The director used the Venture II in his 2005 remake and later sold it to a property development firm in Wellington, which kept it moored at a wharf in the city. Ownership of the vessel has now passed to Wellington Regional Council after the company went bust, and local authorities plan to scuttle the ship in the Cook Strait on Tuesday (09Feb10), reports Radio New Zealand.
The plans have proved unpopular with residents after it was revealed the sinking will cost tax payers $23,800 (£14,875), but council officials insist the ship is becoming a safety hazard and can no longer be moored at the wharf. More..
Take a look at our Scrapbook collection of ‘Venture II’ here and here
As Peter Jackson told us earlier, his vision for Susie Salmon’s afterlife in The Lovely Bones (which Paramount Pictures opened wide last weekend) was a surreal, in-between journey to heaven predicated dreams and metaphoric symbols. A house in the dead cornfield represents her murderer, Mr. Harvey; the blooming flower suggests Susie’s life force and her ability to communicate with her father; the Gazebo in the barley field signifies unfulfilled love, with the field turning to mush as she runs toward it.
Interestingly, the vfx challenges for Weta Digital were more artistic than technical, even though the CG imagery of the In-Between world necessitated abandoning the laws of physics. More..
Primmy writes: I thought you might be interested to know that Peter Jackson will be on The Culture Show on BBC2 in the UK tonight at 7PM, discussing The Lovely Bones (and hopefully other things!). bbc.co.uk
After nearly 19 months away from the spotlight, a new King Kong — more grizzled and, definitely, ferocious — is preparing to return to Universal Studios Hollywood. Since the old animatronic Kong was destroyed in a fire on the theme park’s back lot, Hollywood’s top visual effects wizards have been tinkering away in a giant hangar in Playa Vista to create a new, more realistic ape to terrify visitors who take the park’s signature back lot studio tour.
Inside the humongous drab-green building, Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson has led a team of film and theme park ride experts in creating a 3-D version of the hairy ape to replace the Kong that died in the June 2008 fire. More..
Peter Jackson is tired. ‘He’ll probably lie on that,’ says his PA, indicating a voluminous sofa that dominates the London hotel suite we’re meeting in, and sure enough, no sooner is Jackson through the door than he’s curling himself into its contours and taking pallid sips from a cup of milky tea. He flew in from his native New Zealand the previous day and, as he gets older – he’s 48 now – his jet lag gets worse. ‘It’s particularly bad this time,’ he says, in his soft Antipodean lilt. ‘I mean, I couldn’t even stay awake for Top Gear on television last night and I love that show.’ More..
Annarepp sends along the news about the Bafta Nominations. Andy Serkis has landed a leading actor nomination for “Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll”. Saoirse Ronan, leading actress and Stanley Tucci, supporting actor for “Lovely Bones”. District 9 nominated in 7 categories including best director. Take a look at all the nominations here!
