Producers give behind the scenes insight of the Hobbit dispute, Checkpoint, Radio NZ National

Industry conference begins with Hobbit panel discussion, Hugh Sundae, NZ Herald online
Pre-SPADA conference John Drinnan piece – NZ Herald, 5/11

 

Monday 25 October, 2010 (Labour Day)
Thousands rally to keep The Hobbit in NZ, ONE News, TVNZ
Hobbit supporters rally to save movie, 3News, TV3 
Thousands rally in support of The Hobbit, NZ Herald online 
Hobbit rallies build up steam, Dompost online
Save our Hobbits: thousands expected to attend rallies, DomPost
Unions fed frontwomen to mob, says TV producer, NZ Herald
POSITIVE rallies of support for HOBBIT on Labour Day
Rally of Hope to support filming of “The Hobbit” in New Zealand (Trailer)

Sunday 24 October, 2010
The Hobbit Saga, Radio NZ National, Arts on Sunday
Q+A: Interview with Helen Kelly and John Barnett (12:54), TVNZ
Q+A: Panellists’ response to Helen Kelly and John Barnett interview (4:28), TVNZ
Yvette Reid answers some questions, via Facebook 24/10
-Sunday Star Times –
‘In Cheryl West’s words, would I want to root my own industry?’
Hobbit’s Whipping boy Talks
Actor rejected calls to pull out
– NZ Herald on Sunday –
Prima donna thespians due for a stint in Bulgaria, That Guy
Kelly: ‘Sorry, Jackson is not a brat’ 
‘This is our livelihood’ – Middle Earth’s real-life battle
Hobbit fears and G-20 knock NZ dollar

Saturday 23 October, 2020
Technicians ‘terrified’ about losing livelihoods, DomPost 
 

Friday 22 October, 2010
TVNZ Close Up
Hollywood’s reaction to Jackson’s reaction (5:22)
Robyn Malcolm on Close Up (8:17)

Anatomy of a shambles, Russel Brown, Public Address

On the latest stage of The Hobbit drama, Gordon Campbell on Scoop
Jackson’s Wounded Pride, Christ Trotters ‘Bowalley Road’ blog
New Zealand to ‘Fight Like Hell’ for ‘The Hobbit’, The Hollywood Reporter (21 Oct LA time)
– Dominion Post online –
Government wants to meet movie studio executives  
Jackson hits back at Union president: ‘We may as well not live here’  
Peter Jackson vows to keep Hobbit in NZ  
Studio confirms Hobbit moves 
– TVNZ Breakfast –
Ian Mune defends Hobbit actors
– Radio NZ National –
Emails contradict Warners on hobbit boycott, 12:15
Government under pressure to help keep hobbit here, 06:39
Government offers law change to keep Hobbit, 07:10
Disgruntled actors consider splitting from equity, 07:14
Economic development minister to meet with Warners, 07:23
Still question marks over labour law changes for Hobbit, 08:09
Fate of Hobbit films still hangs in balance, 08:12

Thursday 21 October, 2010 
Sir Peter Jackson speaks out, TV One Close Up
The Hobbit: Jackson and the actors speak out, TV3 Campbell Live
The Fellowship Union of the Ring, TV3 Nightline [satire]
 

Wednesday 20 October, 2010
Taylor says film industry ‘at peril’, TVNZ Best Media site
One News Update
TV3 Nightline

Monday 18 October, 2010
‘The Hobbit’ films get the green light for production in February, LA Times
Green light for Hobbit turns the heat on actors, DomPost
Hollywood insiders say Hobbit to be filmed in New Zealand, RNZ Morning Report

Saturday 16 October, 2010
Jackson to direct The Hobbit in 3-D, DomPost online
The Hobbit is Greenlit, Peter Jackson Starts Shooting in February, NY Times
‘Hobbit’ could start shooting as soon as February, Hollywood Reporter
It’s official: ‘Hobbit’ greenlighted, Hollywood Reporter

Thursday 14 October, 2010
Hobbit meeting held in Wellington, TVNZ Best Media site
Wednesday 13 October 2010
Union dispute between actors and the producers of The Hobbit, Radio NZ, Nine-to-Noon 
Screen production talks mean fresh hope for Hobbit, Radio NZ, Morning Report

Tuesday 12 October, 2010
Boyens – The Hobbit Wingnut Films statement, Scoop
Wellington actors oppose boycott, DomPost/Stuff
The Hobbit set to be most expensive movie ever, NZ Herald
Dissenting actors fight back against unions hobbit action, Radio NZ Morning Report

Sun 10 October, 2010
NZ film stuck in muddle earth, Sunday Star Times
Disney abandons Auckland film studio, Sunday Star Times

Fri 8 October, 2010
Hobbit makers ‘still waiting’ on MGM deal, NZ Herald

Thur 7 October, 2010
Dispute obscures real Hobbit problem – Gordon Campbell, The Wellingtonian
Canadian union backs NZ actors over Hobbit, NZ Herald

Wed 6 October, 2010
Acting up – Wgton actors talk to Capital Times
Gordon Campbell on the end game for The Hobbit, Scoop
Jackson Hobbit deal close – report, Stuff website 6/10
Sam Neill calls for calm, NZ Herald

Tues 5 October, 2010 
New Zealand prime minister in ‘Hobbit’ fray, Variety 4/10
Rod Oram interview, Nine-to-Noon, Radio NZ
Pride, shame at heart of dispute, The Press
Rescue hopes in Hobbit standoff, DomPost
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Weighs In on ‘Hobbit’ Dispute, NY Times
Fellowship forms around ‘The Hobbit’, LA Times

Mon 4 October, 2010
A couple of points about the Hobbit dispute, Standard
Morning Report interview with LA Times correspondent, Radio NZ
Nine-to Noon interview with Philippa Boyens, Radio NZ
Hobbit meeting at Beehive – Stuff website  

Sun 3 October, 2010
Jackson, union discuss Hobbit row, Stuff, 3/10, 11:09
Hobbit battle’s Outrageous start, Sunday Star-Times
TV3 The Nation – transcript

Sat 2 October, 2010
Deal Near for ‘Hobbit’ Films in 3-D – the NY Times version
‘The Hobbit’ finally close to getting greenlight from Warner Bros., New Line and MGM [updated], LA Times 1/10 (USA time)  
Battling actors have a hobbit on their side, NZ Herald
The Hobbit’s Little People Revolt by Kimberly Rothwell, DomPost Insight, pB3, in print only (very comprehensive coverage of the contractor / employee issues)
Online petition gets behind Jackson, DomPost
Actors offered slice of Hobbit action, DomPost
Email row over Hobbit claims, NZ Herald

Post Wellington Meeting …
Robyn Malcolm & Jennifer Ward Lealand on Campbell Live, 1/10
NZPA Report, DomPost, 1/10
Losing the plot over Jackson’s Hobbit, NZH 1/10
Radio NZ Morning Report, 1/10
3 News – Jackson’s full statement
One Ring – Jackson Statement, 1/10
Irish Actors win collective bargaining right, Stage News  

Pre-Wellington meeting …
The National Party position, 30/9
The Opposition position, 30/9 
NZ Herald Time Out, 30/9 (pathetically ignorant – ed]
Govt shouldn’t take sides on Hobbit – CTU, NZH 30/9 

Post Auckland meeting reports:
You Tube Clip of the official statement
NZ Herald report, 29/9  
NZ Herald Editorial, 29/9
LA Times article, 28/9 
Gordon Campbell on Scoop, 29/9
See also the Forum for an account of this meeting.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

NZ ACTORS’ EQUITY MEETINGS – RESOLUTION AND STATEMENT
Auckland, Wednesday, 29 September; Wellington, Thursday 30 October 2010.

This is the resolution agreed by the entire meeting (bar one) in Auckland and 70% of the meeting in Wellington:

This meeting of New Zealand performers:

1. Calls on the producers of The Hobbit to meet with representatives of the NZ Actors’ Equity to discuss the arrangements under which NZ Actors’ Equity will recommend performers work on the production The Hobbit,

2. Calls on the producers of The Hobbit to have good faith negotiations with representatives of NZ Actors’ Equity concerning the arrangements pursuant to which NZ Actors’ Equity will recommend performers work on the production The Hobbit; and

3. Recommends that all performers wait before accepting any engagement on the production of The Hobbit until the production has advised whether it will enter into good faith negotiations with NZ Actors’ Equity with respect to the minimum conditions of engagement under which NZ Actors’ Equity will recommend performers work on the production The Hobbit, including minimum fees, conditions of engagement, professional protections and residuals. If the production advises it will not enter into such good faith negotiations then NZ Actors’ Equity should make a further recommendation to performers on what action should be taken at that time before performers accept engagement of the production.

And here is the media statement afterwards.
See The Hollywood Reporter article.
Link to Peter Jackson’s statement, 27/9
Link to Dominion Post article, 27/9
Radio NZ Morning Report, 27/9
See letter to actors re The Hobbit, 27/9.

(Later in the day)
U may be aware of stories circulating in the media today regarding “The Hobbit”. Equity did not seek this publicity. It is clear that misinformation is rife, which is why it is imperative that we come together tomorrow night as a community to discuss how NZ performers would like to proceed. They have written to the production company once again seeking a meeting.

Their objective remains to meet & to begin negotiations for a contract which guarantees NZ performers minimum terms and conditions on the production.

‘The Hobbit and the facts’ – Stephen Colbard
Urban backs unions over Hobbit, 28/9
Radio NZ Morning Report, 28/9
Hobbit producers considering other options, 28/9

28 Sept.
Dear Members [of Actors Equity],

You may be aware of stories circulating in the media yesterday regarding “The Hobbit”. We did not seek this publicity, nor do we want this issue played out in the public arena. Therefore, we have chosen not to speak to journalists. It is clear that misinformation is rife, which is why it is imperative that we come together tonight as a community to discuss how NZ performers would like to proceed.

We have written to the production company once again seeking a meeting. Our objective remains to meet and to begin negotiations for a contract which guarantees NZ performers minimum terms and conditions on the production of The Hobbit.
We look forward to seeing you tonight.

Tuesday, 28th September, 7pm at Grey Lynn Community Centre.
Frances Walsh

See the Roy Billing-initiated Forum: Mullane/Rivers letter to actors. 

Be There.
Tues 28th Sept 7pm  
Grey Lynn Community Centre 
510 Richmond Rd, Grey Lynn, Auckland

 

Law with Andrew Scott Howman, nine-to-noon, Radio NZ National, 3/11
Andrew looks at the changes made by the Government to employment laws over the Hobbit. (duration: 14′26″)