After being made a Sir, New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson has been immortalised in Tinseltown with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Braindead and Lord of the Rings filmmaker was made a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2002 before being knighted as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2010.
A ceremony adding the Walk of Fame honour to his collection took place today in Los Angeles.
"40 years ago my mum and dad brought me here on a trip," said Sir Peter in his speech.
"I was 12-years-old and I walked along this street, looked at the stars and never ever in wildest dreams did I think I'd find myself here today to receive a star. It's an unbelievable dream.
"[This is] a message for all young filmmakers out there - so long as you work hard and follow that dream, it can come true, just as it did for me. But I certainly haven't done it alone. To everyone in New Zealand, from the government right the way through the country, including the thousands of people on the crews, everyone at Wingnut, Weta and Park Road. Particularly Phillipa [Boyens] - thank you so much.
"Finally I want to give a huge thank you to Fran [Walsh]. And to Billy and Katie for putting up with a dad who lives in a crazy, strange world. You have been so incredibly supportive, the three of you, thank you so much.
"Lastly, my final thanks goes to fans and the audiences for our films. We can work hard, we can do the best that we can do, but ultimately, thank you for being the main reason a 12-year-old boy's dreams come true - the people who see our movies, thank you very, very much."
During the ceremony, Sir Peter wore a red World War I centenary badge and the badge of the South Wales Borderers, the regiment his grandfather fought with.
Andy Serkis, famous for bringing Gollum to life in Sir Peter's Middle-earth films, gave an emotional speech at the ceremony. He called the Bad Taste director "one of the greatest filmmakers on the planet" and "the most incredible human being".
"Before I ever met you I watched Heavenly Creatures and I was so incredibly affected by it," says Serkis.
"It was such an inspiring film. I thought: that's how you make a movie - that's it! It was like a heightened, poetic, cinematic honesty."
Serkis recounted meeting Sir Peter and the early work they did on The Lord of the Rings, before acknowledging his entire body of work.
"You have brought much-needed magic, mystery, cinematic poetry, creative ambition and most of all joy to the film industry, and to the world. The passion that you had as a seven-year-old boy who cut up his mother's stole to make a stop-motion puppet for the first of your remakes of King Kong is still infectious and still as irrepressible as ever.
"[You're] a genuine, bona fide, no-bullshit visionary. Your extraordinary leadership, your forensic thinking, your attention to detail, pioneering, fearless risk-taking and your work ethic are matched only by your sense of mischief and anarchy."
After the star was unveiled, Sir Peter stepped on it. He then invited Serkis to do so and the actor performed a spritely little dance upon it.
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Leron Gubler declared it was "Peter Jackson Day in Hollywood".
Sir Peter's star is located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, an address that features other stars including those of Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, Muhammed Ali, Kermit the Frog, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Keanu Reeves and Britney Spears.
It's prime Los Angeles real estate, right outside the Dolby Theatre, home of the Academy Award ceremonies.
3 News
source: newshub archive
