30 August 2000
Source: The Nelson Mail
Star-spotters would have been in
heaven at Takaka Aerodrome yesterday, as Lord of the Rings stars
Elijah Wood and Sean Astin prepared to start their first day of
filming in the Golden Bay area.
Several core cast members were seen at the aerodrome, including
Wood, Astin, Sean Bean and Orlando Bloom.
Scenes were shot yesterday at Mt Olympus in Kahurangi National
Park, and Canaan Downs on Takaka Hill, depicting the journey of
the heroes across Middle Earth in The Fellowship of the Ring,
part one of the trilogy.
The filming location changed at short notice to Canaan Downs,
the former site of the Gathering dance party, after conditions
became unsafe on Mt Olympus.
Publicist Claire Raskind said filming today would take place at
a Takaka Hill location.
The location change had not affected the filming schedule, as
there were still "a couple of days left to play with",
she said.
Acclaimed New Zealand director Peter Jackson and producer Barrie
Osborne, who produced the hit science-fiction film The Matrix,
were on location.
Wood, who has starred in Deep Impact and The War, is playing Frodo
Baggins, a young hobbit who inherits a magic ring and finds himself
on a quest to save Middle Earth from the forces of evil.
Wood and fellow American actor Sean Astin were seen getting into
a helicopter at the aerodrome to be taken to Mt Olympus yesterday
morning.
Astin plays Sam Gamgee, Frodo's most faithful friend.
He gained attention in the 1985 film The Goonies, and has since
starred in many television and film productions, including Memphis
Belle, Rudy and Courage Under Fire.
British actor Bean, who plays the warrior Boromir, has starred
in Golden Eye with Pierce Brosnan, Patriot Games, Ronin and The
Field.
The lesser-known Bloom plays Legolas, a valiant elf who joins
Frodo's quest.
Golden Bay tourism and accommodation operators were tight-lipped
this morning about whether Lord of the Rings cast and crew members
were there.
It is understood that some of the crew were staying in caravans
at the Takaka aerodrome.