Ataahua sends in this link to Kiwi cartoonist Tom Scott latest Hobbit related cartoon.
Month: October 2010
The LA Times is reporting that Lions Gate has thrown its hat in the ring one more time for control of MGM. Earlier this year, Lions Gate’s $1.4 billion bid was rejected by MGM and its creditors as being too low. The new proposal calls for a merger between the two companies with MGM lenders coming out of the deal with a 55% ownership in the new company, and a 45% share for Lions Gate. According to the Times, the development comes one day before Lions Gate is scheduled to square off in a Canadian court with dissident shareholder Carl Icahn. Ichan, Lions Gate’s biggest shareholder, is suing Lions Gate over bad management decisions. Interestingly, he has also been purchasing MGM debt which, if converted to equity in a merger, would give him a substantial stake in MGM.
Where is Spyglass in all of this? Their offer to take over management of the studio in return for a 5% stake is still on the table (current lenders would get the other 95%). MGM lenders are scheduled to vote on the Spyglass deal on October 22 (another day to mark on your calendars). According to the Times, if MGM takes the Lions Gate offer instead, there will be a breakup fee owed to Spyglass of $4 to $5 million. Check out the following two Company Town blog entries at the Times for updates on the latest Lions Gate offer and where Carl Ichan fits in. Thanks to message board member ranger123 for the link to the first blog article.
The New Zealand actor’s union has accepted an invitation to meet with the Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA). The meeting is likely to take place Thursday or Friday of this week according to SPADA chief executive Penelope Borland:
“I also rang Equity today and said to them did they realise how grave this situation was and we need to resolve this and meet. We’re hoping that we will hear from Equity what their issues have been and to work out a way forward. We’ve been wanting to meet with them for quite some time.”
She also urged the actor’s union to call off their boycott of “The Hobbit” production as the situation is now in the “11th Hour.” On the other side of the issue, in a statement on the Actors Equity New Zealand site, President Jennifer Ward-Lealand is calling for calm on the issue”
Over the last few weeks there has been a high level of interest and emotion in the issues surrounding the engagement of performers on the production. “We have chosen, in a deliberate decision, to avoid the media fray on this. Negative comments don’t serve the primary objective of seeing the production made in New Zealand.”
Communication is key in this situation and it looks like the wheels are turning for that to happen. The end of the week will hopefully bring good news from all sides of the issue. With all the news coming so fast and furious, don’t take your eyes off of TheOneRing.net for long! Thanks to message board member ranger123 for finding the tv.co.nz article.
With Calisuri posting the statement from Phillipa Boyens and Wingnut Films, it might be helpful to get an overview of what is going on in New Zealand.
A group of 90 actors met in Wellington Monday to discuss the boycott of the pair of potential “Hobbit” movies. Also present at the beginning of the meeting were non-actors from the New Zealand film industry including Boyens who clearly is the member of Peter Jackson’s team that will be the front on the labor battle in New Zealand. Continue reading “Overview of actor’s dispute developments”
WELLINGTON – Tuesday, 12 October 2010 – In response to comments made by Helen Kelly of the CTU, co-writer and co-producer on The Hobbit Philippa Boyens stated “I want to reassure Helen Kelly that the filmmakers involved in this production are working as hard as they can to save the jobs of the New Zealanders put at risk by the actions of NZ Equity and are doing everything they can to keep the production from being moved off-shore. Three Foot Seven is working with actors’ representatives, namely their agents, to ensure that the terms and conditions for all actors working on “The Hobbit” are fair and equitable and that the actors engaged to work on the films are happy with their contracts. The agents involved are doing an extremely good job of protecting their clients’ interests.“
Boyens went on to add: “I do not understand why NZ Equity would single out a New Zealand filmmaker who has always treated actors fairly and with respect; nor do I understand why NZ Equity would want to risk the international reputation of New Zealand as an excellent place to make films, thereby putting at risk thousands of film industry jobs, over demands that are, in their own words, “miniscule.”
After attending a meeting of Wellington Actors last night, it is becoming increasingly clear that NZ Equity do not have a mandate to speak for the majority of New Zealand actors and performers nor did they consult with other Guilds involved in the industry before instituting this boycott against “The Hobbit”. I would like to thank Yvette Reid and the other organizers of the Wellington Actors meeting for letting me attend. The room was packed, there were representations from Dave Gibson and Penelope Borland from SPADA, Helen Kelly from the CTU, myself, as one of the filmmakers involved with “The Hobbit”; Sue Rogers, a prominent New Zealand producer as well as several actors and filmmakers. Debate was lively, uncensored and at all times civil. It is a pity NZ Equity declined the opportunity to participate in such an important discussion when they are in fact responsible for initiating an industrial action which has inflicted enormous damage on the NZ film industry.”
By now, many of us are aware that Martin Freeman was the first choice to play the role of Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming Hobbit films, and as many of us are also aware that he turned down the offer due to scheduling conflicts (though that wasn’t the end of the matter!) But there wasn’t really any official word from the man himself… until now! Empire Online managed to snag an interview with Freeman on The Hobbit, and for fans in the “Freeman for Bilbo” camp, there seems to be hope yet.
Here follow a couple of snippets from the interview:
“I did have to say no to it [an offer to play Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming Hobbit films] for the second series of Sherlock. But if something could be worked out, that would be great. I did it [turn down the role] with a heavy heart, definitely.
If there is any outside possibility [of finding a way to fit The Hobbit into his schedule], then that would be great. But I’ve learned not to think too much or hope too much about stuff. It will happen if it happens.”
Of interest is Freeman’s thoughts on an older actor portraying Bilbo Baggins:
“Bilbo isn’t 20 at this stage of the story, and I reckon I could do a young Ian Holm. I think I could give that a go.”
Head over to Empire Online to read more of the interview.
Thanks to message board member Silmaril for the heads-up.