Maciek Osika, of Poland, earns a little cash while working
on his goblin impression on the Queenstown waterfront.
Photo by Joe Dodgshun.
Lack of luck so far in becoming an extra in
The
Hobbit has not deterred Polish visitor Maciek Osika, who
yesterday took to the streets of Queenstown in goblin attire.
The 29-year-old tour guide from Krakow travelled to New
Zealand at the end of November to try to become a goblin
extra in the filming of the forerunner to the Lord of the
Rings.
An avid fan of the books - he has read them 20 times in four
languages - Sir Peter Jackson's movies and a speaker of
Elvish since high school, Mr Osika has not been able to
become an extra, due to problems obtaining a New Zealand work
visa.
"Until February, I can't do anything officially, but if I
know I'll be an extra I can get my forms done on February 15,
I can get my visa and then I am ready to goblin," Mr Osika
said with a grin.
While filming of The Hobbit takes a break, he is
making the most of his respite from marauding the streets of
Wellington by touring southern locations used in the film
trilogy.
The tour of the South will take him to Te Anau, Doubtful
Sound and Twizel, before he returns to Wellington.
He hopes the publicity caused by his "goblining", with
recycled scrap metal armour, boot polish and contact lenses,
will catch the eye of Sir Peter Jackson and his team.
In the meantime, donations to his goblin's treasure chest are
helping his trip along.
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