'The Hobbit' Production Diary 5: Peter Jackson's Crew Travels Around New Zealand

Do you love the trailer for "The Hobbit" so much that you just can't stand the thought of leaving Middle Earth? Good news: Peter Jackson has prepared an entire tour of the place as a special Christmas treat.

The Oscar-winning director has released a fifth production video journal detailing the making of his epic "Lord of the Rings" prologue, with this one providing an especially exciting adventure into the world of filmmaking. After getting interior and CGI studio shots, Jackson and crew begin their ascent onto the wilds of New Zealand.

The film uses every climate point of the country's varied landscape, from snowy peaks to dusty deserts, and the video provides a nice look at the massive behind-the-scenes effort that goes into making the film so gorgeous and seamless. But even more impressive than the transportation of props, people, animals and craft services is the entrance into Hobbiton.

The gorgeous little shire, with homes made of real brick and wood built into hills and tracks treaded by barefoot actors, is introduced here, with emotional commentary by Frodo himself, Elijah Wood. It's actually Wood's first visit to Hobbiton after three "Lord of the Rings" films, and thanks to some creative scripting, he'll be able to appear in this film, too.

Also of note is Second Unit Director Andy Serkis, who you know best as Gollum. The motion capture star, who featured this year in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes" and "Tintin," is returning as the deranged ring-greedy creature in "The Hobbit," and is also taking on production duties as he works to become a star director in his own right.

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Comments

[RAMickelsen]

09:52 AM on 12/29/2011

LOTR was the perfect translation to film of an epic triology. The Hobbit looks to be just as good. Once Jackson is done with Tolkein I hope he does Herbert. I don't believe anyone else could do justice to Dune. Past attempts were pathetic.

[SeptimusDSX]

01:41 AM on 12/29/2011

The LOTR (Extended Edition) was among the few movies that did justice to the books. He could have easily made about 10 movies out of it. In fact, that would have been really cool!

[Michael Lee Smyth]

04:23 PM on 12/28/2011

I remember the old Rankin/Bass cartoon that came out when I was a kid. Inspired me to read "The Hobbit". The book made me understand how bad the cartoon was. Looking forward to this movie.

[YeahDonkey]

12:39 PM on 12/28/2011

How high does Frodo look in that picture?

[liveinhope23]

01:11 PM on 12/29/2011

He looks like Jon Anderson of Yes on one of their more adventurous nights :-)

[RedBirdy]

07:48 AM on 12/28/2011

I'm excited!

[gorgol]

06:56 AM on 12/28/2011

Thank you Peter, for letting us go back. I so much want to go back. To be awestruck by your magnificent photography and story telling.

[bob riversmith]

07:47 PM on 12/27/2011

I read the Hobbit and the Trilogy many many years ago ... but the story never fails to charm me.

[TheNextVoiceofYouth]

04:16 PM on 12/27/2011

LOTR had some beautiful and awe-inspiring scenery and it seems the Hobbit will too. Looking forward to the film.

[Kev Bat]

11:07 AM on 12/27/2011

Can't wait !

[triplettam]

10:43 AM on 12/27/2011

A big reason those movies were so great was this attention to detail. Great crew looking like they were having a fine time.

[Catters]

10:25 AM on 12/27/2011

I smell Oscars... and I'm not referring to Oscar Mayer Weiners ...

This movie is going to be epic...

Thank you, Mr. PJ, thank you.

[rich3324]

09:46 AM on 12/27/2011

It looks like the cast and crew work hard and play hard, which is the way to do it.

[Capt X]

05:49 AM on 12/27/2011

That was pretty cool.

Can't wait to see these movies. That last three were true EPICS.

They would have made a HUGE mistake letting another director do the next two.

[mirabay]

03:46 AM on 12/27/2011

funny how they are doing the first book last............for all the non-readers the LOTR must have been a little confusing...........why did they wait until the last movie to talk about how the ring came about............love the books and love the movies.........

[zorkas]

09:27 AM on 12/27/2011

look at Star Wars . They did the same but didnt do it as well .

[Alvarask]

09:40 PM on 12/27/2011

I'm not sure what you mean. The creation of the rings of power is told at the beginning of the first film, The Fellowship of the Ring.

[mirabay]

03:44 AM on 12/27/2011

LOTR was under-hyped and well under-rated­. That's right, I said it