An historic day... Frogo got to hold a real live replica of a 'Lord Of The Rings' ring. Created by the makers of the rings from the movies, at their  Jewelrey studio in Nelson, New Zealand. ( Created by the  Jens Hansen Studio. They can be bought there. )

Ah yeah I know all about Jens Hansen (writing for a travel company has its trade offs!). That's pretty cool that they let Frogo hold one!

Na, I am seeing only a little of the puppetry in New Zealand. Frogo met some Austrian soft toy characters visiting the Southern most tip of  New Zealand's South Island.I missed seeing a Puppeteer in Christchurch, whom I'd met years ago in the North Island, as I was not aware he had shifted there. I met up with a friend here in Nelson whom I'd done puppets with in the past, and of course there was Yorick in Greymouth. I am hoping to get to meet some puppeteers in Wellington who are doing TV. My son hosted their son or daughter on their trip to Colombia, and he met up with  their parents... so I will try and  meet them when I am there. I am hoping that they may help me meet others.
Last trip to  Wellington 6 years ago I got  into Weta workshops, but  I am not sure how close I will get this time around.

That's good; I know their performing arts sector isn't as big as it is in Australia so I always wondered just how many puppeteers would be down there. I'd love to see the Weta workshops - another thing I've been drooling over since writing for that travel company. They do some pretty amazing stuff there.

Yes Na, it was cool...and fun. Weta workshops was pretty hard to get into last time.They don't do tours. It took me 4 months to wangle it, so my hopes are slimmer this time. But we will see what we can see.

Yes Na, it was cool...and fun. Weta workshops was pretty hard to get into last time.They don't do tours. It took me 4 months to wangle it, so my hopes are slimmer this time. But we will see what we can see.

They do have a museum though. I would have thought you'd see a fair bit going through that... ?

maybe! I suppose I will find out.

maybe! I suppose I will find out.

I spent a lot of time going through their website - the museum has a video of how they made stuff for Lord of the Rings (with interviews), displays of costumes etc, merchandise (of course)... and probably other things that I've forgotten. Certainly not as good as walking around their studio, but then just how many studios can you do that with anyway?

Howdy,

Finally caught up to this thread ... just have to say it was a real pleasure to meet up with pagestop & the globe-trotting Frogo last weekend. (Note to self: I really must remember to slightly lower Yorrick's head in order to make better eye contact).

Regards,
Dorian

Well , Frogo has arrived in New Zealand....an episode I enjoyed, probably due to the relief of getting to my home country at last. And immediately, at three in the morning, Frogo comes across an exciting find.

"A real live dead statue!" I loved that line. Also loved the end revelation but won't give that away. You know Frogo should do some commercials for a travel company. Of course if he did then I bet he would not have travel delays.

he, Shawn, my wife liked that line too. I thought about the travel ads but in the past I found that decisions about such things are usually made  in offices far away from where one is at and  there is quite an exhausting process to go through. Since we flew with different airlines and the outcome was not so positive , it was not good advertising for them. I thought of Tourism NZ and getting their blessing, but have not done anything about it.But most of all I am doing this because I enjoy it, its also for  my subscribers to at least give them something to watch and  keep them subbed.I was concerned that  noone would want to watch them, but each one  is managing to get as many as 400 to 800 views  after a few months, so its ok. The technical challenges have  been interesting, and I am learning more about  audio, folly and  soundtrack reconstruction through it all.All in all its been fun.

Well, at last Frogo gets to his traveling destination, my home town of Nelson, in New Zealand. What a relief. However, there is more in store as he  sees more of the country and sometimes glimpses of stuff and places from Lord of the Rings/the Hobbit -'Middle Earth'. ...but I'm getting ahead of myself...what was it he saw in Auckland? (Spanish speakers, turn your subtitles on. Latinos, prende los subtitulos por fa)