Join us for a conversation with Sanit Klamchanuan (SpicyThaiDesign), whose career spans Wētā Workshop, creature artistry, and cosplay. Sanit shares behind-the-scenes stories from his creative journey, the craftsmanship behind his work, and the experiences that have shaped his career.

A special thank you to WeClanCosplay and TheFallenPadawan for providing our intro.

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

Guest: Sanit Klamchanuan

Original Theme Music: Stephen Gallagher

© 2026 All Rights Reserved.

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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.

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We sit down with our friend Kiran Shah to hear the stories behind his incredible career.

A true testament to dedication and courage, Kiran’s career has been shaped by his willingness to take on challenges, push boundaries, and give everything to his craft. His bravery, determination, and love of filmmaking have made him one of the most respected figures in the industry.

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: Kiran Shah

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.

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.

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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.

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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:
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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

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Graham McTavish - The Hobbit, Acting, Rejection, Fame & Life Beyond the Screen

In this episode of the Lucky Kiwi Podcast, Graham shares stories from his remarkable career, reflects on his time in The Hobbit, and opens up about the realities of acting, dealing with rejection, navigating fame, and the experiences that have shaped him along the way.

There are thoughtful moments, plenty of laughs, and the kind of candid conversation that reminds us why audiences have connected with Graham for so many years.

To the world, he’s an acclaimed actor with an extraordinary body of work. To us, he’s simply Graham.. hilarious, occasionally a bit grumpy (in the best possible way), incredibly eloquent, and a genuinely wonderful person.

We hope you enjoy this one as much as we did.

Please subscribe for more weekly episodes!

#GrahamMcTavish #TheHobbit #Outlander #TheWitcher #TheLuckyKiwiPodcast #LordOfTheRings #ActorInterview

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.

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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

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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

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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/

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X:

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Website:

https://luckykiwipodcast.com