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Director Peter Jackson and actor Saoirse Ronan at the press conference for the Wellington premiere of The Lovely Bones - Source: ONE News -
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Peter Jackson says The Lovely Bones premiere in Wellington "feels like coming home and the heart of the film is here".
Seven of those involved in The Lovely Bones met with the media on Monday lunchtime to talk about the much awaited release of the film based on Alice Sebold's book - which is due in New Zealand cinemas on Boxing Day.
Visual FX genius Joe Letteri, Philippa Boyens (screenplay), actresses Saoirse Ronan, Susan Sarandon, Rose McIver and Carolyn Dando joined Peter Jackson to front the media.
While some of the talk was around Saoirse Ronan garnering an Oscar nomination for her role as murdered girl Susie Salmon, the actress said: "It would be fantastic, but I'm not thinking about it."
Director Jackson was more playful when asked about the potential success of the film, preferring to offer up what he believed would be getting a golden statuette next year - "Avatar. That's the film to beat - I've seen it and it's just extraordinary."
Avatar was filmed by James Cameron and used WETA in Wellington to help pioneer its look. It's due in cinemas worldwide this week.
When quizzed about what motivated him to make The Lovely Bones, both Jackson and screenwriter Philippa Boyens said it was the book.
Jackson says it was the possibility to do something so different which appealed to him.
"It's such a personal adaptation - you can't do it perfectly and it's very personal to those behind it; what to leave in, what to take out - that was all decided by the three of us.
"But what was the key for me was that I could shut my eyes and not imagine another movie like this - there was not one that I could think of."
Jackson also said after the large scale epics of the Lord Of The Rings that he jumped to do something on a smaller scale so he could take more risks and that he had no desire to repeat himself.
Susan Sarandon was in a playful mood as she discussed her role as the alcoholic Grandma Lyn who spends much of the film with a glass of scotch in one hand and cigarette in the other. However, she said such a strong female cast was wonderful to work with and that Jackson had created a unique set to be part of.
New Zealand actresses Rose McIver (who plays Susie's sister Lindsey) and Carolyn Dando (who plays Ruth, the only person to see Susie in the InBetween world) said the experience had been amazing.
However, both revealed they had gone back to a normal way of life after working on the film.
Carolyn says she is working at a computer store and "wasn't expecting anything big to change".
Rose McIver went straight to university after the filming and she says she is being treated like everyone else, "still losing points if work's late."
Around 6,000 fans are expected to pack the red carpet at the
Embassy Theatre to welcome home the Lord Of The Rings director -
758 specially invited guests will attend the premiere before
heading to an after show bash.
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