BBC dinosaur movie crew in Rotorua

Rotorua's Redwood Forest and geothermal area will become a breeding ground for dinosaurs over the next few weeks.

The city is one of the locations which has been chosen for the filming of the BBC dinosaur film 'The Lost World'.

The BBC production is a film based on the book written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes.

It tells the story of a man who, during a 1911 expedition in the depths of the Amazon rainforest, comes across a "mysterious plateau" inhabited by dinosaurs.

After disbelief from people back at home he returns to the jungle with a small group to show them what he has found.

The producers decided to shoot the "Amazon jungle" part of the movie in New Zealand after a suggestion by one of the associate producers Tim Haines, who produced Walking With Dinosaurs, another movie filmed in this country.

Rotorua's Redwood Forest was chosen for the visual impact of the tall redwood trees while the geothermal area depicts the breeding ground for the flying dinosaur, Mr Harris said.

Bob Hoskins who starred as the detective in 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' plays the lead role of Challenger. The Lost World also stars James Fox (Passage to India) and American actor Peter Falk, of the detective series Columbo.

Mr Fox and Mr Hoskins will be part of a 150 to 170 cast, film crew, and extras, who will be in Rotorua next week.

Filming for The Lost World began on February 17 in the South Island. The crew have filmed at Karamea, Lake Brunner and Flock Hill so far.

Other locations for the film include the geothermal area of Waiotapu and water rapids near Taupo. The rest of the film crew and cast will be in Rotorua and Taupo from March 31 until Easter.

- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)