Lucky Kiwi Podcast

Amanda & Jed Brophy

The Lucky Kiwi Podcast is a Tolkien podcast exploring The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth, and the enduring legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. Watch conversations with filmmakers and audiences.CREDITS:Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed BrophyEditing: Amanda BrophyGuest: Surprise GuestOriginal Theme Music: Stephen GallagherAdditional Original Music: Jed Brophy © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

Episodes

  1. Jul 15 ·  Video

    Luke Hawker

    Luke Hawker is one of the most versatile and consistently in-demand performers working in New Zealand film. Over a 25+ year career, he has amassed more than 80 credits across feature films, television, theatre, short films, and performance work. In recent years alone, his credits include: * The Rings of Power — Orc General Magrot and additional Orc performances * The Last of Us — motion capture stunt performer * Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — motion capture * Thor: Love and Thunder — motion capture * Transformers: Rise of the Beasts — motion capture stunt performer * Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire — Suko performance capture * Alien: Romulus — motion capture stunt performer * Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes — movement coach * M3GAN and M3GAN 2.0 — movement coach / stunt team * Captain America: Brave New World — motion capture * The Fantastic Four: First Steps — motion capture * The Minecraft Movie — motion capture * Avengers: Doomsday — motion capture * The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — stunt performer What makes him unique is that he has worked on all sides of the creature-making process: * Wētā Workshop as senior Effects Artist/Creature and Movement specialist * Wētā FX creating digital characters through performance capture * Training and coaching other performers in movement. He’s been part of the evolution of modern creature filmmaking… from prosthetics and practical effects to motion capture and digital worlds, and he understands that process from every angle. Luke Hawker is a rare bridge between the physical and digital worlds of filmmaking: a creature creator, performer, stunt artist, and movement specialist who has helped bring some of cinema’s most memorable beings to life. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with fellow Tolkien and film fans! Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations. CREDITS: Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy Editing: Amanda Brophy Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher © 2026 All Rights Reserved. FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/ Facebook: facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast X: https://x.com/luckykiwipod Website: https://luckykiwipodcast.com

    Luke Hawker
  2. Jul 8 ·  Video

    Stephen Gallagher

    Stephen Gallagher is a two-time Emmy Award-winning composer and music editor from New Zealand whose work spans film, television, and Middle-earth. A dear friend of the podcast, Stephen also composed the original theme music for Lucky Kiwi Podcast. He served as music editor on The Hobbit trilogy, composed the music for “Blunt the Knives” and “The Torture Song” in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, won an Emmy Award for his work as music editor on The Beatles: Get Back, and earned a second Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, shared with David Long, for Secrets at Red Rocks. In this episode, Stephen takes us behind the scenes of filmmaking to explore the role of music in storytelling, the craft of composing for film, collaborating with directors and fellow musicians, and the often unseen work of a music editor. Along the way, he reflects on the experiences that shaped his career, his creative process, and what it means to tell stories through music. If you enjoy the conversation, please like, comment, and subscribe. Your support helps us continue sharing conversations with the people who helped bring Middle-earth to life. 🍀 Follow Lucky Kiwi Podcast:  Instagram: https://instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast  Facebook: https://facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast  X: https://x.com/luckykiwipod Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations. CREDITS: Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy Editing: Amanda Brophy Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher © 2026 All Rights Reserved. FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/ Facebook: facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast X: https://x.com/luckykiwipod Website: https://luckykiwipodcast.com

    Stephen Gallagher
  3. Jun 24 ·  Video

    Shane Rangi

    Join Amanda and Jed Brophy for a conversation with Shane Rangi, a longtime friend of Jed’s and one of the most versatile performers to come out of Middle-earth and Narnia, working across acting, stunt performance, motion capture, and creature work. Known for bringing some of the most memorable characters to life, Shane is every bit as larger-than-life off screen. Warm, generous, and effortlessly funny, he had us laughing so hard our faces hurt while sharing stories from his journey through Middle-earth and beyond. Having overcome more than his share of challenges, Shane has emerged not only stronger, but kinder and softer for the experience. This episode is filled with laughter, friendship, resilience, and the kind of heart that stays with you long after the conversation ends. The Lucky Kiwi Podcast is a Tolkien podcast exploring The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth, and the enduring legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. Watch conversations with filmmakers and audiences. CREDITS: Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy Editing: Amanda Brophy Guest: Shane Rangi Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher © 2026 All Rights Reserved. Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations. CREDITS: Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy Editing: Amanda Brophy Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher © 2026 All Rights Reserved. FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/ Facebook: facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast X: https://x.com/luckykiwipod Website: https://luckykiwipodcast.com

    Shane Rangi
  4. Jun 17 ·  Video

    Mark Ordesky- Executive Producer of Lord of the Rings

    A rare and deeply insightful conversation with Mark Ordesky, one of the key figures behind bringing The Lord of the Rings trilogy to the screen. Mark reflects on the long road that led to Middle-earth—from early admiration of Peter Jackson’s work, to navigating the uncertainty of getting a project like this even off the ground at New Line Cinema. He also shares stories from behind the scenes of how the films came together, the challenges they faced, and the extraordinary effort it took to turn something so ambitious into reality. We also hear about the importance of New Zealand to the production, including the decision to hold the world premiere in Wellington—a moment that became iconic for the country and the films’ legacy. What stands out most is Mark’s humility. Despite being at the center of one of the most successful trilogies in film history, he speaks with genuine groundedness about the process, the people, and the unpredictability of it all. For us, this was one of our favorite conversations yet. If you love The Lord of the Rings, filmmaking, or behind-the-scenes stories from Middle-earth, this is one you won’t want to miss. The Lucky Kiwi Podcast is a Tolkien podcast exploring The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth, and the enduring legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. Watch conversations with filmmakers and audiences. Photo credit: Robert Catto Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations. CREDITS: Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy Editing: Amanda Brophy Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher © 2026 All Rights Reserved. FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/ Facebook: facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast X: https://x.com/luckykiwipod Website: https://luckykiwipodcast.com

    Mark Ordesky- Executive Producer of Lord of the Rings
  5. Jun 10 ·  Video

    Sir Richard Taylor of Wētā Workshop

    We're honored to welcome our very first guest on the Lucky Kiwi Podcast... We started our careers together, so it felt only right to begin this journey with him. Sir Richard Taylor is the co-founder of Wētā Workshop and one of the creative forces behind some of the most iconic film worlds ever made, including The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and countless groundbreaking productions in film history. A multi-Academy Award winner, his work has helped redefine practical effects and cinematic craftsmanship on a global scale. The Lucky Kiwi Podcast is a Tolkien podcast exploring The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth, and the enduring legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. Watch conversations with filmmakers and audiences. CREDITS: Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy Editing: Amanda Brophy Guest: Sir Richard Taylor Special Appearances: Tania Rodger  Lawrence Makoare  Gino Acevedo Ri Streeter Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher Additional Original Music: Jed Brophy  © 2026 All Rights Reserved. Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations. Thank you for watching! If you enjoyed this episode, please consider liking, commenting, and subscribing for future conversations. CREDITS: Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed Brophy Editing: Amanda Brophy Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher © 2026 All Rights Reserved. FOLLOW LUCKY KIWI PODCAST Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luckykiwipodcast/ Facebook: facebook.com/luckykiwipodcast X: https://x.com/luckykiwipod Website: https://luckykiwipodcast.com

    Sir Richard Taylor of Wētā Workshop

About

The Lucky Kiwi Podcast is a Tolkien podcast exploring The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth, and the enduring legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien. Watch conversations with filmmakers and audiences.CREDITS:Producers / Hosts: Amanda & Jed BrophyEditing: Amanda BrophyGuest: Surprise GuestOriginal Theme Music: Stephen GallagherAdditional Original Music: Jed Brophy © 2026 All Rights Reserved.

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