Peter Jackson interview on "The Lord of the Rings" 2004

Director Peter Jackson recounts the process of financing, casting, shooting, and editing "The Lord of the Rings and pre-production on "King Kong"

[@theshimmering2064]

Peter Jackson. It's hard to describe how much I appreciate this man. He sort of makes it feel like I can accomplish anything with enough imagination, focus, hard work, determination, a love of what you are doing, authenticity, and a dash of fear of failure thrown in for the perfect recipe for success. Of course he is probably brilliant too, but maybe brilliance is all these things put together, not some intangible, unreachable quality born to a few lucky souls. I love how he admitted that toward the end of this massive project his mental fatigue meant he needed to rely a bit more on the cast. And they clearly delivered. Funny how life imitates the art they were creating... a fellowship dedicated to a project that was bigger than they could imagine going in and then resulting in the inspiration and bringing of light to the world. Especially during and then foreshadowing darker times ahead. Anytime I'm tempted to lose hope in the world, I remember Gandalf, Sam, Frodo or any of the other brave characters in Middle Earth.

[@denizdemir9255]

you put my thoughts to words! he inspires me as well!

[@Tim_Climie]

Nice, sentiments.

[@James-s2w3m]

Very well put!

[@JohnKooz]

I just really genuinely like Peter Jackson as much as I admire him. This balance is unique because I admire many people but they may not be necessarily "likable", like he is. Peter Jackson is so humble and definitely a master film-maker.

[@ethanschoenlein267]

Dear Peter Jackson, I’m not a filmmaker, BUT I only ever became a Tolkein Legendarium Fanatic because of your making of Lord of the Rings! You’re incredible dude! You were my age when you began that undertaking and that just blows my mind.. thank you for everything you’ve made for us fans 🙏🤘

[@LussypickerFonguetuck-m6z]

I don't think he reads youtube comments.

[@gingerbaker_toad696]

It can never be repeated. This kind of ultimate art is just unique for all time.

[@Pixelkip]

unfortunately they're trying to reboot it.. absolutely insane

[@joshuatealeaves]

@@PixelkipThey’re trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice. That’s one way to electrocute yourself i guess

[@scottwarren4998]

@@Pixelkip it is possible to reboot. Peter Jackson out of his mind as usual. Why on earth wouldn't Sauron himself defend his own land? if the crowd doesn't get it, then let Aragorn and Gandalf have a discussion about it before the fight.

[@LussypickerFonguetuck-m6z]

Why?

[@HP-lc5vw]

It’s truly been a blessing to have had this man as the director of this trilogy, he truly does understand and respect Tolkien, and him together with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens truly managed to stay faithful to the essence of his work. 🙌

[@jomamasophat8973]

Charlie Rose pretending to like LOTR while mispronouncing every name is gold. PJ, you are perfect!

[@Dmarcoot]

Charlie rose was over rated

[@paulharris8983]

After seeing Rings of Power you realise with greater clarity what Peter Jackson and his team managed to create. A moment in time that will not be repeated.

[@Tawadeb]

Indeed. LotR was made with such heart and soul

[@dv96_dk]

If you needed rop to see How great LOTR is weren’t you even a fan to begin with? Also Why would you watch rop when everyone who worked on it made it very clear what kind of show it would be

[@paulharris8983]

⁠@@dv96_dkYou give everything a chance, that’s only fair. Nobody thought Jackson’s would be good either. Also don’t judge my love for these films. I was 15 when these films came out and watched The Fellowship of The Ring on its opening night. I watched The Two Towers and The Return of The King the day it opened too. I listened to the BBC radio series when I was 10 and reread the books every 2-3 years. Please climb down from your ivory tower you pompous prick.

[@PeterParker-ff7ub]

You dont need that c--- to know what he made.

[@LussypickerFonguetuck-m6z]

Why wouldn't it be able to be repeated?

[@dannyk7226]

Peter Jackson is such a great director

[@MrTardis11]

The Lord of the Rings are my favourite films ever! PJ you are an inspiration. You proved that with enough dedication, passion and determination anything is possible, these 3 films are timeless and they really were deserving of all the awards.

[@DavidShah1992]

One of my favourite filmmakers love him so much ❤️

[@HPLOTRGOTfan]

This is a really good interview! Thanks for posting!

[@sandseeker408]

God bless him for making the movies

[@Pixelkip]

I thank peters vision not god :p

[@michaelhawkins7389]

@@Pixelkip troll. Also fix your grammar and you're wrong. The Lord Of The Rings are a landmark in film making , and the films won so many awards and are highly acclaimed by film critics and by fans

[@Pixelkip]

@@michaelhawkins7389 lol re read what I wrote I love Peter Jackson’s work

[@michaelhawkins7389]

@@Pixelkip oh :)

[@No_OneV]

You can tell he knew what he wanted and knew how to get it. First make an epic film and the profit comes later, most of today's movies have it backwards

[@jjmarcos]

Those 3 movies are so far and above all other movies that they shouldnt even be considered the same art form. They are perfect, every moment. The only films where I get total immersion for the entire length of the film

[@salimdeaibes]

Honestly! I never get the urge to pull out my watch, even during the extended editions

[@DivinePearl]

3 interviews and he still can't say TOLL-keen. Bless him.

[@annejederyd4369]

Peter Jackson you and your "crew" are amazing. Some thing are different in the films than in the books. But its totally all right. Because they are not meant to be. It is like you said. The films are your/one way to translate the book. And I love your perspective of it.

[@juliennees]

i am so glad he made the decision to make the movies

[@iniglowee]

these two have a great back and forth, I love this interviewer

[@andrenewcomb3708]

Howard Shore helped a lot with keeping the weave tight with how he could return to recurring themes.

[@tiamotzz]

I'm glad PJ gives Sean Astin a nod here. He really did a stellar job as Samwise.

[@Tawadeb]

Yes he did All the actors did

[@tylermoulton7294]

Amazing and touching! I’m sailing the same type of ship as you ! All of this content allows me to sail clearly with hope and bravery ❤

[@theshimmering2064]

My big takeaway here: Some fear is good. Focus on the parts you already had planned (rather than getting overwhelmed by the enormity of the scope of it.) Don't try to guess what other people would want. Create something based on what would please you, what you would want. That is likely to be as close to what anyone else would want anyway. So you don't have to second guess yourself so much. (And also, you can't please everyone all of the time anyway.)

[@ogbee9690]

sean astins sam is absolutely 100% samwise gamgee

[@DavisSchulz]

great thanks!! :)

[@kieranb7747]

were you expecting people to mention you have a tick

[@gingerbaker_toad696]

Hey man stop making me cry please. I am not even watching the movies right now.

[@deanazcoolzi4382]

Thank goodness Miramax did not pick up LotR

[@oscarsalesgirl296]

Samuel Jackson should have been Elrond John Travolta would be Boromir Uma Thurman as Galadriel Eric Stoltz as Legolas Bruce Willis as Aragorn Christopher Walken as Saruman

[@TallisKeeton]

"Help us Peter Jackson you are our last hope" :D

[@AmericanPieInThailand]

Made one of my favorite repeatable movies King Kong! He is one of the great ones for sure, right up there with George Lucas and Steven Speilberg!

[@robertharvey1667]

Mr Jackson could you please make more lotr movies please pretty please. It takes use on such a journey out of were we are to another time and place. We still remember the first and last movie like it was yesterday and waiting for more outstanding work from the trilogy is growing on us . Please make more Sir. Thank you for your time and God bless you and your family

[@andrenewcomb3708]

No Oscars because SAG (cast/crew) was so good.

[@shirleymental4189]

If only PJ knew he'd be walking away with 3 Oscar's

[@AndrewsOpinion15]

peter jackson right about the lord of the rings 2004 film ?

[@comeondown12345]

what about the 2022 lotr films?

[@andrenewcomb3708]

Gollum & Smeagol was more explanation of why he wasn't 'with it' but wasn't Ork.

[@XenomorphLV426]

Did he say Harvey Weinstein helped get LOTR rights?

[@oscarstainton]

That is correct. The reason for that is that the original rights holder to the Lord of the Rings on film owed Weinstein a favour when he needed funding for his passion project. It took a few months, but Weinstein eventually got the film right from the Saul Zaentz Company to Miramax. There were once just two films under that original deal, but Weinstein obviously didn’t get LotR and tried to compress it into one film.

[@scottwarren4998]

Peter Jackson out of his mind as usual. Why on earth wouldn't Sauron himself defend his own land? if the crowd doesn't get it, then let Aragorn and Gandalf have a discussion about it before the fight.

[@shellythomas3164]

why did scary bilbo scene got scripted when it wasn't suppose to be ?

[@andrenewcomb3708]

"It is time." Where is that from?

[@nemalconsashutosh8665]

LOTRROTK when the Hobbits are seeing off Bilbo. Gandalf tells Frodo...

[@ivanbarber3563]

The movie Bad taste & meet the febbles

[@youngboss2071]

16:40 I can relate. 22:27. 24:20 35:10

[@DoomSplitta]

PJ is the only director to become a billionaire from film making aside from J. Cameron and Spielberg.

[@gadai4609]

George Lucas?

[@DoomSplitta]

@@gadai4609 sorry, also Lucas. Can't believe I missed that

[@daneoman1000]

James Cameron is NOT a Billionaire. But he should be.

[@MrSOLOPIANIST]

Not as good an interview as the 2002 interview. That interview was brilliant. Interviewer talking far too much and over the top of PJ

[@Jeppz85]

Horrible sound

[@ezramotz1995]

I didn’t think so. It wasn’t the best, but definitely not horrible. I think it’s just for Viggo it’s hard to hear what he’s saying, but I think that’s just the way he talks (monotone, mumbling, soft) because I can hear everyone else just fine.

[@Jeppz85]

@@ezramotz1995 viggo isn’t in the video?

[@ezramotz1995]

@@Jeppz85 oops I thought I was in this comment section: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4GsZJKFeMSLias because I just watched that one and got them mixed up/clicked on the wrong one to read the comments. You are right, the audio is horrendous for the upload of this video. Probably because it’s not the official channel who did the interview that uploaded it (name of official channel is “Manufacturing Intellect”. The video I linked above is from that channel) Edit: the audio for the official channel is much better, even though they don’t have this 2004 interview on there, there are still two other great interviews with Peter Jackson on there. First is the one I linked above and second is this one which was a very great interview: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y5jKh3ePmNuBrsk

[@cwinowich]

are u recording a tv wtf

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

My first introduction to Tolkien was Ralph Bakshi's 1978 film. I remember seeing The Fellowship of the Ring in the theater thinking "That bugger Peter Jackson lifted this straight from Ralph Bakshi's movie because it's not in the book".

[@iniglowee]

the earlier versions of lotr heavily inspired PJ & well obviously the books, illustrations, etc. It’s not about reinventing the wheel and recontextualization. It’s about refining and illuminating a great work of tolkien in theaters

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

@@iniglowee Let's be honest, "Heavily inspired" is a very diplomatic way of saying "rip-off". I love Peter Jackson's films but they're a little too slick for me. "The Hobbit" films are the perfect example of this as well. Getting your "Burger King Hobbit Meal" is so removed from the essence of Tolkien, it's ridiculous. .

[@iniglowee]

@@JoeyArmstrong2800 I see what ur saying brother, maybe just the level of money and corporate interaction with their studio, market, and audience couldn’t allow for a truly romanticized and completely novel rendition. Kind of a give and take tradeoff with being original vs paying the wages of the staff, actors, backers. Seems to be a consistent theme in hollywood being too safe as PJ often has stated, and maybe he will never really share certain thoughts about his own creations that could be more aligned with your ideas than we think.

[@JoeyArmstrong2800]

@@iniglowee Well said. It's probably why he didn't want anything to do with "The Hobbit" films. I'm surmising here, but he probably eventually took over the reigns just to save the project because it's not like he has anything to prove at this point.