Genius Ed, we'd love to do that.
Ahh now we have to come up with something interesting to say to them
When this happens I sometimes ask what they do at Weta. Tonight there was a woman who did computer stuff and then three guys that all did digital computer stuff as well. I told them I thought that was really cool, that I was a big PJ/LOTR fan. I also mentioned that if I had had my autograph book (which I will next time) I would have asked for their autograph. They were like "oh you should get the actors". I told them that I had but that I wanted behind the scenes people as well since what they did was equally as important and that they did a fantastic job. They were pleasantly surprised and said that no one had ever given them a compliment. We proceeded to have a quick discussion about the importance of their work--i.e. without them it would be the actors and a green screen background. They were super friendly and cool.
In the meantime... they missed the film they had gone to see
he hee he hee - congrats on the new job. Mark worked in a cinema for a while through Uni. He had a great time and has numerous spare posters and things and promo bits and pieces that came in - like the LOTR posters, Harry Potter postcards, and even Harry Potter "mobile" things - you know with bits and pieces dangling down from the celing.
Not to mention the free visits you get
- the coolest thing to do though is to work in the Projection room, Mark was doing that just before he left to get a job in IT
Back to the WETA guys, I appreciate what Jo is saying as it's the people who were on screen who you recognise and immendiately want to shake hands with and chat to. But think - these WETA digital guys worked on creating THE BALROG, THE CAVE TROLL, TREEBEARD - such well loved characters... they are certainly the "computer actors" for these parts. (Gollum is a special case who we can't really include here although they deserve huge recognition for that too).
The fact is - these guys are awesome, and they are humble. I heard that when PJ said he was too tired and was taking a sabbatical before any more movies, they contacted the guys in the UK who make the BBC TV series "Red Dwarf" to say they'd like to do the special effects on the movie that they are working on. The Red Dwarf guys giggled and said they couldn't afford the WETA folk, but the WETA folk came back saying that they were huge fans and they WANTED to do it.
Well it hasn't happened so far, Red Dwarf isn't even being filmed yet, and PJ changed his mind and moved straight on to King Kong. But it goes to show how awesome these guys are (and how much they lack vanity)
