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Michael Pellerin is an acclaimed Canadian-American filmmaker, documentarian, and multimedia content creator who has directed over 250 documentaries, featurettes, webisodes, and TV specials. He is widely recognized for his documentaries that explore and promote Peter Jackson's films: "The Lord of the Rings" (2001–2003), "King Kong" (2005), and "The Hobbit" (2012–2014).
From a young age, Pellerin developed a deep passion for filmmaking, inspired by classics such as "King Kong" (1933), Walt Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" (1954), "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968), and the works of Stanley Kubrick.
Equally passionate about the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, Pellerin has extensively studied 10,000 pages of Tolkien’s published works and manuscripts, along with 4,000 pages of critical and academic analyses. He has also explored the ancient Classical, Finnish, Gothic, Germanic, and Icelandic sagas and legends that influenced the creation of Middle-earth.
Combining his dual interests, Pellerin graduated from Northwestern University with dual bachelor's degrees in TV & Film and English, focusing on ancient English language, literature, and legend. He then pursued an MFA in Film & Video at the California Institute of the Arts before transitioning into editing and producing within the television industry.
Early in his career, Pellerin segment produced TV specials such as "ABC's 40th Anniversary" (1994), "HBO's Comic Relief" (1995), and "Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live at Aspen" (1998). He later directed and produced documentaries for The Walt Disney Company’s classic and contemporary animated films, including "Fantasia" (1940), "Sleeping Beauty" (1959), "The Lion King" (1994), "Pocahontas" (1995), and "Tron" (1982). He also collaborated with Pixar during the production of their first four films: "Toy Story" (1995), "A Bug's Life" (1998), "Toy Story 2" (1999), and "Monsters, Inc." (2001).
Pellerin’s expertise as a film documentarian and his dedication to Tolkien’s works culminated in nearly two decades living in New Zealand, where he documented Peter Jackson’s "The Lord of the Rings" (2001–2003) and "The Hobbit" (2012–2014) trilogies, as well as Jackson’s "King Kong" remake (2005).
During this period, he recorded 10,000 hours of footage, conducted 500 interviews, and operated the camera on over 70 productions. He created "The Appendices" (2002–2015), an award-winning 12-part, 50-hour documentary series detailing the making of the Middle-earth films and exploring the life and works of J.R.R. Tolkien.
For Jackson’s 2005 "King Kong" remake, Pellerin helped pioneer online production video diaries, producing over 90 web episodes released weekly throughout the 14-month production.
He also collaborated with Jackson to produce a comprehensive documentary on the making of the original 1933 "King Kong." Since no original behind-the-scenes footage exists of the film’s groundbreaking visual effects, they meticulously recreated several sequences using period technology, including stop-motion animation, glass matte painting, miniature rear screen projection, and live-action shooting. This effort culminated in the 2005 recreation of "The Lost Spider Pit Sequence," a deleted scene lost to time, reconstructed using historical records and vintage film techniques.
Throughout his career, Pellerin has earned numerous awards, including three Saturn Awards for his work on the "The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy Special Editions (2001–2003); five consecutive International Recording Media Association Awards for Best in Show for "The Lord of the Rings" Special Editions, "King Kong" (1933), and "'Toy Story': The Ultimate Toy Box" (2000); and five DVD Premiere/Exclusive Awards for Best in Show/Best Special Edition for the "The Lord of the Rings" Special Editions and "The Fantasia Anthology" (2000).
A member of the Writers Guild of America, Pellerin splits his time living with his wife between Hollywood, California, and Wellington, New Zealand.
