Mike writes: I'm sending you pictures from the Volkswagen booth at the International Automotive Exhibition in Frankfurt am Main (Germany). Thy built a little movie theater where they screened some action with the Volkswagen Touareg. Then a little note from Peter Jackson greeting the audience at Volkswagen. And then they showed "the newest pictures of King Kong", as it was written at the front of the booth. It appeared to be the well-kown official trailer. Before heading out of the room we where given some nice little extras, a bag, a sticker and a postcard with a pin. So it was worth waiting for. [More]

Australian actress NAOMI WATTS is convinced KING KONG symbolises the "ultimate man" because the ape offers complete protection. The 21 GRAMS beauty has complete empathy with her character ANN DARROW's feelings of love towards Kong in PETER JACKSON's remake of the 1933 classic - and she views their relationship just like any other. [More]

The latest newsletter is ready to go! Do you want to receive our free weekly newsletter? Packed with tons of info to keep you up to date on the latest? Plus filled with exclusives from time to time! Join the crowd of over 2400 mailing list members! Sign up now! [More]

Darius writes: A few years ago I wrote an article on the creator of King Kong's film debut, It was a documentary on the migrations of the Persian tribes in the mountains of Zardeh Kuh in Iran. The film was what set Cooper into the movie making industry and interestingly influenced the story of King Kong which is about an adventurous expedition on Skull island also dominated by an immense cliff. Hope you find this article interesting on the begining of an extraordinary film career. [More]

It is time to come together and talk Kong! The chatroom has been a great success, however some people have been popping in at odd hours when there is no one to chat with. To that end we've devised 2 KONG Chat times, a set time and day of the week for all Kong chatters to meet and have fun! Tonight's chat will be at 5:30PM Eastern Standard Time (click here for more info). World times are below, if you need more help click here.

5:30PM (Saturday) EST in New York, Montreal
2:30PM (Saturday) PST in Los Angeles, Seattle
11:30PM (Saturday) (Central European Time)
7:30AM (Sunday) in Sydney
9:30AM (Sunday) in Auckland, Wellington

Paul writes: I saw a box of Apple Jacks yesterday in Ohio that had Kong on the cover and had the information about getting a free Kong t-shirt. [More]

Howard Shore score! Howard Shore score! I can hardly contain my excitement over this PPD! Howard Shore (sans retro cool glasses...what is it the 'thing' now to go without glasses?!) down in New Zealand with PJ working on the Kong score!! The production team have taken over the NZSO concert hall and retro-fitted a recording studio and soundstage. Take a LISTEN to a few small seconds of the Kong score! They are recording this thing RIGHT NOW...as you read this! Someone get a mop for my drool!! [QT6 240x132px 7Mb] [QT4 320x176px 14Mb] [QT6 480x264px 18Mb] [Bit Torrents!]

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

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

Universal is negotiating with New York City for the use of Times Square for King Kong's December 5 premiere and party. The party of 8000 people - including New York's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, and 3000 fans - is expected to tie up Times Square in Manhattan and 38 screens in a pair of 42nd Street theatres at the height of the holiday shopping season. The festivities will include "a special moment" for the Empire State Building, where Kong meets his death. [More]

eddie: This holiday, director Peter Jackson weighs in with a massive mounting of the "King Kong" saga. It is crammed with such stars as Naomi Watts, Jack Black and Academy Award-winner Adrien Brody. But a group of local actors is at work recording an audio version of the legendary tale. They are recording a book for the award-winning Full Cast Audio. Titled "Merian C. Cooper's King Kong," it is a novelization of the 1933 movie that was made by director Cooper. The narrator is David Baker. Others and their roles are Bill Molesky as Carl Denham, Richard McKee as Captain Englehorn, Peter Moller as Lumpy, Dan Bostick as Jack Driscoll, Lauren Synger as Ann Darrow and Spencer Murphy as Jimmy. Its release is slated for next month on a date to be announced. [More]

Hollywood funnyman Jack Black has organised a concert with his band TENACIOUS D to benefit victims of last month's (AUG05) Hurricane Katrina - and he's recruited a host of stars to perform at the fundraising gig. FOO FIGHTERS singer DAVE GROHL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman JOSH HOMME and FIONA APPLE have all signed up to appear at the show at the Los Angeles Wiltern Theatre on 22 September (05). In January Tenacious D organised a benefit show for the survivors of last year's (04) Indian Ocean tsunami. [tenaciousd.com]

In 1933, when the original movie “King Kong” was first released in New York, it caused quite a sensation. It played to a record number of audiences and smashed all records. And, it did it in the middle of the Great Depression! “King Kong” is the timeless tale of a gargantuan ape-monster captured in the wilds and brought to civilization, where he meets his tragic fate. Expanding on the chapters of the tale that takes place in the mysterious and dangerous jungles of Skull Island, three-time Academy Award winning director Peter Jackson’s “King Kong” promises to be a unique and breathtaking creation. The movie stars Naomi Watts, Jack Black, Thomas Kretschmann, Colin Hanks, Andy Serkis, Jamie Bell and Adrien Brody and is due out on December 14, 2005. [More]

NPR has a new interview with writer Mark Cotta Vaz about his new book called 'Living Dangerously: The Adventures of Merian C. Cooper, Creator of King Kong'. Take a look (or listen!). [More]

Peter Jackson's restored version of the only film taken of the Anzacs at Gallipoli in 1915 will have its New Zealand premiere at a documentary film festival in Auckland and Wellington today/tomorrow. The film Heroes of Gallipoli screens at the DOCNZ Documentary Film Festival in Auckland from September 15 and in Wellington from September 29. Jackson, a World War I buff, approached the Australian War Memorial two years ago to see if technology developed by Weta Digital could be used to restore archival film. [More] [docnzfestival.com]

Given his recent slate of independent films and his starring role in Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends" video, it's easy to forget we first met Jamie Bell as ballet prodigy Billy Elliot ... unless, of course, you're making a movie with him. "When he has to focus, he does — and then when he doesn't, he's laughing and breaking into tap dance," said his "Chumscrubber" co-star Camilla Belle ("The Ballad of Jack and Rose"). [More]

CULVER CITY, Calif. (September 12, 2005) – This November 22, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) invites you to return to the Shire with the release of the feature-length documentary RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS, direct to DVD. In association with the popular fan-site TheOneRing.net, Carlene Cordova produced, directed and wrote this award-winning film with executive producer Tom DeSanto (X-Men, X2: X-Men United and Transformers), which charts the incredible influence and ripple-effect that Lord of the Rings has had on worldwide pop culture over the past five decades. Whether you are a fan or first timer, critics agree, RINGERS, stands as the most comprehensive film documenting the ongoing impact of J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary achievement. [Pre-Order 'Ringers']

Rosie writes: Andy Serkis has been confirmed to attend Collectormania G-Mex in Manchester, UK on 11th and 12th February next year! [More]

New Zealand director Peter Jackson's King Kong movie is turning out to be a bit like the stereotypical "800-pound gorilla" in terms of promoting other people's products and brands. Universal Studios said today it was adopting a "less is more" strategy in slapping the King Kong brand on other marketing. "One of the things we heard from our partners was that they want a less cluttered field," Universal executive Stephanie Sperber said in a statement. "We have taken a `quality over quantity' approach, limiting alliances to only those that provide a clear strategic fit," Ms Sperber said. [More]

Fay Wray's private collection of "King Kong" memorabilia has found the perfect home - the Empire State Building. A permanent photo and artwork exhibit that pays tribute to the big ape, his little lady and the 1933 movie opened yesterday at the skyscraper where they vaulted to fame. When she died last year at age 96, Wray left behind a treasure-trove of photos from the making of the film she only came to embrace later in life. "She made other movies, but she couldn't get away from 'King Kong,'" Wray's daughter, Vicki Riskin, said as she pulled aside a black velvet curtain in the building's art deco lobby to unveil the keepsakes. [More]

Mini P writes: In Japan advance tickets are usually on sale a couple of months before a movie release date. To generate sales these tickets are offered at 500 yen off the regular 1800 yen (USD$16.33 or $NZD$23) ticket price. [More]

Kong Spy Gandalf writes: I realised today it's been around five months since my last photos of Kong happenings in town here. These quick shots were taken today (Sep 12) and are of the Stone Street studio complex where the large container wall and blue screen are long gone. The old swamp pool and a few trees are all that remain in the yard as post production forges ahead indoors. [More]

About 8000 people will attend the invitation-only world premiere of Peter Jackson's King Kong in New York, where it will be shown on 38 screens in a pair of 42nd Street cinemas. The December 5 premiere is also likely to tie up Times Square in Manhattan, and include "a special moment" at the Empire State Building, a key feature in the film, The New York Times reported. Guests would include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and 3000 people who will win tickets in several competitions. People who book flights with Air New Zealand have a chance to win two tickets. Wellington will hold the New Zealand premiere on December 14. [More]