More than 50 members of the media, hungry for any information on Peter Jackson's King Kong, descended on his Miramar studio today to meet his three stars.
From NZPA to TV1 and 3, to Deutsche Presse-Agentur and Radio New Zealand, to the Cook Strait News and Manawatu Access Radio, the reporters hung on every word from Jackson, Adrien Brody, Naomi Watts and Jack Black.
And the stars were happy to play.
Black in particular kept the assembled reporters entertained.
When Holmes's Susan Wood asked him if he had a particular affinity with small boys, because of his films like School of Rock and Shallow Hal, Black pretended to blanch.
"You're thinking of the other wacko Jacko," he said, before recovering.
"I'm pretty childish. I have a sort of a Peter Pan -- my particular brand of ridiculousness. I think it's all the children though. I don't think it's just the little boys."
Black waxed lyrical, as have other Hollywood stars before him, about the benefits of living in Wellington.
"People are really polite to me. There's been no screaming.
"That's the only thing that bums me out back in LA -- when people scream they don't scream out of like 'oh my God there goes the sexy Jack Black,' they scream like, 'yeah let's rock man!' and it scares the crap out of me."
Watts, Brody and Black all said they were pleased to be in New Zealand. They had trips planned, music to play and books to read quietly in their "beautiful" homes overlooking the harbour.
Black, in particular, had plans.
"I bought a bike. A van is going to come pick us up and take us to mountain trails to bike on. I have a bike with shocks."
None mentioned any prospect of sampling Wellington's nightlife, Watts planning to twiddle her thumbs, read books, go on weekend getaways and travel to Australia to see family.
Brody said he had brought his studio equipment with him and would be "making music".
Unlike the Lord of the Rings cast, there were no tattoos planned.
"No," said Black. "Never say never," said Jackson and Watts.
During the photo shoot on the outdoor set of the ship Venture, surrounded by a four-container high blue wall, Watts declined to give the cameras a Fay Wray scream.
"I'm saving my voice," she said.
"Wait for the movie," said Jackson.
Only one question brought an "I don't think so" answer. Brody was asked if he was single and planning any impromptu kissing.
"It wouldn't be impromptu if I disclosed that now. I'm not here to discuss my personal relationships."
For one magazine reporter, it was all just a bit much. He shed his shirt as a present for Watts, who offered it to Black.
- NZPA
Herald Feature: King Kong
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King Kong stars face the ravenous media
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