Weta Workshop – The Lord Of The Rings Film Trilogy

Weta Workshop Limited is a high-profile client who necessitated all aspects of event management with a different end product – a film instead of a party.

Chameleon Event Management joined with Weta Workshop crew to work on Lord of the Rings in November of 1999. When initial filming began in Queenstown It was at a time when there were few experienced personnel on board, and Weta had to be operational with around 300 extras a day, working with day and night shifts with crew members totaling 85, working across three shooting units often located 2 hours apart.

Within 48 hours of arrival on the project Chameleon devised systems which allowed Weta to service an ever changing group of extras in costumes, at multiple locations throughout New Zealand, and provide a movement order to get personnel to various sets on time and to schedule.

The Lord of the Rings has been the longest contract undertaken by Chameleon and further reinforces our already strong bond with New Zealand.

The main challenges of this project:

• Transportation of anywhere from 100 to 500 extras at a moments notice.
• Continuity of costumes, which meant that items traveled daily throughout New Zealand to different sets.
• Environments to dress personnel at places, which had no facilities – often several hours outside of main city locations.
• Facilities requirements such as power, lighting, hot water, space to place trucks and containers etc (difficult when it is on the slopes of Mt Ruapehu).
• Maintaining the enthusiasm of the crew who were working around 14-16 hours a day.
• Tracking of products.

“Jamie was unflappable. Even In the tightest corner, you made good of a situation that could have gotten out of control”

Richard Taylor , Director
Weta Workshop