Director Peter Jackson has performed his own mission of mercy by buying a historic Wellington chapel, valued at $10 million, to save it from the clutches of property developers. In May, the Sisters of Mercy applied to have the 83-year-old Our Lady of the Star of the Sea chapel removed from Wellington City Council’s list of heritage buildings — and announced plans to put the 1.35-hectare site up for sale. The plans sparked an outcry from Seatoun residents, including Jackson, who were concerned the property would be bulldozed to make way for townhouses. Sisters of Mercy congregation leader Sister Denise Fox told The Dominion Post the order received an unsolicited approach from Jackson and his partner, Fran Walsh, in late July. [More]
Category: Production
From the Kiwi geeks at WETA (does that make them Keeks? or Kiweeks?).
September Halo promotion announced
Weta illustrated kids book to be launched [Link II]
Rayguns anagram competition
New Rayguns stockist announced
Weta Bug chats to Weta Sculptor
Crazed fan dresses as character from the series
Dr Grordborts wonderful world grows
Making Boils and Bumps
JOE MORGENSTERN writes: This fall Peter Jackson will be in Pennsylvania directing “The Lovely Bones,” his screen version of the haunting Alice Sebold novel that inhabits both heaven and earth. For now, though, he’s still working on preparations for the film at Weta, his production facility in the modest Wellington suburb of Miramar. On a New Zealand winter’s day of brisk breezes and heavenly sunshine I visited him at Weta, which was named after a giant insect endemic to this country and has been fed by giant revenues from “The Lord of the Rings.”
I’d been told by his people that it was to be a social visit. Freely translated, that meant he didn’t want to sit still for yet another interview or profile, and understandably so. Translating more freely, I took it to mean he also didn’t want to discuss his legal disputes with New Line, the Hollywood studio that produced the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. All of that was fine with me, since I had no agenda, apart from hearing what the reigning master of fantasy might have to say about the movie business and its foreseeable future — maybe even its unforeseeable future — and getting some idea of the scope of Weta, which has become a one-of-a-kind cauldron of creativity, as well as raw computing power. [more]
The first children’s picture book to be illustrated by artists from the award-winning Weta Workshop is due to be launched in September, New Zealand Book Month. Featuring a little rescue helicopter, Champ the Chopper is the first book in a series written by local author Rebekah Palmer with the illustrations done by artists from Weta Workshop, Daniel Falconer and Chris Guise. [More]
TORN Staffer Arwen writes: A fan emailed me to let me know that The Charlie Rose Show has put on YouTube about 3,200 interviews Charlie Rose did, including 2 with Peter Jackson (about an hour long each). To view the videos, go to youtube and search under “charlie rose-peter jackson”. [YouTube]
G’day from New Zealand, Weta supporters!
A big shout to all the Weta supporters who came and said hey at the San Diego Comic Con last month. It was a blast and we can’t wait for next years’ event! Check out our Image Gallery for Weta Bug’s pix of the event – plenty to see! [More]