And so it begins, “In a hole, in the ground, there lived a Hobbit…“

Somehow, the seemingly interminable wait for the second series of Sherlock, Downton Abbey or Upstairs Downstairs doesn’t seem all that bad. Even the wait for the fourth series of the greatness of Being Human is ok when you stop and think that the first of the two Hobbit films, The Unexpected Journey, will not be released until December 2012 with the second, There and Back Again, slated for a December 2013 release.

Thankfully, producer/director Peter Jackson has long understood not only the magnitude of his films but the anxiety he also causes to the movie going public. In this first video diary, Jackson welcomes everyone back to Middle-earth for a quick behind-the-scenes look around the sets and the production which is about to begin. Check out Richard Armitage at the end of the first diary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqaUk-r8DBk

In the second installment, Jackson continues some brilliant behind-the scenes production process insight from Stone Street Studios along with some location scouting in New Zealand as the first block of production comes to a close earlier this summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqk5c_i7LQU

In the newest video diary, Peter Jackson is transported from Middle-earth to Pinewood Studios for a look back on the first production block with production cast and crew. Lots of Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen (who easily names all 13 dwarfs), Aidan Turner and Richard Armitage along with a very special message at the end….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t47TXEi0No0