Images: Lord Of The Rings Exhibition At Te Papa

FRODO
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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.

ARWEN
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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.

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'.

LEGOLAS
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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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