Middle-earth: From Script to Screen

The epic, in-depth story of the creation of one of the most famous fantasy worlds ever imagined, a richly illustrated compendium that reveals the breathtaking craftsmanship, artistry, and technology behind the magical Middle-earth of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogies, directed by Peter Jackson.

Middle-earth: From Script to Screen tells the complete story of how J. R. R. Tolkien's magical world was brought to vivid life on the big screen in the record-breaking film trilogies of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.

Drawing on resources, stories, and content from the archives of the companies and individuals behind the films, much of which has never appeared in print before, as well as interviews with director Peter Jackson and key members of the Art Department, Shooting Crews, Park Road Post, and Weta Digital teams who share their personal insights on the creative process, this astonishing resource reveals:

• How the worlds were built, brick by brick and pixel by pixel;
• How environments were extended digitally or imagined entirely as computer-generated spaces;
• How the multiple shooting units functioned;
• How cast members and characters interacted with their environments.

Daniel Falconer takes fans from storyboard concepts deep into the post-production process where the films were edited, graded, and scored, explaining in depth how each enhanced the films. He also discusses how the processes involved in establishing Middle-earth for the screen have evolved over the fifteen years between the start and finish of the trilogies. Going region by region and culture by culture in this fantasy realm, Middle-earth: From Script to Screen describes how each area created for the films was defined, what made it unique, and what role it played in the stories.

Illustrated with final film imagery, behind-the-scenes pictures, and conceptual artwork, including places not seen in the final films, this monumental compilation offers unique and far-reaching insights into the creation of the world we know and love as Middle-earth.