Second 'Hobbit' Production Video Posted

Following the excitement of Warner Bros.' release of several photos of the dwarves (Nori, Ori, Dori, Oin, and Gloin), Peter Jackson has uploaded a second Hobbit production video on his Facebook page (the first was released several months ago).

The video, which is ten minutes in length, was taped upon completion of the first block of filming, and offers viewers a glimpse of some of the actors shooting their scenes, as well as Andy Serkis, who is directing parts of The Hobbit films, conversing with Peter Jackson about the pressure they face in directing the films.

"I always tell people I get exhausted at the end of the first couple of days and just stay exhausted until it finishes," Jackson tells Serkis, which is why he has broken filming, which is set to span 254 days, into three blocks. "I think it's a much better way to divide it into three blocks and have some time to look at what you've done... it's a much smarter way to shoot these big films."

 

The remainder of the video focuses on Peter Jackson and his team while they scout out potential locations for the films, as the second block of filming will include a great deal of on-location work. They have already chosen several areas in Mackenzie Country and Mt. Cook, and have also decided that they would like to film in Dunedin. In addition, they are looking for a suitable location south of Queenstown.

Some of the problems involved with scouting out the location involve the amount of space needed, in addition to the location being an appropriate place for filming.

"It's weird on locations because you're standing in the middle of a mountain or valley or some beautiful place and you're having to try to figure out where are you going to put the crew tents, where are people going to get changed and where are the portaloos going to go - because all of that stuff has to be where you're not going to want to point the camera," Jackson says.

"The last thing you want to find out in six months time is you're standing on this beautiful mountain and saying, 'Wow this is exactly the shot I want to do' and you've got 20 portaloos in front of the camera."

Cast and crew members are expected to return on September 5th to begin filming block two.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be in theaters on December 14, 2012, with The Hobbit: There and Back Again arriving on December 13, 2013.

John Rhys-Davies Goes Geek Over 48 Frames And Expresses Wish To Join Hobbit Cast

John Rhys-Davies (Gilmi the Dwarf and the voice of Treebeard in LOTR), was among the other stars to gain press this week. In an interview with  STV’s The Hour he stated, “Jackson is actually going to change the way films are made. It’s really a paradigm change. Just shooting at 48 frames for instance, I’m sorry if this is all technical boring stuff but we who are in the business really love this. Films are never going to be the same after this film comes out. ‘The Hobbit’ is not as profound a film as ‘Lord of the Rings’, but it is so loved.”

It was a visit to the set of The Hobbit, when Davis realized how much he wanted to be a part of the film. He told Belfast Telegraph “It was a very strange feeling going back and seeing so many old faces... Seeing Ian McKellen and young [Andy Serkis] Gollum...It was like going back to your old school where you were being a person of real importance and they treated you courteously, but you're no longer part of it. It really plucks the heart strings. So I grovelled as obsequiously as I could, to no avail, but Peter's a very merciful chap... Let's put it this way. I have been sending pushy, grovelling signals.”

Peter Jackson Shares First 'The Hobbit' Behind the Scenes Video

It has been posted! Peter Jackson’s much anticipated behind the scenes video of ‘The Hobbit’ was posted today, and is promised to be the first of many videos to come. For 10 glorious minutes viewers and fans are treated with all kinds of visual eye candy like Rivendell sets, the wardrobe department, meetings discussing camera shots and lines, weapon training, horseback riding, a dwarf in costume, Bag End being set up for that famous opening scene when Bilbo is inundated by 13 dwarves and 1 wizard—who is never late—and much more. And it wasn’t just sets and props. Everyone in the cast makes appearances on the video. Of course, the icing on the cake is the very first roll of filming, when a little hobbit happens upon a ring in Gollum’s cave.

The “Hobbit Paparazzi” Strikes Again

Even before the cast of The Hobbit began arriving in New Zealand, photos of a supposed hobbit set and “barrel testing” graced our computer screens. Yesterday TheOneRing.net released a set of “exclusive” images including Andy Serkis- complete with his Gollum body suit. Today they've manged to top that, with a new set possibly showing Martin Freeman in is Bilbo get-up.

I’ve been very unopinionated on my blog. I make it a point to bring you the news, without any prejudice, but these particular reoccurring stories have gotten under my skin. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for The Hobbit and will be one of those crazy fans who memorizes every behind the scenes moment ( “It’s a splinter?!”). However, when December 2012 finally rolls around, I don’t want to go into the theater knowing all the secret bits. I want it to be fresh, like one of Gollum’s fish. Something I can sink my teeth into.

So, what’s your opinion? I’d love to hear it! Send an e-mail ( middleearthnews@gmail.com ), comment on my blog (below), chat over Twitter, or Facebook.