CANBERRA - Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is to produce a new sound and light show on World War I aviation for the Australian War Memorial.
Jackson, who won three Academy Awards for the film trilogy, will produce a 10-minute big-screen extravaganza to help visitors experience
the risks, action and drama of First World War aerial battles.
"It is very exciting for the memorial to have Peter Jackson involved in the creation of the multimedia for Over the Front," assistant director for public programs Helen Withnell said.
Presented on a large screen - measuring 21m by 3.5m - a 6:1 aspect ratio - the 10-minute sound and light show will be screened each hour.
It will feature images of replica aircraft in flight and extensive use of computer graphics to add drama. Visual effects for the film are to be completed by award-winning production house Weta Digital.
Mr Jackson is passionate about WWI aviation and is chairman of the 14-18 Aviation Heritage Trust which has a collection of original and replica aircraft from the period.
"The use of the collection of replica aircraft for this project is very generous, and will ensure the multimedia is as realistic as modern cinema techniques allow, 90 years since the end of the First World War," Ms Withnell said.
The exhibition - titled Over the Front: the Great War in the Air - opens on November 28.
The memorial has already started installing five restored aircraft - an SE5a fighter, Avro 504K trainer and Airco DH9 bomber flown by allied air forces, and two rare German fighter planes, an Albatros DVa and Pfalz DXII.
- AAP
