Welcome to our collection of TORn’s hottest topics for the past week. If you’ve fallen behind on what’s happening on the Message Boards, here’s a great way to catch the highlights. Or if you’re new to TORn and want to enjoy some great conversations, just follow the links to some of our most popular discussions. Watch this space as every weekend we will spotlight the most popular buzz on TORn’s Message Boards. Everyone is welcome, so come on in and join in the fun! Continue reading “TORn Message Boards Weekly Roundup – July 26, 2011”
Category: Locations Sets
Patrick sends along word that scenes for ‘The Hobbit’ will be filmed this November in the North Island town of Piopio. From Jasons.co.nz: Piopio lies in a picturesque area of native forests and rolling farmlands with rich native and exotic vegetation. The town is located just south of Waitomo and Te Kuiti and is easily accessible to the activities of the region including the Waitomo Caves, rafting, horse trekking and hiking. Sheep and cattle farming are the main industries of the area.

From waitomonews.co.nz: IT’S official . . . but no-one can say a word about it. Scenes of The Hobbit – Sir Peter Jackson’s prequel to The Lord of the Rings – will be filmed in the Piopio district. Now the hunt is on to find accommodation for 450 of the two production crews who will be here for three weeks from mid-November filming at the Denize family’s property, Mangaotaki. Some 350 of the crew will here for a week with another 100 staying a fortnight. There will be a crossover period in the middle where all 450 will be in the region. Locals assisting in the search for a range of houses – Nicky Atkinson and Bruce Maunsell – are bound by confidentiality agreements and unable to speak to the media. Continue reading “Hobbit Shooting Scenes in Piopio This Fall/Spring”
TORN Staffer Earl let me in on the Holmesian detective work of our own message boards and its regulars. According to the message boards, Derren Brown and Marc Hagan-Guirey (both UK personalities) had tweeted the text below in the last few days. We reported on Derren Brown’s tweet, but not Marc’s. Furthermore, both their tweets have now been deleted… which may be an indication that there was some truth to them.
Derren Brown: Off to watch some Ian Holm and Christopher Lee being filmed for The Hobbit. HOW EXCITING!
Marc Hagan-Guirey: Been invited down to #TheHobbit set! En-route to watch Ian Holm and Christopher Lee being filmed. EXCITED. VERY.
There is most certainly a conspiracy afoot!
Sackheim-Beutlin sends this in: Sir Christopher Lee is currently filming “The Hobbit”, as this German website says. Apparently, he wanted to attend a LOTR-Concert in Regensburg, Germany, this Friday, July 22nd, but had to cancel this due to the filming of the Hobbit. Here is a rough translation of the German text:
“Sir Christopher Lee, who would have loved to attend the performance [of the Lord of the Rings-Concert] personally, had to cancel his coming due to short-term not to be delayed shootings for ‘The Hobbit’. He regrets this fact very much, but will accompany this night in specifically for this concert created videos and interpretate the mystic texts from ‘The Lord of the Rings’.”
Elessar sends along a curious tweet from artists/illusionist Derren Brown, not 2 hours ago he tweeted the following:
@DerrenBrown Off to watch some Ian Holm and Christopher Lee being filmed for The Hobbit. HOW EXCITING!
The tweet gives us a little more info on the apparent ‘UK shoot’ taking place sometime soon (maybe even today). Along with news that Elijah Wood is heading to the UK soon, and of course word that Christopher Lee wants to be involved in The Hobbit, save for traveling to New Zealand. No official word can be gleamed from the production (trust me, I tried), let us hope we learn more soon!
People taking pictures of Hobbits from a hilltop park above Peter Jackson’s studios in Miramar risk having the images deleted and being charged with trespassing. This is the potential outcome for anyone using cameras on Wexford Hill, a Wellington Airport-owned property that overlooks the Stone St studios, where The Hobbit is being made.
The land, which has panoramic views of the eastern suburbs, looks like a park. It is mowed, unfenced and has seats on the summit. Until recently, an old Ministry of Transport sign (still visible) warned people not to drive vehicles there.
Six large notices have now been erected telling members of the public that although they are welcome on to the land for “usual recreation purposes”, they are not allowed to take photos of any property or people at the Stone St studios below. More..