As you probably know, there is a lot of buzz about the upcoming release of ‘District 9,’ a film produced by Peter Jackson with effects from the good folks at WETA Digital. Reviews are hitting the web, and from the looks of things, they are relatively positive. See you in line! [Yahoo!] [GFP] [AICN]
Category: Production
Weta and TheOneRing.net teamed up to create a scavenger hunt this year at Comic-Con. At TheOneRing.net panel regarding the upcoming Hobbit films, Richard Taylor came along to catch us all up on what Weta is up to.
At the end of his presentation he announced the Dragon’s Gold hunt which featured a series of clues on the Con floor with the winners being awarded a pile of prizes. Read all the details and see the winners here at Weta’s website.
Our pals at WETA have sent along the cool news that pre-orders are now being taken for their miniature shields collection. Take a look! More..
On the Hollywood set of “The Adventures of Tintin” this spring, Steven Spielberg directed an actor in a motion-capture suit as he portrayed the antics of the globe-trotting comic-book hero. One camera was beaming a live feed halfway around the world. Filmmaker Peter Jackson was watching from his headquarters in New Zealand, and discussing the action with Mr. Spielberg via the video link.
Four years after his last movie hit the screen, Mr. Jackson, director of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, is gearing up for an extended run at the box office. In recent years, the director’s projects have been shadowed by lawsuits, delays and studio upheavals. Now, working with a stable of filmmakers, from fellow Oscar-winners to first-time directors, Mr. Jackson is turning out a slew of new movies from his New Zealand-based production hub. He has entered the territory of a small group of directors like George Lucas and Mr. Spielberg, who control their own movie-making empires. More..
A LEGAL battle is under way between the Oxfordshire family of JRR Tolkien and the Hollywood giant behind the new Hobbit film, it emerged last night. The heirs of the Tolkien estate, including the author’s daughter Priscilla Tolkien, 80, who lives in Wolvercote, claimed they have not been paid “even one cent” of the millions of pounds owed to them from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is believed the three films generated almost $3bn in box office receipts and another $3bn in DVDs and merchandise sales. More..
NEW YORK – This week’s Entertainment Weekly names District 9, a film with no big names and a small budget, the must see movie of the summer. While many have yet to hear of it, by next week it may be all moviegoers talk about.
It has no stars, it was made for relatively little money ($30 million) by a 29-year-old South African-born director whom nobody’s ever heard of, Neill Blomkamp, and its action-packed plot is tinged with a surprising moral intelligence, but it may turn out to be the most unlikely sci-fi blockbuster of the season. It’s the most satisfying sci-fi thrill ride of the summer, but it also turns out to be sort of an apartheid allegory. R20;ItR17;s an utterly original film,” says District 9’s single A-list name, producer Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings). R20;In an industry that’s looking to make movies out of every obscure TV show, or sequels, or videogames, you look at District 9 and it’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.” Continue reading “EW Names ‘District 9’ The Must-See Movie of the Summer”