James Cameron to use Weta Digital for next film

Friday, August 4, 2006 

New Zealand

Other stories from New Zealand

• 20 January 2012: Wikinews Shorts: January 20, 2012
• 1 October 2011: 'Fascinating' and 'provocative' research examines genetic elements of bipolar, schizophrenia
• 18 August 2011: Former Governor-General of New Zealand Paul Reeves dies aged 78
• 9 August 2011: Allied WWII spy Nancy Wake dies aged 98
• 3 May 2011: One confirmed dead after tornado hits Auckland, New Zealand

...More articles here

Location of New Zealand

To write, edit, start or view other articles on New Zealand, see the New Zealand Portal

James Cameron, director of the $1.8 billion grossing film, Titanic, has signed up special effects studio, Weta Digital of Wellington, New Zealand for his next sci-fi film, Avatar.

Weta Digital, owned by Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor and Jamie Selkirk, will provide the visual effects, of which the movie will be mostly of, excluding some action shots in the USA, for the NZ$322 million film. The visual effects will also include performance capture animation where the actors movements are translated onto an animated character. Weta Digital is famous for this with characters Gollum in The Lord of the Rings and King Kong in King Kong modelled after actor Andy Serkis.

The reason that Cameron chose Weta Digital over other special effects studios is "Weta have proven themselves a leader in visionary effects. Along with their world-class capability comes a genuine passion to blaze new trails." Cameron said.

Cameron also added that "We may end up with stars in Avatar but it's not a requirement."

The Avatar film is a movie about a war veteran that is fighting aliens on other planets. The movie will be launched in 2008.

Sources

• Nzpa. "Titanic director to use Weta Digital for next film" — The New Zealand Herald, August 04, 2006

• The Dominion Post. "Weta wins star role in alien blockbuster" — stuff.co.nz, August 04, 2006