Jackson's appearances and small parts in the films.

Joseph Dwarf

Hi guys I was wondering, how many times does Jackson appear in the films? I remember seeing him in the Fellowship, well I think it was him at least, when the Hobbits first enter Bree after escaping the wraiths, there's a guy eating a carrot with the rain pouring down his face, who kinda grunts as they pass him. Is this Jackson? it looks a bit like him. I also remember seeing a very obvious Jackson in the Rotk when Gimli nudges Legolas' bow and causes him to shoot an unawares corsair of Umbar, which is of course played by Jackson too. I can't remember any other on screen film encounters with the director. Please get back and remind me of any I've missed.

Eldorion

Yes, the carrot fellow in Bree was Jackson. Aside from the instances you mention, Jackson's only other cameo was a spear-throwing defender of the Hornburg.

Joseph Dwarf

Sigh not many then Eldo, I can see this Thread's pretty much concluded already then. Thanks anyway Eldo.

Eldorion

He just had one appearance per film, yes. Although the ROTK cameo was extended to two parts in the EE - in the original he was glimpsed for only a second or two while yelling orders, in the EE he was shot by Legolas.

Gandalfs Beard

Ha Ha . Those are great. I can't believe I never noticed those before.

Eldorion

I missed a number of smaller cameos. Alan Lee (and, I believe, John Howe) is a Rohirrim in the armory at Helm's Deep preparing for battle. A lot of less recognizable people have cameos as well, including one of Tolkien's grandsons or great-grandsons.

Also, I forgot about this earlier, but PJ and Fran Walsh (who is either his wife or his partner depending on which Internet source you check) are featured as portraits on the wall at Bag End. They are clearly visible above the mantelpiece that Bilbo supposedly left the Ring on at the beginning of FOTR. Jackson's arm also appears as a stand-in for Sean Astin's in the very first shot of Sam interrupting Shelob.

m not a fan of directors making cameos in their own films, seems self indulgent. And worse was him putting his kids in. They turn up as hobbit children, children at Helms Deep and in the street in Gondor- wouldn't be so bad except they are prominent in all three and therefore gives the impression there's one very fertile guy wandering ME and breeding in very culture!

Tinuviel

He cameos in all of his other movies, too. Except district 9. I was looking for him but i couldn't find him. I spotted him IMMEDIATELY in the Lovely Bones.

Eldorion

I can understand a Director wanting to visually appear in a film he/she has spent a lot of time working on, but when they put their kids in I agree with you, petty. It's self-indulgent, serves no purpose, and it's not like the kids were working on the movie (though if they had I wouldn't mind them showing up).

P.S. Tin, District 9 isn't really *his* movie, it's Neill Blomkamp's.

Gandalfs Beard

Oh come on!!! Don't be so persnickity . If I were a director I'd let all my friends and family have cameos or parts as extras (and that includes you guys). I don't see anything wrong with that. I have no idea what Jackson's kids look like, and neither do most people, so how on Earth does it make a difference?

Tinuviel

It's no fun if you make a movie and you aren't in it. I don't really know y, but it just isn't! That's y Ben Stiller, Clint Eastwood, and Mel Gibson all do it.

Gandalfs Beard

Exactly! Stephen King does it a lot, so does Stan Lee. and Sam Raimi always puts Ted and Bruce and Lucy somewhere in his flicks. I love it :mrgreen: .

I agree the temptation to put yourself and all your mates in your own film would be huge but the first question to be asked by a director is does it help the film not how many of my mates can I get in it? As to his kids I do know what they look like cause he gives them prominence in all 3 films as different children (and races) in different locations- and his children, whilst perfectly lovely are quite distinctive- maybe if he'd only used them as background that'd be fine but he makes sure he gets them full on screen every time, even close ups. That does seem pretty self indulgent to me. And as a result when I watch the films I can't help but notice that two of the hobbit children listening to Bilbo at the Party and two of the Rohirrim children in the caves at Helms deep, and two of the children throwing flowers in the streets of Minas Tirith look exactly the same in different clothes- it reminds me I'm watching a film and I lose the very thing film is supposed to do- transport me to another world. Every time they appear I'm jarred out of that and thinking "oh there's PJ's bloody kids again."

Gandalfs Beard

And there I was just thinking how adorable those kids were :mrgreen: .

Odo Banks

I noticed the kids, but did not know they were PJ's. The nerve! (I can't help but admire his cheek, though. Your kids are your kids, after all, and to hell with everything else! )