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Wellington Evening Post
September 18, 1999Lips Sealed Over Seatoun Village Set
Simon Beattie
A sleepy village in Middle Earth? Or maybe just an elaborate
set for a Wellington high school production of Shakespeare? Fingers are pointing to what
appears to be a film set being built at the back of Fort Dorset in Seatoun as belonging to
Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Shooting on the $360 million project begins
on October 11, but a Jackson spokeswoman, Sian Clement, wouldn't comment today on any
shooting locations.
Most of the trilogy's details have been kept under a heavy
veil of secrecy, including casting. But Ms. Clement did confirm that one of the star
signings, actor Elijah Wood, is in Wellington awaiting filming for his role as
hairy-footed hobbit Frodo Baggins. "Yes, he's here and busy in training," she
said.
Other reported locations for filming of the epic project
include the countryside west of Masterton with its native bush. Producers are understood
to need hundreds of horses and riders for South Island scenes involving the Riders of
Rohan. Meanwhile, Wellington actor Brian Sergent (Braindead, Market Forces) is understood
to be one of the first New Zealanders picked for a significant speaking part. He will play
Ted Sandyman. |