The Hobbit moves into Wellington, NZ
The search is on for locations for Peter Jackson's next movie epic, The Hobbit.
Hollywood director Guillermo del Toro has arrived back in New Zealand, and will spend the next few weeks in the air scouting for Hobbit-like locations.
"So far we’ve only scouted Matamata and Wellington but we’ve seen photographs," del Toro said.
"In the next couple of weeks I will be on board a helicopter scouting for more locations, which for a man my size is incredibly daring."
The Hobbit is currently in pre-production, and filming of the first of the mammoth two-part series is expected to be underway by March 2010. Shooting of the second film will follow immediately after the first.
Showcasing New Zealand landscapes
Continuing the Middle-earth tale will be a challenge, but del Toro is relishing the opportunity to evolve Peter Jackson’s vision of Middle-earth with a strong focus on the New Zealand landscape.
Del Toro wants to avoid overuse of green screen photography and is keen to use real locations as much as possible because The Hobbit is essentially a "journey movie".
"We are going for a slightly different feeling for the landscapes so we are going to evolve them little-by-little, and by the end of the first movie there will be landscapes you have never seen in The Lord of the Rings trilogy."
Inspired in Wellington
Oscar-winning Wellington firm WETA Digital, who will create digital effects for The Hobbit, will continue to develop work begun on The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Work on design and physical effects is underway with WETA Workshop once again providing the creative hub behind a film that will be seen by millions worldwide, and likely to become a cult movie.
Del Toro is excited about the opportunity to work in Wellington with Kiwi film professionals who he believes are among the best in the business.
"You have a place that is creatively driven but also technically great and, if there is anything lacking, ingenuity, craftsmanship and devotion supply this."
Del Toro believes that New Zealand has managed to escape the hype of Hollywood by focusing on the art of pure film-making.
"Wellington is infinitely superior to Hollywood for me because this is Hollywood the way God intended ... the creation of movies in the most technically pure environment as opposed to accounting, money and marketing and everything that is wrong with making movies."
Moving to Middle-Earth
Mexican-born Guillermo del Toro, who has relocated his family to New Zealand for the four-year production span of The Hobbit, and its as-yet untitled sequel, says he feels instinctively at home in New Zealand’s untouched wilderness and Kiwi way of life.
"When I arrived, I had a sense of arriving to an absolutely unique place and everyday here confirms in my mind that this country is unspoiled by so many things," del Toro said.
"I think this is paradise on earth. The people and the food are fantastic! The people in New Zealand are cultured and well rounded and have a great sense of film, literature and music and have a beautiful attitude towards life."
Monster creative drive
Del Toro - whose childhood fascination with monsters has fed a movie-making career that has led him to be regarded as one of the most innovative and creative directors working today - says he feels a kinship with Peter Jackson, whose similar obsessions helped create The Lord of the Rings.
"I love monsters. Some people love movie stars, I love monsters and I have been obsessed with them all my life. Peter Jackson is a gigantic geek and seeing his collection of horrible monsters, it is even bigger than mine. Mine just look like trinkets compared to his. I have monster envy."
As well as film directing, del Toro is an author. His latest novel The Strain has appeared on the New York Times best-seller list.
Video news release:
Interview with Guillermo del Toro on The Hobbit movies
More information
Set jetting in New Zealand
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