The spokesperson says that is unacceptable and they have dismissed the casting assistant.

Must have been on a contract or the 90 dayer???

Worker sacked for race-based Hobbit casting
Updated at 4:07 pm today

A casting assistant from The Hobbit has been sacked for applying race-based critieria while casting extras.

A spokesperson for director Sir Peter Jackson's WingNut Films, which is producing the film, says the only criteria they have for casting…

http://publicaddress.net/system/topic,2769,hard-news-anatomy-of-a-shambles.sm

Just if you're wondering why no one is replying...

I'm a NZ actress and an actor friend who has adverse views to me emailed me to ask some questions. I've placed my answers on a FaceBook note on the link above.

Please feel free to have a read.

And *does* have resonances...

In 2007 I made a self-funded short film called "The Shoe Box" and had the help and support of lighting company Portsmouth Hire and…

This is a strange industry.

Has anyone seen an attempt to crunch numbers on the costs of the actors demands. How much would it add on to costs?

It's not really that. The Hobbit actor contracts were already going to be far more generous than any viable industry agreement could be.

It's more the risk…

Shit — really? Could do you do me a favour and expand on this topic in the discussion for this morning's new post on the debacle? I'm really interested.

Well, it's hard to talk about because it's something we've been working on with our international unions. All writer's unions around…

And if anyone — including you, Helen — could post a link to the text of the do not work order being lifted I'd be grateful

Doesn't exist, yet. Perhaps we could get a up boycott deathwatch?

It ain't over till SAG sings.

This is exactly what the New Zealand Writer's Guild had (past tense?) literally set as the high priority focus for the next two years. So you can imagine my reaction to all this...

Shit — really? Could do you do me a favour and expand on this topic in the…

surely that will sweeten things a bit.

It sweetens it for me. At least some piece of NZ has managed to hold onto this balls-up.

I'd say if you're the outfit contracting to produce the films, industrial relations stability would be a concern shared with its financial backers at the studios.

Well, yes. Especially when the highest profile actor in the cast is more likely to pray away his gay than commit career suicide by…

I'd say if you're the outfit contracting to produce the films, industrial relations stability would be a concern shared with its financial backers at the studios.

I am confused as to how exactly he's trying to keep the film in NZ, is all, when everything he's saying endorses Warner's position.

Serve as a textbook example of how not to run an industrial campaign? Absolutely. Get the related unions onside beforehand, get a clear set of goals to articulate which can…

even though the union block was lifted over a week ago

Um, even Kelly isn't being that definitive. There was a "recommendation" made a week ago, which seems rather different from the do not work order being lifted. And if anyone — including you, Helen — could post a link…

"Quite rightly". Somebody tell me again that Jackson isn't siding with Warner over this.

I'd say if you're the outfit contracting to produce the films, industrial relations stability would be a concern shared with its financial backers at the studios.

The only silver lining I can think of: no fucking Wellywood sign next to the airport, I should hope.

Actual demands are irrelevant

And we've never been clearly told what they are.

Has anyone seen an attempt to crunch numbers on the costs of the actors demands. How much would it add on to costs?

Ah, but that's the best part. Actual demands are irrelevant, because even though the union block was lifted over a week ago, quoth Jackson:

"The damage inflicted…

Well if he was all about the money, he wouldn't have even tried to keep the film here.

If Jackson was "all about the money", he'd have moved into Roger Donaldson's spare room in La-La-Land long ago... I'll also take Jane Campion at face value when she says that if…

Has anyone seen an attempt to crunch numbers on the costs of the actors demands. How much would it add on…

And that's the dance of globalisation, isn't it?

Yes, it's a dance we're stuck with.

As for Jackson, what's his deal?

Well if he was all about the money, he wouldn't have even tried to keep the film here.

That said, I/S is also right that in the end it will have been Ireland's eagerness to offer even more incentives that is the endgame.

Really – and the existing infrastructure (I believe there's a lot of studio space just vacated by Harry Potter), favourable exchange rates and so forth…

say that to Sparty producer Rob Tappert? I understand his wife is a way hard bitch who could kick Cheryl West's arse. :)

Jenifer Ward-Leland isn't — her husband, Michael Hurst, is gainfully employed directing Spartacus at present.

Seriously, the casualties of this are going to be really vocal in the next few weeks, and there's no doubt…

"Fuck off you rich pricks...

Wonder if anyone is going to head out to OutrageousFortuneLand and say that to Sparty producer Rob Tappert? I understand his wife is a way hard bitch who could kick Cheryl West's arse. :)

"Fuck off you rich pricks and take your $700 million with you" is pretty much the elusive central tenant of the union's argument here, isn't it?

I doubt it. I am reminded of that rambling contribution by a NZ actor working in Sydney that somebody posted (on this thread?) a…

"Fuck off you rich pricks and take your $700 million with you" is pretty much the elusive central tenant of the union's argument here, isn't it?

Do you think our actors are that dumb? I didn't hear Morning Report this morning. Damn. But has any media outlet anywhere conducted an…

Well fuck them. New Zealand workers are fine as long as they are compliant and grateful? Fran and Philla, why don't you fuck off and turn your screen

"Fuck off you rich pricks and take your $700 million with you" is pretty much the elusive central tenant of the union's…

Just keep on believing that, Tom.

The Fran and Phillipa whine fest on RNZ just now includes such quotes as New Zealand does not provide "certainty and stability in the workforce" and is now an "unsafe place to shoot".

Well fuck them. New Zealand workers are fine as long as…

to be lumped in with 'management' aligning against the 'workers', the actors — actors! — is risible.

SNAFU

We used to be the cheapest and most compliant. Now we are neither, Randolph Hurst II has thrown his toys out his Waiarapa cot and is moving the movie offshore.

Just keep on believing that, Tom.

Randolph Hurst II has thrown his toys out his Waiarapa cot and is moving the movie offshore.

Last time I looked, that call is up to Warner Brothers and Jackson ultimately has no more say in it than Martin Campbell did about Green Lantern being moved from Sydney to New…

Helen Kelly for one, on morning report. Not a good idea to treat every issue as a battle in the class war.

The class war aspect (brought up by The Standard, too, at the beginning of all this) makes me laugh: for the hundreds of technicians who marched last night…

Unions. Aren't they just great?

Being a big fan of freedom of association for everyone, trade unions aren't that high on my Unspeakable Evil league table. Incompetent and mendacious ones that seem incapable of running a gang bang in a whorehouse – slightly more problematic.

"This is going to damage the entire union movement.'

After this performance of union genius, one can only hope so. NZ can't afford too much more of this kind brilliant strategic thinking, or allowing themselves to be used as pawns by of all nationalities, an…

Again: W.T.F.

Ahem. 1500 working people convene to march for their livelihoods. Best not be calling it a "lynch mob".

FWIW, there is no SAG advisory lifting the notice. If there was, it would be here

My head is spinning at high speed listening to Morning Report, but did I hear Helen Kelly saying Richard Taylor should have told the "technicians" something she couldn't because of a confidentiality agreement?

W.…

FWIW, there is no SAG advisory lifting the notice. If there was, it would be here:

http://www.sag.org/member-alerts

I'd love someone to ask Ms. Kelly what the CTU's...

I infered from her tone that she wouldn't be keen. It's other people who think it would be a good idea if the govt signallled at this point that it wouldn't mind getting into a subisdy bidding war.

The studios…

Helen Kelly for one, on morning report. Not a good idea to treat every issue as a battle in the class war.

Ah yes... greedy foreign multi-national corporates and their blood-sucking leech shareholders!

Meanwhile, I'd love someone to ask Ms. Kelly what the CTU's position would be if film production…

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

Helen Kelly for one, on morning report. Not a good idea to treat every issue as a battle in the class war.

Sonal Patel – no, I havent been given examples of how Peter Jackson has supported 'the local industry.'

You've actually been given many examples in the course of this thread.

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

FFS, Islander, if Penguin and Random House shut down their NZ operations and chose to commission and edit their Kiwi list from an office in London (incidentally putting hundreds out…

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.

savvier negotiators, then

no, I havent been given examples of how Peter Jackson has supported 'the local industry.'

You replied to the post in which Eleanor did exactly that.

I havent been given examples of how Peter Jackson has supported 'the local industry.'

Yes, you have. Pretending otherwise is not helping the discussion.

I despise him.

*sigh* Well then there's nothing I can say or show that will ever satisfy you.

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

Sorry, Islander, I keep missing the point of your argument – exactly what would Peter Jackson fully funding a film (when he doesn't even do that for his own films) prove for…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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…

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.

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

And the door was opened

Exactly

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…

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…

*NZSA

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?

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.

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...)…

Steve H-who rebuilt Hobbiton?

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

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…

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.

Unions are way bigger – still- than the AE.

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

Collateral fall-out given (taxi drivers etc.who are so often quoted- I have no idea why) but the spin-off for working ANZ has actually always…

They still haven't figured out what they want yet? What have they been doing the last few weeks?

Texting, Facebooking, talking and getting more and more worked up into a frenzy of incoherent indignation about how hard done by they are.

They really don't get how the industry works.

What…

Helen Kelly said:

...tonight's meeting was actors meeting to discuss how to move forward, what they wanted in terms of terms and conditions...

They still haven't figured out what they want yet? What have they been doing the last few weeks?

It is unbelievable.

3 News coverage (5 minute clip).

I felt sorry for Helen Kelly there. She was talking rubbish, but she shouldn't have had to be fronting it. The Actors' Equity representatives have been way out of their depth and, clearly, Mr Whipp wouldn't have been a good look.

This is going…

3 News coverage (5 minute clip).

Helen Kelly said:

...tonight's meeting was actors meeting to discuss how to move forward, what they wanted in terms of terms and conditions...

They still haven't figured out what they want yet? What have they been doing the last few weeks?

She also says…

It's a lose/lose situation.

It's a win for the SAG. They might just have managed to kill off a competing film industry that they didn't have much of a say in.

Well, I've had a pretty angry e-mail from a friend suggesting that Ms. Ward-Lealand might want to stay out…

Space Weather reminds us that it is time again
for the Orionid Meteor showers – Oct 20 – 22.

I've been looking for something to replace the Perseid-shaped hole in my life for the last thirteen years, you magnificent, magnificent man.

Wonder if cancelling the Equity meeting in the face of advancing trades hordes was Mr Whipp's idea?

Well, I've had a pretty angry e-mail from a friend suggesting that Ms. Ward-Lealand might want to stay out of Wellington for a while. Not entirely fair, I suspect, but damn it seems…

The Bobbit

Wonder if cancelling the Equity meeting in the face of advancing trades hordes was Mr Whipp's idea?

The Hobbit is the big story tonight. Huge protests in Welly, looks like it's going to Ireland and taking 700million dollars with it. 10.40pm

Simon Whipp.

Nice of him to put in an appearance.

My prediction: the bulk of Hobbit production goes offshore. Hundreds of crew in the Wellington region lose a lot of work. Post will probably still take place in Wellington, but this doesn't help the production crew and suppliers.

There will be a lot of anger from…

I am reliably told that as things stand The Hobbit will not be made here.

Urgent efforts are being made to turn that around. If those efforts do not succeed, the fallout from this is going to be very nasty indeed.

400 pissed-off film techs just marched up Lambton Quay

http://twitpic.com/2z6vl8

It followed an urgent meeting called by Richard Taylor.

And at last word, the marchers were headed for the Equity meeting.

BUT if you look at SAG's site, you can still find it (eventually) under "Hot News" but not under Member Alerts, which is where you'd expect it to be, along with other Do Not Work notices. Looks to me like everyone's pulling their heads in a bit, but no-one's going…

Interesting. If you search on "hobbit" on the MEAA site, you won't spot the notice, though you can still find Equity's version on their site. (even more interesting, the letters referenced in the "Hobbit Fact Sheet" are still on the site, but don't show up in the search)

"We never…

BUT if…

I wonder if SAG and MEAA have been advised by NZAE to withdraw the 'do not work' notice. Or are discussions proceeding with that particular loaded gun still aimed at The Hobbit?

Statement on behalf of SPADA, Actors’ Equity and CTU

The Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA), Actors’ Equity, and Council of Trade Unions representatives met today, in a meeting facilitated by Minister for Economic Development Gerry Brownlee.
It was a useful and productive…

What it comes down to is collective bargaining for actors. That's been fairly clearly, consistently and concisely what NZAE say they want.

Jennifer Ward-Lealand on The Nation, Oct 2:

JENNIFER Well let's talk about the law here. So the Commerce Act says you cannot collectively bargain, absolutely, and we've…

http://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=677

I've been told that Disney are no longer bring movies to Australia because of their frustration with the MEAA.

So I wonder who told him that? Safe bet it was the Studio of course...

Note to Jackson: Disney is not avoiding Australia
Rich Ross, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios, dismissed claims by New Zealand director Peter Jackson that Disney is avoiding bringing its productions to Australia due to problems with unions, but admitted that it is “challenging” due to the exchange rate.…

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/asia/news/e3i05a30aa117cd49d6d999f51e3732fd0d

Criminal provisions
3 Trade union not…

http://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=678

I note that NZ Actors Equity chose not to attend.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/4222575/Wellington-actors-oppose-boycott

And Philippa Boyens' account:

http://www.theonering.net/torwp/2010/10/11/39046-philippa-boyens-the-hobbit-wingnut-films-media-release/

I'd recommend everyone involved have a look, and maybe also have a listen to Rod Oram's interview on RNZ last week (which I just…

As the kind of movie that doesn't require any kind of 1st-world heritage, i.e. cutting-edge technology or hordes of caucasian spear-carriers, the Happy Feet X franchise could easily have the bulk of its production moved pretty much anywhere.

Hint: happy feet 2 does not require any actors...

They're almost as rare as the solar-powered sundial watches.

Still holding out hope to reacquire one of those!

. . . so the healthy, vibrant Australian international film production industry NZ Equity were pointing to is now ... er, Happy Feet 2.

As the kind of movie that doesn't require any kind of 1st-world heritage, i.e. cutting-edge technology or hordes of caucasian spear-carriers, the Happy Feet X franchise…

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/4215769/NZ-film-stuck-in-muddle-earth

Talk about the caption not matching the photo. Unless Bernard Hill suddenly got elected to be our PM.

(There was, of course, some irony in Equity citing Mad Max and Happy Feet as [their only] examples of…

It very much depends on which art: literary fiction? Not true. Poetry? Not true. Short stories? Not true.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/4215769/NZ-film-stuck-in-muddle-earth

Best guess I have for…

Equity still not talking to SPADA, apparently.

Doesn't surprise me even slightly. It's pretty clear that this is going to be them holding out to get a deal with the studios to me. Spada was never on the cards. To be honest I doubt that the 'just a cup of…

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10679085&ref=rss

Yvette Reid has called another meeting on Monday night in Wellington
http://www.theatreview.org.nz/news/news.php?id=674

MEETING OF WELLINGTON ACTORS 11/10

Whether you're Pro-Union, Anti-Boycott, on-the-fence or just confused...

I urge you to join me for a meeting of Wellington Actors.

Monday 11th October, ...6.30pm
at Tararua Tramping Club
4 Moncrieff Street,…

Well, that's the first official confirmation they're seriously looking. How seriously, is anyone's guess of course. But still...

You I've missed most of all, scarecrow.

...more Goldbricking?
How was Kansas via Oz?
;- )

PS Looking forward to William Gibson on
Nine to Noon today after 10am

The Elves have left the building...

You I've missed most of all, scarecrow.

Yup, there's no indication that Gothmog
is an orc,

sounds like a black cat to me...

...and two half-elves, the sons of Elrond

...so Elrond would be an early founder
of Scion-tology then?

So, yeah, much enlarged in the film, but still more or less within canon.

Yup, there's no indication that Gothmog is an orc, other than the name is a little bit orc sounding. Most of Sauron's inner flunkies were human.

I don't think Parker was a retrofit. The elves were…

Alas it is late and I have tricky costume repairs to do combat with tomorrow before my performance group flies like fools .... Venezuela this time ;)

Best of luck Nick Shand. Fly your pretties. ;)

I for one would like to sight the formal agreement between MEAA…

Wasn't it Aragorn's Rangers who turned up originally?

That was Pelennor Fields, at least in the books.

Well, they (Northern Rangers aka the Grey Company) did turn up in Rohan, but after the battle for Helm's Deep. The 30 or so of them then hung round in Aragorn's background for…

My guess is they just replaced him with
the Elves because...

The Elves have left the building...

Wasn't it Aragorn's Rangers who turned up originally?

That was Pelennor Fields, at least in the books.

So Parker was a last-minute retrofit?

I'm not sure if the Elves of Lothlorien were at Helm's Deep all along. It would have seemed to be difficult to add them in after they finished the hellish night shoots that comprised that part of the movie. I think they just removed…

So Parker was a last-minute retrofit? It makes sense if they had already gone to great expense during extended battle sequences involving the Elves.

I don't think Parker was a retrofit. The elves were from Lothlórien so it wouldn't have made sense to have Arwen leading them. I believe the…

"Gothmog the lieutenant of Morgul had flung them into the fray; Easterlings with axes, and Variags of Khand. Southrons in scarlet, and out of Far Harad black men like…

She was then cut out of the scenes entirely, there's been comments that she asked to be taken out, I've heard that she was just awful at it so they had to cut her out.

I bow low to your knowledge! If it were me I'd have cut the lot…

I can only presume it was Parker's very elven looks, and ability to deliver even awful lines with conviction, that sold it.

I would never have imagined that it was done for Parker.

Given that it was originally filmed with Arwen at Helm's Deep, I was imagine if it was…

This battle is actually SAG vs the Studios.

So we're probably going to see it solved and announced there before anything here changes, if what we do here even matters at all (not sure if that makes anyone feel better or…

When was the last time you heard of A NZ director / writer identifying an actor and writing a character around them?

Actually I can think of 2 examples from LOTR. Jackson seemed determined to give Craig Parker more of a role and added a very odd scene in which…

Sorry....

Has anyone else noticed that one of the Aussie MPs came out very strongly against MEAA? So Simon Whipp's disappearance may be to take the heat off himself....but what is Equity to do if they can't communicate with him? And…

Has anyone else noticed that one of the Aussie MPs came out very strongly against MEAA? So Simon Whipp's disappearance may be to take the heat off himself....but what is Equity to do if they can't communicate with him? And…

It's only one attendee's take on it, of course, but seeing as it's the only take I've seen,…

MEAA "Factsheet"

“Resolved, that the International Federation of Actors urges each of its affiliates to adopt instructions to their members that no member of any FIA affiliate will agree to act in the theatrical film The Hobbit **until such…

People wanted the feelgood but ultimately toothless and pointless resolution to ask for negotiations about suggested/non-binding conditions

If that's what NZAE want, then well, isn't that the Pink Book? Why haven't they negotiated that for 5 years? Why haven't they talked to Spada yet?

Union organisers wouldn't tend to take…

Perhaps then they could see how galling it is for a…

Well, Simon Whipp (rather foolishly) said that to the Hollywood reporter. Unfortunately Robyn Malcolm repeated something similar. Maybe in their heads that was somehow a sound strategy once upon a time. I think they've backed away from that well and truly now.

Have they — and I'm not arguing with…

http://www.theatreview.org.nz/forum/topic.php?id=899

Goddammit,…

I have no idea what to make of it.

Union organisers wouldn't tend to take leave in the middle of a large dispute like this. Either he's not really involved, or... who knows.

The news came via the Hollywood Reporter, a publication Whipp deigns to talk to. He's gone for two weeks. I have no idea what to make of it.

Same M.O. as Tony Marryatt Council CEO in Chch (Except he hasn't spoken to anyone for a month as far…

and completely defend their right to be well paid.

I wonder if the concept of 'right to be well paid' is part of the problem here. Do we — those of us who choose a career in the arts or fringe enterprises in a TINY market — actually have right…

But the more I think about how MEAA have gone about doing this thing…

And I'll also add: I don't believe the shambolic nature of this thing is actually Actors Equity's fault – it's the MEAA who set this thing up, dropped it on them, and has been apparently not been a…

It wasn't my guess, but someone else's. And there wouldn't be any debate about it if Equity had fulfilled the minimum reporting requirements for the last three or four years.

Fair enough and yes Equity seems to be somewhat shambolic , which of course makes its very difficult uncover the…

I don't think people here are being "overly emotional", and I think Simon in particular has shown real empathy with the actors' position. Compare his careful arguments with Trotter declaration of of class war and tell me who's being emotional.

Russell I was referring to actors getting emotional about this…

RB's just tweeted that Whipp has gone on leave. If he's the instigator, this is a classic way of avoiding having to do anything.

The news came via the Hollywood Reporter, a publication Whipp deigns to talk to. He's gone for two weeks. I have no idea what to make…

And Trotter's article is a useful and somewhat balanced take on a complex situation.

No, it isn't. It's unbalanced, unhelpful and, in places, quite untrue.

Note the membership numbers for actors equity are 600 not the 200 that Russel guessed at. Makes a big difference to one of Russel's arguments…