Rumor: first six months of filming in studio?

[Emmie]

From the TORn post here (http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2009/11/08/34233-hobbit-shoot-to-begin-in-studio/).

No idea if it has any truth to it, but if so, I wouldn't be particularly happy about it. For one thing, it would potentially mean a lot less news reports for us to read during that period. :p But more importantly, some of my favorite locations in The Lord of the Rings films were the ones shot on location, and I really am hoping The Hobbit will continue that as much as possible.

[Alyssa]

I wouldn't be very happy either, for the reasons you mentioned. Though mostly because I'd like as many outdoor shots as possible. Waiting for news is annoying, but not as important as getting the best movie possible. :)

What are your favorite location shots from LOTR?

[Lanyare]

Hmm, I'd also prefer them to re-use as many locations from Lord of the Rings as possible... Locations that are in both shouldn't look different from each other, although I guess there will not be too many. Just the Shire and Rivendell, I suppose.

[Emmie]

We already know that they're using the same location for the Shire. So that's good. :)

Not sure about Rivendell - I think some of that was studio filming and miniatures anyway. But I'm sure they would try to make it look the same however they decide to do it.

Alyssa, some of my favorite LOTR locations that were done on location:

- The Shire (obviously)
- Cornfield they go through and the 'shortcut to mushrooms' scene
- Some of the places Strider takes them after Bree
- That stone formation that the Fellowship hides around when the crows come
- Walking on the snowy mountainside (near Caradhras)
- Location of the entire final section of the first movie
- Stone formations that Sam, Frodo and Gollum go through in the beginning of the sceond movie
- 'Stewed rabbit' scene with Gollum.
- Rohan
- Edoras (!!)
- The whole sequence with the beakons being lit on the mountaintops, in the third movie. (I'm pretty sure it's been said that the fires were digitally added but the mountains themselves were real.)
- Mt Doom

Of course, I may be worrying over nothing. I think Guillermo del Toro has said he prefers controlled environments, but on the other hand a lot of the LOTR scenes were done with studio shots too, and they probably know what they're doing. And spending a few months in the studio might mean the weather is better when they're out of it.