Army ring-ins create Hobbiton

Army personnel helped lay 5000 cu m of soil, plough fields, tend a hobbit vegetable garden and build sets for The Lord of the Rings, a film insider has revealed.

The Army and gardeners were hired to create a hobbit village, starting a year before filming so it would age naturally.

Details of the Hobbiton set in the Waikato town of Matamata and sets in other locations were revealed by production designer Grant Major on a United States website.

Designers had used many styles, including art nouveau for the elves' buildings. Drawings by Dutch artist Escher inspired the evil land of Mordor.

About 1000 cu m of polystyrene, 30,000 nails, 13 sq m of timber, a tonne of plaster and 2040 litres of paint were used to create the fortresses and towers of Cirith Ungol, near Mordor, at a cost of $200,000.

Mr Major said the Edoras set, in mid-Canterbury, involved building a road to the site. "The sets have been bolted into the rock so they won't blow away in the 140 km/h winds."

He also revealed that New Zealand actor Joel Tobeck had been cast as Smeagol, Hollywood star Liv Tyler left Wellington for New York last month but was due to return in October, and Australian actor Miranda Otto, who plays Eowyn, was in Wellington.

Meanwhile, special vests worn by the film crew are being auctioned off by the film company, with fans so far prepared to bid up to $270 for one.

The sleeveless fleece vest has the words "Lord of the Rings" on the front and the words "Day 133: May 23, 2000" on the back - marking the halfway point in filming.

The vests are being auctioned on a website for New Line Cinema, the production's backer. Details on the website said 1000 vests were made, with most given to the crew. A further 97 remained and 10 at a time would be auctioned via the internet.

The first auction, which closes next Friday, was being run as a "Dutch" auction. The top 10 bidders will pay the lowest winning bidder's price.

The website is: www.newline.com

- NZPA