The Hobbit Director Peter Jackson took to the New Zealand airwaves to discuss the current situation between The Hobbit production and NZ film industry. Thanks to the actor boycott led by NZ Actor Equity, a union whose total membership is essentially a rounding error compared with the total number of actors in the country, it seems that Warner Bros is concerned enough about future boycott and disruptions that they will likely still move the production to the UK. The boycott was lifted but at this point the various organizations that supported this rounding error union are in full save face mode, further complicating things and eroding confidence that a repeat incident will not occur. Jackson took to the New Zealand airwaves to discuss the situation and try to get the New Zealand government to take the repercussions seriously so can help talk WB off the ledge.
Of note of the two interviews is where they take place, essentially proving by the creative choices for the interviews that production was entrenched and fully prepared to film in New Zealand until the boycott, belying the union's claim that the move is about tax credits. Close-Up's interviews (video below) take place in the halted construction on the set of Gollum's Cave and around Lord of the Rings props. The second report comes from NZ 3 News from the rebuilt Bag End set. That report can be found here. Both reports, a little over 15 minutes each, do a good job of brings the various perspectives together.Read more »