Friday, May 18, 2012

from Wellywood to Hollywood - King Kong 360 3-D now open at Universal Studios

The ship Venture berthed at Miramar wharf 2005-2010 and the model used to make the movie, now at Universal Studios, Hollywood.
Made in Wellywood, a.k.a. Weta Workshops, Miramar, Wellington, and now a revamped feature on the Universal Studios tour, with a intro video by PJ himself, so the two of us in LA went to check it out. website
Also on the tour is the SS Venture model used to make the movie on a soundstage on the Miramar peninsular.

Although it is often reported that the ship called Venture that was tied up at Miramar wharf for 5 years - and now lying 1.7 km below the waters of Cook Strait - was used in the movie, it wasn't: a model was used instead.  We understand that the ship was expensively converted for the movie, but it was found that her seaworthiness was considered very much in question after a maiden voyage around the Wellington south coast.
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2 comments:

  1. WallaceMay 18, 2012 1:26 PM

    The day/s she put to sae I saw her from Waikanae beach just north of Kapiti Island.This intrigues me, if she was never used in the movie how on earth did they achieve 1, the scene at the wharf where they all board-meant to be New York and 2,that helicopter shot at sea where she is in full steam, now that looked very realistic, if that is not the real macoy, then cinematic technology is exceptionally convincing.

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  2. transpress nzMay 19, 2012 7:58 AM

    filming was done on a soundstage in the area, the green screen techniques used today can seem quite realistic!

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