Peter Jackson is an anti-union dragon hoarding the worker's treasure

A small band of heroes have set out on a quest to get back what they’re owed from a dragon who just wants to hoard their treasure all for himself.

Sounds like it could potentially make a good movie, but it emerged today the big story of the (maybe) upcoming films of The Hobbit isn’t the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and the dwarves, but rather the epic quest of trade unionists to get what they’re owed from director. Actor’s unions from around the world have told their members to refuse to work on the movies, after the makers refused to agree to negotiating a contract that would guarantee minimum wages and working conditions.

Throwing a massive huff in response, Jackson has threatened to move the entire production from New Zealand to Mordor Eastern Europe, claiming it was full of Orcs who would be glad of the work.

“It’s incredibly easy to wave the flag on behalf of workers and target the rich studios. It’s not hard to generate an emotive response, nor is it hard to sway public opinion, since nobody seems to like the facts to get in the way of a good story in these situations,” Jackson said in a press release. “Behind the claims of exploiting actors who are cast in the ‘non-Union’ Hobbit production, and claims that various high-profile stars will refuse to take part in the films, there are clear agendas at work. As usual with these agendas, they are based on money and power.” He is reported to have added with a snarl “They’ll never take away my precious profits!”

Jackson's lies are fooling no one

Yep, the power of rich studios over money that should be paid to workers. Jackson also tried to make the dispute into an issue ofAustralia vs. New Zealand, as the NZ Equity Actor’s union is working in an alliance with its Australian counterpart, which he claimed was “a large Aussie cousin kicking sand in our eyes … or to put it another way, opportunists exploiting our film for their own political gain.” He claimed that because the Australian union is involved he is legally not allowed to negotiate, but in fact he’s the one trying to exploit things for political gain, because the participation of NZ unions makes negotiation perfectly legal and necessary. His Wormtongue act won’t work on union members.

Peter Jackson is not Murray, and Australians are not bullying him

In his lengthy statement, Jackson even tries to put forward what he freely admits himself is a “conspiracy theory” that the dispute is actually about Australian jealousy trying to sink the NZ film industry. As one commenter (named Jack but it wasn’t me!) points out:

“So why don’t they film most of it in America?…oh, right. ‘Cause we got unions here and you gotta pay the staff a livable wage.

Hey Mr Jackson! Skip Eastern Europe, they got enough d-bags already. Just move the production to Calcutta…..that’ll show everybody!

…..what an a-hole.”

YOU SHALL NOT PASS. . .THIS PICKET LINE!

When you check out just how fantastically wealthy Sir Peter has got off the back of Middle Earth, and how the multi millionaire spends his cash, his attempts to portray himself as the victim seem even more ridiculous. When he’s not sleeping on top of his treasure under Lonely Mountain, he’s indulging his passion for planes. He recently spent $50 million on a private jet to shuttle him across the Pacific, but his real love is (I shit you not) building from scratch replicas of World War 1 military aircraft and flying them around for fun. Which keeps him far too busy to speak to trade unionists.

Bosses groups in NZ have lined up to back Jackson, after he promised they would taste worker flesh. But the Fellowship of Trade Unionists are not deterred, and point to the fact that this is one of the few union disputes that can claim the support of both elves and wizards, with cast members Sir Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving in support. The battle for Middle Earth is over. The Battle for Union Rights is about to begin.

5 Comments

1. And? says:

   September 29, 2010 at 2:30 pm

   estimated wealth of Peter Jackson: $450 million.

   Another way to look at his wealth: at a very lower interest rate of 3 % Mr Jackson earns at least $13.5 million in interest a year. Thats nearly $40,000 a day. (non compounding interest meaning figure would actually be higher).

   Reply
2. TheWorstWitch says:

   October 21, 2010 at 9:26 am

   What do folk reckon to this: http://freshly-ground.blogspot.com/2010/10/breaking-silence-save-hobbit.html ???

   Reply
3. Jack says:

   October 21, 2010 at 11:08 am

   I think the line in that article is really unfortunate, in that it puts all the blame for the problems with the Hobbit down to “greedy” “selfish” unions. What about the greed and selfishness of Warner Bros.? when someone raises the idea that the main thing going on with the threats to move the film was that WB were trying to extort a higher tax brake out of the NZ govt the author that’s “just business” and that companies will do what they have to do. So why is bargaining OK for massive multinational corporations, but not for workers? The boycott as I understand it is actually over now because the relevant parties have actually agreed to the totally reasonable demand to negotiate with the unions. I find the stuff about how it’s all a gigantic Australian conspiracy a bit laughable and Flight of the Conchords-esque. Think the comment I’ve copied below is good:

   “Can I play Devil’s advocate here for a sedcond? Wouldn’t you say it seems a little simplistic to suggest that a production of this magnitude, already in pre-pro for months here, would be moved overseas as a result of an insignificant actor’s union asking for better conditions and a little consideration in future DVD residuals?!!

   Just for example: The line in the overall Hobbit budget for domestic actors, I’d bet you, won’t amount to more than a tenth of the construction budget, just to name an example. Think about that for a second. If you were in charge, would you consider the massive transport budget hit to move overseas because a few low-talent local hams want a few extra bucks and the promise they won’t get dumped with no notice? Jesus!

   Come on! When you’re spending 500 million dollars – one percentage point of difference in tax handback is a MASSIVE difference.

   Stop looking at this as a Poor PJ Vs the world issue and use your loaf, mate! Other countries are on record as offering a 20% tax rebate versus NZ’s 15% as things stand right now. What’s 5% of 500 million? That would pay a lot of airfreight to ship a few frocks and fake rocks to Prague.

   The film industry is ruthless. They can make anywhere look like anywhere and they go where the going’s cheap. They’re making movies in freaking Lithuania nowadays – big movies. Sadly, NZ is just not as profitable as it used to be and THAT is why this is happening, as sure as there’s shit in a little cat. And bear in mind that Warners’ financial ‘difficulties’ are still not resolved.

   Don’t mean to sound cruel but if half of the people on that march last night knew what their counterparts in Europe or the US were getting paid for doing the exact same job (under more secure and, sadly, just better conditions), things might start to become a little clearer and take a slightly less emotional hue. “

   Reply
4. James N says:

   October 21, 2010 at 7:36 pm

   That quote is too big, I thought it was you going on about FREAKING LITHUANIA

   Reply
5. Jack says:

   October 26, 2010 at 11:15 am

   I think it’s important to realise what’s going on here: unions attempts at bargaining for a better deal for their members on The Hobbit has become a capital strike, where Warner Bros are demanding more money out of the government in order to continue filming there. Unfortunately some have got swept up in the PR corporate spin machine with Peter Jackson at it’s heart. They’ve therefore come out in the streets to have a cosplay demo in favour of corporate profit.

   The boycott is over now, the company and the union are in negotiation, but the corporate people behind the Hobbit are still threatening to move the film with “lack of stability” as an excuse. Translation: give us more money!

   The Socialist Aotearoa (Aotearoa is the name of New Zealand in Maori) website has a funny parody of this situation (Robyn Malcolm is a popular NZ actor who has been spearheading the union campaign. She’s Morwen in the LOTR films. John Key is the NZ PM):

   http://socialistaotearoa.blogspot.com/2010/10/breaking-news-john-key-promises-radical.html

   “10.40pm UPDATE: Reports have just come through that Robyn Malcom has just been deported to Australia and stripped of her New Zealand citizenship. Journalists reported seeing her being dragged, chained by blue trolls through Auckland airport.

   ——————–

   After secret closed door meetings between John Key, Gerry Brownlee and a delegation of Warner Brothers executives the Government have announced sweeping new law changes in exchange for the company keeping The Hobbit in New Zealand.

   Speaking at a press conference late on Tuesday night the Prime Minister and Sir Peter Jackson outlined a new law that will be introduced under urgency in Parliament on Wednesday morning and is expected to pass into law by the end of the week.

   In comments to media John Key said that the Hobbit Enabling Bill had been drafted to ensure industrial certainty and a profitable economic environment for Warner Brothers.

   “The Hobbit Enabling Bill when passed into law will designate all workers’ unions as terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Suppression Act and participation in collective bargaining a criminal offence punishable by hanging.

   “The Hobbit Enabling Bill will also remove all workers’ rights completely from the statute book. From now on no worker has a right to annual leave, sick leave, the right not to be unfairly dismissed or to a minimum wage.

   “For some occupations we will require more certainty than ever before. To ensure the producers economic certainty all actors shall be required to work for a set naximum wage of $2 per hour with no additional benefits.

   “We’ve also looked carefully at the tax system and will reduce the corporate tax rate to 0% for any international corporation. Of course this may impact our social services such as healthcare but we will make this shortfall up by slave labour provided by unemployed actors.”

   Sir Peter Jackson also present at the press conference told assembled journalists about new media laws.

   “All old episodes of Cambell Live will be destroyed, especially those episodes where I gave any assurances that Warner Brothers are not just playing for tax breaks (We have never asked the Government for increased tax breaks and I don’t believe that Warners will 7min50s).”

   “New statues will be created around the country to honour the humble Weta technician who has proudly stood for the rights of multinational corporations to exploit New Zealand workers.”

   Summary of Hobbit Enabling Act:

   * Unions are illegal terrorist organisations.
   * Participation in collective bargaining is illegal and can be punished by hanging.
   * All workers rights will be deleted from the statute book.
   * Actors maximum pay is $2 per hour.
   * New corporate taxrate of 0% for international corporations.
   * Old episodes of Campbell Live to be destroyed.
   * New statues to be built to our heroic Weta technicians.”

   Reply