Emotional Jackson thanks country for help

8.00pm


Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson today thanked New Zealand for helping to make the film trilogy and providing him with one of the best days of his life.

Speaking at a parliamentary reception which launched a parade through Wellington, Jackson's voice shook with emotion.

"Thank you very much for the welcome. This is probably one of the most remarkable days of my life and probably for all of us (the cast and crew)," he said.

"It's hard, I don't quite know what to say because for me it's like the end of seven years of work and I don't really kind of want to think it's the end."

Both Jackson and production company New Line said the film could never have been made without the public and the Government's support.

"I think the memory that I am going to have of the film in the end is going to be of friendship.

"It's going to be of the fun, of the way the people of New Zealand got in behind us, because it was such a huge undertaking."

Jackson said a good example was the patience of a Queenstown hotel owner.

Filming in the area in late 1999 was disrupted by rain so the crew began to search for somewhere to build an indoor set so as not to waste time and money.

The largest available space was the squash court of a hotel where they built the set.

"We did one day and then the sun came out again...and we hadn't finished the scene."

Jackson said he asked the owner if he could look after the set for a "few weeks".

But plans changed and the crew didn't get back until a year later and "we opened the door...and the set was still there. It was that sort of co-operation."

Jackson praised the New Zealand Army's versatility for its performance in the Return of the King's climactic battle scene, both "as the last few remnants of humanity that can stand up against the orcs" and as the orcs themselves.

Before joining the parade with the film's stars, Jackson and his co-workers were praised by Prime Minister Helen Clark for creating a great sense of achievement for all New Zealanders.

"This city and this country feel enormous pride in hosting the world premiere and the pride comes from knowing this film was conceived of by a Kiwi, has been contributed to by thousands of Kiwis and has been filmed entirely in New Zealand and is taking the world by storm," the PM said.

"There were some who said this movie project was just too big. Well that wasn't Peter Jackson, it wasn't New Zealand and it wasn't New Line.

"It was made here and the outcome has been fantastic."

Jackson said the world premiere was being held in Wellington because that is what the cast wanted.

"They have been a strong advocate of this...and now we are here guys, we have finally made it."

- NZPA


* Return Of The King opens in New Zealand on Dec. 18.

Red carpet commentary: Wellington celebrates the world premiere

Herald Feature: Lord of the Rings