Two crew members working on King Kong at Peter Jackson's Miramar studios were injured and taken to Wellington Hospital yesterday. Film spokeswoman Melissa Booth said one man was being kept overnight for observation and was expected to be discharged from hospital today. Another man was discharged yesterday after being treated for minor injuries. [More]

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Naomi Watts was once a frustrated Aussie transplant trying to make a living in Los Angeles as an actress. Times were tough and jobs were scarce. "I was so broke I got kicked out of my rental apartment and lost my health insurance," she recalled in a recent interview. "It was a very lonely time. I packed my bags to go back to Australia so many times." [More]

Naomi Watts will be a special guest at this year's AFI Awards. The Oscar nominee will fly into Melbourne for the awards from New Zealand, where she is filming Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson's remake of King Kong. The AFIs will be presented at the Regent Theatre on Friday, October 29. AFI chairman Denny Lawrence said he was thrilled Watts could attend the Australian film industry's big night. [More]

Now THIS is something I've been waiting for! No, not Naomi in a dress (well...kinda), previsualization shots! Previsualization or 'previs' for short is an animation or drawing detailing the shot movements a given scene the director wants accomplished. In this day and age all this is done on the computer, and PJ gives us an AMAZING glimpse at the 'approach to Skull Island' scene on the computer. Be sure to catch PJ in his motion capture suit (reminding me of the Star Wars Kid). Also take note of Adrien Brody and Naomi Watts tongue-firmly-in-cheek re-creation of PJ's animation...classic! [QT6 240x132px 6.3Mb] [QT4 320x176px 12Mb] [QT6 480x264px 15Mb] [Bit Torrents!]

Like what you see? Discuss it in our new Chat Room! [CHAT]

Gandalf writes: Yesterday, painting of the rock wall started and this morning with detail being added it's looking impressive. I'm guessing that the section we're looking at will form part of the wall separating the village from the jungle on Skull Island, as it's got that "man-made" look about it. The other photo shows the rapid transformation of the framework near the blue screen, with rocky outcrops now evident. I can also confirm that filming on this set is rapidly approaching. "Film Wellington" sent letters to residents in the area informing that "Big Primate Pictures" will be filming on site during the next few weeks and that "final dates and hours will be weather dependant". During filming traffic will be stopped and temporary speed reductions will be used on the road next to the set. We also received the following advisory note, "There will occasionally be the use of special effects replica firearm shots and smoke machines. The film company will inform emergency services before the use of these."

Electronic Arts may have locked up Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson's last film project, but Ubisoft has the next one. The French publisher today announced that it's acquired the rights to produce games based on King Kong, Jackson's upcoming remake of the giant-gorilla classic. Ubisoft plans to have the game out on "all platforms" when the movie hits theaters December 14, 2005. Rayman creator Michel Ancel and the rest of the team responsible for Beyond Good & Evil are producing the project, in collaboration with Ubisoft's Montreal studio (Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia) and Jackson's Wingnut Films production company, so it should be a cut above an ordinary movie adaptation. [More]

Scientists believe they have discovered a new group of giant apes in the jungles of central Africa. The animals, with characteristics of both gorillas and chimpanzees, have been sighted in the north of the Democratic Republic of Congo. [More]

A few SKIIPs have sent us this link and we just had to pass it along! Check out what is the definitive icon set for King Kong fans! (Available for both Mac and PC) [Click Here]

Ever wonder what those clapper boards were used for? Besides displaying the shot number, there is a whole lot of other information displayed on those little white boards. Jack Black & Colin Hanks show us the differences between the classic boards and the modern day equivalent. Watch those fingers! Take a look! [QT6 240x132px 6.3Mb] [QT4 320x176px 12Mb] [QT6 480x264px 15Mb]

Like what you see? Discuss it in our new Chat Room! [CHAT]

While we wait for our scrapbook to be finished, check out the amazing fan artwork being posted in our latest message board: King Kong Fan Art. [Click Here]

Gandalf writes: Looks like the first day of fine weather today. After some on-again off-again rain over the last few days. This will no doubt will keep the folks on site happy as the set construction continues. Since Friday, another marquee has been erected near the site entrance, behind what I assume is the little white "site office". In this photo you can also see the top of the large blue screen on the other side of the container wall. The next shot shows the right front edge of that blue screen with more framework starting to be covered in plywood. Across from the blue screen, the rock wall is taking shape day by day. On the other side of the containers supporting the rock wall, is a completely covered plywood wall with what appears to be an arch or entrance-way at the far end? The final picture shows the long blue screen next to the natural bank running along the back of the site. [More]

Thomas Kretschmann is starring as Victor Helios, a doctor who has extended his own life while perfecting his monster-making skills in the USA Networks re-telling of the Frankenstein story. Sadly the made-for-TV movie is getting ripped apart at the seams by the critics. Read some of the reviews here. 'Frankenstein' airs on the USA network Sunday, October 10th. [USA Today] [Reuters] [NY Daily News] [Official Website]