The Making of…

Chapter 3

The Fellowship

I rolled out of bed – slightly refreshed – at six and decided to call my mum. I punched in her number to my phone; it rang three times before she picked up.

“Hello?”

“Hi mum, it’s me.” I smiled.

“Kira! How are things?”

“Great, I’ve met some of the cast and they’re all really friendly.”

“Good, good. What time is it with you?”

“Just after six… In the evening.” I added.

“Oh, we’re just about to have lunch here.”

We chatted for a good while, it felt strange, knowing that I couldn’t just pop over to my parent’s house and say hi anymore. It made me feel a little homesick.

“I’ve got to go mum; I’m meeting some people for dinner.”

“Oh ok, I’ll talk to you soon. Bye sweetie.”

“Bye mum, love you!”

I hung up and began to search for something to wear tonight, before I got all teary-eyed. I found a light green summer dress in my case and changed into it. It had been strange packing my summer clothes before I left, even though it was November, and it was almost mid-winter back home, it was summer here! I brushed out my hair and straightened it, before putting on a little makeup. I examined my teeth, making sure that no traces of my ‘tooth mud’ stuff had been left behind. I slipped on a pair of high heeled sandals and looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t look too casual, or too formal, which I supposed was appropriate. I jumped a little as someone knocked on my door. I walked over and opened it to find Viggo standing in the hall.

“Hi.” I smiled.

“Hey, ready to go?” He said in his soft American accent. I noticed he was wearing a shirt and jeans, I was glad that I wouldn’t be the only person who was slightly casually dressed.

“Yep!” I grinned, feeling my stomach flutter with excitement. I was going to meet the rest of the cast!

I closed the door behind me and followed Viggo downstairs and into the dining room where a large group of people were taking their seats around a long table. Viggo walked up to them and pulled out a chair for me.

“Thanks.” I mumbled as he sat down. He was such a gentleman!

“Hey Ki!”

I looked around to see Billy sitting beside me, with Dominic on his other side.

“Hiya!” I smiled.

“Did you have a good day?” He asked.

“Yeah, everything’s been great!” I grinned.

“Hi Kira!” I looked up and noticed Orlando sitting opposite me with a pretty dark haired woman sitting beside him. “This is Liv Tyler.” He smiled, introducing me to the woman, “She’s playing Arwen.”

“Hi.” I smiled, shaking her hand from across the table.

“Nice to meet you!” She said in a friendly tone.

“And this is Sean Bean,” Orlando continued, gesturing to the man sitting beside him. “He’s playing Boromir.”

“Hey.” He said in a friendly British accent as I shook his hand.

“Hi.” I smiled, feeling surprised at the amount of British actors that were in the movie.

“Hey Pete!” I heard Elijah call from the other side of the table as Peter Jackson walked into the busy dining room, still in his shorts and t-shirt. He smiled and greeted all of us, and introduced me to a few more cast members, including Sean Astin – who was playing Sam, John Rhys-Davies, who was Gimli, Hugo Weaving was Elrond (Peter said I would be doing my first scenes with him tomorrow) and of course Ian McKellen, who was starring as Gandalf. I also got to meet two of the screenplay writers, Fran Walsh (who was also Peter’s partner) and Philippa Boyens.

As we settled down to dinner, I heard Peter clear his throat and raise his glass.

“To the finally complete Fellowship!” He toasted, giving me a wink.

“Here here!” Shouted the slightly intoxicated Billy and Dom as I tried to hide my blush.

I managed to chat with pretty much everyone throughout the course of the meal, and at the end of it, Peter stood to say goodnight to us.

“Night everyone, see you on set in the morning. Be there at 6am sharp! 5am for the Hobbits!”

There was a resounding groan from Elijah, Sean, Dom and Billy as Peter laughed and walked off with Fran and Philippa – Viggo said they were off to make edits to the script. After a while of talking to several people, I started to yawn and decided to head to bed. As I stood Viggo looked up at me.

“Are you going?”

“Yeah, the jetlag’s hitting me like a brick to the head.” I mumbled.

“I’ll head up too, I’m pretty tired.” He smiled standing as I said goodnight to a few people and then followed him out the door.

“So, are you nervous about your first scenes tomorrow?” Viggo asked as we stepped into the elevator.

“A little,” I yawned, “I’ll probably start freaking out tomorrow though… If I’m awake enough.”

Viggo laughed a little as the doors opened and we walked to my room.

“Do you want me to drive you to the set tomorrow?” He asked as I unlocked the door.

“Yeah, that would be great, thanks.” I smiled.

“Alright, I’ll see you at five then, remember to set your alarm!” He grinned as I grimaced. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.” I smiled, slipping into my room and closing the door behind me. I quickly set the alarm on my phone and changed into my pyjamas, slumping into bed and pulling the duvet over myself.

My first day in New Zealand had been a blast; I couldn’t wait to see what the next year or two had in store!

***

An irritating buzzing sound violently dragged me out of my blissful sleep. I slammed my phone to try and get it to shut up, but it fell off my bedside table and continued to whine at me. I groaned and sat up, turning on the light as it was still dark outside and looked at the time – half four – before staggering to the bathroom. I was definitely not a morning person.

I turned on the water for the shower and stepped out of my pyjamas, before standing under the torrent of water and slowly beginning to wake up. I rubbed my face furiously, trying to stop myself from dozing off on my feet, before washing my hair and then shutting off the water. I wrapped myself in a towel and brushed my teeth vigorously, still trying to kick my brain into action. I stumbled back into my room and dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and a light blue checked shirt, before drying my hair messily with the towel and tugging a brush through it. As I quickly smudged a little eyeliner over my eyelids, I heard a knock on my door.

“Coming…” I groaned, snatching up my script, phone and keys and walking to the door, switching off the light as I went.

“Good morning.” Viggo smiled as I opened the door.

“Mrrrph…” I moaned shutting the door and tramping towards the elevator.

“Not a morning person then?” He laughed.

“Not in the slightest.” I answered, violently hitting the button to call the elevator and stepping inside as the doors ‘binged’ open in an annoyingly cheerful manner.

“Wait! Hold the doors!”

I glanced up to see a half-awake Orlando dashing down the hallway towards us, with a half unbuttoned shirt and a toothbrush jammed in his mouth.

“Good morning.” Viggo and I said simultaneously as he joined us in the cramped space and the doors closed.

“I slept in.” Orlando mumbled through the toothbrush.

“Well done.” I mumbled sarcastically as the doors ‘binged’ opened again. Could someone please tell that elevator that it’s too early in the morning to be cheerful?

When we got out to the car park, I noticed Liv standing by a car; she tapped her watch over-dramatically as she spotted Orlando.

“I drive her everywhere.” Orlando explained, dashing towards her. “See you in makeup!” He called over his shoulder.

“So do you all have cars here?” I asked as Viggo unlocked his Jeep.

“Most of us rented them. It just makes it easier to get around.” He explained as we clambered in. I nodded and leant back against the headrest and closed my eyes as Viggo started the engine. I was only resting them…

“Hey Kira? Ki?”

I moaned a little as Viggo gently shook me awake.

“You fell asleep.” He smiled as I looked at him in confusion. “We’re here anyway.”

“Oh… I mumbled, blushing a little. “Sorry about that.”

“Its fine, you’re probably still jetlagged.” He murmured, getting out and walking around to my door and opening it for me.

“Thanks.” I mumbled in a daze as he helped me out of the car. We wandered over to our makeup trailer and found Orlando, Liv and Sean already in their chairs.

“You’re late.” Orlando grinned as one of the makeup guys started attaching his ears.

“Psh… Like you’re one to talk.” I muttered, slumping down in my chair as Viggo laughed.

“She fell asleep in the car.” He explained. There was a resounding ‘aw’ from most of the people in the trailer as I mock-scowled.

“Morning Lou.” I mumbled as she walked up to me.

“Good morning!” She smiled, already pinning back my hair and handing me my contacts. I popped them in and blinked hard.

“Don’t worry about catching up on your sleep.” Sean said from where he sat as he was having his wig attached. “You can just nap between scenes!”

“That’s what Elijah does anyway!” Orlando grinned. “He can fall asleep anywhere!”

As soon as I was done in makeup (I got out faster than most of the others because I didn’t have any prosthetics) I headed over to the wardrobe trailer to change. I didn’t feel too safe hauling a real sword around, but I supposed I would learn how to use it soon enough. As I was just re-entering the car park, Peter found me.

“Good morning Kira!” He called, “Come on, we need to get you on set for your first scenes with Hugo!”

“Alright.” I sighed, following him into the forest towards the set.