Designing and Building Middle-earth is the fourth documentary in the Extended Edition appendix "From Book to Vision" of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. It was directed by Michael Pellerin. Some other documentaries in later Extended Edition appendices have the same title.
This documentary introduces Wētā Workshop (and its design crew of sculptors and set-designers), renowned artists Alan Lee and John Howe who were brought on to join them in conceptual design, and costume designer Ngila Dickson. Topics covered include the design of Middle-earth cultures portrayed in the film, the making of props and settings for Hobbiton, Rivendell, the Orthanc interior, and Caras Galadhon, and the complexity of prosthetics.
Personnel featured[]
- Peter Jackson, director
- Richard Taylor, creative director of Wētā Workshop
- Alan Lee, artist
- John Howe, artist
- Grant Major, production designer
- Dan Hennah, filming location supervisor
- Christian Rivers, visual effects art director
- Jeremy Bennett, visual effects art director
- Daniel Falconer, conceptual designer
- Rick Porras, co-producer
- Tania Rodger, Wētā Workshop supervisor
- Actors Elijah Wood, Christopher Lee, Ian McKellen, Sean Astin, Liv Tyler, John Rhys-Davies, Sean Bean, and Viggo Mortensen
- Barrie Osborne, executive producer
- Alex Funke, director of miniatures
- Ngila Dickson, head costume designer
Part One: From Book to Vision • Part Two: From Vision to Reality
Part Three: The Journey Continues • Part Four: The Battle for Middle-earth Begins
Part Five: The War of the Ring • Part Six: The Passing of an Age