<P> The Lord of the Rings film series began its production design in August 1997 . Peter Jackson required complete realism and plausibility in his vision of Middle - earth, and hired Weta Workshop to create the various pieces of armour, weapons, prosthetics and creatures seen in the trilogy, as well as aged costumes and historically influenced sets . </P> <P> Jackson began storyboarding the trilogy with Christian Rivers in August 1997, effectively creating a rough black and white 2 - D version of the film . Jackson showed excerpts of the "animated" storyboards (filmed images with voices and a temporary soundtrack) to allow potential cast a view of the film's style . </P>

Who made the props for lord of the rings