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..
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From CNN’s Geek Out!: On a blank sheet of paper, for reasons he couldn’t explain, one of the world’s most beloved authors scribbled the words “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit” – a sentence that would become the opening line to a book that would pave the way into Middle Earth.
J.R.R. Tolkien may not have initially known what the word “hobbit” entailed, but with any great story, it began with a simple idea – an idea that flourished into one of the most celebrated pieces of literature.
“The first journey all started with The Hobbit, which is why it’s so treasured. The book is in every word a classic,” Clifford Broadway, writer for TheOneRing.net (TORn) said. “The first journey is always the most memorable and leaves the strongest impression on readers.” More..
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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..
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Sir Ian McKellen initially said no to Gandalf and only scored the pivotal Lord of the Rings role thanks to a chance meeting in a restaurant. While it’s almost inconceivable to imagine wizened wizard Gandalf being played by anyone else, McKellen says shooting for The Fellowship of the Ring – the first film in Peter Jackson’s blockbuster trilogy – clashed with another role he’d signed up for in 2000.
The frank admission comes in a new Lord of the Rings 10-year anniversary special in the December edition of Empire magazine, in which McKellen admits Gandalf was “the role of a lifetime” – but he initially turned down Jackson’s offer. More..
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Yes – it’s Tuesday and YES we have our live video streaming show where everyone can take part! At 5pm PST this evening tune in here for TORn TUESDAYS LIVE with Quickbeam! Be part of our live discussion with Clifford bringing on special guest commentator Nicholas Manelick to parse through the many amazing new things we have seen from Peter Jackson’s production diary (volume 4) and all those Spy Reports from different NZ locations! We’ll also feature some amazing artwork from Beyond Bree’s new Tolkien calendar as well as Professor Tolkien’s own artwork appearing in “The Art of The Hobbit” book!
Chat with folks in Barliman’s chat room LIVE and we can even bring you in via Skype. Check out the broadcast in our LIVE Event section right here every week: 5:00pm Pacific Standard Time!
[LIVE Event Area] (See All Times)
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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”
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