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Source: ONE News -
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As I stepped off the plane into an overcast, grey and miserable Wellington, I remembered exactly why it's sometimes called the Windy City.
A brisk northwesterly is currently powering through the city - after the positively balmy Auckland conditions, it has to be said (before I'm accused of being a JAFA) that it's somewhat of a relief.
I've been fortunate enough to be allowed by Paramount Pictures (and my bosses) to come to the capital for the New Zealand premiere of Peter Jackson's latest, The Lovely Bones.
After the rigours of the flight (don't worry I won't bore you with that) the taxi ride over to the hotel was somewhat interesting - because it appears there are only two things on (some) people's minds here today - the new James Cameron epic, Avatar, which has had major input from WETA workshop and The Lovely Bones premiere.
The taxi driver regaled me with the old line: "You'll never guess who I've just had in the back of my cab" which led him to reveal that one of the geniuses behind WETA had just been ferried from the airport (the driver was too modest to say who exactly it was) - it turns out some of the maestros of the effects of both James Cameron's latest and The Lovely Bones are in town for the premiere itself tomorrow night at The Embassy Theatre.
And while the Avatar talk was interesting (watch the Avatar behind the scenes featurette here), it seems the major excitement is about the premiere itself.
The city itself has, in amongst the obligatory annual Christmas flags, dotted around the poster image of The Lovely Bones, absolutely positively shouting about the New Zealand premiere.
And why not?
This is after all, the city which went nuts for its wunderkind Peter Jackson with Lord of the Rings and King Kong (neither of whose premieres I attended) - and it's clearly going to be the case again this week.
The cast have already graced the red carpet in Sydney this week and due on the red carpet tomorrow are Peter Jackson, Susan Sarandon, Rose McIver and of course, Lovely Bones' star Saoirse Ronan.
It should truly be an amazing day and a thrill to be part of (yes, even this reviewer finds time to be a little awestruck and starry eyed).
However, just as one final note, the security down here is incredible. Upon checking in with Paramount, there's a sea of lanyards on the table in front of the PR people (including some pretty bad photos I can tell you- and yes, I do speak from experience) as well as suited security about in the hotel.
Upon picking up my media accreditation, I caught the lift back down with one of those tall, stocky built chaps, in smart suits and with earpieces. It's the kind of protection I'd expect for the Prime Minister John Key but it appears they're taking no chances with the stars of the Lovely Bones.
The guy in the lift told me he was driving some of the cast around - but wasn't at liberty to reveal who - and it was at that point his earpiece crackled into life. No doubt someone somewhere had overheard him and decreed he'd said too much...
tvnz.co.nzs Darren Bevan will be
tweeting
LIVE from the red carpet of The Lovely Bones premiere on
Monday. Follow the feed and keep up-to-date with all the
news.
