Peter Jackson promotes 'Hobbit 3' in Beijing
- By Zhang Rui
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E-mail China.org.cn, January 20, 2015
Academy Award-winning director Peter Jackson was in Beijing to promote the finale of "The Hobbit" trilogy on Monday, saying his J.R.R.Tolkien adaptations are his personal journey as his attitude changes.
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Peter Jackson (C), actor Richard Armitage (R), and Philippa Boyens promote "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" in Beijing on Jan.19, 2015. [Photo/China.org.cn] |
Peter Jackson, actor Richard Armitage, and Philippa Boyens, the script co-writer, were in Beijing on Monday to attend a press conference for "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies", the finale of one the of highest grossing fantasy film franchises.
"I started making 'The Lord of the Rings' in about 1997. I was an unknown filmmaker who made about 3 or 4 small films back in New Zealand. Nobody really knew who I was overseas," Jackson recalled. He wanted to do the trilogy of "The Lord of the Rings" and thought the movies would make him a well-known filmmaker around the world, which they did. His films have grossed US$2.911 billion worldwide.
But Jackson said that when he made the "Hobbit" trilogy, "I didn't have anything to prove, I didn't feel I have to prove myself, I didn't feel I want to compete with myself.”
Jackson said he wanted to make films as Professor Tolkien designed and, wanted to enjoy himself as a filmmaker, adding that the two trilogies have been a journey for him, going from proving himself to be a known director to making films where he could experiment with his own ideas.
He also stated in an interview that he would rather tell people to see the trilogy of "Hobbit" as one eight-hour film instead of three films and encourage fans to see them consecutively when all the films including the final chapter are out on DVD in the future.
Jackson said "Beijing Nihao" (Hello, Beijing) to Chinese reporters and fans when he first went on stage, and said he was touched that his Chinese fans referred to him as "Peter the Great."
Jackson also said he appreciated Chinese actress Fan Bingbing, actor-and director Jiang Wen and Hong Kong veteran actor Chow Yun-Fat. He said if his next films have Chinese elements, he would be happy to collaborate with them.
Before the press conference, Jackson wrote on the popular Chinese micro blogging site, Sina Weibo, through his official account that he had "been hoping to come to China" for the premiere and posted a selfie with Richard Armitage at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. The Great Wall and the Forbidden City are also on his wish list during his stay in Beijing.
"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" will be screened in Chinese theaters from Jan. 23, 2015. It has made around US$800 million at box offices in other countries worldwide, and the Chinese box office income will help boost its global earnings.
The previous two chapters took in 315.6 million yuan (US$50.76 million) and 463 million yuan (US$74.47 million) on the Chinese mainland respectively.
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