Tag Archives: The Hobbit production video

More ‘Hobbit 2’ production vlogs!

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Peter Jackson’s Hobbit sequel The Desolation of Smaug finally arrived in theatres on Friday and the behind-the-scenes production video blogs are still rolling in. Hanging above you’ll find vlog #13 featuring footage from scene pickups, a look into the dragon Smaug’s design, last-minute sound mixing, an introduction to Stephen Fry’s character, and you’ll get to witness Martin Freeman’s mad ping pong skills. After the break resides vlog #12 which came out last month and that one provides an inside look at post-production, more pickups, and it introduces fans to Jackson’s long-time collaborator Christian Rivers who took over as second-unit director when Andy Serkis was away shooting the next Planet of the Apes movie.

Jackson teases one more vlog on the way that will take place inside Wellington Town Hall where the movie’s grand score was recorded. Before you head out to see The Desolation of Smaug take a walk down memory lane and revisit the illuminating behind-the-scenes Hobbit vlogs dropped over the course of the last couple years. Continue reading More ‘Hobbit 2’ production vlogs! →

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #11: Peter Jackson confirms no ‘Smaug’ at Comic Con

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It’s been a long while since we last heard from director Peter Jackson in a Hobbit production diary vlog; but just like he promised he returned to preview the next movie in The Hobbit trilogy. To start things off, Jackson delivered rather unfortunate news that The Desolation of Smaug will not make an appearance at Comic Con later this month. His crew and the stars will all be busy as the next two films are still in production and Jackson admits that he simply doesn’t have time to shift focus on preparing a sizzle reel for fans at the moment. With that said, our guide takes us back to Middle Earth for pickups. Though prinicipal photography wrapped in July of last year, the director explains that the gang was required to get back together to re-shoot certain scenes and additional footage that previously couldn’t be done due to factors like bad weather and other unforeseen circumstances. “It’s a reunion of people, props, and sets,” he says. He goes on to mention the upcoming Battle of Five Armies featuring the dwarves coming in the third pic There And Back Again, and we also get to hear from the luminous Evangeline Lilly who plays the elf Tauriel.

Like the rest before, this production vlog is jam-packed with all sorts of Hobbit goodness for fans to scan and devour. Witness locations, sets, costumes, and characters come back to life in this vlog all about pickups. And stay tuned; Jackson hints at another diary coming soon when pickup shooting concludes. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hits theatres December 13.

Editor’s Note: The tenth and final Hobbit production diary that covers the days and hours leading up to and including the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is posted after the break in case you missed it, like me. Continue reading ‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #11: Peter Jackson confirms no ‘Smaug’ at Comic Con →

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #9

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Believe it or not but Peter Jackson is back with yet another Hobbit production vlog as the movie premiere is only four days away. Number nine focuses on the post-production process, specifically shining light on the work that goes into the special effects and sound design. Jackson leads a tour through the Park Road Post Production house in Wellington, New Zealand and we even get to travel 18,331 miles to the UK where the Hobbit soundtrack is perfected with a full orchestra in tow at Abbey Road Studios.

Jackson says that post is “due to be completed two days before the premiere, hopefully.” Though this rolls off his tongue playfully, I don’t think he is joking. It’s full speed ahead for Jackson and his talented team of animators and composers; An Unexpected Journey premieres this Wednesday, November 28 in New Zealand and then it comes to the States December 14. A tenth vlog is teased at the end, one that will take fans to the movie’s big Wellington premiere.

Editor’s note: In the craze known as Comic Con I must have missed vlog #8 and never posted it. I made sure to embed it after the break in case you missed it, too. In it Jackson takes us to San Diego and presents the Hobbit footage he screened in front of a packed panel. Continue reading ‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #9 →

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #7

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The seventh video blog that takes us behind-the-scenes of Peter Jackson’s upcoming Hobbit films has arrived! While the last two vlogs took us on a location shooting adventure, this one gives us a grand tour of Stonestreet Studios in Wellington, New Zealand. In fourteen minutes you’ll travel the length of the studio that includes the production offices, a giant trailer park that many of the actors call home, major departments such as hair and make-up, costume, art and the Weta workshop that creates the film’s props. Just like the vlogs that came before it, this one features insight from Jackson along with many members of the hardworking cast and crew. With The Hobbit parts 1 and 2 wrapping in just “a few weeks time” Jackson says that he will output one final vlog shortly thereafter, so we can all look forward to that!

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theatres December 14, 2012.

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #6

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While this new production video from The Hobbit isn’t as revealing as those in the past, this one is certainly the most beautiful. In this sixth installment, you’ll travel all around the stunning landscapes New Zealand has to offer and you’ll hear from director Peter Jackson, 2nd unit director Andy Serkis (who also plays Gollum), star Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), and many other members of the hardworking cast and crew. Jackson shares that production on the two films has passed the halfway point (day 127).

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theatres December 14, 2012.

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #5

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Shortly after releasing the very first trailer for The Hobbit, director Peter Jackson uploaded a fifth production video. This one focuses on “the logistics of location shooting.” It shows how the massive production team establishes the beautiful landscapes of Middle Earth in New Zealand. After 110 days of shooting indoors, the team finally ventured outside to recreate Hobbiton, the tranquil neighborhood of hobbits such as Bilbo and Frodo Baggins. “It’s weird when you come back to a place that you literally thought you’d never see again,” says Jackson. Elijah Wood also feels nostalgic stepping back into the town of Bag End. “I’ll never forget that feeling of coming to Hobbiton for the first time.”

When the Hobbit huts were originally built in 1999 for the Lord of the Rings films, they were constructed with polystyrene and later torn down when filming completed. This time around, the construction crew rebuilt all the Hobbit holes using real wood, stone, and brick. Now they won’t deteriorate as fast and fans of the books and movies can schedule tours and visit the set. In the video you’ll even see that the Prime Minister of New Zealand approves!

At the end of the clip Jackson teases that there’s more to this location shooting-themed video diary; part two is coming in 2012. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theatres December 14, 2012.

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #4

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Peter Jackson is at the very top of my list of people who are awesome. The behind the scenes video diaries he’s been churning out from the set of the upcoming two-part prequel The Hobbit are simply fascinating. The theme of the fourth vlog is 3D filmmaking. Jackson and his crew are shooting The Hobbit in 3D using RED EPIC cameras and 3ality lenses. The camera department is home to a grand total of 48 RED EPIC cameras on 17 3D rigs. Interestingly, all of the different camera rigs are named after Jackon’s family members and inspirations. All of the scenes from the film are being shot at 48 frames per second at 5K resolution for a more realistic and immersive picture. The diary explains how everything from the set design to makeup is affected by the way in which the high-res 3D camera rigs pick up colors and tones. Oh and get this–even the concept art is drawn in 3D with red and blue colored pencils! Go behind the scenes with Jackson in the video above. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey releases December 14, and part two subtitled There and Back Again comes out one year later.

‘The Hobbit’ production vlog #2

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Here’s another fascinating look behind the scenes of Peter Jackson’s upcoming prequel The Hobbit. In it the famed director talks to the actors and production crew behind the making of the expansive project, and you get a feel for just how far they’ve come since they broke ground in the first production video. Things seem to be going splendidly in New Zealand. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey releases December 14, 2012; part two–There and Back Again–follows exactly one year later.

‘The Hobbit’ begins production, here’s a look behind the scenes

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Director Peter Jackson returns us to Middle-earth in this rather candid vlog that was released onto the web just earlier today. Though we aren’t privy to specific plot elements, this behind the scenes production video from The Hobbit gives us a glimpse into the weapons and costume work, stunt preparation, and it shows off a number of set designs, many of which are carbon copies from the Lord of the Rings trilogy. We even get to see the cast and crew kick off day one of production in New Zealand. Stars Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, and Martin Freeman pop up here and there to provide some insight into what goes on during blocking and rehearsing. Let’s hope that ten-minute vlog sessions like this one become a recurring thing for fans hotly anticipating the Lord of the Rings prequel movies. Part 1 of The Hobbit is due out next year.