unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,072|7217|PNW

Another punch in the face to this already harried film:

BBC News wrote:

Film-maker Peter Jackson has warned that production on The Hobbit movies could cease over a pay wrangle with acting unions.

The Lord of the Rings director, who is the films' executive producer, said it faced being shut down or moved from its location in his native New Zealand.

In an open letter, Jackson said shifting the entire project to eastern Europe "could so easily happen".

Unions have urged actors not to work on the films due to the dispute.

'Movie drought'

A number of organisations based in the UK, Canada, Australia and the US have said the The Hobbit's producers have refused to negotiate a deal with them.

The International Federation of Actors said it was time for performers on The Hobbit to seek union contracts, adding that actors in New Zealand have "struggled on non-union contracts for some time".

Jackson said the wrangle was a "grab for power" and "an attempt by the "Australian bully-boy" to exert influence over New Zealand's film industry.

"It feels as if we have a large Aussie cousin kicking sand in our eyes... or to put it another way, opportunists exploiting our film for their own political gain."

"Seriously, if the Hobbit goes east (Eastern Europe in fact) - look forward to a long, dry big-budget movie drought in this country," added the film-maker.

Jackson said that he is not anti-union and "has always attempted to treat my actors and crew with fairness and respect".

He pointed out that Hobbit actors with no union representation are part of a profit-sharing pool.

The director made all three of the Lord of the Rings films and his screen adaptation of The Lovely Bones using New Zealand locations.

Jackson is expected to become the films' director after the departure of Guillermo del Toro due to concerns over delays - although a formal announcement has yet to be made.

But the two-movie project has not been given the financial go-ahead by Hollywood studios New Line and MGM.

Work was expected to start earlier this year but is now scheduled for a 2011 start.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11417340
Previously, Union tell actors to avoid Hobbit films.

It's been one thing after another for this movie. Obviously none of this would've happened if the previous movies hadn't been so successful. I think the industry's cutting off its nose to spite its face, here. Thoughts?
Turquoise
O Canada
+1,596|6850|North Carolina
It reminds me a bit of the writer's strike a little over a year ago.  It was utterly pointless.
13rin
Member
+977|6924
Unions...
I stood in line for four hours. They better give me a Wal-Mart gift card, or something.  - Rodney Booker, Job Fair attendee.
rdx-fx
...
+955|7036

DBBrinson1 wrote:

Unions...
Vilham
Say wat!?
+580|7211|UK
fucking hate those commie mother fuckers.
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,823|6551|eXtreme to the maX
Damn hobbits, they should work for rice.
Fuck Israel
Reciprocity
Member
+721|7026|the dank(super) side of Oregon
uppity midgets.
Superior Mind
(not macbeth)
+1,755|7138

Reciprocity wrote:

uppity midgets.
Midget is not the preferred nomenclature. Half-lings, dude.
Reciprocity
Member
+721|7026|the dank(super) side of Oregon

Superior Mind wrote:

Reciprocity wrote:

uppity midgets.
Midget is not the preferred nomenclature. Half-lings, dude.
sm, these aren't the guys who built the yellowbrick road here.
Superior Mind
(not macbeth)
+1,755|7138
Burnzz, you're out of your element! Reciprocity, the midgets aren't the issue here.

Last edited by Superior Mind (2010-09-27 18:11:54)

Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,823|6551|eXtreme to the maX
Jackson doesn't like working with unions, too bad, I guess he won't be making many more films.
Fuck Israel
Harmor
Error_Name_Not_Found
+605|6994|San Diego, CA, USA
I hate the Film Actors' Guilds.
Little BaBy JESUS
m8
+394|6594|'straya
Trust a kiwi to blame aussies. Anyone would think we actually had sway in the film industry
rdx-fx
...
+955|7036

Dilbert_X wrote:

Jackson doesn't like working with unions, too bad, I guess he won't be making many more films.
Betcha he'll make plenty more films
Harmor
Error_Name_Not_Found
+605|6994|San Diego, CA, USA
You know Peter Jackson got started in Horror films...like B rated ones too.  Check out his IMDB page and see his filmology.
Reciprocity
Member
+721|7026|the dank(super) side of Oregon
ever informative
M.O.A.B
'Light 'em up!'
+1,220|6668|Escea

rdx-fx wrote:

DBBrinson1 wrote:

Unions...
Trotskygrad
бля
+354|6444|Vortex Ring State

M.O.A.B wrote:

rdx-fx wrote:

DBBrinson1 wrote:

Unions...
SEREMAKER
BABYMAKIN EXPERT √
+2,187|7013|Mountains of NC

everybody wants there hand in the honey pot
https://static.bf2s.com/files/user/17445/carhartt.jpg
Dilbert_X
The X stands for
+1,823|6551|eXtreme to the maX
Actors and film personnel have historically been treated like shit, not that I like unions either.
Fuck Israel
AussieReaper
( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
+5,761|6598|what

What, so Peter Jackson doesn't have any money to pay the actors?

Anyone wanna guess how much he would be earning as Executive Producer for LOTR + The Hobbit?
https://i.imgur.com/maVpUMN.png
BVC
Member
+325|7141
This has been all over the news here.  I know a few people who've been extras in a couple of movies here, and lighting stuff.  They have been paid and treated very well, certainly better than your average 9-5 Joe.

This was started by the MEAA (the australian union) deciding to stir up shit, and they've succeeded.  Peter Jackson - who happens to be a member of the NZ union - has less sway over this than you think, its the money behind the film (ie. Newline and MGM) which will decide whether or not to move the hobbit.

I hope this is just a storm in a teacup, but he is right, it could very well cost NZ billions in film & tourism revenue.  Of course, if some of that lost work goes to Australia, I doubt the MEAA would complain...

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