BREAKING: Small Explosion at Peter Jackson's Hobbit Studios

Miramar Studios

A small explosion is reported to have rocked Peter Jackson's Hobbit Studios, injuring two employees. Ceris Price, the Hobbit unit publicist is calling the reports a "slight overstatement" and went on to explain the two victims where drilling a statue in one of the workshops when the explosion took place. Price reported the two victims to have "mild burns but nothing serious...One of them had some burnt nostril hairs and apparently if that's he case, there is always the risk of inhalations so they get checked out." Both employees where taken to the hospital and investigation is underway as to what exactly caused the explosion.

Sir Ian McKellen Watches Gandalf in 3D

There he sits, Sir Ian McKellen in full Gandalf garb, sporting a snazzy pair of 3D glasses on the set of The Hobbit. The photo was released through McKellen's Flicker account, giving the snapshot's credit to non other than Peter Jackson! On closer inspection, you can see McKellen glancing over as the shot was taken. It was just two days ago, fans where treated to another post on McKellen's blog, confirming several cast members: Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Bret McKenzie as Lindir, and Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown.

Q&A with Ian Brodie - Author of the Award Winning LOTR Location Guide Books

His photographs have been printed on commemorative NZ stamps, his LOTR Guide books have won international awards and are NZ’s top selling non-fiction. Peter Jackson, himself, allowed him to photograph LOTR in the making! He co-produced the documentary “The Real Middle-earth” and has appeared as a co-presenter on NZ’s Discovery Channel. Working for Hobbiton Tours, he gets to walk the Shire everyday, and in 2005 he became a Member of the NZ Order of Merit for Services of Tourism for the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Meet Ian Brodie: Tolkienist, photographer, author, producer, presenter, and pilot!

You first read LOTR when you were 14, what was your reaction and how did that carry over to your love of Tolkien’s work today?

When I first read Tolkien I was immediately drawn into the world of Middle-earth. It was so complete with a history and a geography that was so real. The way Tolkien describes the country is breathtaking. I immediately wanted to explore more of Middle-earth and soon realised that I was actually living here. My first reading coincided with a family holiday which included a stop in Tongariro National Park and a walk to a waterfall. That walk immediately became a stroll through Ithilien to Henneth Annun. We also went down to the South Island and I was not seeing New Zealand as we travelled but Middle-earth again. In homage to my first walk in Tongariro and that first reading there appears in my extended Location Guide an image of Tawhai Falls. Some 28 years later when it was announced that The Lord of the Rings was to be filmed here I knew immediately that the country would be one of the major stars. I also thought that there might be some people that might like to visit the locations, such as I had in my mind all that time ago. The book was written with a love of my country and a love of Tolkien. What I totally underestimated was the interest there would be. Ten years later and we have sold 450,000 copies of the guide, making it the most successful of all The Lord of the Rings film tie in books and one of the top five selling books in New Zealand history. It shows the power of Jackson and Tolkien!

It says on your website that your love of photography began when you started taking pictures from airplanes. Can you take a moment to tell us about your passion for flying?

My love of airplanes started when I was about five, with the photography love coming along a couple of years later. I was very fortunate to be able to combine the two when I started taking images of aircraft air to air in the 1980s. There is something special about being in an aircraft with either no door or canopy and being 10 feet from another aircraft. Air is fluid like water and to watch the other plane move up and down with the movements as you fly with beautiful scenery as a backdrop is a truly amazing experience. Photography is my love and I really enjoy sharing my images. I try to put at least two images a week up on my Facebook page which links back to my portfolio. If I get any comments about the images it makes my day!

You hold the current title of “Media and Communications Manager” at the Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours. What’s it like working and living life out in what many call the real Middle-earth, New Zealand?

I believe I get paid for my hobby and there is nothing better than that. Occasionally I do get to take tourists on our tours and that is a real tonic as I get to see it through another fans eyes. The ability to visit Hobbiton Movie Set whenever I feel like it is priceless. I have a large number of images taken of the set over the last 18 months which I am hoping I will be able to release after The Hobbit films come out.

Not only are you a photographer, but an an award winning author as well, can you take a moment and give us some incite on what the book-writing process is like?

For me, writing is a discipline and it is writing early morning. I tend to get up at 4-00am and go for it. Planning is important and if you have not gathered the information in the field you will find it difficult as you start to collate and turn thoughts into words. Writing Cameras in Narnia was easy for me, mainly because it was using the words of the brilliant people working on the film from many interviews I undertook.

 Richard Taylor, of Weta Workshop, wrote a raving review about your writing and photography. Who else has your job brought you into contact with?

Working on the LOTR location guide brought me into contact with many of the cast and crew. As a fan, I was like a kid in a candy store. Peter Jackson graciously allowed me to be on set for a few weeks during pickups for The Return if the King. Not only were my son and I allowed to sit in on filming we both also ended up with small extra parts. It was like being part of history. I will still never forget the look on my 9 years old daughters face when we met Orlando Bloom! Proudly hanging in my office is a copy of my guide surrounded by signatures of many of the cast and it is a constant reminder of some of the happiest days of my life. I loved being in the set of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and watch such clever people bring a film to life. I don't think that many people can comprehend the amount of sheer hard work that goes into the making of a film. I was also fortunate to be allowed to photograph The Waterhorse whilst it was filmed in NZ and Scotland. I have so much gratitude to people like Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Andrew Adamson, Barrie Osborne and Jay Russell who gave me these opportunities.

The Hobbit is currently in production, and many of the shooting locations have been chosen, do you plan on writing a location guide for the film, as you did for LOTR?

I would love to and I guess all I can say is "watch this space". My fingers are crossed.

What scene from The Hobbit are you most looking forward to?

I can't wait to see Smaug but for me it will be how New Zealand is again interwoven with Middle-earth and the landscapes that will again appear.

You can follow Ian Brodie on his website, Twitter, and Facebook.
All images copyright Ian Brodie and used with permission.

Due to Personal Reasons, Robert Kazinsky Has Left ‘The Hobbit’

It came as a shock to all The Hobbit fans, when Peter Jackson broke the news on his Facebook page, that Robert Kazinsky (Fili the Dwarf) has had to leave the project due to “personal reasons”. It was just last week, fans watched him on Jackson’s first video blog release, as he waved enthusiastically to the camera. Through Twitter, the former Fili had this to say, “Thanks for all your support, Peter and team have been the most wonderful and supportive team to work for and it's with a truly sad heart that things have turned out this way. The Hobbit will go on to be as great as I've seen and I will miss the family and friends that I've here. ‘From every disaster I've tried to make an opportunity.’ -John D. Rokerfeller" Jackson assured fans, Kazinsky’s absence would not hinder filming, as they are currently working with Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), giving them time to hunt down a replacement.

Robert Kazinsky has been a big part of middleearthnews, really he was the reason this news source came into being. I had never even been on Twitter, let alone, understood how it worked, when I happened upon a small post on TheOneRing.Net. There, in 140 characters or less, he told the world of Twitter, “farewell Los Angeles, Hello Middle Earth”. He was leaving LA and was headed to New Zealand to prepare for ‘The Hobbit’. It was so simple, but it amazed me that I could follow him on his journey, and so he became the first person middleearthnews followed. You can’t imagine my excitement when he followed me back, and continued to support my news source. What an honor that has been. So it is with a heavy heart that I write this today. My thoughts and prayers are with him as he tends to whatever has caused his leaving, and be assured middleearthnews will keep you updated with all his goings on.

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’ Filming Begins Today!

Source: 'The Hobbit' on Facebook

Today is the day Tolkien fans! At the crack of New Zealand’s dawn, where it is already March 21st, cameras will begin rolling on ‘The Hobbit’ films—provided everything is still on schedule. Over the last month we’ve watched with fingers crossed as the shooting date was pushed back from February of 2011 to March 2011 to accommodate for Sir Peter Jackson’s surgery and recovery. Meanwhile shooting locations where chosen and the cast began their rigorous training with horseback riding, weaponry and the all-important dwarf camp. Over all, a very busy time, and now it seems the news has become quiet. Almost like the calm before a storm. There are still many questions left unanswered. Has David Tennant been cast for the roll of Elf-King Thranduil? Will Orlando Bloom ever admit he’ll play a small part in the film? And what of this IMDb rumor that “retired” Leonard Nimoy will be the voice of Smaug the dragon?

I can’t help my feelings of excitement, knowing that at this very moment, the cast has donned their beards and are in front of the cameras. The only catch is, it’s going to take a year and nine months until December 2012 arrives and I can finally see the fruits of their labor.

So here’s a “good luck” wave from middleEarthnews to everyone working on ‘The Hobbit’: “Utúlie ‘n aurë!” - “The day has come!”

Sources: Blastr, TheOneRing.net, IMDb, CBSNews

Rumors Continue Over Mount Doom and Lake Town

Source: Shyong Foo

 

Hobbit rumors continue as Sir Peter Jackson has been denied access to Mt. Ngauruhoe, aka Mount Doom in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. With only five weeks until cameras start rolling, the Maori have refused to let Jackson film there once again, as they consider the mountain sacred. Now Jackson is forced to look at other locations such as Southern Alps as well as New Zealand’s Lake Wanaka and Mt Taranaki.

Meanwhile Aratiatia Rapids, located in the middle of New Zealand’s north island, is preparing for Jackson and his crew to arrive. It’s roaring waters have caught the producers’ eyes, so the site will be closed for four days, for the filming of The Hobbit. In an article released by the nzherald, Jonathan Milne writes,

“While production company 3foot7 Ltd isn't saying what role the Aratiatia Rapids will play in The Hobbit, it is possible they could feature as the Forest River, down which Bilbo and his dwarf friends float in (and on) wine barrels to escape the elves of Mirkwood.” He further writes, “Wanaka would seem a perfect candidate for Laketown, the town devastated by the wrath of Smaug till the dragon was brought down by the black arrow of Bard the Bowman”

Wanaka is located on the south island of New Zealand and has been reported by the Otago Daily Times to be  “...in the sights of the makers of ‘The Hobbit’.”

Sources: Otago Daily Times, nzhearld

Saoirse Unconfirmed for ‘The Hobbit’

Source: VanityFair.com

Since the highly viewed press release of The Hobbit cast aired last week, new rumors and news on the film have hit the web, the top story centering on Saoirse Ronan. During an interview back in January, casting director Ros Hubbard stated to IFTN, “...working with Peter Jackson is like working with a family... Saoirse’s family will go too, everyone is very close and very loving on those sorts of jobs.” Within moments of the articles posting, the word had gone out that Saoirse  had indeed signed on to The Hobbit, to play the woodland elf ‘Itaril’. However, when she was asked about Hubbard’s statement, during this weeks IFTN awards, she responded, "No, nothing has actually been confirmed yet. I’d love to get a role in The Hobbit. I think everybody in the world would like a role in The Hobbit.” It seems we’ll have to wait for further confirmation to dub this

rumor ‘true’.

Sources: www.iftn.ie, http://www.irishcentral.com/