Star actors in Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron’s latest film move to Wellington in October for their performances to be incorporated in fantasy worlds created by the Weta workshops.
Showbusiness newspaper Variety reported that Cameron had added two more cast members to the science fiction film Avatar, Stephen Lang and Michelle Rodriguez, who have joined Australian actor Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Wes Studi and CCH Pounder.
“In October, the company will move to Wellington close to Peter Jackson’s Weta Digital, which is supervising the film’s visual effects,” Variety reported today. Thirty-one days of live-action photography will be carried out on Weta’s soundstages. [More]
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The Government has boosted sweeteners to big-budget movie-makers such as Peter Jackson to head off a threat from across the Tasman. The sequel to the Government’s existing grant scheme for big-budget screen productions, unveiled yesterday, follows moves in Australia to lure such productions with generous subsidies that outstripped New Zealand’s. But the move has raised fears of small, local film-makers being left out in the cold – and questions about the Government propping up big-name Hollywood players such as Jackson. ACT leader Rodney Hide said the Government would lose a bidding war with Australia and giving money to established blockbuster film-makers was a case of “robbing Paul to pay Peter”. [More]
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On Stephens Island in New Zealand’s storm-wracked Cook Strait, the tuatara—one of the most ancient reptile species on Earth—is getting a hand from distinctly 21st-century science (see a New Zealand map). Researchers have placed in the wild a very special male that, like its wild cousins, can put on physical displays to establish its dominance. But this reptile’s skin is made of rubber, not scales, and its “heart” is a nickel-cadmium battery. The alpha male in question is “Robo-Ollie,” a robotic tuatara created to help researchers understand the behavior of these rare reptiles, the last species in a family that dates back 200 million years. [More]
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Celebriel sends a reminder that “Black Sheep,” featuring Weta Workshop’s special effects work, opens June 22. The film is about genetically mutated sheep that acquire a taste for humans. Ah, returning to their “Bad Taste” and “Brain Dead” roots!!. The tag line is “Violence of the Lambs” and the New Zealand landscape looks as good as ever. [More]
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Recent travellers on Red Carpet’s Lord of the Rings locations tour have been wowed by a new guest attraction – none other than Brett Beattie, body double to Gimli. Tour chiefs Vic and Rae James say they’ve been fascinated by the stories Brett can tell from his long days on the set. Brett probably spent as much time as any of the actors filming up and down the whole country, and his recollections can hold a tour party spellbound. Check out tours
The March tour was so enthused by their tour experience that some members put together a messageboard for past, present and future LOTR tour parties to share their stories. [More]
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Xoanon here, this morning my wife and I were lucky enough to get an advanced look at the new Lord of the Rings exhibit at the Te Papa Museum in Wellington, New Zealand.
The Te Papa Museum is the pride and joy of Wellington, boasting some half dozen events, it sits on Wellington Harbour like a jewel in a crown.
Housed on the fifth floor of the sprawling building this exhibit features something for everyone, costumes, weapons, bigatures and more. Each character from the story is given his or her own small section of the museum with costume displays, photos, props and other items seen in the film. TV screens at every stop play small clips from the DVD documentries that tie into the display. There was an entire room dedicated to armour from every race, hidden speakers gave us battle sounds from the film, and the mood lighting really got you into the spirit of the moment.
There was another section devoted totally to the One Ring. The ring insignia floated around the room as the One Ring floated in mid air. Another section housed the Minas Tirith bigature and the model of Bag End as seen by Frodo in Galadriel’s mirror.
The Elven boat that carried Boromir’s body was on display, with a dummy that looked uncannily like Sean Bean himself. Weapons were on display, both behind glass and others out in the open available for you to touch and feel.
One of the really neat touches was the forced perspective demonstration with two versions of Gandalf’s wagon, visitors are able to get a photo taken with a guest, one looking decidely Hobbit-sized.
My favorite model on display had to be the Corsair ship proudly displayed at the main entrance to the Te Papa Museum. It’s sails held high, this ‘miniature’ model looks seaworthy as is!
If you can get down to Wellington from now until August I highly encourage you to stop by and take a look!
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