On Friday 6 June 2008 at 11am, Weta flings open the doors to the hotly anticipated Weta Cave in Miramar, Wellington. For the very first time, an area of WellingtonR17;s visual effects facility will be opened up to fans and visitors.
“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to do this”, says Weta creative director and co-owner Richard Taylor. “Tania and I have had this dream for years and we are incredibly pleased that we’ve managed to realize it.”
“We know a lot of people have wanted to see what we’re all about!”, Richard continues. “It’s one thing to see it on the big screen, but this way we can give Wellingtonians and visitors a much closer view of Weta.”
The Weta Cave is of course no ordinary shop. Apart from being designed in typically fun and artistic Weta fashion, it’s actually three experiences in one: A mini museum, a theatre and a shop. Visitors will be given a first-ever behind-the-scenes look at Weta via a brand new and unique 20-minute film which will be shown in the Weta Cave screening room. It features interviews with Weta co-founders Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger and Jamie Selkirk and gives you exclusive insight into the creativity and imagination that goes into crafting the art of Weta.
You will come face to face with some of the characters, props and displays selected from the more than 20 years Weta has been serving the local and international movie industry. Read the stories of how they were brought to life, and about the artists who created them.
And finally, so that you don’t have to leave the Weta Cave empty-handed, the shop features a wide range of movie related merchandise and memorabilia:
- Premium, limited edition sculptures, hand-crafted by the artists at Weta
- All new, unique Weta designed clothing, jewellery and mementoes
- Doctor Grordbort’s range of amazing Rayguns – a Weta original
- Books, DVDs, magazines, posters and art from the world of movies
- PLUS, a superb selection of pop culture collectibles and graphic novels sourced from around the world, including famous brands like Star Wars, Alien, Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Halo, etc
Getting there:
Address: Corner of Camperdown Rd and Weka St, Miramar, Wellington
Bus: Route 2 towards Miramar from central Wellington. Get off at Camperdown Rd
Hours: Tuesday to Friday 11am – 6pm.
Saturday 10am – 4pm. Closed on Sundays, Mondays and Public Holidays
Phone: +64 (0)4 380 9361
Email: wetacave@wetanz.co.nz
Website: www.wetaNZ.com/cave
Groups: Please call in advance to make bookings
About Weta:
Weta is a multi Academy Award-winning company based in Wellington, New Zealand, that rose to prominence with the creation of Middle-Earth for The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. Since then, the art of Weta has been seen in a number of films such as King Kong, The Last Samurai and The Chronicles of Narnia. The Weta artists also create a range of high end collectibles, with connections to movies, games and television.
