Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: A few (more) words on The Hobbit

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  • Neil Morrison,

    Philippa Boyens is already going through the script changing elvish bread to Mainland cheddar.

    Since Nov 2006 • 932 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    There's currently a conspiracy theory being shared amongst some of the actors that holds that Warners engineered the whole thing by paying huge money to an (unnamed) PR firm. It really does not pass a reality test.

    While I agree with you in this instance, truth can be stranger than fiction. An example that springs to mind: Edward Bernays staging a "march" in ...oh, heck, I've forgotten the name of the South American country...which was then televised in the US to "prove" that the citizens of that nation were unhappy with their socialist overlords, resulting in public approval of a CIA driven coup there. Banana Republics, and all that.

    It does happen, even though it might not appear to pass any 'reality' tests.

    But I don't believe this is the case here, not by a long shot.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    All the Dwarfs will be drinking Steinlager Pure. Or possibly Tui.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Pat Hackett,

    Re: Jackson's promotional video. Just show the Hobbits on a NZ road trip - bunji jumping, jet-boating etc.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2010 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Oh, and Beorn will have a fine range of Manuka honeys available for purchase after the show.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Re: Jackson's promotional video. Just show the Hobbits on a NZ road trip - bunji jumping, jet-boating etc.

    Martin Freeman always looks a bit harried, I'm not sure being thrown off a bridge would change that.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • nzlemming,

    I was listening to Mallard on the radio this morning and all I could think was "he sounds just like DPF" - has anyone ever seen them both in the same room?

    Yes and, despite his penchant for placing beer bottles where they shouldn't oughta be, I'd much rather be in a room with Mallard, than DPF.

    Waikanae • Since Nov 2006 • 2937 posts Report Reply

  • jo kerr,

    In the Bryson case Judge Shaw noted that Bryson's working conditions were not typical of the industry, so it is unlikely that there will be much effect from the law change.
    I doubt whether it could lead to office employees at South Pacific Pictures losing their employee status as Helen Kelly was claiming on RNZ this morning.

    Since Apr 2010 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    I doubt whether it could lead to office employees at South Pacific Pictures losing their employee status as Helen Kelly was claiming on RNZ this morning.

    It won't.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    the South American country

    Overthrow of government of Guatemala

    Bernays' most extreme political propaganda activities were said to be conducted on behalf of the multinational corporation United Fruit Company (today's Chiquita Brands International) and the U.S. government to facilitate the successful overthrow... of the democratically elected president of Guatemala, Jacobo Arbenz Guzman. [...]

    ... "the term 'banana republic' actually originated in reference to United Fruit's domination of corrupt governments in Guatemala and other Central American countries. The company brutally exploited virtual slave labor in order to produce cheap bananas for the lucrative U.S. market."

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Pat Hackett,

    Re: Conspiracy theories. Simon Whipp as a deep cover plant to re-direct runaway productions back to Hollywood, actually kinda makes sense. Think Green Lantern, Justice League and now The Hobbit.

    (Simon Whipp fixation now over. The evil one has been defeated.)

    Auckland • Since Oct 2010 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    Thank you, 3410.

    I should've Googled!

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    W.r.t. the law changes, we've already got some models for defining contract workers (share milkers, real estate agents), so it's not as if they have to start from a zero base.

    The extent of the definition in the Real Estate Agents Act is to say that the contract is conclusive if it expressly states that the relationship is employer/contractor. That's not a satisfactory (in terms of being equitable) resolution to the movie industry issue, where a relationship that is very definitely employer/employee (such as Bryson) can be deemed employer/contractor on the strength of a "Take it or leave it" threat to withdraw employment on the part of the employer if the contract doesn't say "This relationship is that of an employer and an independent contractor." For actors and the like, it's not really a problem, but for some of the FX or modelling workers it could be.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Also worth noting: AE, MEAA, and CTU were all pushing for some pretty major law changes, when they realized that they didn't have a legal leg to stand on so far as their demands were concerned. If those had been given, it would STILL have been "NZ buckling and changing its laws to keep itself in the pockets of a massive multinational corporation".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Just show the Hobbits on a NZ road trip - bunji jumping, jet-boating etc.

    Or hobbit hurling?

    I guess it really matters for Matamata but I wonder who the balaclava-clad pair were who wrenched out Gollum's eyes the other night--no longer will he leer (Lear?).

    Sorry, catching a case of Ian D here ;-)

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Pat Hackett,

    Jackson did feature some giant wetas in King Kong. That hasn't helped tourist numbers.

    Auckland • Since Oct 2010 • 95 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    Jackson did feature some giant wetas in King Kong. That hasn't helped tourist numbers.

    It was the penis-worms that scared most tourists off, I think you'll find.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I should've Googled!

    You're doing fine!

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Cox,

    Given the passions stirred by this dispute, I'm also hugely impressed that the Public Address System culture has held up, and that the discussion has been very largely civil and intelligent. So thanks, people. Thanks

    Agreed! But I'm glad we've moved on to the more pressing international penis-worm image problem we're facing.

    Hm... maybe John Key can pass a law about it?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 312 posts Report Reply

  • Petra,

    I guess it really matters for Matamata

    Matamata is a rich town, thanks to dairy and thoroughbreds, and my visit to the town on Monday disappointed me. Has the town no imagination? As a place that is now on the map as Hobbiton, and as such has people calling in much more than ever before, there is nothing to make them stay. I'm not saying turn the place into a theme park, but...oh, wait. I am actually suggesting they turn it into a theme park. Kinda. It would make people stop and stay a few days and spend even more, instead of just getting off the bus for an hour or two.

    Rotorua • Since Mar 2007 • 317 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    I wonder how much NZ variants of pipe-weed will figure. IIRC, the endless smoking in LOTR was a real sticking point for the studios, but Jackson insisted. His only concession was that he would play up the theme that Gandalf was "quitting". The smoke-ring-fight scene* would be sorely missed, by me at least.

    *At the start of The Hobbit.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    A little note of irony. I was talking to one of the people who works on Media7 last night about the local production she worked for once, "and never again".

    It was a long day that worked out to about $15 an hour in the end. That's actually getting close to the legendary minimum wage film job, for skilled work.

    And the production was? Spartacus. The one that has never heard a peep from the actors' unions.

    I think some questions have to be asked about that.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Lealand,

    Matamata is a rich town, thanks to dairy and thoroughbreds, and my visit to the town on Monday disappointed me. Has the town no imagination?

    Are you suggesting that the good citizens of Matamata start walking around on their knees and speaking a strange tongue?


    I am sure there is ample imagination in the town--as well as a couple of good cafes.

    Screen & Media Studies, U… • Since Oct 2007 • 2562 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    If those had been given, it would STILL have been "NZ buckling and changing its laws to keep itself in the pockets of a massive multinational corporation".

    Yes, but it would've been a wider-ranging change than just something done for The Hobbit. Allowing independent contractors to negotiate collectively with a single purchaser of services, in the nature of a trade union, is not necessarily a bad idea. It's also one that, on reflection, should not be deemed to be prima facie price-fixing, which is the case at present. If the law allowed the "in the nature of trade union" test to be applied by a court, it would allow for judicial common-sense examination in the event that the ComCom believed the system was being rorted, without having to become a more prescriptive regime.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    It was a long day that worked out to about $15 an hour in the end. That's actually getting close to the legendary minimum wage film job, for skilled work.

    She's lucky it remained above minimum wage, TBH. Actors of my acquaintance who've worked on that production have said that, once you account for the agent's cut and the various deductions for ACC, your margin above minimum wage can be getting down to "read an acting contract through it" degrees of thinness.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

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