Markus writes: I know that a lot of people are extremely interested to hear from the extra casting in Wellington today. Well, I was there. But as we all had to sign a non-disclosure agreement I have to keep it vague and can only tell the obvious, visible from the outside and some heart-warming stories. There was some press-folks around and I noticed that they managed to find people telling them what happened, so I guess it will be in the news soon. It’s really not that exciting, though.
I was amongst the first people to get in and met some very friendly staff from 6 Foot 7. Everything was very organized and it didn’t take long. The biggest challenge for some people to get in was already at the entrance: Are you really tall enough? A quick check showed that 1m does not have to be the same everywhere. Even the impressive high heels of some of the girls had to be taken off and everyone became equal when trying to pass the minimum height line. Despite of that some people managed to sneak in, I don’t know what happened to them. Continue reading “Wellington Extra Casting Call Report”
Moahunter writes: Tom Cardy’s blog in The Dominion Post says “There is also other casting going on behind the scenes and I’ve heard on good authority that several children, some as young at 19 months, have already been cast as hobbit extras. And while hobbit sizes means ages can get confusing, they are playing hobbit children and have even been fitted for their costumes and have giant furry hobbit feet!” More..
A few weeks back, we posted a story from the NZ Post about how the Aratiatia Rapids, a popular tourist destination, would be shut down for four days during peak tourist season for The Hobbit filming. Adding further credit to that report are these images from Ringer Spy Hobbitwatch. In the photos, you can see a crew performing some kind of tests with pink barrels at the Falls. Here is the full report from Ringer Spy Hobbitwatch:
Just sending you a few pics of the activity going on at the Aratiatia Rapids where they have started filming for the barrell scenes in The Hobbit, they had heaps of safety people there as pretty dangerous stuff, mostly all wound up when I took the pics, but shows the barrels they were using for when the Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves, rode the rapids in barrels to get away from the orcs I think it was. the barrels are pink so as to allow for them being digitalized apparently. the hyab truck was in place to maybe film up the rapids, anyway, they used both ends of the rapids to do the job, as you will see. there are big barrels on the truck, plus a small one, I guess for scaling for Hobbit size?? A couple of pics also of the crew, both safty and filming by the looks of it having smoko.
Dont’ forget to see all the photos after the break!
Our geeky Swedish message board member “macfalk” has pointed us to a couple of interviews with Mikael Persbrandt over at SVD.se concerning his role of Beorn in the upcoming Hobbit films.
In Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit, Mikael Persbrandt plays Beorn, who has the ability of transforming himself into a bear. It was revealed that Tolkien was a childhood hero for Persbrandt.
“I read all the [Tolkien] books. I went to second-hand bookshops searching for the first “Bilbo books”. I was a fantasy geek. Jackson’s Tolkien-movies are absolutely magnificent. He’s the man. The whole project will be so exciting. It is about 700 people in the crew, I am to stand in a corner and try to be pliable.”
Persbrandt compares his role in The Hobbit to his first job as an extra for Ingemar Bergman, and the performance anxiety that occurs.
“I think I share that sense with many of the people in my profession, we never allow ourselves to be truly happy – instead, we begin thinking about the impacts. How am I as a bear? One start thinking about stuff like that instead of thinking that this could be damn fun.”
In this episode of Hobbit in 5 we take a look at ways you can help New Zealand post earthquake, Aidan Turner, dwarf beards and more of those fanatic Hobbit character studies that you have grown to love.
From the guys at WETA: At Weta Collectibles, we of course follow the developments in Christchurch with a lump in our throats.
As a way to contribute and support where we can, we are auctioning three unique items on our eBay page and donating all proceeds to the New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake Appeal:
1. A Bag End Collector’s Edition miniature environment, signed by Peter Jackson
2. A Prancing Pony miniature environment, signed by Richard Taylor
3. A custom Dr Grordbort’s Raygun, signed by Greg Broadmore
Please join in the bidding in confidence that the proceeds will be well spent. Every last cent from these auctions will go straight to the New Zealand Red Cross Earthquake appeal. Find out about other ways to contribute to this appeal by going to their website: www.redcross.org.nz
Markus writes: I know that a lot of people are extremely interested to hear from the extra casting in Wellington today. Well, I was there. But as we all had to sign a non-disclosure agreement I have to keep it vague and can only tell the obvious, visible from the outside and some heart-warming stories. There was some press-folks around and I noticed that they managed to find people telling them what happened, so I guess it will be in the news soon. It’s really not that exciting, though.
From the guys at WETA: At Weta Collectibles, we of course follow the developments in Christchurch with a lump in our throats.