100,000 fans in Wellington
On 28 November 2012, Mojo Barriers supplied one of the year's most anticipated film premieres, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in Wellington, New Zealand.
Wearing elf ears and wizard hats, an estimated 100,000 fans waited patiently to greet stars including Cate Blanchett and Elijah Wood, who returned to their roles from The Lord of the Rings.
600 metres along the red carpet
Mojo Barriers worked with 3 Foot 7, the production company of director Sir Peter Jackson, and Wellington City Council to put in place over 600 metres of barrier along the entire red carpet through the city streets.
The barriers let fans see and talk to the stars safely as they made their way to the Embassy Theatre, where the premiere took place. The configuration included access gates, so cast and crew could cross between locations, and a media pit. Curb jumpers and flexi panels kept the system stable.
It's been nine years since the red carpet was rolled out to host the premiere of the Fellowship of the Rings which was held in the same streets. Mojo was a supplier then and we're delighted to be back again this year helping to keep the audience, stars and crew safe. It is vital at film premieres to create a secure environment but one that still allows intimacy for the public as well as enough room for the global press contingent for interviews and filming.
Set up overnight, removed in three hours
The 16-strong crew worked to strict timelines. They set up the whole configuration overnight, from 9 pm to 6 am, and had just three hours to remove the entire system while the film was showing.
The premiere continued Mojo Barriers' commitment to Australasia, a month after the company opened an official Australian office in Sydney.
