Peter Jackson, Oscar winning director of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, is releasing a two-DVD set of Production Diaries on December 13, one day before the opening of the film whose making they chronicle, King Kong.  Jackson, who played collectors like a violin with his Extended Editions of the LOTR films, has geared this project toward hardcore fans by including a 'collector's letter of authenticity' in each Limited Edition Production Diaries Gift Set.  The Production Diaries (MSRP $39.95) include 3 hours and 46 minutes worth of behind-the-scenes footage, a 50-page full color book with dozens of drawings, photographs, and images from the film, four exclusive production lithographs created by the conceptual artists at Big Primate Pictures and the WETA workshop.

 

In addition to the paper goods, the Limited Edition Peter Jackson's Production Diaries Gift Set includes 54 video entries providing fans with unique access to the making of Jackson's new version of King Kong.  A special bonus is a detailed look at the fierce battle between Kong and the three T-Rex dinosaurs on Skull Island.

 

These video Production Diaries are exactly the kind of material usually found as 'extras' on 'extended edition' DVDs.  Jackson is innovating by releasing these 'extra' features on their own long before the DVD of the film is available.  The main question for fans is, how many of these same features will be available as 'extras' on King Kong DVDs?  With another director the release of 'Production Diaries' on DVD by themselves is probably a real stretch, but Jackson has developed a large following and many of his fans may want to get the behind-the-scenes lowdown on King Kong right away without having to wait for the DVD release.