Promotional campaigns for films are designed to do one thing: Sell tickets. Unfortunately, they sometimes mislead viewers into expecting something a film doesn’t deliver which can taint the viewing experience.

This might be the case with James Cameron’s “Avatar” which was released Friday with an incredible amount of hype – both grass-roots and manufactured through an advertising campaign that might lead viewers to expect the greatest movie known to the history of humankind. Read the rest of this entry »

Peter Jackson is planning to set up a film museum in Wellington, sources say. It is understood the development, with a working name of New Zealand Movie World, is planned for opposite his Park Road Post Production facility in Miramar. Props from Jackson’s movies – including his Lord of the Rings trilogy and as far back as Bad Taste in 1987 – would be on public display. A film school could also be included in the development.

A spokesman for Jackson said yesterday that there had been “nothing new and nothing active” in planning for a Wellington-based movie museum and film school since a similar proposal for Shelly Bay fell over about a year ago. More..

Weta Digital’s Richard Taylor and other New Zealand businessmen are seeking to raise up to US$400 million (NZ$550m) to buy intellectual property with box office potential. If the explosive popularity of Twilight or Harry Potter is anything to go by, good intellectual property can clinch the success of a film, and spin-offs like computer games, action figures and branded beach towels.

Mr Taylor (often associated with Peter Jackson and the Lord of The Rings films) is teaming up with Christchurch-based Infiniti Capital chairman Kenji Steven, Nick Gerritsen, of Picton, and China-based Gavin Crombie to create film fund Panda Screen Productions. More..

The folks from WIFI, a network of independent film artists based in Wellington New Zealand, send this in: We recently did an interview with Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger from WETA and we thought you may or may not be interested in sharing it with the TORN community. Read the rest of this entry »

News is on the Associated Press wire today that the founder of the pop-culture showcase, the San Diego Comic-Con, Sheldon Dorf, has died at age 76. A spokesperson for Dorf’s family, friend Greg Koudoulian, says he died at a San Diego hospital as a result of kidney failure and problems caused by diabetes. At the official Comic-Con Website there is a message from the Board of Directors, Staff and volunteers of the Comic-Con organization as they “mourn the passing of our dear friend Shel”. Read the rest of this entry »

Mia writes: I attended the KEA Luncheon [last Thursday] in Melbourne, and wanted to share a few photos with you. The luncheon was fascinating, and it was an honour to be there. Richard was extremely friendly, and gave a great speech before jetting off to Sydney!! More..

Message board member Elven was lucky enough to attend the KEA dinner in Sydney this week and sends in this great report:

“If more of us valued food and cheer above hoarded gold, unless its an Oscar, it would be a much merrier world.”
-Prof Tolkien.

I have just returned home from a wonderful night at the Danks Street Depot Cafe in Sydney after listening to KEA’s special guest speaker ‘Richard Taylor’ talk and inspire an audience. People hung onto to his every word and laughed heartily at his stories – we enjoyed it so much we almost forgot about dessert. The food was glorious – the menu designed by NZ chef Jared Ingersol, and there was plenty of wonderful NZ wines available for the tasting.

Richard spoke for a good hour on his career and the movies WETA had been involved with much passion, and gave reference and credit to those people who had helped him along the way. His presentation was punctuated with some very funny anecdotes about Oscar Couture, Meet The Feebles and Taxi Drivers – but his story held a special message regarding success and talent and doing what you do, no matter what that might be, to the best of your ability – turning your life into an art.
Read the rest of this entry »

Dinner with Academy award winner Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop – Thursday, 29th October 2009.

Kea (Kiwi Expat Association) is delighted to host an event with Academy award winner and Kiwi,Richard Taylor on Thursday 29th October, a luncheon in Melbourne and dinner in Sydney.

Richard Taylor is the co-founder, co-director and creative director of Weta Workshop based in Wellington. Richard has been awarded five Oscars, four BAFTAs and numerous other achievements for Weta’s success in the disciplines of makeup, costume and visual effects. Read the rest of this entry »

The much hyped and highly anticipated reveal of James Cameron’s AVATAR trailer has just hit the web. Spielberg predicts it will be the biggest 3-D live-action film ever. The cost for this single film is said to overshoot the entire budget for the LOTR Trilogy. Check it out, and tell us what you think about it in our forum! BTW – you may be wondering…how is this fodder for TORn? Well, WETA was involved with the production! [AVATAR Trailer] [React]

Slave Boy Films was at Comic-Con last week and crept into TheOneRing.net’s presentation on an unofficial look at the pair of Hobbit movies. The TORn presentation was Thursday, only hours before Peter Jackson arrived at city of geeks (120,000 strong) who had assembled at San Diego to drink deeply of all the flavors of popular culture. TheOneRing filled every one of the 400 seats in its assigned room with plenty left standing outside in a line but thanks to Slave Boy, the presentation is now available for anybody and everybody. (Click inside to see the videos!) Read the rest of this entry »