Disclosure: I was invited to a media preview of The Book of New Zealand. All thoughts are my own. #TheHobbitEvent
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is holding the top spot at the box office right now and I'm so thrilled to share some behind-the-scenes fun with Warner Bros. and Tourism New Zealand. I traveled to Middle-earth by way of a life-size breathtaking pop-up book at the Beverly Hilton a couple weeks ago. I was super excited to hang out with my friend Jachel (who happened to follow me on Instagram and read my blog) - we were treated to a lovely lunch, learned a little more about the trilogy, Kili & Fili surprised us with a quick visit and then we were off to experience New Zealand. I'm not sure what I was expecting, I visit museums and galleries so I know details... the original props from the films are stunning in person. Enough of my talking - see my photos!
Dwarves from The Hobbit Kili (Aidan Turner) and Fili (Dean O’Gorman)
Hidden Bay – Turoa, Ohakune
The prominent head of Thror from the set of The Hobbit Trilogy stands guard at the entrance to the Lonely Mountain, set against the moody skies and grassy slopes of Turoa on Mount Ruapehu.
Laketown – Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook
Walk through the set of Laketown where you can stop on a bridge crossing over the lake and admire Mt Cook’s snowy peaks which gleam over the pristine Lake Pukaki in the village background.
Beorn’s House – Paradise, Queenstown
Step into the set of Beorn’s house, and be dwarfed as you climb up onto his magnificently carved chair and admire his view out the window onto the majestic Paradise valley in Queenstown.
Me in Beorn's!
Very short interview with one of the amazing set painters from The Hobbit Trilogy, Kathryn Lim!
Here are some interesting numbers from The Hobbit:
5 hours to complete hair, make-up, prosthetics and wardrobe for each of the 13 Dwarves
14 tons of silicone to mold all of the armor and weapons for all cultures
547 traveling weapons for the 13 Dwarves
752 wigs. Nearly everyone in the film is wigged
170,000 punched aluminum gold plated coins trickled over Smaug's LairLabels: Air New Zealand, Beverly Hills Hilton, Book of New Zealand, Desolation Of Smaug, Middle-earth, The Hobbit, The Hobbit Event, Tourism New Zealand
