MCDONALD from the Sunday Star Times writes: The first time I saw Peter Jackson on set directing The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the (now trim) film-maker was sat barefoot in a big, comfy armchair of dubious origin. He’d get up and move around, interacting with actors and crew, but before long he’d be back in the low, rounded chair, staring at his monitors, deep in thought.
During shooting of pick-ups for The Twin Towers [SIC] and The Return of the King, I spent a week apiece with a veritable United Nations of international media, watching Jackson working on set and location, snatching moments to talk to him about his epic journey with the film. Always unflappable, ever affable, Jackson controlled his environment with understated and seemingly effortless ease, so much so that the armchair became a symbol for the man himself. Whenever he wasn’t on set, the chair remained, motionless and serene, commanding respect on behalf of its master. More..
Celebriel sends along this article about the closure of NZ’s Deer Park, a filming location for many scenes in LOTR (notably the flight of the Rohan refugees to Helm’s Deep and Aragorn’s fall over the cliff). Queenstown tourist attraction Deer Park Heights has been closed to visitors after nearly 40 years. Owner Frank Mee said he was closing the park, but it was not for sale. He said the park had been making money and was “very popular”. “Everyone is going bankrupt in Queenstown, but we are not. . . we’re just getting too old, so we’re giving up,” he said. Mr Mee was born in 1922 and he, and his wife Jean, opened the park in 1970. More..
Special effects wizards Weta Digital have scored $5.8 million in Government funding for a research partnership. Science and Technology Minister Wayne Mapp said Weta’s investment would be on a basis of at least two-for-one. “It’s about growing new products and processes for export.” The joint partnership with TechNZ – the business investment programme of the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology – is intended to accelerate the growth of New Zealand’s strong creative digital industry. More..
Ian Brodie, founding curator of the New Zealand Fighter Pilots Museum, is taking up a new position as media and communications manager at the Hobbiton tourist attraction at Matamata, near Hamilton. Meanwhile, a proposed $10 million revamp of the Wanaka museum is on hold indefinitely. Mr Brodie (52) has worked at the museum since it was founded in 1992 by Sir Tim Wallis. More..
linuxelf sends in this video from a New Zealand television station that has clearly fallen head-over-heels for Peter Jackson and also gives a great look at the size of Comic-Con. There is a short story with a link to a video found here.
The hobbit holes of Matamata are coming to life again. The farmer’s paddock made famous as Hobbiton in the Lord of the Rings movies is being resurrected for two The Hobbit prequel films. The Waikato set was stripped in 2002 except for the frames of 17 hobbit holes underground houses for the fictional creatures. But now fruit trees are being planted, hedgerows are being groomed and new hillocks are being marked off as the sites of more hobbit homes. More..
Our old pal John Dybvig has created a video detailing the local flavor and culture of New Zealand. He’s done this in an effort to get Late Show host David Letterman to visit the country, Dave if you are listening, John will hook you up! Read the rest of this entry »
Tyellas writes: The potter who did extensive work for the Lord of the Rings films, Mirek Smíšek, is currently having a gallery show in Waikanae, about 1/2 hour north of Wellington. This show reviews 60 years of his exceptionally graceful work, and shows us why he was chosen as the potter for Peter Jackson’s Middle Earth. Smíšek’s studio, which he shares with his partner Pamela Annsouth, who produces her own gorgeous works, can be visited by appointment, as noted here. More..
Good new for Wellington Hobbit fans and GDT fans, from the Noldor Blog again: Del Toro will be signing copies of his new book The Strain at Unity Books. The man seems to be everywhere these days! Read More
