Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee told the New Zealand Harald that not only is the loss of “The Hobbit” films dreadful for New Zealand, it greatly impacts future film production in New Zealand. He said:
“It’s a dreadful situation and it’s going to take a bit of work to even get future productions into good shape.”
The article further says:
The Employers’ Chamber of Commerce Central’s president Jo Bransgrove said there would be a huge economic loss if the filming was lost abroad.
“The filming of The Hobbit provides an opportunity for the creation of thousands of jobs and the injection of millions of dollars into the local economy.
“The economic momentum generated from the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy would be lost if it does not go ahead.
Ms Bansgrove said it would “disastrous” if the filming was lost.
You can read the whole article right here
Posted in:
Share:
Ataahua keeps us informed from New Zealand once more. From Richard Taylor’s in interview 10 minutes ago on Newstalk ZB:
“This is incredible madness. It’s unfolded so quickly with so few people causing so much harm to so many. It’s like watching a slow-motion train wreck unfolding before your eyes. I’m not a spokesperson for the film industry – I don’t know the intricate details (of the movie’s future) as well as you think I would. I speak for myself. While I represent the voice of the team who work at Weta Workshop I have the same emotions and feelings as the Wellington film technicians who make a livelihood from the film industry.”
In response to Helen Kelly’s comments about yesterday’s meeting ‘winding up’ the film technicians:“That’s completely untrue, unfortunately like many of the things Helen Kelly says. She’s in the corner, she’s realising she’s made an incredible blunder. She’s empowered a very small group of people to put our film industry in jeopardy. I can’t imagine how they’re feeling now about themselves. “I sent an email at 3pm yesterday suggesting anyone who wants to talk were welcome to come along. I was amazed at the number of people who turned up. Obviously it was incredibly impacting and a statement in itself that so many technicians turned up – we figured maybe 30 or 40 times the number of actors that had turned up in support of the New Zealand Equity side.
“It was decided as a group to go down to the meeting (of NZ Equity) and try to verbalise our concern as the other side of the film industry, the other point of view, the people who are the film makers in New Zealand. The fact that the group that were gathered were emotional is understandable, although passionate is more appropriate. I believe the film industry is fired by passionate people. You don’t make a movie like The Lord of the Rings without passion, drive, determination and motivation, and that’s what the film technicians demonstrated last night.”
Stay tuned to TheOneRing.net for more breaking news as we get it.
Posted in:
Share:
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
Posted in:
Share:
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.”
Posted in:
Share:
Hunter Abbey (hunterabbey.co.nz) has sent us an exclusive video of the protest last night:
Posted in:
Share:
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]
Posted in:
Share:
