Filming for Peter Jackson's latest movie The Hobbit took to the Aratiatia rapids near Taupo for a scene using spill gates from a dam.

Publicist Melissa Booth said the film crew dropped 20 to 25 barrels down the rapids at a time yesterday for the scene.

"We shot the scene every time there was a dam release which was at 10, 12, 2 and 4."

She said no actors or stunt crew were forced into the barrels to venture into the extreme conditions.

"I think we would have had some issues with OSH if that were the case."

The scene was the only part of The Hobbit to be filmed in the area.

John Young from Entertainment Weekly caught up with Evangeline Lilly and asked her about her role in "The Hobbit."

Speaking of small and little, I’d be remiss not to bring up The Hobbit. You’re playing a new character named Tauriel, who’s a Mirkwood elf, and that would lead me to believe that she is a warrior of some kind. Did you have to learn archery and swordplay? Yes, she is a warrior. She’s actually the head of the Elven guard. She’s the big shot in the army. So she knows how to wield any weapon, but the primary weapons that she uses are a bow and arrow and two daggers. And she’s lethal and deadly. You definitely wouldn’t want to be caught in a dark alley next to Tauriel. So then Tauriel must be involved with the dwarves being captured… I think basically what you’re asking is if she’s in the film very much. She’s not in the first film very much. She comes into the first film near the end, and has a very small part to play. Her role in the second film is much more involved. Although, I have to say, when I first read the scripts and took the job, she had a lot less going on in the second film. I think the role is becoming a bit more demanding than I had expected it to be. There’s a lot more for me to do now, which is a lot of fun, but it’s a little more pressure.

MTV have interviewed Richard Armitage - he was chosen as 'One to Watch' for 2012 because of the Hobbit.
Read the full interview here.

Hi everyone! This year is the tenth anniversary of the release of The Fellowship of the Ring, and we wanted to give the fans a Christmas treat ahead of the release of the two Hobbit movies in Dec 2012 and 2013. Stay tuned for more. Cheers!