Saturday, November 19, 2011

Hobbit cast and crew due back


Nelsonians can expect to see famous faces from The Hobbit in the region next month, when a larger group of cast and crew members return for more filming.

A chartered plane left Nelson Airport about 1pm yesterday, with about 150 crew members from production company 3 Foot 7 on board.

They had been filming in Golden Bay for a week, after flying down from Taupo last Friday. They filmed at Canaan Downs on the Takaka Hill and other scenic places like Kaihoka Lakes and Mt Owen.

A crew member who was heading to Auckland on a separate flight said the group that left Nelson yesterday was 3 Foot 7's "second unit".

"We had great weather – it's a shame to be leaving. All the crew are quite disappointed," he said.

The man said the main unit had been based in Ranfurly in Dunedin, where the second unit was heading yesterday.

"The main unit goes through first – we're sort of like the mop-up crew," he said.

"We do a lot of helicopter stuff – tricky stuff, aerial shots. Every day is different." The man said the entire crew stayed in Golden Bay and worked from 4.30am to 7pm six days in a row.

He said Nelsonians were "bound to" see some famous faces when the main unit returned in December.

The Nelson Mail

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