The world's eyes will be on New Zealand over the next 24
months, thanks to The Hobbit; and it is time to
promote the country as the place to visit, do business and
shoot more films on location, Tourism New Zealand says.
Overseas actors working on The Hobbit films are still
protected by union agreements negotiated abroad but New
Zealand film production staff have been "stripped of their
rights", Associate Prof Ian McAndrew, of the University of
Otago, says.
Kiwi director Peter Jackson has hit back at criticism of the
faster frame rates he's using to shoot his two Hobbit films,
saying he's "not going to stop".
Sir Peter Jackson raised concerns in 2010 about immigration
rules required to bring Hobbit film workers into the country
- and the Government gave him an assurance it would intervene
to ensure he would not face problems.
The dramatic natural beauty of Otago is being displayed to
the world by The Hobbit, even before a frame is
presented in cinemas, and regional tourism chiefs could not
be happier.
Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly will join the
world of Middle Earth to play a dwarf warrior in Peter
Jackson's "Hobbit" films, the director said, completing the
casting of the two long-awaited movies.
Tantalising glimpses of Otago landscapes used by the
film-makers shooting The Hobbit appear in another
production video presented by Sir Peter Jackson.
The wait is over for Middle Earth fans - the first Hobbit
trailer has been released. Now they just have to get through
another 12 months until the first of the two films is out.
