Peter Jackson describes trials of filming 'The Hobbit'
- By Zhang Rui
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, February 20, 2014
Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson said at the Beijing premiere for his latest installment of "The Hobbit" on Wednesday that filming the trilogy was so hard he would often have nightmares.
|
|
|
A poster of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" [Photo/Mtime.com] |
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," the second film of the Hobbit trilogy will debut nationwide in China on Feb. 21.
"The 18 months of filming were very difficult," Jackson said in a phone interview, "So you always hope to have actors who can stay there, have good strength and keep in good shape. Yes, this time around we had a great cast and a smooth communication. But you would be surrounded by different problems every day, so the maintenance of your brain was very important -- aside from your physical strength."
Jackson said he was highly anticipating the filming every day and would often get to the point of feeling that innate excitement. "But during the filming period, I would always dream, not good dreams, but nightmares. I felt very nervous when shooting different films and was afraid of any mistakes and problems which might damage the filming. Of course, after everything was done with, I would go back to normal and no longer have these nightmares."
Jackson, who was absent from the Chinese premiere, sent a video message to fans, saying he was busy doing the postproduction for "The Hobbit 3" in New Zealand and could not go anywhere. But he hoped Chinese fans would thoroughly enjoy the movie.
The movie, adapted from J.R.R Tolkien's novel created in 1937, depicts the home-loving hobbit Bilbo Baggins' adventure throughout his journey across the wildlands and his quest for a treasure guarded by a dragon called Smaug.
The new film's another major attractions are actors Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Benedict Cumberbatch, the voice of Smaug. The two are currently popular in China for starring in British TV drama "Sherlock."
The Chinese market contributed about one third of global box office revenues for "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," the first one in the franchise. During the first ten days of its screening in China in February 2013, it made 250 million yuan (US$39 million).
"People love the trilogy for their entertainment value; that's my best achievement," Jackson said, "When I make films, I don't want to use them to change the world, but to make the world a more enjoyable place." Yet Jackson has already changed the world of movie production: his "The Lord of The Rings" trilogy is considered legendary in modern filmmaking history.
"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" has thus far grossed US$860 million worldwide since its debut in December 2013 in most major markets, including North America. The film will have another box office push when it opens in China.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)