I was going to JRRT film premieres before it was cool

[tyellas]

Two weeks out from the first installment of The Hobbit, Wellington is officially bonkers. Official events include:

* Banners everywhere promoting The Hobbit
* Hobbit silhouettes on the post office building
* Bag End door installation at Wellington Embassy theater
* Gollum installation at airport
* Traffic blocked/cut off downtown on day of movie

Comments

[danjite]

Workplace rights? Those are only for employees, of which Weta has literally almost none.

Weta has contractors.

[tyellas]

So nobody has a "dream job" at Weta, then...just a contract!

[perelleth]

Yes, as Danjita said.

I suppose it was different with the first films,, they all felt part of something simply big, and part of that fandom too, and now they're just slaves for big money. That's how it is.

[tyellas]

Despite these unhappy labour practices, Weta do seem to be delivering the fan-delighting goods so far. They must have kidnapped a Tolkien fan and dissected them and run neurological tests to create a theme song that would play on our heartstrings. I've been compelled to listen to the Neil Finn song 17 times. They even put anvil sounds in it.

[perelleth]

sorry,, that was me. forgot to log in.. ;-)

[teaforme]

Wow. I can't wait for the film but all that commercial stuff seems pretty overwhelming.

I hope that the magic hasn't gone out of it completely, and that the people creating it aren't being treated as slaves. That is a depressing thought.

[tyellas]

Am currently dealing with the dreadful conundrum that a) the contractors are being overworked/treated badly in cases and b) the creative results do seem to be evocatively magical and making my fandom heartstrings thrum. I'm reminded of the paradox in Ursula Le Guin's story, "The Ones who Walk Away from Omelas."

[khaybee]

Don't forget the hobbit themed baggage claim at the airport! We should go take your photo with the "Bilbo Baggins eyes" sometime soon!

[tyellas]

I'll get the elf gown out! Thank GOD for stretch velvet, I say....