Goblins and ghouls to greet Royals as Courtenay Creative throws open its doors

Friday, 26 October 2018

The royal couple will be greeted by ghouls and goblins on their visit to Wellington.

Ghouls and goblins are emerging from the darkest corners of creative Wellington's imagination for the Royal couple.

In a display of the best of the capital's film industry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will meet young artists eager to display their talent in fantasy horror make-up, costume and virtual reality.

And Wellingtonians can get a preview: the Things That Go Bump In The Night exhibition is open this weekend at the Courtenay Creative.

Carleen Murphy's ghoulish makeup is created by artist Myrthe Heydenrijk.

The creative hub, the brainchild of Weta Workshop co-founder Jamie Selkirk and Miramar Creative co-founder Kristy Grant, threw its doors open two weeks ago.

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Texture artist Reynold Tagore prepares for the Things That Go Bump In The Night event.

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Grant said the hub, housed in the old National Bank building on Courtenay Pl, would bring the film industry's energy into the central city.

'It's a bit of an exhibition and testing space, and also we're setting up some workshops in 2019 for educational interaction.'

The exhibition for the Royals will display seven stages of creativity, including a previously unseen mixed-reality project, and involves students from Te Auaha, Toi Whakaari, Massey and Victoria universities.

'Each step is an engagement with an industry professional, like an artist in residence, and a student.

'We're taking them on a bit of a journey, and all of these things Wellington have excelled at.

'They're going to be able see whatever comes our way, New Zealand is equipped because of our creative capacity, to lead the world.'

Weta creative director Gino Acevedo, responsible for goblins in Lord of the Rings among other film creatures, has curated the exhibition.

His creations - illustrated in airbrush, painting and pencil - aren't seen in any of the films he's worked on, they're simply the 'little friends in my head'.

'You can imagine what's going through the artists' heads, they've been creating all these things - but they're safe people.'

On Monday evening, he will be on hand demonstrating prosthetics by transforming his 12-year-old daughter Ruby into a character from Planet of the Apes.

'Meghan and Harry will get to meet a real chimpanzee kid, and we'll talk about the whole process of how it's done.'

* Things That Go Bump In The Night is open Saturday and Sunday 12pm to 6pm, and Tuesday and Wednesday 5pm to 8pm. Admission is free.