Looks like The Hobbit has gone

**HenryDorsetCase** · 22nd October 2010, 13:33

Originally Posted by EJK

Hobbits are so 2001

unions are so 1908

**slofox** · 22nd October 2010, 13:59

Originally Posted by HenryDorsetCase

unions are so 1908

Dat were my gramfarver orgamanised that 1908 strike I'll 'ave ya know...

**Paul in NZ** · 22nd October 2010, 18:15

Originally Posted by slofox

Dat were my gramfarver orgamanised that 1908 strike I'll 'ave ya know...

Actually - My grandfather was a secretary in the Tramways Union during the depression - unions have their place but this aint it....

**slofox** · 22nd October 2010, 18:19

Originally Posted by Paul in NZ

Actually - unions have their place but this aint it....

Agreed...bastards!

**JimO** · 22nd October 2010, 19:14

i doubt Robyn Malcom has a chance of getting a part in a warner film in the near future

**pete376403** · 22nd October 2010, 21:14

Originally Posted by Oakie

>.
>To get residuals from ongoing sales (I believe)

They'd already got that - Jackson had negotiated that with Warners, that non-SAG actors *would* get residuals from The Hobbit. But I guess those residuals will be going to Ireland or wherever now

CTU, Helen Kelly and Equity have shot themselves in the foot big time.

**pete376403** · 22nd October 2010, 21:16

Originally Posted by Ronin

I concur. Although now of course they will be able to say they have a 'moral' victory.

Idiots.

I believe the term is "Phyrric Victory"

**spacemonkey** · 22nd October 2010, 21:52

Originally Posted by JimO

i doubt Robyn Malcom has a chance of getting a part in a warner film in the near future

Interesting to note that pretty much ALL the leadership of Equity don't need film work to get by.
They are all stage and TV actors who have made their names and don't need Hollywood money to make an excellent living in the NZ acting industry...... Ain't it great when you get play god with OTHER peoples lives eh Robyn Malcolm?

Oh and as to the demands?....
(from the Hardnews blog dated yesterday)

But it was telling that the CTU's Helen Kelly said on Nightline last night that the Equity meeting had been called for members to discuss "what they wanted in terms of terms and conditions".

You're saying that after all this -- you still don't know what you want?

Fuck me what a pack of incompetent fuckwits!!!!!!!

In other words they blacklisted the movie and claimed their demands were being ignored BEFORE THEY EVEN HAD ANY DEMANDS!!!!!!!
Arrrgh the stupid it burns us my peeeecious!

**Brian d marge** · 23rd October 2010, 01:42

8 hours work

8 hours sleep

and 8 hours motorcycling thats what Unions got ya , ( Nz unions did this

if I remember )

and the average Kiwi lost it all by doing nowt ......

But on saying that , fat 50 year old commodore driving , wastes of space , that 1, Think the world starts and stops in NZ ,
2, haven't realized the world has changed since 1950

aren't the unions of Today.

Unions are here to work with the company so that BOTH parties come out on top , by showing management a more effective way , and at the same time improving the lot of the great unwashed

Mr Jackson is making a movie

he wanted to make the movie in NZ , because its cheaper and the quality is good , ( value for money )

if you want to work for Mr Jackson , u can but the money is low , So ( and just a thought off the top of my head ) maybe the unions could have said , yes money crap but we will use this to promote you on the global market , so that you will earn more in the future

Win win

but commodore driving fat wo(man ) has been a bit short sighted IMHO based on NZ news media

Stephen

**Maki** · 23rd October 2010, 08:16

The film industry is all about smoke and mirrors. They created a fantasy where they are being bullied so the will just have to throw their toys and leave New Zealand. Of course they will stay in the end but be in a better negotiating position with respect to employees and the government. Sir Peter will be laughing all the way to the bank.

PS
I have been in and out of a large NZ union. When I found out that they are more interested in earning $ than they are in representing their members I departed. Now I represent myself and use the money otherwise spent on the union to fill my bike up with fuel...

**Woodman** · 23rd October 2010, 08:38

The actors equity dickshits are a bunch of selfish idealstic morons.

They are only interested in feathering their own nests. The fact that they were questioning jacksons choices of actors and suggesting actors that were members of actors equity speaks volumes to me.

There are not many jobs out there at the moment and they are adding to peoples pain. They need to have a good look around and see whats going on out there in 2010 not fucken 1950.

**Brian d marge** · 24th October 2010, 01:47

ipredict says ...

https://www.ipredict.co.nz/app.php?d...=HOBBIT.DEPART

bit of a drop

Stephen

**terbang** · 24th October 2010, 04:50

I'm sort of wondering it it is more about a weakening US dollar than subversive kiwi actors.

As a parallel, over the past 20 years, the Aussie airlines have been taking advantage of a weaker NZ dollar and more "employer friendly" industrial laws in NZ. Remember Ansett, now Jetstar and Virgin Blue? These Aussie airlines have all taken full advantage of a cheap workforce in New Zealand. The good side, they provided jobs for kiwis. The not so good side, they have progressively reduced kiwi pilots to being, what is often referred to as "the Pakistanis or Bangladeshis" of the south pacific as many Kiwi pilots are now among the lowest paid in the western world.

I am sure that US movie makers have a similar agenda with NZ right now and with their US dollar falling apart, their cheap labour force isn't that cheap anymore. So I guess they have attempted to trim things somewhat and have sparked a reaction from the unions. In my view Americans are as devious as they are stupid, so the truth will will be buried under many layers of bullshit.

As far as Peter Jackson is concerned, I flew his Gulfstream for two years during the making of LOTR and King Kong, I was the only Captain on the new type of aircraft that came to NZ. I really enjoyed flying for a very nice family who truly do care at a human level about those who work for them.
However, like most large businesses they use accountants and all manner of bean counters to look after their business affairs, often those sort of people have incentive by having their snouts in the trough. These are the ones who really don't give a care about the human element, just the bottom line dollar.

They could have had a couple of yanks flying their plane, but instead chose the extra expense of putting the aircraft on the NZ register to allow it to be operated and maintained by Kiwi's. However, as a result of a mean as shit aviation middle man and unbeknown to the Jacksons, we were among the lower paid Gulfstream pilots, flight attendants and engineers on the planet.

It was a lifestyle job and I shan't complain as we all gained a lot of personal development out of it and were really fond of, and got on well with our regular passengers. They enhanced our careers and if LOTR had been made overseas, then we would surely all still be grinding to and fro across the Tasman in a Boeing Bus.

My point is that Kiwis are seen as cheap labour by overseas investors for two reasons, exchange rate and favourable industrial laws. Here we have a bunch of yanks who have put themselves and us into this recession quagmire that has also killed their dollar. And yet they are still prepared to screw kiwis (Peter Jackson included) down to maintain profit.

But then I guess Kiwi companies have call centres in India as well. Dog eat Dog.

Yup it will be a shame for the Hobitt to go elsewhere as a lot of Kiwis, from the tea maker to the actors will miss out on a fantastic experience. I know first hand that Peter and Fran have the utmost regard for and will go out of their way to ensure that Kiwi's will be part of and benefit from this production. Though that may not be the primary concern of their american business associates or some green eyed and interfering Aussie unions.

**Zimsar10** · 24th October 2010, 10:16

Hello!

Guys & gals, it's time to stand up & support this great Rally & show Warner Brothers how much we want The Hobbit to be filmed in New Zealand!

I know that bikers are fantastic supporters of deserving events, so lets get together to support this Wonderful Rally!

"Rally to support filming of "The Hobbit" in New Zealand".

All the details are here:

Time: 25 October · 12:30 - 14:00

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?ei...0649753&ref=mf

Organised by D. Mark Harrison

RALLIES FOR ALL NEW ZEALANDERS, Industry & public on Labour Day Monday, 12.30-2pm!

Auckland, QEII Square; Wellington, Civic Square; Christchurch, Cathedral Square; Hamilton, Garden Place; Matamata, Gollum Statue; Queenstown, The Villiage Green & anywhere else you are!

These POSITIVE rallies of support are timed to coincide with the visit of Warner Bros. movie executives to discuss moving The Hobbit away from NZ. We're going to show them that we like them, we want The Hobbit filmed here and we SUPPORT Sir Peter.
...
These rallies will also emphasize the points other groups like film techs intend to make in the national media to influence Warners.

They are NOT protests against certain groups.

Rally locations will be announced shortly but will likely be the usual spots for such activities.

Invite ALL of your friends!!!

"Is the movie going to come or go? We don't know. Warners are coming here next Monday and we've got to fight like hell,"
Sir Peter Jackson.

Promoted by:
http://www.facebook.com/hobbitnz

Auckland rally: 12.30pm-2pm Labour Day Monday, Queen Elizabeth II Square, opposite Britomart Train Station. If there are large numbers we'll move into the sun on Queens Wharf!

I encourage you all to Tweet, Facebook, Text message, EVERYONE you know so that maximum numbers for this event are obtained!

Thanks so much for your time people!

Regards,

Grant

**Zimsar10** · 24th October 2010, 11:58

Originally Posted by Taz

It's just a movie not real life

It's WAY more than "just a movie"!

It's also about keeping New Zealand as a prime destination for more movies to be filmed here, which have massive spin-offs for the New Zealand economy.

Case & point - prior to Lord of the Rings - Matamata had 20,000 visitors per year, after the first LOTR movie that jumped dramatically to 364,000 people per year & is still around 200,000 per year right now.

New Zealand's Weta Digital done all of the Digital Effects for Avatar, which is the biggest grossing movie of all time & they have been involved in MANY other productions.

It's time for New Zealanders to show how much they want this movie kept in New Zealand - so let's do it guys & gals & support the Rally tomorrow!