When you think of The Lord of the Rings films, you can’t help but remember the sweeping landscape shots – filmed using expert coordination of helicopters across the rugged New Zealand landscape. Well, now, thanks to some new technology, Peter Jackson is saving some fuel by dumping the helicopter and using a newly developed ‘drone’ camera setup. Called the OM-Copter, the eight-blade device allows for smooth and stable flight. Thanks to Ringer Kookie for sending us a link to Geek.com where you can learn all about this new tech! [Read More]

UPDATE We’ve received word from Peter and his crew that this story is FALSE. This equipment is not being used on the production of The Hobbit.


The green world of a hobbit means a 10,000 litre water tank will have to be placed near Glenorchy for the irrigation of the temporary grasses and plants on the set of the Peter Jackson-directed film The Hobbit. Wellington production company 3 Foot 7 Ltd has submitted a resource consent application to Lakes Environmental Queenstown to install the tank in order to water the greenery. The tank would be placed near Arcadia Station, where filming is set to begin this month. More..

From the Waikato Times: Two barefoot men, one with a bushy white beard, sat outside a cafe in Matamata yesterday, but a closer inspection revealed a marked lack of hair on their smooth feet.

With the Hobbiton movie set near Matamata closed for filming on Wednesday, the Waikato Times’ hunt for hobbits is on.

The permit given to production company 3 Foot 7 to film in Matamata was for filming rights lasting no more than 15 days before November 8, but there have been no movie star sightings yet.

Espresso To Go owner Bill Anderson said they would be willing to make hobbit-sized coffees if the demand was there but last time around 3 Foot 7 had their own cafe on set, so he was not holding out hope for an influx of Hollywood big spenders.

[Read on]