To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Entertainment Weekly, we gathered 12 classic TV and movie casts for the ULTIMATE POP culture get-together. Classic Casts include: Back to the Future, Roots, Lord of the Rings, Pretty in Pink, Will & Grace, Alias, Northern Exposure, The Muppet Show, The West Wing, Gilmore Girls, Married with Children, and Scream.
What do you think about when you think about The Lord of the Rings? A few guesses: Gandalf staring down a fiery Balrog and proclaiming, “You shall not pass!” Legolas firing arrows as he surfs on his shield down the trunk of an Oliphaunt. Sam carrying Frodo to the top of Mount Doom, though he himself barely has the energy to stand. (Sam, if you really think about it, is the coolest character in the movies.) Aragorn being crowned king, then turning to Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin, who have lowered their heads reverently, and telling them, “My friends, you bow to no one.” (Aragorn, if you really think about it, is the coolest character in the movies.) Continue reading “EW Presents: ‘The Reunions’”
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From tvnz.co.nz: A meeting has been held today in Wellington between the warring Hobbit movie factions. The minister for economic development, Gerry Brownlee, facilitated the meeting between representatives of the Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA), Actors’ Equity, and Council of Trade Unions. Brownlee said it was a useful and productive discussion. He said the parties have agreed to work together to update the conditions of engagement for performers in the New Zealand screen production industry. The parties believe this process will help to ensure New Zealand remains an attractive screen production environment. Brownlee said no further comment will be made.
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Ataahua sends in this link to Kiwi cartoonist Tom Scott latest Hobbit related cartoon.
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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.
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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.
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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”
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