Hobbit fan's desperate campaign

Photo / supplied

An American man desperate to land a part in The Hobbit film says he has not given up on his dream yet.

Web designer Patrick Spadaccino from Connecticut, has been on a quest since reading a newspaper report that a casting call would be held at Oamaru Opera House.

Although he was unable to fly to New Zealand, he has created a Facebook page, website and has posted a number of his own screen tests in full make-up on YouTube.

He said today he had contacted the casting company "many times, but to no avail".

"This campaign was always about miracles and faith, and being in the right place at the right time," he said.

"If it doesn't happen that way, I can't imagine it happening at all.

"I feel if only someone in a position of authority could see what I've put together, and how much work and passion I've poured into it, at the very least I would earn myself a role as an extra ... and that would be fantastic."

Mr Spadaccino said he would be happy to work for free if he was accepted as an extra.

"Depending on how long the shoot is, I can even try to pay my own way to New Zealand, but I don't want to take work away from New Zealand residents," he said.

Mr Spadaccino said he began his campaign in early April and estimated he had devoted more than 400 hours and hundreds of dollars in make-up, video equipment and advertising to his bid.