Rings film-maker prepares Oscar speech notes

Jamie Selkirk does not have a detailed speech ready if he wins an Oscar for editing The Return of the King.

But the Wellington film-maker, who flies out today for a round of engagements and Hollywood parties before the Oscar ceremony on Monday, New Zealand time, said he will be better prepared than when he was in Los Angeles two weeks ago.

Selkirk won the prestigious American Cinema Editors' dramatic feature award for The Return of the King - the first New Zealander to win. It took him completely by surprise.

"I wasn't expecting the award at all. I didn't have anything prepared. I had to get up there and thought, 'What am I going to say?'. I managed to blurt something out."

If he wins an Oscar, it will be different.

"I don't like to get myself too tied up in trying to learn something for some speech, but probably the best idea for me is to just have a few notes. It's a time to thank all the people you work with."

It is the first time Selkirk, who also co-produced Peter Jackson's three Lord of the Rings films, has been nominated for an Oscar and it will be the first time he has attended an Oscar ceremony.

"I've never had the opportunity. I've been busy sort of holding the fort back in New Zealand for the other two movies, so this is the big one."

He did not own a tuxedo and was renting one for his visit. But his wife Ann Selkirk, his guest at the Oscars, had two or three outfits and would decide which one to wear on the day.

"She's been supportive throughout the whole six years on this project, so it's good for her to come along to these things and be part of it all."

Mr Selkirk would attend a reception at the Beverly Hills Hotel hosted by the New Zealand Consulate-General in Los Angeles. Guests included other The Return of the King nominees and Whale Rider nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes.

He was also looking forward to a lavish party hosted by Bob Shaye, co-chairman of New Line Cinema, The Lord of the Rings' backer.

"He's held one for each of the three movies and he has it at his own home and apparently it's a pretty amazing place up in the Hollywood hills. Everyone seems to think it's a fun party to go to."

He said he was not entirely surprised at being nominated, because the editors of the two previous Rings films were also nominated.

"I was always hopeful...but you never expect it. It was really exciting. I certainly think that film three was deserving of a nomination."

- NZPA