A majority of New Zealanders support the deal the Government did with Warner Bros to keep Hobbit film production in New Zealand. However, a majority don’t want a similar deal done again.
A new nationwide HorizonPoll finds 56.4% support for the agreement the Government made with United States film studio Warner Bros. Only 18.8% disapprove of the deal, under which the company received additional tax write-offs for large-budget films of about $15 million, and another $13 million for marketing. Warner Bros agreed to include material in DVDs to film audiences promoting New Zealand.
From stuff.co.nz: Brett Hodge, owner of Matamata Post and Rails, which has supplied the timber for The Hobbit duology since construction began in February, told the Waikato Times that Sir Peter Jackson’s company Three Foot Six was building the home of the Hobbits to last.
What they did last time was build a temporary set, but now it’s a permanent set.
It will begin a perpetual celebration around the party tree, on the set, where The Fellowship of the Ring began with Bilbo’s disappearance.
The Green Dragon, where the dwarf Thorin Oakenshield awaits Bilbo Baggins ahead of their quest, will include a real thatched roof and the nearby Bywater bridge, made from polystyrene blocks resembling stone for The Lord of the Rings, is being rebuilt in permanent stone.
Read more of the article over at stuff.co.nz that ends with quotes from none other than members from our very own message boards.
Parliament has passed the government’s new law to clarify the position of contractors within the film industry. MPs have voted 66 to 50 in favour of the law, which is part of the deal brokered with movie producer Warner Brothers earlier this week to keep production of The Hobbit in New Zealand. This was that the Employment Relations Act would be amended to make sure a worker engaged on an independent contract will not be able to go to court and claim employee rights and conditions.
Labour fought the Employment Relations (Film Production Work) Amendment Bill to the last clause, arguing it isn’t necessary and the government is “sticking it to the unions”. During the debate, Labour’s David Parker accused the government of playing a “political game”. “I don’t even think Warner Brothers demanded this. There wasn’t a problem to be fixed, there have been no problems in the film industry for the last five years,” he said. Labour and the Greens are accusing the government of capitulating to a foreign company, abusing parliamentary process and making a mockery of democracy. But ministers say Warner Bros would have pulled out of New Zealand without the commitment to change the law. Read More…
From 3news.co.nz: Watch extended footage of a helicopter flight over the new sets in Sir Peter Jackson’s upcoming The Hobbit films. Just last night it was announced that the films, prequels to the wildly successful Lord of the Rings trilogy, would in fact be shot in New Zealand. That was put into jeopardy after the film was placed on a boycott list by an Australian-led actors group. The footage in this video, taken today, shows that work is still being conducted on one of the sets of the film near Matamata.
SYDNEY – Furious debate rages at this moment in New Zealand’s parliament on legislation sought by Warner Bros. to amend the country’s labor laws and make unionization of the local film industry more difficult. Meanwhile, key union leaders reported receiving death threats. Police have begun an investigation, according to a local press report.
The government has the necessary votes for the law revision and passage is expected later today. A Labour member of parliament decried today as a “day of shame.” The Labour and Green opposition have hammered on the loss of sovereignty implied by negotiating legislation with a foreign corporation, then ramming it through under an urgency procedure. The ruling National Party has emphasized the financial benefit of retaining the “Hobbit” production in country. More..
Thanks to spy Jincey for sending us word that 3news.co.nz has brand new heli flyover footage of set construction happening at the famous outdoor set for Hobbiton. Seems now that the film is staying in New Zealand, people are getting busy. You do need to endure a short commercial but the footage may bring back memories for LOTR fans. You can see the whole thing right here.
