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New controversy arises around security guard behavior on LOTR film set - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

August 10, 2000 at 12:28:29

The Evening Post has run a story claiming that a number of incidents with rude or threatening security guards at one of Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings' film sets have been reported.

Tolkien-Movies.Com has published a tip from an anonymous source disputing the allegations, suggesting that the guards are being harrassed by curious and angry people.

The Evening Post reports that Alan Seymour, a New Zealand resident who lives near the recently announced Moonshine Bridge set, has alleged that he was warned off the set by a security guard who could not guarantee his safety due to film crew anger over recent picture in the Evening Post.

Mr. Seymour complained to local authorities, who advised him to complain to Three Foot Six Productions, Mr. Jackson's film company.

Another resident, Paula Lindsay Dutch, is reported as claiming that a security guard blocked her view as she legally observed the filming through a telescope. Local officials say that the public can only be kept out of the area during filming for "health and safety reasons". Presumably, if any dangerous stunt effects are being enacted, or if powerful electrical/mechanical equipment is being operated, there might be a public danger. Surely rabid attacks by angry film crews are not considered a likely source of peril under local laws.