Lancaster at Hood Aerodrome — Dambusters are GO!!

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Takeoff looms for Jackson's dam film

Chocks away for Dambusters

By TANYA KATTERNS - The Dominion Post | Tuesday, 05 May 2009



SETTING THE SCENE: Peter Jackson has unveiled the first glimpses of his remake of the World War II
epic Dambusters, with a mock-up of a Lancaster bomber at Masterton's Hood Aerodrome.
— TANYA KATTERNS/The Dominion Post.

Movie director Peter Jackson has unveiled the first glimpses of his multimillion-dollar Dambusters movie.

Jackson, the King Kong of New Zealand's film industry, visited Hood Aerodrome in Masterton yesterday to oversee a mockup of a World War II airfield, complete with a full-scale replica of a Lancaster bomber.

It took a large crew a week to put together the replica, which is one of 10 designed by Weta Workshop and built in China out of fibreglass and steel.

Sandbags, guns, tanks and hired extras in war uniform all helped to set the scene.

Although the Jackson-produced NZ$52-million movie about 617 Squadron's famous dam assault was announced to the world in 2006, little has been said until now about its progress other than confirmation that British writer and comedian Stephen Fry would write the script. The film is being directed by Kiwi first-time director Christian Rivers.

It has also emerged that Fry was asked to come up with alternative names for squadron leader Guy Gibson's dog, Nigger, but that executive producer Sir David Frost rejected them all.

"Guy sometimes used to call his dog 'Nigsy', so I think that's what we will call it," Sir David told the Daily Mail newspaper. "Stephen has been coming up with other names, but this is the one I want."

Matthew Dravitzki, a spokesman for Jackson, confirmed the movie was still in development stages, with work focusing on building the Lancasters and writing scripts.

Just when shooting will start is still under wraps and the movie is yet to be cast.

"Right now we are having fun working on a number of different projects and have the luxury to make things at our own speed. We are yet to choose the location for the film's shooting, and that is going to come down to wherever is most suitable for our needs."

Yesterday's mockup was also a chance to test new camera technology. "We are not shooting any scenes that are project-specific; this is about just keeping up with technology and trying new things."

Preparation for Dambusters is part of a hectic schedule for Jackson. Big-budget science fiction movie District 9, which he has produced, comes out in October, and The Lovely Bones, which he directed, is due for release on Boxing Day.

The first of three planned Tintin movies is in post-production and The Hobbit is to be shot next year.

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/central-north-island/2383770/Takeoff-looms-for-dam-film

[Dave Homewood]

Doesn't it look fantastic!!

Are you able to get down to Hood to get some more shots Bruce, please?

[Peter Lewis]

May 5, 2009 19:10:25 GMT 12 @vgp said:

tvnz.co.nz/national-news/peter-jackson-clashes-locals-2706353



Jackson has hired security,

Probably the same security that used to work at the Hamilton 'International Airport'

[hairy]

All the doomsayers on another forum will be soo upset, they reviled in the rumour that the movie was possibly on hold.

There is a sizeable number of the "pipe and slippers" brigade who hate that PJ is remaking this movie.

[Bruce]

The issue about the locals and the carpark is odd, there are plenty of instances where public places are temporarily closed for other events - even such as weddings etc. They "Curious locals" arent exactly using the carpark for its intended purpose either!

[Peter Lewis]

True, Bruce, but there is proper process to go through.
If you wish to block public access to a public place, you must apply to the relevant local council stating the dates/times of closure and the reason.
If the council then grants your request, the closure must then be notified in advance to the public - usually by means of an advertisement in the local newspaper.
No private individual or organization has the right just to walk in and prevent the public having access to what, in essence, is their joint property.
Private security firms and their staff have no more rights than any other members of the public (but they frequently get carried away and forget this).

If the car park in question is the property of say a shopping centre or perhaps the airport authority then it may be private rather than public, and then of course the owners will have the right to restrict access if they wish.

[flyjoe180]

All the grumblings re acess to the airfield aside, the replica looks great. This will be a brilliant film when it's completed I reckon.

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Name still dogs Dambusters

By TANYA KATTERNS - The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 06 May 2009

Guy Gibson's dog could yet keep his racially offensive name in Peter Jackson's multimillion-dollar remake of The Dam Busters.

Gibson, head of the British mission that destroyed German dams in World War II, had a dog called Nigger, who featured in the 1951 book The Dam Busters and was mentioned 12 times in the 1954 film of the same name. The book and the original film are both sources for Jackson's remake, Dambusters.

It is understood the movie will be shot in Wellington and Britain when it goes into production later this year.

Jackson has been at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton this week testing new camera technology on a full-scale replica of a Lancaster bomber. He has faced questions over the dog's name amid speculation that its continued use would upset more politically correct modern audiences.

The film's executive producer, Sir David Frost, told the Daily Mail newspaper: "Guy sometimes used to call his dog Nigsy, so I think that's what we will call it."

But Jackson's spokespeople now say that decision has not been made.

Jackson's executive assistant, Matthew Dravitzki, told The Dominion Post this week that changing the dog's name was far from a done deal.

"A lot of people have said that the dog's name was Nigger and, to stay true to the story, you can't just change it. That name is talked about a lot, but we have not made any decisions yet. The script is still being written and that decision on whether we have Nigger or not will be made closer to the time."

When the Dambusters project was announced in 2006, Jackson said: "It is not our intention to offend people. But really you are in a no-win, damned-if-you-do-and-damned-if-you-don't scenario. If you change it, everyone's going to whinge and whine about political correctness. And if you don't change it, obviously you are offending a lot of people inadvertently."

The camera technology dummy run in Masterton came to an end last night.

Production is expected to pick up pace over the next few months, but there is still no confirmation as to who has been cast in the lead roles.

www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/2386882/Name-still-dogs-Dambusters

[Dave Homewood]

May 5, 2009 19:28:45 GMT 12 hairy said:

All the doomsayers on another forum will be soo upset, they reviled in the rumour that the movie was possibly on hold.

There is a sizeable number of the "pipe and slippers" brigade who hate that PJ is remaking this movie.

Yes, the Victor Meldrew brigade have well and truly been shown that a) the film project is still on and b) the replicas they so wanted to disbelieve for some reason do exist. Maybe Weta and Wingnut didn't want this Lancaster prop to be seen but I think this will stop a lot of the negative rubbish that has been circulating on certain forums. I hope they put this in their pipes and smoke it.

[kiwi]

If Peter Jackson had not wanted this replica seen it would not have been seen . I have heard a rumour that there is/are at least one Wellington replica also. I have no idea it there is any truth in it .

[Deleted]

I say Wanganui gets the Wellington replica, in memory of Jimmy Ward VC

[kiwithrottlejockey]

Jackson tests equipment at Hood

By JAMIE MORTON - Wairarapa Times-Age | Wednesday, May 06, 2009



A film crew led by director Peter Jackson test out new camera
equipment while shooting a Lancaster bomber at Hood Aerodrome.

A Peter Jackson-led film unit in Masterton has had an anything-but-private shoot at Hood Aerodrome, thanks to a giant Lancaster bomber replica attracting scores of curious residents.

Jackson's spokesman, Matthew Dravitski, acknowledged there was little point in trying to hide a plane as big as the kit-set Lancaster, one of 10 built for the filming, and many people had called by the aerodrome to get a closer look at it.

"There's been a few curious people around — especially today," he said.

Chubb Security guards were this week busy keeping inquisitive locals in check while more than 60 crew members tested out new camera technology.

One Masterton resident was surprised to be turned away when he drove into the aerodrome to see the plane, which was surrounded by crew vehicles in the airfield.

"We had heard it was there and when we pulled up to go down the road that leads down to the aero club, a Chubb man stepped out and said it was a restricted area."

He was annoyed Masterton District Council had not given notification of the road closures, however, airport manager Tony Heyward said those inside the aerodrome were not public roads.

"There are limited areas we allow controlled access for the public. These are not available at night and during some events on the aerodrome. Only authorised access is allowed on to operational areas of the airfield," Mr Heyward said.

However, people were still able get a good look at the set from the end of South Road.

Tony Laing, of the Hood-based New Zealand Sport and Vintage Aviation Society, said his group had had no trouble accessing its hangar.

Mr Dravitski quashed speculation the shoot was part of Jackson's planned project to remake the classic 1955 war film Dambusters.

He said the sole purpose of the two-day shoot was to test the new camera equipment, and no starting date nor location had yet been decided upon for the Dambusters movie.

This week's project had been in development for a couple of years and had required the construction of 10 Lancasters to resemble a World War II-era airfield.

The fibreglass and steel planes are, however, not airworthy and only two Lancasters operated by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum are still capable of flying.

Wairarapa has proved a popular backdrop for Jackson, who last year shot several scenes at locations near Greytown and Masterton for his new film The Lovely Bones, which will be released on Boxing Day.

In 2007 he shot a critically-acclaimed short film over two days in Masterton, Crossing The Line, which is set during World War I and features biplane dogfights, bayonet charges and 30 cast and crew.

Scenes for the 10-minute work were shot at Hood Aerodrome using a $25,000 prototype Red One digital camcorder.

Jackson had also filmed on location at Cape Palliser in the late 90s during the shooting of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

www.times-age.co.nz/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3797661

[htbrst]

Apparantly the lancaster served as a background in Stephen Fry's
"Last Chance to See" programme in the UK last night.

Unfortunately its not available on demand over here but there are a couple of screengrabs at the following link:

forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?t=94725

[Dave Homewood]

Very neat to see the two bombers together like that. I hope that series comes to NZ.

[Dave Homewood]

Interesting article, but I doubt it was King George the IV who gave him his medals...

[obiwan27]

On the History Channel last night was a Stephen Fry narrated program on 'The Last Dambuster' and followed a team of guys tracking down the remains of the last Lancaster bomber 'T for Tommy'. The bomb aimer from that aircraft that attacked the Sorpe Dam went to the location of it's demise. It had flown with a different crew after the Dams raid and had been shot down while on a special ops mission to drop arms to the French resistance, somewhere near Toulouse. The gentleman (George "Johnny" Johnston) concerned then did a 'tour' of the dam sites that were part of the raid, visiting local folk who witnessed the raids and the memorial sites of various aircraft crash sites from the raid also. It was a very interesting and moving documentary, well worth a look on the History Channel if you have Sky. Accompanying the program were some excellent CGI graphics of Lancasters attacking the Mohne dam as well as T for Tommy's attack on the Sorpe dam. Makes one very excited about the movie remake.
More info at this thread

forum.keypublishing.co.uk/showthread.php?p=1260068

[Dave Homewood]

I'd really like to see that documentary but I do not have Sky. Doh. They never put good stuff like that onto real TV.

For another excellent thread on the Dambusters, see this one with photos by Damien Burke
forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=8672

[obiwan27]

Also this thread by Baz62. Probably in a more appropriate place than my note. lol

rnzaf.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Books&action=display&thread=10038&page=1

[Dave Homewood]

The Daily Express is saying the Lancaster is back at Masterton and the airfield was dressed with vehicles and stuff last week to make it look like an authentic scene. Were they doing publicity shots, or new test filming maybe? Or has shooting begun?

www.express.co.uk/posts/view/134649/Dam-Busters-take-off-

[fb6]

I'm very excited at the prospect of seeing PJ's Dambuster movie, the original has entralled me from when I was very young and made an indelible impression on me....

The selfless courage and determination of that generation of WWII serves us all to remind us of what freedom we enjoy today. I believe PJ is forging a GREAT tribute to that generation with this movie. It's also a great tribute to all those that served in RAF Bomber Command and is a glimpse of part of the enormous struggle & sacrifice it took to eventually overcome Nazi Germany....

Thank you all too, for posting up all this great news and it's developments, I for one am really chuffed!!

Also, as I have mentioned earlier on another thread, I believe it will be Tom Cruise playing Guy Gibson.....

Cheers,
Ross