New Zealand actors gather amidst Hobbit controversy

[BoukenCrimson]

Good thing The Dark Knight Rises isn't being filmed in New Zealand. They would have a field day if it was.

[jason4852]

well then lets start fliming in america with some great actors! :D

No offence to any New Zealanders out there but

FUCK NEW ZEALAND ACTORS AND THER DEMANDS lets make a truely epic film somewhear where this shit wont happen hell put it in Australia for all i care just keep this bullshit out of this movie or move the hobbit and dump these people on there greedy asses

[swishtrack]

what the hell is wrong with these idiots? The Hobbit will be one of the biggest films of the decade and they arnt letting it get greenlit because they want to be looked at as equals to actors in other parts of the world? GO FUCK YOURSELVES NEW ZEALAND ACTORS.... let the hobbit get made ass holes

[Dirtymurder]

@swishtrack Its greed, they know the hobbit is going to make loads of money and they want more then there entitled to.

[Ugulgathoth]

I only like this video because Craig Parker is in it. I love him! Thanks for uploading this...

[alexbush16]

Please please please, Shortland Street actors stop getting involved.  You are not good actors nor would I class you as actors. You should not be trying to negotiate better terms and conditions, I'm surprised you get paid for the rubbish you put on TV.

[glowtron]

To all Actors Union members

If you want to be seen in a better light by myself & many of my fellow film technicians whose livelihoods have been put at risk by your misguided Hobbit stop work technique, just say 2 words.

"We're sorry"

You may have valid points but you have to admit, your method for pushing these points was sloppy. Now is the time to stop with "it's not our fault" & stand behind us in trying to keep the Hobbit in NZ.

What's worse?  Damaged pride or thousands unemployed.

[krissseva]

@glowtron well said

[Cavematty]

No I don't think it would ultimately route profits back to SAG.

I was saying that the way I understand it, residual payments for performers in the US all go through SAG, where they take a commission. And while they store the millions of payments only briefly, they earn interest on those sums. It is a permanent revenue stream.

I was pointing this out as a financial motivator for the likes of Mr Whipp to be pushing so hard for this deal. You don't OPEN negotiations with a blacklist for no reason

[Cavematty]

Actor Simon London says they are cautious over what action is taken:

"I don't wanna cause any damage 'cause it's not just us. This is going to affect everyone in the industry."

The only actor thinking beyond his back pocket. Much respect.

"We are very confident and hopeful that the production will not move out of NZ"

You are obviously not familiar with Whipps track record in Australia where, among other things he helped cause Justice League to be cancelled:

tinyurlDOTcom/25zs8ry

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

@Cavematty Thanks for that info. Why is Helen Kelly getting involved with this? Her father was always an honest person. I would expect she is also. Can you help me on this?

[Cavematty]

@SugarTomAppleRoger I don't know Helen Kelly, and I have faith in the goodness of people. I must assume she is simply poorly informed and believes she is doing well. She must have no background information on Mr Whipp. Otherwise she wouldn't be acting in a way to jeopardise the industry and ultimately create a public backlash against herself.

It's a terribly poor excuse for someone in her position who is so vocally taking one side of the dispute, but it is the only explanation I can think of.

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

@Cavematty I understand that the union got associated with Australia in the first place, as there were too small a number of actors here to incorporate as a New Zealand unit. Helen of course has to represent the workers in her position. Wouldn't you agree?

I was heartened that Peter Jackson and the other lady with him both said they were not against the union. I think these people are all honest. However, there are bigger fish around who are providing the funding.

[Cavematty]

@SugarTomAppleRoger Yes, but this situation does not represent the workers. The industrial action was taken WITHOUT consultation of members. Even then Members do not represent a majority among the working actors of NZ. And they want to negotiate a standard contract that affects all even those not in the union. SAG profits through a percentage of residuals that all go through them. MEAA want the same. It is a grab for power and a slice of the pie. But it is a move by a minority.

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

@Cavematty It sounds like from what you are saying is that MEAA wanted to cause trouble in order to help SAG. The Actor's Equity is effectively the New Zealand representation for MEAA. Actor's Equity has gone to the NZCTU and Helen Kelly, as it is a union and presenting it as some sort of "workers oppression". In actual fact, from what you are saying, the SAG really wants to grab a share of flim profits. Is my analysis correct?

[Cavematty]

@SugarTomAppleRoger as far as I know, there is Zero claim of worker oppression by PJ. By all accounts his actor's contracts are generous and working conditions fair. Why Helen Kelly is getting involved on the side of the minority? Maybe she simply believes in union-isation.

It really has nothing to do with the Hobbit or PJ except they are high profile. They could've targeted lower budget Spartacus... except Lealand's husband is directing several episodes...

[SugarTomAppleRoger]

@Cavematty Interesting. I think I am getting the picture now. Brownlee and Jackson have all asked why Helen is involved in this. Jackson alo said that Helen didn't understand the film industry. It is just as if they are tryng to get her to back away to get at the real bad guy, who is this Whipp person. I think people can see that Helen is an honest person, which makes it more difficult. As far as I can see, the NZCTU should be made more aware of hidden agendas. Am I correct here?

[Cavematty]

@SugarTomAppleRoger

And beyond any issue of whether their intentions are right or not, their methods are appalling. I'll leave you with a quote from an article by Deborah Coddington at the NZ Herald:

"can't Actors' Equity see that getting Peter Jackson, instead of screen producers' organisation Spada, to set their pay rates is like the PPTA going to the principal of King's College to settle a pay dispute instead of the Minister of Education?

[Cavematty]

@SugarTomAppleRoger

But I do agree with your distinction. Peter wants the film here. He doesn't need to make excuses to film offshore. He's fought hard for his entire career to establish an A grade industry here. He's heavily invested in the local infrastructure and has continued to do so within the last few years. The allegations that he has manufactured this situation are foolish.

Warners may be a different story, but industrial action only makes it harder for Peter to convince them.

[sktnz]

QQ Marge

[davo3238]

Your reckless actions have scared off production companies from investing in New Zealand, they now view New Zealand as an unstable place to fund film production. Without major film studios injection of money, small budget features such as Boy could not be made.

The current economic climate and decline in film industry revenue makes creating films an incredibly risky business. They were to invest NZD$700m. With the risk of industrial action threating any returns I don't blame them for leaving nz

[auntyscone]

The Muppets AGM

wait... my apologies, the Muppets could actually act better. The only thing NZ Actors Equity has in common with the Muppets is that they have their hands up their arses.

[Kikefriki]

Fuck MEAA!!

[GarethRuck]

I just wondering how many SAG actors are also working as waiters and cleaners etc...

I also wonder why Equity continues to boycott the only production in NZ that, pays better than SAG, has better working conditions than most NZ productions, and has brought residuals back to NZ?

[brandonlovesmonkeys]

who cares

[randomer1432]

greedy fuckers, the production will fucking move out of new zealand if your gonna start shouting pay us more or were boycutting,

hell if i was peter jackson id be fucking pissed off to. dont they think after the success of the lotr series any european country is gonna welcome peter jackson with open arms and give him free reign to shoot his movie as he pleases without silly actors causin a headache by threatnin to boycott?

[BoonyBanny]

Issue is this - as opposed to the LOTR trilogy, Jackson gave NewLine/WarnerBros a great deal for their money, using his nurtured effects company to "wedding cake" a quite small film by Hollywood budget standards - for the whole budget of Waterworld, Jackson gave NL/WB three big hits. Now, it is the studio calling the shots, the original freedom Jackson had has gone - which is why Del Toro walked (Jackson said Del Toro could make his own stylistic mark on the movie -the studio didnt

[repulic5]

kiwis rule!!!!! they shouldnt move it to europe and espeacially not aus

[cha5]

I hope they don't have to move The Hobbit out of New Zealand and over to Europe.

[MrGruncher]

The film is not greenlit. There are no producers. New Zealand Actors Equity is not a legal union. MEAA is not a legal entity in New Zealand as of Sept 16th. New Zealand law prohibits collective bargaining with independent contractors. This isn't between PJ and unions. This is a situation prohibited by law. News peeps - let's present the facts eh?

[swishtrack]

@MrGruncher its greenlit now...HAHA

[xXxlovexacting15xXX]

@littemisshollywood They just want a meeting with the producers of The Hobbit so they can discuss the situation.

But producers are refusing. It's a lot more complicated than that.

[directorlog]

This is a big mess - just sign the unions contract and get back making the film.

[RandomChicksRock1]

antonia shares the same BDay as me!! ~madi!

[SereneFire88]

Interesting.

[tribetng]

Good for them, more power to the kiwis

[HilaryLove71]

aww she's beautiful ♥