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January 26, 2005 - February 02, 2005

News for Feb. 02, 2005

Kong at the Superbowl? Not Happening

2/02/05, 8:46 pm EST - Xoanon

Rumors are making the rounds about a possible King Kong teaser being aired during the Superbowl this Sunday on FOX. Sources at Universal tell us that there will be NOTHING of the kind, and that a decision on when and where we will see our first glimpse of the film has not yet been made. He won't be at the half-time show either.

New York Set Changes Face

2/02/05, 7:04 pm EST - Xoanon

New York set changes face Gandalf writes: A glorious day in the capital today after a fog shrouded harbour yesterday. Not a lot of action visible on the New York set, but changes are noticeable on careful inspection. Notably, there is a lot more snow lying around now and some of the buildings appear to be sporting new names as the set is transformed into different parts of the city for more filming. Just a few photos today, but a quick game of "spot the difference" with earlier shots reveals the poles supporting the elevated tracks are now gone, and among other changes the Burlesque house appears to be a different theatre. [More]

PJ: Geek Chic

2/02/05, 6:59 pm EST - Xoanon

Elanor1013 writes: I was pleased to come across this while traveling--American Airlines has a little snippet in American Way magazine about cool geeks: "Remember when being called a geek was an insult? Now the term geek is tres chic..." They picked PJ as one of their 5 geeks (also including Jon Stewart and Steve Jobs): "Movie Geek: Peter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. He's hairy, he's unfashionable, and he's tech-obsessed, but his magical Rings movies made sci-fi cool for everyone."

'Kong' Cast Says Don't Judge a Movie by its Effects Budget

2/02/05, 9:06 am EST - Celeborn

Just as the film crew traveling to Skull Island in the original 1933 version of "King Kong" had no idea what was in store, Peter Jackson wants to keep moviegoers guessing about his upcoming remake. [Click Here]

News for Feb. 01, 2005

Peter Jackson's hi-tech retro look

2/01/05, 6:51 pm EST - Xoanon

Work is almost complete on a retro facade to Peter Jackson's $55 million hi-tech, post-production facility Park Road Post in Miramar, Wellington. The facade, which includes chimneys and Frank Lloyd Wright-style windows, is reminiscent of a Californian ranch. The style inside reminds some visitors of a boutique hotel. Star Wars director George Lucas owns a hi-tech production facility in California on 1900 hectares. It also features a large historic-looking home. Jackson's, on a much smaller area next to the California Garden Centre, will soon be landscaped with trees and a garden around the driveway. [More]

Miami judge drops charge against King Kong

2/01/05, 6:44 pm EST - Xoanon

MIAMI - From the bench Tuesday, the judge guessed at the headline: "Federal charges dismissed against King Kong." King Kong (his real name) was taken into custody Monday when he came to the courthouse to begin serving a one-year sentence for his role in an alien-smuggling ring. [More]

Production Diary: Day 82

2/01/05, 11:06 am EST - Xoanon

Production Diary: Day 82

Here at KongisKing.net we get tons of emails from people asking how they can become an extra on King Kong. Production Diary 82 gives you that experience! Liz Mullane, NZ Casting Director and a whole team of folks at Big Primate show us the ins and outs of hundreds of extras on the New York Set. Hours before even hearing the words 'Lights, Camera....' these extras are given a costume (one of three that they will switch into), added to the makeup queue and paraded around the set like busy ants going about their business. It's not all glitz and glam that some are led to believe...but it still sounds like fun! Take a look! [QT6 240x132px 7Mb] [QT4 320x176px 12Mb] [QT6 480x264px 16Mb] [Bit Torrents!]

Email us your questions and PJ may answer them in a future Production Diary!

Like what you see? Discuss it in our Chat Room! [Click Here] Or the Message Boards? [Click Here]

News for Jan. 31, 2005

Naomi Watts bares her soul at Sundance

1/31/05, 6:02 pm EST - Xoanon

PARK CITY, Utah -- Naomi Watts, white robe hiked high and face streaked with blood, tumbles hard. Behind her, the iconic Hollywood sign grins like a mouthful of broken teeth. For Watts, the image, from the poster of her Sundance entry Ellie Parker, is indelible. Long before she was tangling with ghoulish girls and giant apes in films such as The Ring and December's King Kong, she was being knocked around by Tinseltown's dream machine, just another blond ragdoll tripping in her pursuit of stardom. [More]

News for Jan. 29, 2005

SFX Mag Talks Greatest Special Effects...EVER

1/29/05, 10:10 am EST - Xoanon

SFX Mag Talks Greatest Special Effects...EVER From SFX: 'We salute the backroom boys with our rundown of the best special effects sequences ever – as suggested by you lot! From 1902’s Le Voyage Dans La Lune to last year’s Spider-Man 2, these are the defining moments of over a hundred years of movie magic.' King Kong is featured on the cover, but what special effect tops the chart at number one?! You'll have to get the magazine to find out! [SFX.com] [Cover]

News for Jan. 28, 2005

Production Diary: Day 77

1/28/05, 8:49 am EST - Xoanon

Production Diary: Day 77

New York City circa 1933 comes alive in present day New Zealand! The first production diary of 2005 gets us knee deep into the NYC set! The extras walk the streets, steam flows out of the sewers; the depression is in full swing! Grant Major and Peter Jackson show every corner and alley of the set, including some of the work that is still ongoing, even with the cameras rolling elsewhere. We get to see some 'mood scenes' being shot, including protesters. Take a look! Oh it is GREAT to have a new production diary to salivate over! [QT6 240x132px 5Mb] [QT4 320x176px 9Mb] [QT6 480x264px 12Mb] [Bit Torrents!]

Email us your questions and PJ may answer them in a future Production Diary!

Like what you see? Discuss it in our new Chat Room! [Click Here] Or the Message Boards? [Click Here]

News for Jan. 27, 2005

Press turns back clock for Kong

1/27/05, 6:10 pm EST - Xoanon

Press turns back clock for Kong The printing press that six days a week rolls out thousands of copies of The Dominion Post has briefly turned its hand to producing The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other Big Apple newspapers. But do not expect them to be home-delivered. The newspapers, which also include the lesser-known and defunct Barnard Bulletin, Salamanca Republican Press and the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, were dated December 12, December 13 or December 14, 1933, and are to be used as props in Peter Jackson's King Kong. [More]

News for Jan. 26, 2005

Kong Fan Trailer Part II

1/26/05, 10:32 pm EST - Xoanon

Darth Gore writes: I made a fan trailer for the upcoming King Kong movie. It took me almost a month of daily work to finish it. Well, I am a huge fan of the classic Kong movie (it was one of the first movies Ive ever seen) and it had a great influence on me. I am really looking forward to Jacksons vision of the tragic tale of Kong and thats the reason why I edit this trailer. I just want to share my anticipation with the other fans worldwide and hopefully they will like this trailer. You can download the trailer from my website. [More]

Adrien Brody doesn't kiss, but tells Oscar nominations

1/26/05, 10:28 pm EST - Xoanon

LOS ANGELES - Despite fortification from coffee, reactions were subdued in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences room where the Oscar nominees were announced Tuesday morning. Academy President Frank Pierson set a respectful tone by paying tribute to the late Johnny Carson, who hosted the Oscars ceremony multiple times. [More]

PM gets a taste of Depression on film set

1/26/05, 10:23 pm EST - Xoanon

She kicked off her heels, donned her gumboots for the grimy streets of Manhattan and had Oscar winner Peter Jackson to direct her. There, cuddling alongside Jackson, Tom Hanks' son Colin and two of Hollywood's hottest, Jack Black and Naomi Watts, was the photo opportunity Helen Clark must have dreamed of. [More]

AICN's Quint Reports on his visit to the Kong Set: Part III

1/26/05, 10:20 pm EST - Xoanon

Quint's third and final report from the King Kong set is now posted online! Take a look! [More]

Accor Traveller Magazine Talks Kong

1/26/05, 12:51 pm EST - Xoanon

Gandalf also sends along this article from Issue 25, 2004 of The NZ Accor Traveller Magazine. Take a look! [More]

Dominion Post 'Kong' Images

1/26/05, 12:45 pm EST - Xoanon

Gandalf sends along images from the January 24th edition of the Dominion Post. Take a look! [More]

TV3 Screengrabs from Clark's Visit

1/26/05, 12:29 pm EST - Xoanon

TV3 Screengrabs from Clark's Visit Gandalf writes: Prime Minister Helen Clark, the Minister for Arts and Culture, was invited onto the New York set of King Kong - with her visit covered and shown on TV3's news tonight (Wed 26 Jan). During the piece it was stated that filming was up to day 3 of the 3-week shoot, with Colin Hanks, Naomi Watts and Jack Black working on early scenes of the movie. Several views of the depression-era Manhattan created in Lower Hutt were shown with PJ stating that he wants the "most realistic period version of New York" possible. It was also reported that up to 300 extras are used to bring the set to life with principle filming finishing in April. Check out these images from the news segment. [More]

Empire Magazine Talks Kong

1/26/05, 12:02 pm EST - Xoanon

Movielad writes: Here are scans from the latest Empire (UK) magazine on Kong. Some interesting stuff in there in, including PJ talking about Kong's design! [More]

Jackson's Manhattan transfer

1/26/05, 11:55 am EST - Xoanon

Jackson's Manhattan transfer Paint peels from buildings, steam rises from sidewalks and street stands offer lemonade and hot potatoes for sale in Peter Jackson's elaborate replica of 1930s New York. Jackson offered a rare glimpse of the New York set of King Kong in Lower Hutt yesterday, revealing a Depression-era city complete with theatres, diners, drugstores, banks, pawn shops, hat shops, beauticians and record stores. [More]

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