My Unexpected Journey: The Hobbit VIP Event

(By Allen Taylor)

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It was with great excitement almost two weeks ago that I made my way to the Beverly Hilton Hotel for the Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – VIP Blogger Event. Thanks to Erika Bouso of the Warner Bros. Marketing Services Team, I was about to experience a part of a world that I had been dreaming of since I was 14. With wonderful food and fellow bloggers like Karen Hudson of Mommienoir, everyone was looking forward to the chance to experience the “Book of New Zealand“. I wish Wendy could have been able to attend because I know she would have absolutely love it!

In partnership with Tourism New Zealand, The Hobbit Trilogy filmmakers have created an amazing pop-up book that spans the size of two tennis courts. As you walk into the book , you will discover four sets – each a principal filming location for The Hobbit Trilogy; all of which feature parts of the original film sets and combine an element of reality from their New Zealand location. However, before we began the tour of this magical recreation, we got a very special visit from two actors from the film itself.

Aidan Turner (Kili) and Dean O’Gorman (Fili), each played one of the fantastic dwarf characters in the Hobbit movies. It was a thrill to meet and ask them questions about the movies and production. Fili, err I mean Dean O’Gorman, talked about the classic barrel scene and how they had to film it three different ways; once with real barrels, one without, and as you can see above one where they had barrels with no bottom so that they could move (walk) around a scene smoothly as if they were in water. Both actors were very engaging and it was sad to see them have to go on, I imagine, their very busy schedule.

However, we now were properly prepped and ready to be immersed into the land from the film, Middle Earth.

We made our way outside and wow! I never would have expected such a huge set. To give you an idea of the size of the different items by taking a look at me in the images below. Especially the one of me next to the prominent head of Thror above. As you walked into the book, we discovered all four sets – each a principal filming location for The Hobbit Trilogy; all of which feature parts of the original film sets and combine an element of reality from their New Zealand location.

A beautifully recreated Laketown (Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook in New Zealand) with a movie playing background landscape allowed us all to walk through the set and an all seeming very real Laketown. Here we could stop on a bridge crossing over the lake and admire Mt Cook’s snowy peaks which appeared to gleam over the pristine Lake Pukaki in the village background. I felt like a little kid, or Hobbit, running around and checking out all the details and exploring the sets.

We were all dwarfed as we each took turns climbing up onto Beorn’s magnificently carved chair and admire his view out the window of his house onto the majestic Paradise valley in Queenstown. I so wanted to lift the huge mug and pipe up, but understandably (probably because they knew I was coming) they were glued down.

As it became time to sadly say our goodbyes and leave the Middle Earth/New Zealand, we received one last surprise. A cool Smaug swag bag full of Hobbit movie trinkets that no dragon would ever normally give up.

Everyone at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, The Book of New Zealand and the entire Warner Team were extremely friendly and helpful and made me feel like a VIP through it all. The day was filled with many treasures of all kinds and I can’t wait to experience the Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug now that is out in theaters. For it was all an experience I am now and that once 14 year old boy am truly grateful to Wendyful World for sending me, too.