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Is Middle Earth In You?

Through the Misty Mountains, over the Pelennor Fields of Minas Tirith, running through the forests of Terabithia, where you will find the wardrobe which leads to Narina and you will find the indigenous population of Nambi. All of these refer to films that have been produced in New Zealand with the help of Weta Workshop. Even though New Zealand is a small country we still have strong actors who have featured in large productions, locations in which these films have been filmed at and the company which made this successful (Weta Workshop) are all contributing to helping New Zealand film industry make it out in the world.

Of course major films could not have happened without the help of some kiwi actors and directors. For example Peter Jackson is the most well known New Zealand director. Jackson rose to fame all over the world when he directed one of the biggest film productions in New Zealand History. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Also the newly made King Kong movie and The Lovely Bones. Not forgetting the most important people who make this film happen. Karl Urban is just one of the few actors in New Zealand who got to star in the Lord of the Rings. Urban played Eomer, Prince of the Rohan army. Urban has starred in other productions including

Shortland Street

. Craig Parker has also followed in Urbans footsteps starring in both Shorthand Street and Lord of the Rings as Haldir, who himself and 200 elves assisted Rohan in the battle of Helms Deep.So I believe that not only were these people famous in New Zealand, but after these films were released they became well known all over the world.

With the help of Peter Jackson major films have been produced in New Zealand. For example Lord of the Rings directed by Peter Jackson was filmed in New Zealand. After lord of the rings was released, the tourism activity rose majorly due to everyone wanting to see the locations in which these films were filmed at. Casting was just not aimed at international actors but also aimed at New Zealand actors including Karl Urban and Craig Parker. The Chronicles of Narnia the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe plus Prince Caspian was also filmed in New Zealand. Both of the Narnia films were produced by a New Zealand director (Adam Adamson). Out of the blue is based on a true story and is about the Aramoana massacre. About a man (David Grey) who went on a killing massacre and murdered 13 people including a local police officer in charge of the incident. This massacre occurred not far from Dunedin. In my view Lord of the Rings is New Zealand biggest film produced here. Also Narnia and Out of the Blue were great films that have helped take New Zealand film industry out in the world.

The most unique thing about New Zealand is the vast landscape of New Zealand. With the help of films,  New Zealnds tourist activity has increased due to the wonderful scenery. Lord of the Rings hometown is Hobbiton which is in Matamata, the unique landscape of Matamata made it possible to create the Shire and the homes of the Halflings. Also another great location used in the film making process was home of the film industry (Wellington). Wellington was used for many scenes including the birth place of Helms Deep and Minas Tirith which are both huge film sets in the film. One of the most noticeable areas which have been used in the Chronicles of Narina: Prince Caspian was Cathedral Cove which is in the reserve of the Coromandel Peninsula. This is a very popular tourist attraction which attracts around 150,000 tourists each year.I believe that locations like these are unavailable anywhere else in the world. These places are untouchable.

The company who has made these films possible like Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia and Bridge to Terabithia has been Weta Workshop. Weta Workshop has been the real reason why New Zealand’s film industry is booming.

Weta Workshop played a huge role in Lord of the Rings with the help of Richard Taylor who is the creator of the company. Weta workshop assisted with the design of the costumes, special makeup FX and prosthetics used for the foul creatures of middle earth, armour, weapons and miniatures used to seem like the real thing. One of the biggest and expensive films of all time was Avatar. Weta Workshop helped with designing the specialty costumes and weapons. The design studio has become more popular due to Avatar.Weta Workshop has won so many awards for its part in helping these films come to life. I believe that if it wasn’t for Weta Workshop New Zealand would not be as far as it is today.

In conclusion New Zealand film industry has been massive all over the world due to the lovely and heroic actors we have, such determined directors to make sure everything is perfect, the most vast landscape in all over the world and New Zealand’s biggest film studio which was once a small office but now plays a major role in helping bring films together. At the moment Weta Workshop and Peter Jackson are now working on the prequel of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit. This will have two parts to it all in 3D. So as it so happens New Zealand is home of Middle Earth!!!!.