Eowyn had a look down the road to Kaitoke, near Wellington, where the Rivendell set is. Here’s her report:
“…yes that picture of the spire that you have on the website was indeed part of Rivendell. Note the word ‘was.’It was quite funny actually. While we were driving down this little one-lane street out in the forest we were beginning to think we had gone the wrong way when, lo and behold, a huge truck laden with interesting and valuable goodies nearly runs us over!
I caught a glimpse of wooden filigree as it passed us and when I got a good look it turned out to be a huge dismantled spire and a bit of roof. We tracked down the set which was not hard to do since it was right beside the road and talked to the very nice (for once)security guard. And with a few carefully placed questions, he imparted some very interesting information to us.
As it turns out they had finished filming there a while ago and they were well into dismantling the set, They hadn’t been there very long-about eight days he reckoned.But have no fear they are still far from finished and some of the best bits are still to come!
In just over a weeks time they will be moving most of their operations up to Ruapehu where they have five locations they will be using for Mordor and possibly Fangorn.
After that, in about six weeks, they are going to start a very long shoot down in Canterbury “out the back of Ashburton”. This is undoubtedly going to be battle sceens for Helms Deep and other Rohan stuff.
For the moment however they have started filming again in the Lower Hutt behind the Helms Deep set in a little place called Dry Creek. It’s a little bit of forested vally with a dry creek in it so they could be doing anything there really.
Well thats all I’ve got for now,so its back to harrassing the security guards again.
Eowyn
Category: Old Spy Reports
Super Ringer Spy Leo is a busy boy…after treking through most of civilized New Zealand he’s set up shop at his computer and nearly burned out his scanner getting us these pics! Enjoy!
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Leo: “basejamb and basejamb1 are pics of one of the places the actors and crew eat and get ready for shooting at Helms Deep, which is across the road. We stumbled on this place when we where looking for the Rivendell set, they were clever to put a sign up with base jamb(oree).”
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Leo: “fortdorset and fortdorset1 are pics of fort dorset land where the Bree exterior set used to be build, and as you can see there is nothing left:)”
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Leo: “Did you ever think you’d get tired of pics from Helms Deep?”
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Leo: “lothlorien is a pic taken near Paradise were they shot scenes for Lorien, this kinda reminded me at Lorien and the Misty Mountains, and it is very well possible you will see this in the movies as well. The other is what I hope mirrormere will look like :)”
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Leo: “Setprops are some pics of a piece of the helms deep set being moved to the dry creek quarry, and one of ppl building part of the set of Lorien”
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Leo: “Shire and shire1 are pics taken at Mt Victoria were they shot scenes about the hobbits running into the black rider, these pics give an impression of how that part of the shire would look like.”
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Leo: “The stonestreet jpg’s are pics taken near the stone street, to give an impression of how ‘normal’ these studios look like, and you’d have to know its a studio or you would walk straight past it:) on one of these pics you can see some extras who are marching ( elves?)”
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Leo: “Another view of Orthanc”
Super Ringer Spy Galadriel gets our fires juiced up and lets loose another round with her latest Spy Report!
Oh patient one,
It is I, Galadriel, with another round of interesting news for you. While following my latest job I learned the latest news that I think may be interesting.
Peter Jackson is now at the Haywards Hill, which you know is currently housing the Helm’s Deep set. All other filming has been halted for a full 7 days, while some serious stuff takes place at Helm’s.
Ian McKellen (Gandalf) is currently at Helms filming some of the great battle scenes.
ALL of the LOTR cast are currently at Helms (Except the Hobbits), hence PJ’s presence, with the exception of Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) Martin Csokas (Celeborn) and Hugo Weaving (Elrond).
I then tried to lob my job’s head off but then stopped when someone came into the room and a meeting began. I slipped my Katana back in its place and waited patiently on the ceiling.
The filming of the Minas Tirith will begin in November.
Speaking of Hugo Weaving (Elrond), I managed to get some news on what he’ll look like, he wears a Mithril Tiara and quite frankly, looks amazing.
I then slipped down behind my Job and and pulled out some thin wire to strangle him with…it was all over for him…
After that I had to follow my Kodja Assassin Doctrine, what is left of the tale is between me and my Gods…
Until next time,
Keep an eye open
Galadriel
Ringer Spies Leo and Eddie send in the goods from New Zealand! First we have a couple of new pics from the Helms Deep set sent in by Eddie:
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Next we have the latest from Leo, first ever seen set pics from the Miramar Studios that will house the Orthanc set!
From Leo:
At the moment there is a set being build behind the “Stone Street Studios” in Miramar Wellington. I am pretty sure that this set is gonna be the pinacle of Orthanc were they are planning on filming the scenes were Gandalf is being held captive by Saruman. They’ll probably shoot the scenes at night (the set is close to the airport and outside on the parking lodge ), and I figure they’ll need some technology ( blue screens?) to cover up the background.
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Our most infamous Super Ringer Spy Galadriel the Kodja Ninja Assassin is back with more news. Read on, if you dare…
oh Canadian one,
It is I, Galadriel I have some news which may be of interest to you.
After completing a job in which I had to off a local NZer, I decided to rest my mind with a little spy work for you.
I saw Liv Tyler (Arwen) and Orlando Bloom (Legolas) fighting at the Helms Deep set at the quarry. I saw Liv swing her sword and hit Orlando’s horse on the snout, Liv was spooked and dropped her $3000 sword and it was bent out of shape. They had to set up the scene again and start over. The horse, by the way, was not hurt, the swords are dull.
Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Bernard Hill (Theoden) were also at the Helms Deep set.
You may want to know more about what they look like.
Theoden and his royal guard horses are light brown with gold chain mail. Arwen’s horse is white, Aragorn and Legolas’ horse is offwhite, almost grey.
Arwen wears a rose red gown and a purple dress. Aragorn wears tight black pants and a white shirt with chain mail, he also carries a reforged sword. Legolas uses a Rohan sword in the scenes I saw (yet he still carries his Bow and Arrows) he is wearing a grey shirt and grey tights, with a Lorien cloak.
I then moved on to the Rivendell set. No stars there yet but they are filming alot of Elves walking around the beautiful set.
Isenguard meanwhile is being filmed at the ‘Stone Street Studios’ at Miramar.
Christopher Lee (Saruman) is there right now, giving his Uruk Hai marching orders to attack.
I now have another job to take care of, when I get more news, I’ll send it along.
Keep an eye open,
Galadriel
News from the set:
Filming at the quarry set involvs Rohan horses. The filming is slow due to some spooked horses, they tend to get scared at all the lights and swords and noises. Poor things.
At the Miramar recreation of Helms Deep, a few actors have arrived to begin close-ups. Bernard Hill (Theoden), Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) and Miranda Otto (Eowyn) are currently inhabiting Miramar.