Air New Zealand Launches ‘Hobbit’-Inspired Flight Safety Film

Air New Zealand recently updated their "Hobbit"-studded flight safety film with more special effects and costumed flight attendants. The newly-launched video is done in honor if "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies."

According to The Huffington Post, Air New Zealand's "Hobbit" inspired flight safety film is called "The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made." The new inflight safety video was created with some help from the team behind the "Hobbit" film series and even includes few appearances from members of the cast and crew.

The flight safety video was directed by Taika Waititi. It includes cameos from Elijah Wood, Peter Jackson and Sylvester McCoy.

Management Today said Air New Zealand has soared on the funny flight safety film craze with the usual instructions regarding seatbelts, smoking, life vests and oxygen masks brought to life by a cast of "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" veterans, including Frodo played by Elijah Wood, Radagast the Brown played by Sylvester McCoy and director Sir Peter Jackson.

The "Hobbit" inspired flight safety film launched by Air New Zealand is primarily intended to ensure passenger safety but fans can only presume the video has been released to coincide with the December premiere of the final film in "The Hobbit" trilogy.

The flight safety film was directed by Kiwi filmmaker Taika Waititi also featured appearances from Weta Workshop co-founder Sir Richard Taylor, Hobbit's Fili the Dwarf played by Dean O'Gorman and Waititi himself.

As said by North Devon Journal UK, the video was shot more than 6 days across several New Zealand's Middle-earth locations, including Hobbiton and Central Otago, both of which appeared in "The Hobbit" series.

In the production of the flight safety film, behind the scenes creative talent from the films was also involved including Weta Workshop, which supplied costumes and over 150 make-up prosthetics and Weta Digital, which created the visual effects.

"Air New Zealand has created yet another fantastic video to celebrate The Hobbit films. This latest offering combines members of our cast and our locations with Air New Zealand's unique personality," Director Peter Jackson said. "I had a lot of fun on the set with Taika and the team and look forward to seeing the video on board."

Meanwhile, Air New Zealand Head of Global Brand Development Jodi Williams said the latest flight safety film wraps up a successful three-year connection between the airline and "The Hobbit" films.

"We are very proud to be the official airline of Middle-earth and have worked hard over the past three years to create highly effective global marketing campaigns, including distinctive branded aircraft and Hobbit-inspired online content, which have got the world talking about both our airline and destination New Zealand," Williams said.

The latest "Hobbit" inspired flight safety film follows the airline's first safety video to be motivated by the trilogy films. Its "An Unexpected Briefing" in 2012 had attracted over 12 million online views worldwide and grabbed huge media and social media attention.

"We're confident our final Hobbit-inspired on board safety video will delight fans as much as the first one and inspire even more people to consider a visit to Middle-earth," Williams added.

While Air New Zealand's new flight safety video "The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made" can now be viewed online and in the airline's fleet, the final film installment of the trilogy, "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" will hit the theaters on Dec. 17.

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