Posts by Jonathan King
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On Sunday, Actors' Equity posted a statement that said “Helen Kelly, CTU President has met with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh and we are hopeful that a meaningful dialogue between Equity, SPADA, and Three Foot Seven can be established.”
On Breakfast this morning, John Key said that he was hopeful of a resolution, that the government was prepared to facilitate discussions, and that it was “a wider dispute between actors and producers and that's where the debate should be held,” referring to Friday's offer by SPADA to meet with NZ Actors' Equity.
It's my understanding that, despite Spada's offer to meet, nothing has been heard by them, as of this evening, from Equity / MEAA.
It does seem that the limited CTU and Key involvement described above -- such as they are -- is the only 'progress' that's been made, and that Equity ("we just want to talk") still won't actually, you know, talk.
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"Apology"
The old if you were offended I aoplogise ... rather than "sorry I was offensive". What ever.
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They're not hurt yet. They may not get hurt.
There are people losing work already. Some have been working for some weeks (or months) already and were stood down last week and this week.
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but that should not negate Sir Jackson being called on to earn his knighthood and treat the serfs (not just the headliners) fairly.
No-one has actually been able to point to any specific 'unfairness' on Sir Peter of Jackson's part yet. That's a big part of the problem that's causing rising frustration.
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Well, they might have been trying to avoid the mix up with Frances Walsh of Actor's Equity.
I think 'triple Academy Award Winner' would still have pretty much covered off that one too ...
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I liked Philippa Boyens' comment on Nat Radio, when asked, why not have a cup of tea with Equity and she said Peter's already said all he can say ('talk to Spada'), Katherine Ryan pressed, what's the harm in saying that again over a cuppa and PB pointed out, "why would he want to have a pointless cup of tea with people who've caused him so much grief?"
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Industries always collapse locally when they go elsewhere. I know, it's happened to me. Having got to know and helped to train some of my low-wage replacements, I had no appetite left for a pointless tribal stoush. Seriously, if this comes down to a Kiwi vs. Czech (or whoever) race to the bottom, shouldn't all those thousands who'll benefit should the local industry win this round be looking to some kind of longer-term alternative once production's over?
Funnily enough, I think you're probably right, Joe. Our film 'business' is, in many ways, completely artificial -- distorted by the odd thing like The Hobbit and Avatar or ongoing shows like those made in Auckland. It is unsustainable and those who've had the good fortune to have had 10 or so years work in the biz can't realistically expect it to go on forever -- for all the reasons I've said earlier in the thread. But that's exactly why I don't think the actors' position is realistic.
(And I could point out that as a producer I could benefit from a collapse -- if no-one was working I might be in a better position to name terms).
But I'd prefer to part of as healthy an industry as possible and like to see people working while they can, and it would be a pity to hasten that 'when-not-if' collapse ...
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... In light of that, it's a little hard to get worked up over the fate of The Hobbit.
Do I think we need fully effective public health for all? I 100% do.
But do I want to see an industry that employs thousands of people collapse (and have them going on the dole)? No I don't, and don't see that helping our public services either.
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... this project is clearly at an achingly delicate point.
I've also heard from a reliable source that now that The Hobbit is 'on the market' -- potentially looking around for a 'film friendly' home to shoot in -- the studio is being aggressively courted by nations that would be delighted to have this multi multi million dollar film set up there. Every day this goes unresolved the pressure goes up for the project to be safely berthed somewhere and moving ahead (er, you know what I mean) ... as does the likelihood that it does move.
Once the film is greenlit (which reports say is close) they will want to hit the ground running. They will NOT twiddle their thumbs waiting for this game of chicken to play out here.
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Someone has posted on my Facebook page that Spada and Equity have been sitting and talking all weekend -- an improvement on 'hoping dialogue can be established'. Interesting that talking to Spada is what PJ and others have been suggesting for some time that that is what they need to be doing.
Correction: I've just heard from a reliable source that SPADA extended an invitation to meet Friday evening and have heard nothing from Equity all weekend ...
Ball is falling more and more roundly in their court ... and they won't play.