We admire Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep as legends-in-waiting, committing performances to film that might be referenced by future generations alongside Marlon Brando and Katharine Hepburn. We praise the lengthy careers of Steve Martin and Bill Murray, wondering if their work will live on like the Marx Brothers or Peter Sellers. However, the most significant contemporary cinematic figure of our time might be launching a career even more monumental, but we’re too busy eating popcorn and enjoying the ride to fully appreciate it. It’s OK, says Andy Serkis, because until recently, he was equally unaware. [More]
Category: Production
I will be heading to New Zealand next month for a 10-day vacation in and around Wellington. Ubisoft, makers of “Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie” headed a contest a while back where the winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Wellington to visit the WETA studios, and I’ll be escorting them!
My journey begins on April 6th and I arrive on the 8th (the 7th will magically disappear from my calendar thanks to the wonder of crossing a ton of time zones), I have a few things already planned, my wife and I want to take some city and LOTR location tours, and we plan on seeing some friends I have made over the years while working on Lord of the Rings, King Kong and Narnia websites. Of course I also want to do some lounging about in the pre-fall goodness that is Wellywood. I will be shooting some video to be featured on the site, so keep an eye out for those!
I plan on having a ton of photos and goodies to show you from my trip, and if you know of any cool places to visit in the area, drop me a line!
Adrian writes: I was wondering if you could mention in your news section that the film “Guerrilla Distribution” is being made available to download from www.realkong.co.uk. Guerrilla Distribution is a mockumentary about two guerrilla filmmakers who have decided that they are going to rip off Peter Jackson by making King Kong and selling it pretending it to be his version.
Set in the summer of 2005, the documentary crew follow the pair as they desperately try to meet their deadline using every trick they know. Guerrilla Distribution features appearances from Brian Sibley, Ramon Rivero and Sir Ian Mckellen. It is aimed at fans of Peter Jackson, King Kong, and Lord of the Rings and so should be welcomed by those who visit your website. [More]
From AICN: Peter Jackson sent in a video acceptance to receive his Best Film gong at the 2006 Empire Awards and, after the usual pleasantries, Jackson included some never-before-seen footage from the film. There’s a blooper reel, Andy Serkis ‘original’ vision for Kong, lightsaber action (seriously) and a brand new scene constructed especially for Empire that answers the biggest question of the film – how did they get Kong back to the States? [More] [Mirror 1] [Mirror 2] [Mirror 3 (torrent)]
Be wary of this download however, it will take a while, try some of the mirrors. Also, watch the language!
LOS ANGELES, March 8 /PRNewswire/ — Weta Digital’s Joe Letteri, who was a member of the Academy Award©-wining Weta Digital teams that created the visual effects for “King Kong,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” will serve as the visual effects supervisor on the upcoming Walden Media, Beacon Pictures and Revolution Studios co-production “The Water Horse.” Most recently Letteri, along with Weta Digital colleagues Brian Van’t Hul, Christian Rivers and Richard Taylor, won the Oscar© for Achievement in Visual Effects for the groundbreaking work on “King Kong” at the 78th Annual Academy Awards on March 5th. [More]