Thanks to Peter! FILMING: The Hobbit is on location in Ohakune and dozens of heavy trucks carrying filming gear, horse floats for horses, utes and other vehicles are parked on the Atihau Whanganui’s Ohotu farm where some filming is taking place. PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY
The Hobbit is on location in the Waimarino, but security is tight and everyone involved with the film company 3 Foot 7 Limited sworn to secrecy.
At Atihau Whanganui’s Ohutu farm a few minutes east of Ohakune, dozens of heavy trucks are parked in the fields, and adjacent to the road is a large dining marquee for the crew that is known to number in the hundreds. At the lower carparks of the Turoa Ski area on Mt Ruapehu another marquee has been erected above a stream lined with volcanic rocks. Locals have reported that thousands of dollars was spent one night on meals for the crew at a local restaurant. It was also reported another 250 crew were expected at the site yesterday. More..
From: stuff.co.nz The “slow buildup” expected on Wakatipu Hobbit sets is hitting overdrive as anticipated local shoot dates for the mega-movie loom. In September The Hobbit’s production company, 3 Foot 7 Ltd, received resource consent to build sets and film in locations in Arcadia Station and nearby Paradise, both of which are near Glenorchy on the northern tip of Lake Wakatipu.
Consent applications state there will be a “slow buildup” in activity from October 3, culminating in busy five day shoot period from November 17 to 21. Photos taken as late as October 24 showed only scaffold and bare board on the Paradise set. By yesterday, the triple-storied set looked to be nearly complete and consisted of a huge, central fake tree flanked by a stone-like edifice and thatch-roofed structure. The set nestles into the treeline of a thick stand of native evergreens and rolling farmland. More..
NZ Movie website Flicks.co.nz took some stunning photos of the Hobbiton set during Peter Jackson’s press conference with the NZ prime minister a few days ago. Take a look at their collection below. Continue reading “More Hobbiton Set Photos”
On this weeks episode we take a look a fabulous set report from embedded reporter. War in the North is out! Plus a new vignette starring LOTR vets. Hobbit set shifts to Piopio, pictures of a mysterious new set structure. Benedict Cumberbatch and Luke Evans details.
Ringer Calafalas gives us the heads-up that AICN’s Quint has just posted his latest travelogue from New Zealand. This time round, he writes about his experience as a Hobbit extra, from the make-up session to the on-set shoot and how he got his new Hobbit name “Fredegar Chubb”.
Because there are two films, we always knew there were going to be additional scenes that are not in Tolkien’s book. This report provides some insights into one that might happening in Hobbiton involving Gandalf, Bilbo and the Sackville-Bagginses! Needless to say, it involves some SPOILERS!
The Waikato Times reports a flurry of activity that began yesterday on a property at Wharepapa South, Waikato, in the North Island, where filming for The Hobbit began last week.
An excerpt follows:
A farm in Wharepapa South, an area renowned for its rock climbing, was packed with vehicles and tents, but apart from the security guards on the gate and the odd person alighting from one of the two helicopters that were flying in the area, few people could be seen on the set.
From across the valley, the property, believed to be owned by Graeme and Karen Saunders, looked suitable for Middle Earth territory, with numerous rocks jutting out of the green rolling hills.