This graphic released Monday, Oct. 8, 2012 by Wellington City Council shows a logo designed by Daniel Reeve, an artist who worked on the cartography and calligraphy for “The Hobbit” trilogy. New Zealand’s capital is preparing for the world premiere of the opening film in “The Hobbit” trilogy by showcasing an artisan festival selling all manner of small-folk paraphernalia, laying a red carpet that will extend 500 yards through central Wellington and even renaming the city itself after the trilogy’s fictional setting of Middle-earth. Wellington is planning to spend 1.1 million New Zealand dollars ($900,000) to mark the Nov. 28 premiere of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” at the Embassy Theatre. It’s a fitting venue for the movie directed by Wellington resident Peter Jackson and filmed throughout New Zealand. (AP Photo/Wellington City Council)
WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Perhaps hairy-footed hobbits can teach us all something about safety.
Most regular travellers pay little attention to those snooze-inducing inflight safety videos. But Air New Zealand has found some magic by celebrating the upcoming premiere of the first in the “Hobbit” movie trilogy.
The airline’s four-minute safety video featuring the character Gollum and film director Peter Jackson got more than 2 million hits on YouTube within a day of being posted Thursday. The carrier calls itself “the airline of Middle-earth” and cabin staff appear in the clip as film characters.
The hobbits themselves would be proud. After all, author J.R.R. Tolkien created the mythical creatures as risk-averse.
Two of the author’s great-grandsons even make cameos. Royd Tolkien appears wearing prosthetic feet.
Big and hairy, of course.