Film the various locations of Middle-earth (e.g. large towns, tall towers, deep mines, and dwellings) under these conditions:

• limited space, time, money, labour, and materials
• the need for building approval from authorities
• the need to protect the environment (e.g. constructions sometimes need to be temporary).

Brainstorm:

• Do you know where a movie has been shot in your country?
• Why do you think that location was chosen?
• How might film-making have affected the location?
• What issues might there be around using outdoor locations for movies?

As guidelines, use the points above in Challenge for Film-makers. You could also invite an expert to discuss issues with the class (e.g. a film "location scout", a member of the local council, an environmentalist, a tourism operator). 

See and read about the use of real landscapes for creating:

• Hobbiton (zone 1)
• Edoras, the capital of Rohan (zone 9)
• the Lothlórien waters (zone 4).

See and read about the use of miniatures in the movie:

• Orthanc (zone 17)
• Hobbiton Mill (zone 14).

Focus questions:

• Which scenes in the movie involve real landscapes? Which involve miniatures? Which involve a combination?
• How did the film-makers combine real actors with miniature sets?
• How much detail is in the miniatures (e.g. bricks, timber)?
• What materials do you think the miniatures are made of?

Detailed miniature sets were digitally combined with live action and real landscapes to create a powerful illusion of reality.

Before building a set on a real landscape, the film-makers created a miniature working model. They then built it in real size, within all the limitations imposed. After filming, they had to take apart and remove all the structures so that the environment could return to its original condition.

Choose one or both of these follow-up activities:

• Making a Miniature
• Using Real Landscapes

Related activity links: