The Hobbit Production Video #5

As promised by Peter Jackson, here is a Christmas gift for fans with The Hobbit Production Video #5 posted on his Facebook page. This edition explores the logistics of on location shooting as production moves all over New Zealand to film scenes. The is no minor task as for all intents this become a moving town as need to move all the cast and crew, make sure food and lodging is available, everything that is needed as far as props, costume, and makeup, and so much more. It is an immense undertaking but as the video shows as they arrive at Hobbiton, it is worth it.
Video #1 | Video #2 | Video #3 | Video #4

AICN's The Hobbit Set Report Part 3

Ain't It Cool News has posted the third set report (part 1 | part 2) from the Hobbiton set at Matamata, New Zealand. This report focuses on the final day of filming at Hobbiton along with the detials on prepping the set location for filming and as a tourist attraction. Below are the highlights, with usual spoiler warnings but nothing a reader of the novel isn't aware of. The full report, worth reading, can be found here.

Highlights:

Hobbiton Set Photos

For those that can't enough of Hobbiton click here for a nice gallery that shows off the gorgeous green hills and hobbit holes.

AICN's The Hobbit Set Report Part 1

Quint, of Ain't It Cool News, reminds us of why we should hate him or at least confuse intense jealousy for hate. He has been given a rare opportunity to not just report from a movie set, but to spend two months reporting from the sets of The Hobbit films. He will get to see first-hand what all the rest of us experience as brief glimpses in behind the scenes extra features. Did I mention he got to play a Hobbit extra? Yep, feeling the hate/jealousy.

The first report, which is just his first day on set, comes from Hobbiton. He reports from the first day the newly restored set started filming for the first time in 10 years. It begins with Frodo Baggins. Below is highlights (spoiler warning). The full report is worth reading, as includes a lot of little details and introduces you to some of the crew of the film. That can be found here.

Highlights:
- First scene shot is Frodo (Elijah Wood) getting the mail at Bag End. Later filmed placing a "No Admittance Except on Party Business", which is likely when the party of held for Bilbo Baggins in the opening of Fellowship.
- Ian Holm will reprise his role but through the magic of editing as his scenes where shot in London with Martin Freeman standing in on the Hobbiton set.
- The scene is Frodo wondering if Gandalf will show up with Bilbo saying he will to show off his "whiz-poppers."
- I guess this or something after leads old Bilbo to reminisce about when he was waiting on Gandalf as things transition to 60 years earlier as young Bilbo is smoking as Gandalf arrives to kick off his first adventure.
- Production intrusions went from the livestock not cooperating (runaway cow), to paparazzi showing up in loud plains and copters to takes pictures, ruining shots.

The Hobbit World Premiere Location Announced

Today Peter Jackson held a press conference at the Bag End building on the Hobbiton set in Waikato, New Zealand to announce that the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be held in Willington, NZ in late November 2012. The news isn't really surprising considering how important New Zealand is to the films.

The 11 minute press conference was held with NZ Prime Minister John Key as they discussed various topics. Both answered questions about labor changes that were made due to a small union actor boycott (less than 400 members) nearly derailed the film being made in the country. Jackson also talked about his support of the Memphis Three. Last, they confirmed that the Hobbiton set would remain a standing set open for tourists. Filming at the set is scheduled to be completed next week. The movies are currently filming, with location filming around New Zealand for the next five weeks before filming takes a Christmas holiday break to resume next January.

The full video of the press conference can be found here. More images of the Hobbiton set can be found here.

Hobbiton Open for Touring

It seems that while the Hobbit is filming elsewhere, The Hobbiton set remains open for tourists - if willing to sign a non discloure agreement. The location is allowing tourists to visit the now permanent local attraction even though it is being prepped and maintained for whenever the production schedule moves to the site for filming.

The skeleton that remained of the set has been a very popular tourist attraction. We also know that it has since been rebuilt for The Hobbit - and that this time it won't be removed once filming is completed. It's been designed to last 50 years.

But what surprises me is that the public can visit the rebuilt set right now before the cameras roll. Ian Brodie, author of the detailed and very handy Lord of the Rings Location Guidebook, is the media and communications manager for the Hobbiton movie set.

He told me that multiple tours continue to visit the set each day. "The only thing they [visitors] have to do is sign a non-disclosure agreement. They can take as many photos as they want, they just can't post them up online or do those sorts of things. Certainly they are seeing it at its best."

Deal Signed to Turn Hobbiton Into Tourist Attraction

Wingnut Films and Rings Scenic Tours have announced a joint deal to turn the Hobbiton set into a tourist attraction called Shire Tours. The plans for the deal started last year when Hobbiton was being constructed with greater detail and strong materials to last longer. From One Ring:

9 February, 2011, Wellington – Sir Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films Productions Limited and Rings Scenic Tours Limited are pleased to announce that they have entered into a joint venture arrangement to allow movie fans to visit the newly reconstructed film set which is located near Matamata. The new venture will be known as Shire Tours. The companies have been working towards this agreement for some time, and the joint venture came into effect on January 24th, 2011.

The set, originally designed by the Art Department of THE LORD OF THE RINGS films, has recently been rebuilt at the original location on the Alexander Farm on Buckland Road, Matamata. It will be used again for the filming of the two films based on THE HOBBIT late in 2011, during which time the location will be closed to the public.

Since the first tour in 2002, an estimated 200,000 visitors have been to visit the location. The site also has The Shires Rest Cafe and Function Centre, which was opened in December 2004 by former Prime Minister, Helen Clark.

Sir Peter Jackson said, “We are really excited to be able to offer fans of the films the chance to walk around and explore this beautifully crafted set, which is a centerpiece of both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.”

Russell Alexander, General Manager of Shire Tours, said “I’m delighted to be involved. This is a wonderful movie location and I look forward to introducing visitors to a truly unique experience.”

Hobbit 3D, McKellen, Freeman, Hobbiton Updates

A few odds and ends have cropped up over the weekend regarding The Hobbit. Not really "new" news but more of an update on existing information such as further confirmation that The Hobbit films will be in 3D, Ian McKellen is still game to reprise Gandalf, Martin Freeman has begun prep for role of Bilbo Baggins, and Hobbiton nears completion.

ComicBookMovie.com reports that Peter Jackson has settled on using the EPIC camera for use in filming when production starts in February by ordering 30 of the very expensive cameras. "The Hobbit will be amongst the first productions in the world to use the EPIC and at least thirty cameras will be required by the 3D production," explained RED founder Jim Jannard in a forum post. I don't know enough about these things to consider it anything other than trivia but it does prove that Jackson is committed to making both films in real 3D.

In the next issue of Total Film, a new look on the set construction of Hobbiton. I had thought the set was completed but it’s possible that this is part of the expansion and strengthening of the underground Hobbit homes since Hobbit on will remain a standing tourist attraction once filming completes.

Martin Freeman provided a brief update in regards to prepping for the role of Bilbo Baggins saying "“I’ve had wig, feet, ears,” he revealed at the Evening Standard theatre awards on Sunday. “Full steam ahead for me to look like Bilbo.”

Sir Ian McKellen's official website has a new entry for 2010 indicating that he has been cast as Gandalf for the two Hobbit films. This is the closest so far to official confirmation that he has signed on to the film. Previously he has been a cheerleader of the films and consistently shown a desire to reprise the role but MGM and the actor boycott meant he had not yet signed a contract and expressed doubt that he would be able to if future projects created a schedule conflict. This update seems to indicate that is no longer an issue and he is prepped to once again be the beard.

Hobbiton Set Pics

The One Ring's Ashley has posted up a flickr gallery from the set of Hobbiton in New Zealand. The set construction is nearly complete with many different dwellings built into the hillside. Click here to view the whole set.

Update: No idea why but The One Ring pulled the Hobbiton pic article, I guess because the person with the pictures pulled down their flickr gallery.

Hobbiton, Tourist Attraction

The Hobbiton set, nearly completion for when production begins filming in Febuary, is apparently be built with extra robustness as it will become a permanent tourist attraction for New Zealand.

Brett Hodge, owner of Matamata Post and Rails, which has supplied the timber for The Hobbit duology since construction began in February, told the Waikato Times that Sir Peter Jackson's company Three Foot Six was building the home of the Hobbits to last.

"What they did last time was build a temporary set, but now it's a permanent set," said Mr Hodge, whose business also supplied the timber for the temporary The Lord of the Rings trilogy Hobbiton set.

"It's just so right for us to do it, it's just so good for the community," Mr Hodge said. "When you look at the current economic times a lot of people are just fighting for every dollar. Something like this is just the icing on the cake," he said. "It might be time to invest in a Robert Harris cafe in Matamata."

Peter Jackson Says Thanks for Hobbit Resolution

Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh released a statement via Wingnut Films about The Hobbit remaining in New Zealand. He expressed gratitude that everyone was able to work together and reach a solution and the support of the actors, fans and crew who supported the move to keep the film in the country. On a somewhat related note, click here to view a helicopter view of the re-construction of the Hobbiton set in New Zealand. I think the set is mostly done so the footage is probably from a month or so ago.

Filmmakers, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh stated today “We are grateful to the Government for introducing legislation which shall give everyone in the film industry certainty as to their employment status. This clarification will provide much needed stability and reassurance for film workers as well as investors from within New Zealand and overseas.”

Jackson went on to thank Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema for their continued commitment to New Zealand. “Their respect for the skill and talent of Kiwi crews and performers speaks for itself.”

Finally, Jackson stated, “I feel enormous gratitude to the film technicians, actors and fans who came out in support of making these films in New Zealand. To the thousands of people who took the time to write and let us know they were with us – thank you. It made all the difference.”

Hobbiton Nearing Completion

While the boycott from the .05% of New Zealand actors that somehow got the support of 99% of other non-New Zealand actors continues, pre-production continued on the location of Hobbiton. As the image from the Daily Mail shows, the location is actually pretty sizable in scope. Click here to view more images.

Bilbo has called in the builders as preparations for the latest JRR Tolkien blockbuster continues. Just weeks after sheep were spotted making the most of the old Lord Of The Rings' set, the New Zealand location has been revived for the two-part Hobbit prequel.

New Hobbit holes are being dug, while the old ones are being spruced up ready for the start of filming later this year. The set, which will portray the Hobbit village of Hobbiton, will remain as a permanent tourist attraction and theme park near the Waikato town of Matamata.

Rebuilding Hobbiton

According to The One Ring, construction on rebuilding Hobbiton for The Hobbit has begun in New Zealand. Below are pictures from Red Carpet Tours of the site as crews begin planting hedgerows, fruit trees and work on extensions to the various paths for new Hobbit holes/homes.