Sir Peter Jackson

[Andsigil]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/7643855/Filmmaker-Peter-Jackson-made-knight-in-New-Zealand.html

Filmmaker Peter Jackson Made Knight in New Zealand

"I feel incredibly humbled," Jackson said at an investiture ceremony in the capital, Wellington, where New Zealand's head of state, Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, did the honors in lieu of the Queen. His knighthood was for services to the arts in New Zealand.

"The truth is, making movies is not a solo effort - it involves hundreds of people, thousands of people - so I feel as though I'm accepting it on behalf of the industry," he said.

Jackson has risen from a maker of small-budget schlock-horror films to the heights of Hollywood. His crowning achievement remains the three-movie adaptation of "Lord of the Rings," which transformed the rugged landscape of New Zealand into the Middle Earth of JRR Tolkien's fantasy epic - spurring a real-life tourism industry along the way.... (more at the link)

[Mithalwen]

http://forum.barrowdowns.com/showthread.php?t=15514

After the long overdue beknighting of Christopher Lee there was some speculation on the above thread. This means that Jackson joins Spielberg hitherto the only non British directors to receive this honour - all though of course NZ is part of the Commonwealth. While I don't think they are on the same level as directors the contribution to the NZ economy is undeniable.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

Does this mean he will now get involved in real battles?