100% Middle-earth,100% Pure New Zealand will underpin Tourism
New Zealand's (TNZ) campaign work to promote New Zealand as a
visitor destination through its association with the upcoming film
releases of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The
Hobbit: There and Back Again, productions of New Line Cinema
and MGM.
A sneak preview of the creative territory was available to
delegates at TRENZ 2012, the tourism industry's annual trade
fair.
Tourism New Zealand's Chief Executive Kevin Bowler says the
films will once again put New Zealand's spectacular landscapes in
front of movie lovers world-wide.
"Our aim is to take advantage of that global profile by showing
how easily the fantasy of The Hobbit movies can become reality in
the form of a New Zealand holiday."
Mr Bowler says TNZ continues to work closely with Warner Bros.
Pictures, New Line Cinema, MGM, and Sir Peter Jackson's Wingnut
Films to maximise the opportunities offered by global interest in
the films.
"As a result, we will be using "100% Middle-earth, 100% Pure New
Zealand," in our marketing.
"Many movie goers would probably consider the landscapes of
'Middle-earth' to be a fantasy, only made possible thanks to the
talents of film makers. Not so.
"Through our marketing work, we aim to show potential travellers
that the fantasy of Middle-earth is in fact the reality of New
Zealand - and that there is a whole world of experiences to
be had and people to meet within the movie-scene style
landscapes."
Tourism New Zealand's displays at TRENZ demonstrated how scenes
and events from The Lord of the Rings movies translated into actual
experiences within New Zealand landscapes.
"As we work to leverage The Hobbit: An Unexpected
Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back again, we will
connect the landscapes of Middle-earth with the experiences of New
Zealand.
"Through our marketing activity we will show how easy it is to
come here, see Middle-earth first-hand, and enjoy all the exciting
and fun experiences New Zealand has to offer."
Mr Bowler says association with The Hobbit movies also
offered New Zealand a wider opportunity to enhance its
international profile as an innovative and creative nation, and as
a great place to make films and do business. A number of government
agencies were working together to build a complete 'New Zealand
story' covering the tourism, film, and business sectors.
Background
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes The
Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of two films adapting
the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R.
Tolkien. The adventure follows the journey of title character
Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost
Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug.
Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo
finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the
legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will
take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with
Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and
Sorcerers.
Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey and Martin Freeman
stars in the central role of Bilbo Baggins. The ensemble cast
also includes (in alphabetical order) Richard Armitage, John Bell,
Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen,
Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Ian Holm, Peter
Hambleton, Barry Humphries, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher,
Evangeline Lilly, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish,
Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O'Gorman, Christopher Lee, Lee
Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Andy Serkis, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott,
Jeffrey Thomas, Aidan Turner, Hugo Weaving and Elijah Wood.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is directed by Peter
Jackson from a screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Guillermo
del Toro and Jackson. Jackson is also producing the film,
together with Zane Weiner, Fran Walsh and Carolynne
Cunningham. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Ken
Kamins, Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens serving as
co-producer.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is a production of
New Line Cinema and MGM, with New Line managing production.
Warner Bros Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution,
with select international territories, as well as all international
television licensing being handled by MGM. The Hobbit: An
Unexpected Journey will be released beginning December 14,
2012, and the second film, The Hobbit: There and Back
Again, beginning December 13, 2013. Both films will be
released in 3D and 2D in select theatres and IMAX. www.thehobbitanunexpectedjourney.co.uk