Peter Jackson

Peter Jackson is one of the most acclaimed and influential contemporary film-makers. This is the first book to combine an extensive biography of the New Zealand movie-maker with an in-depth critical analysis of his films, thus providing readers with the most comprehensive examination of Jackson's body of work.The first section of the book concentrates on Peter Jackson's biography, surveying the evolution of his career from the director of cult slapstick movies such as Meet the Feebles (1989) and Braindead (1992) to an entrepreneur responsible for the foundation of companies such as Wingnut Films and Weta Workshop, and finally to producer and director of mega blockbuster projects such as The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) and The Hobbit (2012-2013).
Leotta further examines Jackson's work at the level of production, reception and textuality, along with key collaborative relationships and significant themes associated with Jackson's films. The examination of Peter Jackson's work and career ties into significant academic debates, including the relationship between national cinema and global Hollywood; global dispersion of film production and transnational cinema; the relationship between film authorship and industrial modes of production; the redefinition of genre conventions; the impact of the creative industries on the construction of national identity; and new developments in film technology.