In anticipation of the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, the
central instalment in writer/director/producer Peter Jackson's epic trilogy
based on the J.R.R. Tolkien masterpiece, Te Papa proudly announces a world
exclusive and a bold and innovative museum experience: The Lord of the Rings
Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition, opening on 19 December.
The exhibition has been developed over two years in conjunction with New
Line Cinema, the producers of the film trilogy. Te Papa has been granted
exclusive rights to produce this museum exhibition which will be toured
internationally after its season at Te Papa to the Science Museum, London;
Science Museum, Boston; Science Museum, Singapore and the Powerhouse Museum,
Sydney.
The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition will be
interactive and immersive. It will give visitors to Te Papa a unique
opportunity to explore the fantastic world created for the film trilogy and
the groundbreaking technology behind the movies.
The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition features film
footage, props, costumes and artefacts from the movies, including armoury,
animatronics and miniatures, as well as computer and mechanical
interactives. Also featured are exclusive interviews with the cast, crew and
director of the films.
Visitors will be transported into the world of Middle-earth. They will be
met by the main characters including Frodo and his hobbit companions, the
wizards and other magical creatures, the Black Riders, the cultures of
Middle-earth, the monstrous creations of evil and the warriors. All dressed
in the actual costumes used in the films.
Using a variety of devices, the major technological and thematic aspects of
the films will be explored.
The exhibition will also enable visitors to enjoy first hand some of the
films special effects. For example, a section dealing with scaling explores
how the film-makers made normal actors appear to be hobbit or wizard-sized
using an ingenious mix of trick photography, forced perspective sets and
props made at different scales. Visitors can experience this by being
photographed in a set from the film and see how the technology works.
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Visitors can also team up in an interactive which demonstrates how live
action and carefully controlled miniature photography are combined to make
many of the most impressive scenes from the films. One participant is
filmed against a blue screen while another controls a camera which tracks
over a miniature of the stairs of Moria. The two images are combined,
placing the visitor 'in the scene'.
The exhibition culminates in an immersive encounter with the Ring itself. In
the middle of a dark, atmospheric space is the central icon from the films,
and visitors will hear and see faces and voices of the stories main
characters urging Frodo to use or destroy the ring or return it to its
master....
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will also be able to touch some of the
actual weaponry, armour and costumes that have been used in the film.
"Te Papa is thrilled to bring to the public of New Zealand and then
international audiences the wonderful, ground breaking creativity of Peter
Jackson and his team", said Te Papa's Acting Chief Executive, Pat Stuart,
today. "It's a fascinating story on so many levels and says much about the
great talent in this country. It is fitting that New Zealand audiences will
be the first to go 'behind-the-scenes' and see the creation of these epic
films, Pat Stuart said."
The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy - The Exhibition opens at Te
Papa on 19 December 2002. Admission charges apply. A contribution will be
made to the Embassy Theatre Trust.
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