So, why did Cameron switch from NZ to California?

[ISV Venture Star]

For a while it looked as if they were going to shoot in Wellington again.

Cameron jets in for Avatar party | Stuff.co.nz

...but then the location switched, first to Agoura Hills (close to his mother) and now to Manhattan Beach, both in California.

http://www.reelmovienews.com/2011/04...ttan-beach-ca/

Do you think he had a falling out with some people at Weta, or was this purely a practical thing?

[Aaron]

Well, Agoura Hills is the location of Lightstorm's enormous new (planned) studio, so that's no surprise. As for Manhattan Beach... not sure.

I doubt if he's had a falling out with Weta, and I expect that wherever he shoots, he'll still be using Weta Digital heavily for the CGI. However, it would not at all surprise me if Hollywood forces have been conspiring to convince JC to work closer to home. Hollywood's collective ego has surely gotten a good few bruises from all these American movie productions that have been taken overseas recently. He's probably got some smokin' deal with tax breaks and everything... in the name of patriotism, of course.

[ISV Venture Star]

INCOMING NEWS: Turns out he's been in NZ this past week! Well, I look pretty silly now.

MarketSaw - 3D Movies, Gaming and Technology: EXCLUSIVE: Cameron And Landau Visit THE HOBBIT Set In Kiwi!

EXCLUSIVE: Just heard from one of my top sources on AVATAR that James Cameron and Jon Landau visited the set of THE HOBBIT in Wellington, New Zealand this week!

They checked out Peter Jackson's use of his 3ality Digital 3D rigs for the RED Epic cameras - lots of action to see for them!!

Further and quite importantly, they booked studio floors for AVATAR 2 and 3! The time is fast approaching that the AVATAR sequels will start lensing and we, of course, ARE ON IT! Bring it on...

[CyanRachel]

Irayo for posting this news, ISV Venture Star! That's cool that JC and Landau visited Peter Jackson's Hobbit set (I had a feeling they would).

[Jachyra]

If you remember from the bonus material on the blu, the shooting was done in 2 separate parts.

1- All the motion capture was shot in the "volume" in the US.
2- All the live action was filmed later in NZ, where they constructed all the sets and props. (Think Hell's gate, the biolab, etc...)

The recent move to Manhattan Beach is just where the motion capture part of the shoot will take place. Also there'll be room for JC's company offices in the same lot.

[Wameyn]

Originally Posted by Aaron

I doubt if he's had a falling out with Weta, and I expect that wherever he shoots, he'll still be using Weta Digital heavily for the CGI.

I agree, I cant imagine him abandoning WETA, they did an awesome job and I remember on the blu ray it talking about how fast they were able to get shots out by the end of the movie compared to the first.

[Human No More]

Being closer to where he is makes more sense, and it doesn't matter where the motion capture is shot. I'm sure there were financial reasons as well.