from Weta:
Happy New Year!
We hinted before we went on summer holidays that this year was going to be very exciting. We stand by that.
Avatar has truly set new benchmarks for creativity and box office takings as well as taking home two of the most coveted Golden Globes. And Richard Taylor and Weta have been recognised at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Makeup!
And we have a couple of new product ranges up our sleeve and we’re continuing our journey through Middle-earth.
Our two Weta Cast hosts, Daniel and Magnus, are feverishly working on a round table discussion between Richard Taylor and some of the artists and craftspeople behind the beautiful designs, maquettes and props from Avatar. This will be an AWESOME podcast.
Announcement — District 9 Collectibles!
We are ENORMOUSLY pleased to be able to announce a range of collectibles and merchandise from District 9, last year’s perhaps most unexpected blockbuster. More details will follow shortly. Keep an eye on our News page.
Master Chief & Arbiter — Master Chief & Flood! Now Shipping!
The most dynamic Halo piece in the galaxy, The Master Chief & Flood, is now shipping, making its way to our warehouses along with The Master Chief and Arbiter — a terrific study in determination and menace. The two pieces join Cortana in our range of Halo sculptures. More about our Halo range here!
Seen Daybreakers yet?
Weta’s been heavily involved in making special makeup effects and prosthetics on a very exciting new movie called Daybreakers. Starring Ethan Hawke, Sam Neill and Willem Dafoe and directed by Australian directors the Spierig Brothers, Daybreakers promises to be a big hit not only among vampire genre fans. Currently showing in the US and other parts of the world, other territories (like New Zealand) will have to wait until March. More here!
Now is the time to get a complete Doctor Who helmet collection!
We’re taking £10 off the price of each helmet until Monday 1 February. That means the Sycorax, Sontaran Officer Linx, The Ice Warrior and the Industrial Welding Mask are only £22 (US$41 | NZ$58+GST) and that The Cyberman Leader Helmet and Lord President Borusa’s Headdress are £28 (US$44 | NZ$62+GST). Save £60 (US$93 | NZ$133+GST) on a whole set! Top reasons why you should get Weta’s Doctor Who helmet collection? They’re absolutely exact replicas of the full size props. Modelmaker David Tremont (who is a complete and utter Who-ligan) has had access through his extensive contacts to some of the originals to ensure accuracy. They’re 1/4 scale, which means “fist sized”, cast in white metal, weigh about 2 lbs (1kg) each and perfectly capture the menace of a Doctor Who baddie. They are AWESOME. Especially when all six are lined up. Get your set now!
Bag End update from Daniel Falconer
Says Daniel: One of the first things to do when the notion of producing Bag End as a miniature collectible environment was mooted was to get some artwork for us all to look at and discuss. We can talk about a piece all we want but it’s impossible to really begin meaningful discussion until a visual exists that defines the bounds of the piece. With a common visual to reference the team can discuss specifics, like, “Will it include the tree? If it does, how big does that necessitate the collectible being…” Check out the article for more. And Pictures!
Have you noted the sweet, sweet smell of VICTORY?
We’ve had some really flattering reviews come in for Greg Broadmore’s latest book, VICTORY — Scientific Adventure Violence for Young Men and Literate Women. Read the reviews on our VICTORY page!
The Lord of the Rings on Blu-Ray from Warner Bros.
What Entertainment Weekly describes as “The best film of the decade!” will shortly be available as a Blu-Ray box set direct from Warner Bros. It will even include a Weta discount coupon! Read more about this release.