Artiste extraordinaire Colleen Doran sends along word on her latest work 'The Nightmare Factory': The model of my main character was actor Jed Brophy, who has appeared in a number of Peter Jackson’s films...Jed is a big comics fan and made an especially good Spiderman model, because he is not only lean and wiry, he knows all the classic comics poses. All I had to do was ask for a character and he could immediately become that character. He could even nail poses based on the iconic images of certain artists. [More]

Flagship Studios is offering fans of the highly anticipated PC game, Hellgate: London, the chance to participate in the closed beta test of the game! Anyone who purchases a Hellgate: London statue from Weta Collectibles between 15 – 31 August, will be offered a key to the closed beta test for Hellgate: London. The closed beta is only available to a select group of video game industry insiders, and you only have a short time to join their ranks. [More]

Members of Peter Jackson's special effects unit, Weta Workshop, showed spectators how the magic of the movies is made at Lower Hutt's TheNewDowse gallery today. The sessions were held while the gallery's Becoming King Kong exhibition was on display. Artist Greg Broadmore instructed a 20-student hands-on Photoshop class, on how he digitally created the movie's dinosaurs. Weta's senior prosthetics supervisor, Gino Acevedo, presented a seminar on special make-up and prosthetics. [More]

Peter Jackson in spandex MoCap goodness! [More]

Randy from www.darkchylde.com writes: Just wanted to give a heads up that the first filmic images have been captured of Darkchylde, based on the comic of the same name. I am intimately involved, as is 5 time Oscar Winner Richard Taylor (King Kong, Lord of the Rings) and Weta Workshop, and Dark Horse (Hellboy). [More]

The Bearded One himself, Peter Jackson made a surprise cameo in the latest episode of the hit HBO show 'Entourage'. Much like UK's 'Extras' (where Sir Ian McKellen and Orlando Bloom spoofed themselves), 'Entourage' focuses on the entertainment industry. Peter most likely spoofed himself in the episode (I have yet to see it). If anyone catches it on YouTube, drop me a line!

Ronald let us in on PJ's cameo: Actually Peter played himself talking directly with Eric (Vince's personal business manager) about producing a movie with Vince based on some of Peter's gaming ventures. Pete was in a "Motion Capture" suit practicing swordplay with another fellow. Said specifically he was glad to be able to reach into Vince's camp without having to go through Ari Gold to do so.

Star actors in Academy Award-winning filmmaker James Cameron's latest film move to Wellington in October for their performances to be incorporated in fantasy worlds created by the Weta workshops.

Showbusiness newspaper Variety reported that Cameron had added two more cast members to the science fiction film Avatar, Stephen Lang and Michelle Rodriguez, who have joined Australian actor Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Wes Studi and CCH Pounder.

"In October, the company will move to Wellington close to Peter Jackson's Weta Digital, which is supervising the film's visual effects," Variety reported today. Thirty-one days of live-action photography will be carried out on Weta's soundstages. [More]

From Rachel, Web Content Manager for WETA: News from San Diego Comic Con 2007!

Weta reveal HALO3 Collectible intentions

Doctor Who pieces revealed

New Raygun announced

Weta Bug reports live from Comic Con [Part II]

Lord Cockswain and Moon Mistress spotted at Comic Con

New Rayguns testimonial

According to special-effects auteur Ray Harryhausen, "We would have been shot in color if we could have afforded it. . . . The color sure improves it." That's what Harryhausen says on the commentary track for his 1957 classic, "20 Million Miles to Earth," which arrives Tuesday in a two-disc 50th anniversary special edition set ($24.96). The first disc contains full-frame and anamorphic versions of the film in black-and-white, as well as the newly colorized edition, which Harryhausen personally supervised. [More]

nikki_tom writes: I just wanted to let you know the guy who sculpted the King Kong and Godzilla ornaments For American Greetings has put out his own Godzilla collectible. It has a sound and lights sequence and is the first in an upcoming diorama of "Destroy All Monsters" Ghidorah is scheduled to come out next. It is available on their website. [More]