OUT OF HIS HELMET: Director Peter Jackson with Hobbit cast members, dwarfs Stephen Hunter, Adam Brown and Graham McTavish, and lead hobbit Martin Freeman.
It was a low-key public appearance that only Sir Peter Jackson could make at the glitzy 1930s-themed opening of The Roxy cinema in Wellington last night.
Speeches had already begun inside the $7 million refurbished cinema to 300 invited guests including Hobbit stars Sir Ian McKellen and James Nesbitt when someone dressed in a 1930s Rocketeer costume, complete with jet pack and full face helmet, quietly entered the cinema and stood at the back, largely unnoticed.
It was only after McKellen had cut a ribbon at the main cinema that the Rocketeer got around to removing his helmet.
Even then, it took several minutes for many to notice that it was Jackson. He rarely attends party-style events and spent some time at The Roxy chatting to Once Were Warriors director Lee Tamahori, who was one of the surprise guests at the opening.
Tamahori has been in Wellington for several weeks and is understood to be making a short film, using Jackson's Wellington facilities.
About 200 onlookers, including autograph hunters, watched guests arrive at The Roxy in Park Rd, Miramar. About a dozen vintage, veteran and post-vintage cars were parked out front.
The Hobbit stars also included Andy Serkis and William Kircher. Oscar-winner Jamie Selkirk, who was on crutches after breaking an ankle, and Sir Richard Taylor's wife, Tania Rodger, had been the main driving forces for the reincarnation of the former Capitol Cinema, bought in 2003.
As McKellen officially opened the cinema, he joked about preparations for The Hobbit, which have been disrupted by Jackson's emergency surgery for a perforated ulcer in January. "Are there two films? I tell you one thing, they've not been written yet."
McKellen was also impressed by the 1930s theme. "I'm the only one here born in the 30s."
Other guests included Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown, Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and Cabinet ministers Tony Ryall and Chris Finlayson.
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