One of the biggest things to happen in the Strath Taieri and Maniototo areas of Otago in recent years has tongues wagging – but only those of outsiders.
Six helicopters, a giant marquee, security guards and dozens of trailers have been parked in a paddock east of Hyde for the past four days.
But ask the locals why the trailers are there, and most reply “can’t say” or “don’t know”.
However, use the words “hobbit”, “film set” and “Sir Peter Jackson”, and sly, knowing smiles cross their faces.
Filming for Sir Peter’s two-part Hobbit series started in Wellington in March and, while other locations have been closely guarded, they include areas around the Strath Taieri and Queenstown. More..
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It’s hard to imagine any movies making as much box-office bank as Peter Jackson’s blockbuster The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The three films grossed almost $3 billion worldwide!
But now that production is well underway on Jackson’s upcoming Rings prequels, does series star Elijah Wood think The Hobbit films have what it takes to outshine LOTR’s moneymaking glory?
“I don’t even know if they’re meaning to outdo them,” Wood told us at Sunday’s Happy Feet Two premiere in Hollywood of the upcoming two Hobbit flicks. “They’re gonna be big. The audience is huge. The anticipation for The Hobbit has been so massive for so long.” More..
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Be part of the fun with long-time contributor Clifford Broadway hosting LOTR / HOBBIT artists, fans, fantasy authors, and other special guests on his innovative weekly *live* streaming show TORn TUESDAYS with QUICKBEAM! We launch our program at about 5pm Pacific time — today we are giving away a massive Collector’s Edition “LORD OF THE RINGS: WAR IN THE NORTH” PS3 video game boxed set — courtesy of Warner Bros. Interactive (this thing is about $140 retail value and comes with a leather quiver for arrows, a fantastic cloth-map of Middle-earth, special Blu-ray “music of the game” disc and an Art Book)! Yak it up with folks in Barliman’s chat room or come 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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The Beard sends this in: I see on TORN that there seems to be Hobbit action in Dunedin, so maybe the filming here in Golden Bay is second unit, or maybe they got creative to deal with iffy weather here. The word around the Bay is that they are filming at two locations: Canaan Downs at Harwood’s Hole, and at a private sheep station at Kaihoka Lakes. I was actually at the latter place yesterday, on a social visit with a friend, but there was no sign of filming and the owner apparently told my friend that they were filming at Canaan Downs that day.
In other words– lots of talk about the Hobbit here, but not much fact to share other than the supposed locations. I do believe the Kaihoka Lakes location, as this is a farm family who would have no reason to make up the fact that their property is being used!
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Ross sends along some exclusive photos from Pelorus River and Pelorus Bridge area.
The Pelorus River is situated halfway between Nelson and Blenheim on state highway 6 at the top of the South Island. It is the first time any of the 3 Foot 7 films have had a location in the Marlborough province. The Bridge over the river is set in prime native bush which has many walks and a small camping ground where the local bird life proliferate, their calls breaking the background river noise. Continue reading “NZ Photos from Pelorus River Region”
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As we start to close down 2011, Ringers get another new item to add to their shelves. The Legolas Greenleaf statue is shipping right now from Sideshow Collectibles. Legolas is the third statue to ship from the growing line of collectibles representing Sir Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.
Legolas is the son of Thranduil, King of the Elves of Mirkwood. During the early stages of the War of the Ring he would be sent to Rivendell for The Council of Elrond where the fate of the Ring of Power would be decided. Eventually, Legolas would be chosen to represent the race of Elves as The Fellowship goes upon its journey to destroy the Ring of Power. The Elf would go on to form a great bond with the Dwarf Gimli who should be the next statue to ship from Sideshow. This representation of Legolas brings us his look from The Two Towers and more specifically during the battle Helm’s Deep.
Continue reading “Collecting The Precious – Sideshow Collectibles Legolas Statue Review”
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