Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Yet More Hobbit

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  • Sue,

    has helen kelly considered what this is doing for peoples perceptions of the CTU?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    the spin-off for working ANZ has actually always been bloody limited

    Haven't seen any breakdown of the budget, but I'm guessing it would be hard to rouse 1,000 techies to a meeting at short notice if the impact on crew was negligible.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Which 'peoples' Sue?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    The argument that tax breaks are a big factor is hard to ignore.

    I don't buy the implication that the studio might have made it elsewhere anyway because of the tax breaks. If that were the case they wouldn't have started rebuilding Hobbiton until the decision was made. No, it was going to made here by default, because the Lord of the Rings was.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Idiot/Savant tweets the numbers:

    Ireland: 28% tax bribe for filmmakers. NZ: 15%. Blame the studio, not the actors

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Not saying the actors' actions had no impact, just seems true it's not the whole picture. Other nations would have been crazy not to leap in with offers as soon as the door was opened.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    You've nailed it Idiot/Savant - and so, now, will the tide of righteous & silly indignation sweep over the current guvmint?

    Steve H-who rebuilt Hobbiton?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    ok so a bunch of us discussed this tonight
    so let's go with a smattering of the general public to define 'peoples'

    Helen Kelly has many places she needs to be fighting the good fight right now (teachers, dr certificate required for sick leave, extending the 90 day trial period...) so perhaps it wasn't the most media savvy thing to be the face of tonight's actors meeting, when they have their own spokespeople.

    becuase honestly being one of the faces of loosing the hobbit -whether it's true or not if the hobbit goes that's where perception is - not good for the other fights that need fighting.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Idiot/Savant tweets the numbers:

    Ireland: 28% tax bribe for filmmakers. NZ: 15%. Blame the studio, not the actors.

    I'm sure a number of people will be deluding themselves with that reasoning over the next few days.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    Steve H-who rebuilt Hobbiton?

    If you're doubting whether work had started, it had:
    http://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/news/4190594/Work-forges-ahead-on-Hobbit/
    If you're asking whose money was being spent, I don't know, but it has to be the studio's in the end doesn't it?

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Right Sue -but those other matters have much more ground support - I speak as someone who belongs to the only union* I can now (but has always belonged to the relevant union in whatever work I did.)

    *NZSA

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Not saying the actors' actions had no impact, just seems true it's not the whole picture. Other nations would have been crazy not to leap in with offers as soon as the door was opened.

    And the door was opened by a global "don't work" order drafted by an Australian unionist, whose contents the local Actors' Equity representatives didn't even seem to understand.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    If you're asking whose money was being spent, I don't know, but it has to be the studio's in the end doesn't it?

    Early on in the piece, one option mentioned was to hang on to the New Zealand Hobbiton location, although I don't know how they'd do that without actors.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sue,

    so will the irish actors comply with the global "don't work" order?
    does it remain in existence if production moves locations?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 527 posts Report Reply

  • Eleanor,

    Islander, Peter Jackson's film companies from frack to bunt have POLICIES to support NZ grassroots film. This plays out in all sorts of ways... for small budget films that get shuffled through pre, shooting, and post production on goodwill and because the people working there support NZ film making, and they can make it a priority to do so - and they have PJ's infrastructure, resource and facilities to back up the small local stuff. It's not prioritised for a profit. You are setting up PJ as being unsupportive to tiny projects, and quite frankly, he is not. My husband has been employed in the film industry as well as a contractor, and "helping to support local film" has even been a condition of his employment! Therefore he has been able to help support many local productions, and yet here on this forum, you are bagging his employer, who pushes for this. Islander with respect you are not informed about this issue! Please do not be presumptuous about the film industry and how it can support its own people.

    wellington • Since May 2007 • 81 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    And the door was opened

    Exactly

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    so will the irish actors comply with the global "don't work" order?
    does it remain in existence if production moves locations?

    A deal will have been done by savvier negotiators than ours

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    Early on in the piece, one option mentioned was to hang on to the New Zealand Hobbiton location, although I don't know how they'd do that without actors.

    I guess they could insert them in post. I think I'd rather they just rebuilt it elsewhere.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Could always cast Vincent Gallo..

    <ducks>

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Eleanor,

    when they have their own spokespeople.

    Who exactly are they, though?

    The Whipping Boy? Never once to be seen.

    Robyn "nudity clause" Malcolm? Craig "actors are business people too" Parker? Bruce "poor me" Hopkins? Ian "it's only spent on tax and in restaurants anyway" Mune?

    Or Jennifer "never mind that my husband directs Spartacus" Ward Lealand?

    Better to get the good old union woman to keep fronting the lot of them.

    wellington • Since May 2007 • 81 posts Report Reply

  • Islander,

    Eleanor- I'm not presumptuous: as I've said before on this forum, me & mine have NEVER seen any input from Peter Jackson. You have - cool.
    We havent.
    And now - can you point me to any finished ANZ film that has been fully finanically backed by Peter Jackson?

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    so will the irish actors comply with the global "don't work" order?

    does it remain in existence if production moves locations?

    A deal will have been done by savvier negotiators than ours

    No, they'll be covered by Irish Equity, which after long and patient lobbying, has just achieved the right for contractor members to bargain collectively -- by convincing their government to amend competition law to allow for collective bargaining in some circumstances.

    They worked out what they needed, and they worked towards it. New Zealand Actor's Equity did neither of those things. That's the difference.

    I don't think you'll find Irish Equity being anything but very warm towards Three Foot Seven. I'm quite sure that will have been part of the pitch.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Sonal Patel,

    And, if filming goes offshore, the pre-& post-production stuff doesnt, right?

    Not necessarily, if production moves to Ireland I imagine Framestore VFX will be putting a in a bid, as everything else will already be there.

    Brisvegas • Since Nov 2006 • 18 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    so will the irish actors comply with the global "don't work" order?

    If they're members of UK Actors Equity (one of the groups that supported the order) then they'd be expected to. But I bet they'll get contracts that conform to whatever collective agreement is in place for Ireland. The producers have never said that they won't honour a collective agreement, they've only said that their advice is the such and agreement is illegal in NZ and that they are not the correct party to be negotiating on behalf of the entire industry.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

  • SteveH,

    And now - can you point me to any finished ANZ film that has been fully finanically backed by Peter Jackson?

    What's that got to do with anything? He's not a studio.

    Since Sep 2009 • 444 posts Report Reply

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