Official The Hobbit thread

[xwolverine2]

how could a director with such international power like Peter Jackson have so many development hell issues with his movies???

let the man film his movies already!.. and bring back Halo lol

 

[Octoberist]

Dude
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70140

PJ sounds pissed

The last the unions want is TO LOSE THE FRIGGIN' HOBBIT and drive the production to Europe.

 

[WarBlade]

Dude
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70140

PJ sounds pissed

I can't say I blame him. In fact I'd say his reaction is very restrained.

He's poured his heart and soul into Middle-earth for more than a decade now, waited for issues with distribution rights to be resolved, faced MGM's financial problems that threaten to scuttle the project altogether, watched his director despair of the shenanigans, and now some Australians join the party with a new headache to confront. That would fray the nerves of anyone.

 

[Armored Avenger]

I think a "Lost in La Mancha" style making-of movie is starting to look likely, even if the film is eventually made.

 

[LOBO3315a]

That's sad, really. A really great story can't be given its just due because of organized labor.

And who really suffers? The fans of the movies. I'm beginning to think I'll never see Smaug flying over Rivertown, breathing fire, and wreaking havok.

 

[Marx]

I just heard about the latest setback.

 

[matrix_ghost]

New Line , WB and MGM respond
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70190

I think PJ and his crew are going to be most upset by this really. If they decide to move the production to another country , we as fans will get the hobbit movies.
But they are the ones who prefer to make the movie in NZ. Something like Hobbit is a huge boost to the NZ economy and to move something to another country will just be bad news for them.

 

[regwec]

All the same, the Hungarian economy could do with the boost more than NZ. And Bilbo could be fattened up on the finest foie gras in the world!

 

[Octoberist]

It's gonna work out becasue NZ can't lose Hobbit. In fact, this might ruin any chances for future films in the area, including Aussie.

 

[matrix_ghost]

It's gonna work out becasue NZ can't lose Hobbit. In fact, this might ruin any chances for future films in the area, including Aussie.

If it's as PJ is saying then the laws of NZ will protect them. The MEAA is fighting a lost cause here.

 

[MOVIELORD101]

New Line , WB and MGM respond
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70190

I think PJ and his crew are going to be most upset by this really. If they decide to move the production to another country , we as fans will get the hobbit movies.
But they are the ones who prefer to make the movie in NZ. Something like Hobbit is a huge boost to the NZ economy and to move something to another country will just be bad news for them.

[YT]MtXE7iSc6pM[/YT]

 

[Boom]

I do have this to say.

Why are the MEAA and other unions targeting Peter Jackson and WB, throwing around accusations that The Hobbit is "non-union," when really this whole thing is a GOVERNMENT ISSUE? Why aren't they having conversations with the NZ government? It's not like Jackson and WB have the power to change the law.

Look, I perfectly understand why The Hobbit is the big target. It's a huge project, and the unions' case has clearly gotten global media attention because of it. Their case, even of itself, is not a bad thing. But they have yet to show that they plan on approaching those who can actually give them what they want. So far all we've gotten is this.

Peter Jackson: "Under New Zealand law, we legally cannot give you what you want."
Unions: "Nuh uh!"

Maybe I have a completely wrong perception of this situation, but right now the unions' actions stink of irresponsibility and unprofessionalism.

 

[regwec]

Unions are irresponsible and unprofessional. They exist to protect their members from responsibility or professionalism. Like the law, they can do good by protecting the unwitting worker from exploitation or injury; like the law, they can be used by those who crave money and the limelight to gain both at the expense of the innocent employer.

Human nature is imperfect, but it is inevitable. Can the inevitable be imperfect, and who are we to judge?

 

[redhawk23]

Unions are irresponsible and unprofessional. They exist to protect their members from responsibility or professionalism. Like the law, they can do good by protecting the unwitting worker from exploitation or injury; like the law, they can be used by those who crave money and the limelight to gain both at the expense of the innocent employer.

Human nature is imperfect, but it is inevitable. Can the inevitable be imperfect, and who are we to judge?

I have a feeling if your great-granfathers would like to smack you for comments like that.

Enjoy those living wages, and working condition standards.

 

[regwec]

You are clearly semi-literate.

I was saying that unions didn't always behave responsibly or with professionalism, because they reflect human nature. This is inevitable when unions are groups of human beings.

On your second point, in my country pay and conditions for workers have largely been regulated by central government, and little influenced by the unions.

 

[Boom]

And the hits just keep on coming.

Fire at Wellington Film Studios:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4188825/Large-fire-in-Wellington

Thankfully no one was hurt.

 

[Spider-Who?]

10 bucks says its arson.

 

[Boom]

Looks like it was the miniatures studio .

 

[redhawk23]

Looks like it was the miniatures studio .

no!

 

[misjuevos]

kinda strange that lotr put NZ on the map and now the hobbit will take it right back off. atleast weta will still get work, but the extras and actors from NZ are gonna have to leave now for work. they really had a cash cow there. back to sheep sheering if guess.

 

[regwec]

Wine and Rugby.

 

[WarBlade]

And Yogi Bear

Clarification on the studio (source)

Matthew Dravitzki, spokesman for Jackson's Wingnut Films production company, told NZPA that the studio was to have been used for filming "The Hobbit".

"It would have been used in the shooting of 'The Hobbit,' yes".

"It's a specialist miniatures shooting facility, it's one of the only ones in the world, and I can't comment at this point as to whether (the damage) will cause a problem," Dravitzki said. "I probably won't know that until after the weekend."

He said that items of "commercial sensitivity" were also stored there.

NZ press said the land and building are worth NZ$3.2 million ($2.2 million).

The fire is another possible set back for "The Hobbit" which is still to be formally greenlit by studios, New Line, Warner Bros. and MGM.

 

[Doctor Jones]

If there is a God, does he not want this film to happen or something?

 

[GreenKToo]

The Hobbit," which has been stuck in limbo this year, has moved closer to a greenlight from co-financers New Line and MGM.
Though neither studio had any comment, sources close to the situation indicated that an official go-ahead on the back-to-back films may be coming within a few days. But those sources also emphasized that a greenlight is still not a certainty.
The studios have been faced with several challenges in finalizing the start of production. MGM has been mired in trying to sort out its debt-laden balance sheet and move toward a pre-packaged bankruptcy that would leave Spyglass Entertainment chiefs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum in charge of the storied studio. The studios also need to sort out the dispute with the New Zealand actors union, which has managed to persuade the seven major actor unions to boycott the production because they allege that local performers are treated unfairly and deserve a union contract. Peter Jackson, who's expected to direct in addition to writing and exec producing, has threatened move the production to Europe but a source with knowledge of situation said that dispute may be settled soon.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118025052.html?categoryid=13&cs=1


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[Sawyer]

If there is a God, does he not want this film to happen or something?

It would seem that way.

I mean, pretty much every possible terrible thing, with the exception of a lightning bolt coming down to take out the cast and crew, has happened.