Posts by Pat Hackett
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Rather than fisking all the bullshit statements in the Equity email Simon posted, it might be easier just trying to pick out any truthful bits. There must be some, surely.
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NZAE revisionism:
Our actions in no way jeopardised the filming of The Hobbit in New Zealand. It is ridiculous to say that asking for meeting could have such an effect.
First letter to Hobbit producers:
...no member of any FIA affiliate will agree to act in the theatrical feature film “The Hobbit” until such time as the producer has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance...
That would be the MEAA contract that says all residuals must be paid to the MEAA.
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The request was in the first instance made privately, without the glare of the media on August 17.
17 August 2010
Mr. Robert Fisher and Mr. David Sagal
Directors
3 Foot 7 Limited
C/-Deborah Fox Legal
Level 4, 6 High Street
Auckland
New ZealandDear Sirs
Re: ENGAGEMENT OF PERFORMERS ON THE HOBBITFor some time it has been a concern for performers around the world that our colleagues working in New Zealand are not being engaged on union negotiated agreements. Agreements that would protect minimum wages and working conditions and ensure entitlements for performers to share in the financial gain from the exploitation of these productions in markets beyond the their theatrical release.
Attempts by the local union, the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance, and previously the National Distribution Union, to address the situation have been met with employer resistance both from
individual producers and from the producer association, the Screen Production and Development Association.Recently, The International Federation of Actors (FIA) became aware that the production of “The Hobbit” intends to hire performers under non-union contracts. For this reason FIA, at its most recent meeting, unanimously passed the following motion:
“Resolved, that the International Federation of Actors urges each of its affiliates to adopt instructions to their members that no member of any FIA affiliate will agree to act in the theatrical feature film “The Hobbit” until such time as the producer has entered into a collective bargaining agreement with the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance for production in New Zealand providing for satisfactory terms and conditions for all performers employed on the production”.
FIA therefore encourages you to meet immediately with representatives of the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance in order to reach an agreement covering all performers engaged on this production.
In the first instance could you please make contact with Simon Whipp of the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance on 612 9333 0999 or via email simon.whipp@alliance.org.au
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Revisionism 101 (Simon Whipp Style): If we had of known the producers wouldn't meet with us, we wouldn't have instigated an international boycott.
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The Standard used to be quite good, but then they banned everyone with anything interesting to say...
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@Deborah. Webweaver quoted it earlier:
Amanda Gillies: "If Hobbit doesn't get made in NZ, will you carry any guilt?"
Simon Whipp: "No".It will be on Campbell Live.
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Congrats to Amanda Gillies. The money question, and the money quote.
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Govt and Warners are currently in their meeting:
Warners: How can we be certain that an actors strike won't hold up production?
Brownlee: Check out my new powers! If anyone from a union so much as farts in your direction I'll hunt them down and arrest them!
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The fact sheet and accompanying letters should be compulsory reading by any journo about to interview anyone from NZAE. This is where it started, and everything since is just waffle.
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No wonder Warners are worried. The same people who said "There was never a boycott" and "We never asked for Collective Agreement" are now giving promises not to strike during the production. Credibility Alert!