It's a project that will bring Sigourney Weaver and James Cameron to town and will be made, in part, in Wellington. Avatar is being touted as a futuristic, ground-breaking film, and as Weta digital's visual effects maestro Joe Letteri told ONE News, Weta, along with hundreds of Kiwi contractors are helping to make it happen. The film is Cameron's latest project. His last film was Titanic - the very same Titanic that was released 12 years ago and is still the highest grossing film ever made. [More]

Here with this week's news headlines from the wonderful world of Weta

Halo3 makes $170 million in sales in 24 hours
Third Halo short released online [Link II]
Hellgate: London giveaway at upcoming Horror Convention in US
Weta's WOW Winner revealed
Winner of F.M.O.M acronym contest announced
Sydney Convention Rayguns promotion
Further design work from Hercules revealed
Weta Limited in Australasia for convention season next month
Lord Cockswain online comic: Part Two now available
Indecipherable Rayguns testimonial from a sailor / pirate? You decide...
Registrations now open for NZ effects symposium

Here is the latest word from geek HQ down in Wellington and the good folks at WETAhttp://www.wetanz.com: G'day from New Zealand, Weta supporters! Well it's been another busy month here at Weta HQ, with lots of exciting developments! [More]

Wellywood's next hit could be on the small screen, with the release today of the PlayStation 3 game Heavenly Sword. The game's character dynamics are a product of the Weta Digital motion capture studio, which is part-owned by Peter Jackson. Jackson helped to develop the game version of his 2005 blockbuster King Kong, and Weta Digital's graphics were used in the Lord of the Rings' gaming equivalent. Jackson is leading the development of a series of games for PlayStation's main rival, Microsoft, based on the Halo franchise. Halo 3, due out next week, is expected to raise the stakes in the international game market. [More]

Double amputee Nadya Vessey is about to become New Zealand's first mermaid. The keen Auckland swimmer will soon be fitted with a mermaid-style tail made by special effects company Weta Workshop, the creative minds made internationally famous for their work on Lord of the Rings and King Kong. [More]

Here's the news from Weta HQ this week.

Weta Designed book launch (Wgtn) this Saturday
Weta's Richard Taylor opens exhibition tomorrow night
Prince Caspian film Artwork revealed [Part II]
Exclusive Hellgate: London gameplay footage
Weta Productions teams with education programme
Lord Cockswain comic series revealed
Speakers for upcoming Special Effects symposium announced
New Rayguns testimonial from 'Princess Ceruleao'
Interview with Flagship Studio CEO Bill Roper
Prosthetics wizard Gino Acevedo opens up to TheNewDowse
Weta Digital Photographic Exhibition