When it comes to pulling back the curtains on Hollywood, director Peter Jackson does a damn fine job, be it extended features on a DVD, or a quick snap from the set. This image above was captured yesterday and shows three versions of actor Richard Armitage, who plays Thorin Oakenshield in The Hobbit films.
Three versions? As Jackson notes in the description of the photo on Facebook, the Lord of the Rings films are well-known for their use of actors of differing heights (as well as camera tricks) to make the setting’s various races all match up correctly in terms of stature.
Here’s the full story from Jackson:
Big Richard, Medium Richard and Little Richard.
2.00pm. Just breaking for lunch, with the first shot on F Stage complete. A daunting number to go. I don’t want to think about it, but it’s probably 7 or 8 set-ups. Splinter Unit have made the move to K Stage and will start shooting after lunch.
I asked the various Thorins to pose just before they headed off to lunch. One of these is Richard Armitage, and two of them are not. It’s your guess … The one in the middle is a little psycho.
I am looking forward to making movies with everyone the same height in the future.
The pressure now goes on. We’re going to have to move like the clappers!
I couldn’t help but notice they look a bit like Klingons from Star Trek — even the costumes are similar. All they need, of course, are bat’leths instead of axes.