 During the Council of Elrond, leaves are continually falling in the  background to suggest that this is a meeting that is taking place  outside. This meant about half a dozen crew members were positioned  above the set, dropping leaves at various intervals. This also meant  that the production department had to collect sacks and sacks of  leaves during autumn, and of course dead leaves turn brown fairly  quickly. Which also meant that every single one of those leaves had  to be individually painted.