Oct 23, 2010 by B. Alan Orange

The Hobbit Rally of Hope and Labor Dispute Videos

Peter Jackson and his writing/producing partner Philippa Boyens recently appeared together on TV New Zealand to speak with Mark Sainsbury about the on-going labor dispute that could possibly keep The Hobbit out of New Zealand. As Warner Bros. gears up for production, Jackson is facing Union setbacks that could move his prequel away from his beloved country and into Leavesden Studios just outside London, former home to all eight Harry Potter films. Peter Jackson is quite impassioned, as you can imagine, about the troubles surrounding the "battle for The Hobbit". As well, thousands of people have gathered in support of keeping The Hobbit in their country. Click on the two videos below to learn more about this on-going labor dispute, and to see the "Rally of Hope" gathering behind this upcoming Warner Bros. prequel:




The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey comes to theaters December 14th, 2012 and stars Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee. The film is directed by Peter Jackson.

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Comments (40)

  1. Mutant

    a black list is a list to stop films and any TV shows from ever happening. The NZ union has shot themselves in the foot.

    2 years agoby @zenderFlag

  2. Cyn

    @Todd89 - sure they'd be able to film. Just elsewhere. But the NZ Union have done this to themselves. And they don't have the kind of industry when they can pull a stunt like this.

    2 years agoby @cyn-de-harvenFlag

  3. Mutant

    There is a small film industry in NZ, the point just isn't about The Hobbit. It's also about the smaller projects and or visiting projects in the future. If the Hobbit is forced to move then the local actors and extras would be out of work or they might have to leave their own country to find other work.

    It's upsetting Peter profoundly because he poured his soul into LOTR films and the idea of leaving NZ to continue would cost a lot of money. I simple don't agree with black listing films.

    here's a what if situation: What if this was in New York City instead? Think of the ramifications and all of the out of work actors and extra's. A lot of people would be upset. Think about that, all of the films that we're looking forward to no longer being able to be film.

    2 years agoby @zenderFlag

  4. darthboromir

    Ditch New Zeland FOREVER. Stupid Unions!!!!

    2 years agoby @darthboromirFlag

  5. spynet315

    @cyn totally, and their little stunt has made sure that NZ will never get a movie industry because no corporation in its right mind would go into an environment like that.

    2 years agoby @spynet315Flag

  6. Brainiac

    totally agree with Cyn, its not an industry when u have one trilogy that filmed there and possibly more movies in that same franchise. NZ isn't funding these movies right? plus they r just silly, labor day doesn't have a "u" in it, and it was September 1st, weird country

    2 years agoby @thebdFlag

  7. Cyn

    Except you have to have a film industry before you can derail it. New Zealand, like Australia, is - at least as far as these big films are concerned - really just a location, rather than an industry. You have build it before you knock it down.

    2 years agoby @cyn-de-harvenFlag

  8. The Soylent Green Monkey

    Oh may, oh me, oh my.

    2 years agoby @soylentgreen2Flag

  9. Mutant

    There's no such thing as equal pay in the entertainment industry. Unions can be a headache at times, but this takes the cake. The right hand doesn't know what the left hand wants to do and yet the actors have to listen to the unions. Unless you're an extra and have no union behind you.
    It seems to me this could be avoided if the parties sat down in the beginning and hashed a plan to keep the hobbit in NZ.

    I think that Someone has a personal grudge against Peter, and is trying to derail The Hobbit from being made. He/she may not realize that by doing so derails NZ film industry. Just to sum it all up.

    2 years agoby @zenderFlag

  10. fanboy

    f*cking unions! this pisses me the f*ck off! i just wish i was in NZ for i could participate in this rally.

    2 years agoby @fanboyFlag

  11. Goodbye

    Well said indeed Cyn.Though you made me go crosseyed,well said.

    2 years agoby @drifter49Flag

  12. Dan

    That lady below me knows her sh*t. Well said.

    2 years agoby @dan1Flag

  13. Cyn

    @Ka-Pow. Basically, it's the NZ Union, with the Australian Union MEAA egging it on, decided to call a boycott on the film and tell all actors not to accept work on the movie unless the NZ actors were paid the same and treated the same as eg. SAG actors, etc. There wasn't any proof that the NZers WEREN'T going to be treated the same. Not only that, but for the so-called leaders of a tiny Union that represents just 200 people to try that kind of stunt is ridiculous. They've really shot themselves in the foot over this. Now instead of 200 unemployed Kiwi actors, there's god-knows how many actors/crew/ancillaries out of employment and money. I mean, by taking the film to another location, think of all the money that will now also be lost to side business such as: hotels, restaurants, tourism, etc. A film - especially one this huge - has a major impact on a local economy as small as New Zealand's. What a complete and utter f*ck-up. And they only have themselves to blame.This is what happens when amateurs think they can play with the big boys.

    2 years agoby @cyn-de-harvenFlag

  14. Brainiac

    ok just watched the interview with Peter Jackson and Phillipa and that whole report just seemed like a confusing clusterf*ck of a report. i mean the reporter seemed to flip flop which side he was on the whole time. he seemed against Jackson and against that economic minister dude and totally on Helen kelley's side for the most part, then read all those letters from ppl that hate Kelley. just weird

    2 years agoby @thebdFlag

  15. Brainiac

    ok, don't bite my head off, but i thought that the whole problem here started cuz of the New Zealand workers asking for more money of something.

    2 years agoby @thebdFlag

  16. Pjwolsker

    Ha sh*t @TheNarrator chill out.. i was referring to captain america and hugo.. i want to see the hobbit too

    2 years agoby @pjwolskerFlag

  17. The Narrator: The Better Man

    Lol, well there was nothing funny or sarcastic about that comment. This is serious. Not only are they delaying a huge and anticipated project (my mot anticipated), but they are also deciding the future for hundreds of workers in New Zealand, not to mention it's economy. The future of other big budget films, and even affecting our stock market here. A film this big does not up and go from a country that small and reliant, and not have a ripple effect.

    2 years agoby @narratorFlag

  18. Pjwolsker

    ha @TheNarrator i was kidding

    2 years agoby @pjwolskerFlag

  19. The Narrator: The Better Man

    @Pjwolsker... f*ck The Hobbit? I see.... go f*ck yourself!

    2 years agoby @narratorFlag

  20. Pjwolsker

    f*ck the hobbit and hugo weaving... i want to see a pic of hugo as the red skull more then anything ha

    2 years agoby @pjwolskerFlag

  21. Dan

    @K-Man We've been jipped!

    2 years agoby @dan1Flag

  22. K-Man

    This was an edited version from the one I saw. Here's a transcript from the version I was watching:

    Reporter - "you know you look at those people, as he said, it was a THOUSAND workers"

    Helen Kelley - "It wasn't a thousand...but anyway"

    *Reporters face goes very serious....there is an awkward silence*

    Reporter - "Now listen here you smug little C*NT, we can argue over the goddamn numbers or you can let me finish my f*cking question!!!"

    Helen Kelly - "Look, I was just making a point that....."

    Reporter - "..... GODDAMN IT!!!!!!"

    *He continues to grab Kelleys hair and throws her face first into the display cabinet*

    Weird, dont know how you guys got this version......

    2 years agoby @k-manFlag

  23. gandoff2169

    New Zealand is Middle Earth. So I hope it stays. But I find the bald man more on board with the unions who have been lieing despite alll evidence them being to blame...

    2 years agoby @gandoff2169Flag

  24. Diaigma

    Way to go, Jackson! This Union crap shall NOT pass! :P

    2 years agoby @diaigmaFlag

  25. spynet315

    I still have my hopes, but probably the only way that this film could be brought back to NZ would be if the actors and union signed a debilitating agreement that said that they COULD NOT under any circ*mstances stop working during production of the film and also give WB more favorable terms in general, which would defeat the whole "purpose" of the blacklist in the first place....

    this whole situation is just giving me a headache. What kind of jackass says "no, I don't want a job, I don't want the people i represent to have jobs, I don't want millions of dollars to flow into my home country." I agree with Jackson in that unions are generally good and necessary to protect the rights of workers, but there are plenty of instances like this when the fat cats in the union headquarters, who get paid by taking union dues from the paychecks of hard working people, think that they are more important than their group as a whole and screw things up.

    2 years agoby @spynet315Flag

  26. Mutant

    Man, what a headache this is turning into.

    2 years agoby @zenderFlag

  27. RojoDiablo

    Regardless of where it's made, just get it done, I'm ready for it now!

    2 years agoby @rojodiabloFlag

  28. Dan

    I love Peter Jackson's passion. It gets the blood pumping and my excitement for The Hobbit once it is made.

    2 years agoby @dan1Flag

  29. Cyn

    @spynet315. Yeah they don't have to "save the film", these idiots need to try and salvage what they can and save New Zealand. Whose economy is probably worth about 10% of Warners annual net profits.

    2 years agoby @cyn-de-harvenFlag

  30. Cripple

    Helen Kelly is such a bitch. I am with Peter, she needs to just go home. She doesn't know anything about filmmaking or the real situation going on. We love you Peter! Let's keep the Hobbit in NZ.

    2 years agoby @crippleFlag

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