From 3news.co.nz: Watch extended footage of a helicopter flight over the new sets in Sir Peter Jackson’s upcoming The Hobbit films. Just last night it was announced that the films, prequels to the wildly successful Lord of the Rings trilogy, would in fact be shot in New Zealand. That was put into jeopardy after the film was placed on a boycott list by an Australian-led actors group. The footage in this video, taken today, shows that work is still being conducted on one of the sets of the film near Matamata.
Category: New Zealand
SYDNEY – Furious debate rages at this moment in New Zealand’s parliament on legislation sought by Warner Bros. to amend the country’s labor laws and make unionization of the local film industry more difficult. Meanwhile, key union leaders reported receiving death threats. Police have begun an investigation, according to a local press report.
The government has the necessary votes for the law revision and passage is expected later today. A Labour member of parliament decried today as a “day of shame.” The Labour and Green opposition have hammered on the loss of sovereignty implied by negotiating legislation with a foreign corporation, then ramming it through under an urgency procedure. The ruling National Party has emphasized the financial benefit of retaining the “Hobbit” production in country. More..
Announcing the Cruise to Middle-earth: The Sequel, Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Fellowship of the Ring.
TheOneRing.net staffer Garfeimao (aka Cathy) is planning our next Cruise to Middle-earth! Here’s all the details:
New Zealand will always be Middle-earth here at TORn. With that in mind, I am proud to announce a second cruise to Middle-earth. This is your chance to see the enchanting Land of the Long White Cloud and Middle-earth in the same place. Red Carpet Tours will be customizing short day tours for us from several of the ports, as well as a longer, optional post-cruise tour of locations not reachable from the ship.
This cruise will sail on the Celebrity Century from Sydney, Australia on November 30, 2011 and finish in Auckland, New Zealand on December 12, 2011. The bulk of the cruise will be in New Zealand waters, with stops at ports near several Lord of the Rings filming locations. The advantage of a cruise is that it acts as a hotel, a restaurant and transportation so that you need unpack only once during the cruise. It will give everyone in the group time to bond over dinner, to meet up during ‘at sea’ days to watch the films, and to even have a costume party. Exact optional tours are still in development at the moment, so please do contact me for more details.
Continue reading “Return to Middle-earth in 2011!”
Gunnar and the folks at Tree Top Media send along this great video featuring some stunning shots of New Zealand, Hobbit Holes and more! Be sure to check out the interview with Alan Lee and Ian Brodie!
The night is darkest ere the dawn… and dawn has ever been the hope of Men!
After days of closed door talks between New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and Warner Bros. executives, the verdict is out today:
THE HOBBIT WILL BE MADE IN NEW ZEALAND.
Mr.John Key has only minutes ago announced at a press conference in the Beehive theaterette that Sir Peter Jackson’s Hobbit films will indeed be filmed in New Zealand.
Media outlets have yet to post links to any videos… but stay tuned to TORn for updates as more of the good news makes its way on to the interweb.
TODAY IS A PROUD DAY FOR KIWIS… AND A JOYOUS ONE FOR FANS AROUND THE WORLD.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE AND ALL.
For a sample of how news organizations around the world are reporting here are some links: CNN, TVNZ, Bloomberg and ABC to name just a few. Video of the announcement has been extremely slow to load. Peter Jackson’s team hasn’t released a statement yet but is expected to.
The party has already begun over at our message boards. Head over to join in the celebrations!
Ray writes: Here is a video I put together featuring some of the main speakers at the Hobbit rally on 25.10.10 in Civic Square, Wellington City, New Zealand. Rallies were also held in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Queenstown and Matamata (where the Hobbiton sets have been built), and were set up to coincide with the arrival of the Warner Bros. executives, who will be meeting to decide where The Hobbit will be filmed. “This is where Middle Earth was born and this is where it should stay,” Peter Jackson.