Pint-sized secrets of King Kong jungle revealed

The Peter Jackson-directed King Kong continues to reveal glimpses of itself as the $200 million movie enters its third week of filming.

Videotape footage, which has been approved by Jackson, on a fan website has included a miniature version of what will appear to be nine-metre high trees on Skull Island - home of the giant gorilla.

The trees were about a twentieth of the size of the real thing and were being used to create the island's jungle, said visual effects photography director Alex Funke, who won two Oscars for The Lord of the Rings.

Funke also showed actor Jack Black, in costume as film-maker Carl Denham, using a hand-driven antique movie camera on board the ship Venture. The 1916 camera was the same as one shown in the original 1933 film.

Other video footage shows the interior of the ship. Black, and star Adrien Brody, are shown trying to cope with a storm at sea.

More New Zealand actors have been confirmed as members of Venture's 35 crew.

They include actor-entertainer Ray Woolf and Stephen Hall, who has appeared in several films including Savage Honeymoon.

It will be the first feature film for Auckland actors David Dengelo and Richard Kavanagh, and Wellington actor Louis Sutherland.

Other Kiwi actors in King Kong will include Geraldine Brophy, Will Wallace, Joe Folau and John Clarke - but not the John Clarke behind Kiwi comic character Fred Dagg.

- NZPA

Kongisking.net