Goosebump Time at Sneak Rings Preview
Staff Reporter

Under strict security, cinema owners and distributors from around New Zealand got a sneak preview of 20 minutes from The Lord Of The Rings in Auckland yesterday.

The group of about 150 were shown several scenes from the three films, which left many of them clapping and wishing it had been longer, Roadshow Film Distributors general manager Lisa Hubbard said.

Ms Hubbard said the screening, organised by Roadshow, was to give cinema owners and distributors a taste of what to expect in the $658 million epic directed by Peter Jackson. It was the first time it had been shown to the industry in New Zealand.

Ms Hubbard said the preview was a rough cut, so didn't have all the elements which would be added later, such as music. However it still impressed what is normally a cynical group of people, she said.

"I got goosebumps. The response was overwhelming."

Security was tight at the screening, held at a cinema in the Auckland suburb of Newmarket.

Ms Hubbard said security was needed because of intense interest in the production. It had been the same when the preview was shown to cinema owners and distributors in Australia and United States.