Peter Jackson Back to Middle-Earth and the Behind Scenes of The Hobbit

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I think we can all agree that The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most visually stunning films out there. Setting aside the computer graphics and looking at the landscape alone is enough to make one’s jaw drop. The reality of Earth is much more awe inspiring than seeing computer generated images of the Earth anyway. Peter Jackson is about to wow us again with the incredible world he has created for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and There and Back Again.

Jackson gives us a glimpse into the world of Tolkien come to life through his Facebook production blog. Here you get a tour of New Zealand where they are shooting the second part of The Hobbit movie (The Hobbit: There and Back Again) which will be released in 2013. Jackson takes you on several locations giving viewers an inside look at the production crew and cast as they film scenes for the new movie. Unfortunately Jackson does not reveal anything about the plot, not that it matters because those of us who have already read all the books are quite familiar with the journey Bilbo Baggins takes.

The blog does give you a unique look at the behind the scenes goings on other than the usual gag reel or “this is how we created the graphics for this scene” kind of featurette. Although I’m sure you will be able to find those interesting bits as well, Jackson focuses on the work that goes in to creating our beloved novels. He talks about the second crew that travels around New Zealand, mostly in a helicopter in order to get some of the landscape footage that is nearly impossible to shoot while he works with the actors. It also takes a look at the catering, and how much food is produced during production days – they went through a ton of oranges! Literally a ton.

This inside scoop truly is a unique look at what it really takes to create a movie. Of course you get a look at the actors and all the shenanigans that goes on behind the scenes as well but if you’ve ever wondered what exactly it would be like to work on a set, this is a great chance to see into that world. It is quite fascinating to glimpse how much organization goes in to such a huge movie. All we see as the audience is the end product but there really is much more to know about a movie set. At one point the IT crew talks about having to rely on satellite technology to connect with all the teams on location. They mention using six kilometres of cable in order to connect with the crew, the second Unit and Mr. Jackson’s team. That’s a lot of cable!

Jackson also highlights some of the perils of working on location such as uneven landscapes, building bridges in certain locations to avoid destroying vegetation and weather conditions that threaten precious filming hours. Overall the blog is an amazing look into the film world and it’s definitely worth a viewing. Check out Peter Jackson’s production blog on his Facebook page and don’t forget to catch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey when it hits theatres December 14th 2012.