From: B.Hamilton@irl.cri.nz (Bruce Hamilton)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.books.tolkien
Subject: LotR Film Extras being sought - progress report
Date: Sat, 30 Jan 1999 21:10:30 GMT
Message-ID: <36b368f3.270551943@Newshost.comnet.co.nz>


As I live about 100 metres from Peter Jackson's studios in Miramar,
Wellington, our local papers tend to offer progress reports fairly
frequently. I briefly scanned a few of the posts to this group and
a.f.t, to ensure that I would not be needlessly duplicating previous
posts, but there may be WWW sites where this information is readily
available. Let me know, and I'll not litter.

The papers note that the film will require 15,000 extras. There
was some concern in senior NZ Army sources when comments were
made that PJ make ask for soldiers as extras - given that some
of the film is likely to be shot near the central North Island
army base of Waiouru, although a large amount of the film is
also expected to be filmed in the South Island. 
Preliminary interviews have been started by the Auckland-based
talent agency Model Pool for the Wellington extras on 29-31/1/99
( 0900-1800 daily at Four E Dance Studio, 8 Fifeshire Ave, off
Cambridge Tce, central Wellington ). Candidates are measured
and photographed, and identified as a potential elf, hobbit,
orc, urak, rohan, dwarf, horse-rider, or "special". Apparently
65 candidates turned up during the first hour.

The agency is looking for very short or tall and slender people,
experienced horse-riders, and exotic, Maori or Polynesian males
with solid, rugby-type builds.

There has been intense media speculation about the lead roles,
but their announcements are expected to be first made in the
US, where the financial backers are based. Danny de Vito ( Bilbo
Baggins ) and Sean Connery ( Gandalf ) have been mentioned locally.

For North American readers,
- Yes, New Zealand does have strongly enforced employment legislation
  that precludes selecting people based on race, size, age, gender, or
  disability ( provided they can perform the work ) - however there
  obviously are exceptions for films, theatre etc., so there are no
  "PC" casting constraints imposed on the casting.
- Maori are the indigenous people ( polynesians who arrived in NZ
  around 1200 years ago )
- Polynesians are the neighbouring Pacific Island people, many of whom
  have arrived in NZ in the last 30 years, making Auckland the largest
  polynesian city in the world.
- Rugby is NZ's national sport, it's 15-a-side game with an oval ball
  played on a field with goal-posts at each end. Grid Iron is nearest
  US equivalent, but rules are quite different. The game is played with
  minimal padding, consequently being around 5'8" - 6'4" and over
  200 lbs is very useful when playing.

     Bruce Hamilton