News is fast and globally furious on “The Hobbit” front with many places reporting that the deal for the films to leave New Zealand is already done. But a spokesman from Wingnut films says there may yet be a possibility of keeping things on the island nation.
The spokesman from Wingnut films says:
New Zealand is Middle Earth and we’re still fighting to keep it that way, but it seems we’re fighting a losing battle!
Warner’s are doing what they can to keep the film here too, but with hundreds of millions of dollars at stake, they need to take steps to protect their investment. They’ve been nothing but supportive.
Unfortunately, the actions of Equity/MEAA have made it hard for NZ to be viewed as the safe and settled one of these films.
Stay tuned and keep the information flowing to Spymaster@theonering.net
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Ataahua, one of our Kiwi connections, just posted on our Hobbit discussion board that Helen Kelly, president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (CTU) has just been interviewed on Newstalk ZB. Highlights:
The move offshore is financially-driven, not actor-driven
“The issue is that countries are offering double the tax breaks (of New Zealand). Warners are in the process of doing as much damage as they can (to the NZ film industry) to get what they want. “New Zealand can compete on films if the tax system is right. We have to have the right financial conditions to compete.” She said New Zealand competes on talent and skills and we shouldn’t have to accept lower overseas conditions to be competitive.
A resolution was close
“We’re working with SPADA. Warners is fully aware that we’re within an inch of resolving this but they’re deciding to go this way. “The union is the way to unionise the film industry, and what is the problem with this? We have manufacturing and call centres going offshore, and are you suggesting that our actors shouldn’t be unionised?”
PJ’s role in the dispute
“Peter Jackson is a spoilt brat, and saying that in this country I know is sacriligious. He organised a meeting last night through Weta Workshop and wound those technicians up with false information. The were played like a fiddle and took the bait. He shared information that we’re forbidden from sharing (and said) it’s the performers’ request to meet that has hurt The Hobbit. It is the fault of Three Foot Seven to move the movie to film The Hobbit.”
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Hunter Abbey (hunterabbey.co.nz) has sent us an exclusive video of the protest last night:
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The Hobbit seems set to be taken offshore, with the film’s producers due in New Zealand to begin preparations next week.
Sir Peter Jackson and the producers have been in a standoff with actors unions who have boycotted the Lord of the Rings prequels as they have agitated for a collective agreement.
There has been speculation that production could be taken overseas. Other countries had offered a one-off deal that is double New Zealand’s 15 per cent tax rebate for films.
Sir Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh said last night the lifting of the actors union’s blacklist “does nothing to help the film stay in New Zealand”.
“The damage inflicted on our film industry by [the actors unions] is long since done.”
[Read on]
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Just breaking on Auckland’s Newstalk ZB:
Sir Peter Jackson’s new film won’t be shot in New Zealand after an actors dispute threatened to de-rail the project
The Hobbit will no longer be filmed in New Zealand.
Sir Peter Jackson’s production company Wingnut Films says Warners is coming to New Zealand to make arrangements to move the production offshore. The company’s been in dispute with New Zealand Actors Equity, over collective bargaining.
Wingnut says even though the union has now lifted The Hobbit off its blacklist, the damage to our film industry has already been done. It says a decision by the actors’ union to cancel a Wellington meeting with film workers who wanted to express their concern about losing The Hobbit, exemplifies the pure ‘gutlessness’ of the ‘self-centred group’.
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With the news that the NZ Equity Meeting was canceled last night, we are now getting some reports from the ground. Below you will find two reports: One from a witness to the resulting technician march (with pictures!); Another from a technician marching with some exclusive information. As a quick summary, the general consensus is that the meeting was canceled last night when it was realized the protest group greatly outnumbered those in the actor’s equity. However, the worst news comes from Jabes report:
We received news tonight that the Hobbit is essentially lost to NZ, but maybe some drastic act would help brew enough support to present a solid case to Warner/MGM
Thanks to Ringer Caras Galadhon and Ringer Jabes for sharing their reports! Click ‘continue’ to read them in their entirety.
Continue reading “NZ March Reports – Hobbit already moving??”
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