Prime Minister John Key has already made it clear to Warner Bros that the Government can not go to extreme lengths to ensure The Hobbit remains in New Zealand ahead of his meeting with the company’s executives this afternoon. Mr Key will meet the executives to try to persuade them to keep the filming of the Hobbit in New Zealand. He would not discuss exactly what the Government could offer but will not rule out further tax breaks or changes to industrial laws to placate the movie company. However he said there was only so far the government could go. “From the conversations I’ve had with Warner Bros so far I’ve made it quite clear if it comes to a bidding war, then New Zealand is out because I don’t think that’s the right way to run this.” More..
Category: Warner Bros.
Dominic Kane reports on all the New Zealand craziness behind The Hobbit recently. However this video report features a few tantalizing images of Bag End, and a few other Hobbity looking sets in mid construction! Take a look! More..
NZ Prime Minister John Key was on Newstalk ZB this morning and said the following: “I have spoken with the chief executive of Warner Brothers, who I know, but the real meeting is set to be this afternoon. They’re sending their senior people here. They want to assess things. They’re definitely not coming here to say no (to having the movie filmed in New Zealand) – if they were they probably wouldn’t send such a high-power team; they probably wouldn’t send a team at all. But there’s no question the action of the unions has destabilised their confidence in New Zealand – we’re a long, long way from a slam-dunk with the films being made in New Zealand.”
Thanks to Hunter Abbey for sending in this video of the Wellington Rally of Hope!
Markus writers: Hey guys – I just came back from the rally in Wellington. I estimate about a thousand people there. I was a little late but I counted 6 speakers. All said heart-touching words about their history with the lord of the rings, their impression of the film industry in New Zealand and how their own life was changed. Continue reading “Another account of ‘Hobbit’ rally”
The Noldor blog reports from the pro-Hobbit rally in Civic Square in Wellington, reporting that it was attended by thousands. Images and words available right here.