Yes, the Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy is indeed a remarkable achievement in filmmaking. The rapid production and release schedule was made possible by several factors:

1. **Pre-production planning**: Peter Jackson, the director, had been working on adapting J.R.R. Tolkien's novel into a film for years. He assembled a team of writers, including Fran Walsh, to develop the script. They created detailed storyboards and shot lists to help guide the production.
2. **Large-scale production setup**: The LOTR trilogy was one of the first major Hollywood productions to use a large-scale, "hub-and-spoke" production model. A single set or location would be used for multiple days, and then the crew would move on to another site. This allowed them to make efficient use of resources and time.
3. **Multiple units**: The film was shot with three simultaneous camera teams, each working on different scenes or sequences. This enabled the filmmakers to capture a significant amount of footage in a short period.
4. **Long shooting days**: The LOTR crew worked long hours, often 12-14 hours a day, 6 days a week. This allowed them to make rapid progress and take advantage of the available light.
5. **Smart scheduling**: The production schedule was carefully planned to ensure that each film's release date would not conflict with the others. The team worked on all three movies simultaneously, but with different units focusing on specific films at various times.
6. **Collaboration and communication**: Jackson and his team maintained an open line of communication among cast and crew members throughout the production process. This helped to avoid delays and ensured that everyone was working towards a common goal.
7. **Dedicated team**: The LOTR production had a highly dedicated and experienced team, including many individuals who were passionate about bringing Tolkien's story to life on screen.

Regarding your comment about "fucking magic," you're not far off! While it may seem like magic, the hard work and dedication of the entire cast and crew, combined with innovative production techniques, made the LOTR trilogy a cinematic achievement that will be remembered for generations to come.

@beardalaxy The modern world and people have the capacity to achieve great things we simply choose not to.

@beardalaxy because they filmed them all at once

@beardalaxy If you can get your hands on the extended version with the 'making of' its werf it. The actors and extras thought they were working on some extraordinary and treated it as an adventure. They pretty much roped the N.Z. cottage industries into making the props. Amazing what a focused group can achieve in 3 years