Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

The Hobbit in hot water with the unions...

Lame. It's not popular to say on a film forum, but unions are causing devastation for many industries in this new global economy, where projects can simply be taken overseas. How can Black & Decker compete making lawnmower engines in the US, for example, when their union employees are demanding $75 an hour to turn a wrench? Those same motors can be made in China where employees are happy to make $75 a MONTH. Plus they work 14 hour days, 6 or 7 days a week. It's simply not possible. It's time the unions start rethinking their bully tactics and realize we are living in a global economy.

Personally, though, I would rather see a totally different approach taken to make a single, super-awesome HOBBIT film. IMO, this should not even be done with human actors, but rather, the film would look something more like the old animated HOBBIT -- maybe employing performance-capture techniques and CGI in the manner of AVATAR, with a heightened, magical feeling and look to the film. Maybe the gods are telling us that PJ's current plans are not the right ones!
 
Interesting read. As someone far from affiliated with the inner workings of studio productions, it seems like the unions mentioned are certainly spinnig things carefully. After reading the "alert" I was left feeling a bit negative in regards to the movie.

Then I read P.J.'s post and felt the opposite. It seems like they had already made quite a few (unusual) concessions to make sure that any actor - union or otherwise - was being treated fairly and paid properly.

That said, I think the Eastern European setting could actually work well for the film, aesthetically. At least parts of it, for sure.

It's time the unions start rethinking their bully tactics and realize we are living in a global economy.
Click to expand...

It certainly does seem like a bit of a bully move. It would be interesting to see an Avatar-esque take on the film though!
 
May I suggest the Canadian shield for a location? beautiful rock formations.
 
I dream of one day joining a union once I have the skills and money, but this is an unfortunate project to pick on.

But I honestly lost interest once del Toro left, anyway.
 
The studios made billions. Peter Jackson made billions. Union Artists: TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Peter Jackson's defense they're still paying union rates so even the argument that Unions cost too much is moot in this point. They're paying the same.
 
Tom Lowe said:
Lame. It's not popular to say on a film forum, but unions are causing devastation for many industries in this new global economy, where projects can simply be taken overseas. How can Black & Decker compete making lawnmower engines in the US, for example, when their union employees are demanding $75 an hour to turn a wrench? Those same motors can be made in China where employees are happy to make $75 a MONTH. Plus they work 14 hour days, 6 or 7 days a week. It's simply not possible. It's time the unions start rethinking their bully tactics and realize we are living in a global economy.

Personally, though, I would rather see a totally different approach taken to make a single, super-awesome HOBBIT film. IMO, this should not even be done with human actors, but rather, the film would look something more like the old animated HOBBIT -- maybe employing performance-capture techniques and CGI in the manner of AVATAR, with a heightened, magical feeling and look to the film. Maybe the gods are telling us that PJ's current plans are not the right ones!
Click to expand...

If you want the inside scoop on union/labor activities visit:

http://www.laborunionreport.com
 
Gavin Greenwalt said:
The studios made billions. Peter Jackson made billions. Union Artists: TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Peter Jackson's defense they're still paying union rates so even the argument that Unions cost too much is moot in this point. They're paying the same.
Click to expand...

They could have made billions and one dollars if it wasn't for those pesky unions.
 
Brad Webb said:
They could have made billions and one dollars if it wasn't for those pesky unions.
Click to expand...

Except the only person complaining about the cost of union labor in this spat is Tom. ;) Peter Jackson is happy to pay them union rates. The Studio is happy to pay them studio rates... Tom's unhappy they're getting payed union rates.:sifone:
 
New Zealand IS Middle-Earth as far as I'm concerned. It will be a shame if the movie has to be transplanted elsewhere because of these Union trouble-makers.
 
Gavin Greenwalt said:
The studios made billions. Peter Jackson made billions. Union Artists: TOO EXPENSIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

Well NFL quarterbacks make millions, while the groundskeepers make an average wage. That's the way of the world, my friend.

It's the same reason Jimi Hendrix made millions while his roadies made a living wage.

This is why Mike Tyson made 20 million a fight while the ref made a couple grand.

It all comes down to supply and demand.
 
Back when I was in 600, I worked ONE SINGLE DAY as a crash-unit AC on Michael Bay's "The Island" when they were shooting stunts in Downtown Detroit.

I don't remember how many hours we went into that day, but it wasn't super long. I'd say at most it was 11-12 hours that day for me. When it was all said and done I received a check for well over $2k bucks. For one day. No wonder movies cost so much to make.
 
Tom Lowe said:
Lame. It's not popular to say on a film forum, but unions are causing devastation for many industries in this new global economy, where projects can simply be taken overseas. How can Black & Decker compete making lawnmower engines in the US, for example, when their union employees are demanding $75 an hour to turn a wrench? Those same motors can be made in China where employees are happy to make $75 a MONTH. Plus they work 14 hour days, 6 or 7 days a week. It's simply not possible. It's time the unions start rethinking their bully tactics and realize we are living in a global economy.

Personally, though, I would rather see a totally different approach taken to make a single, super-awesome HOBBIT film. IMO, this should not even be done with human actors, but rather, the film would look something more like the old animated HOBBIT -- maybe employing performance-capture techniques and CGI in the manner of AVATAR, with a heightened, magical feeling and look to the film. Maybe the gods are telling us that PJ's current plans are not the right ones!
Click to expand...

Gee, wouldn't it be fabulous to create $75 a month jobs in the U.S.! It's so sad those dangerous working conditions and slave-labor like hours are being allowed to slip away!
 
What the heck is so wrong with the belief that a man should be entitled to be payed fairly?
Time isn't free friends nor is skill and hard work.

On the topic at hand however it really does sound like a power play on behalf of this Australian group, Peter Jackson and the Studio just want everyone to get a fair shake and apparently they saw a window to get some leverage in NZL filmmaking.
 
Rob Ruffo said:
Gee, wouldn't it be fabulous to create $75 a month jobs in the U.S.! It's so sad those dangerous working conditions and slave-labor like hours are being allowed to slip away!
Click to expand...

No, but it might be a reasonable idea to pay manual laborers 30 bucks an hour rather than 75 bucks an hour to turn a wrench, otherwise they will all soon be making 0 bucks an hour. That's just the reality of the situation.
 
Tom Lowe said:
It all comes down to supply and demand.
Click to expand...

It all comes down to supply and demand in a laissez-faire economy.

Just because a thing is the way it is doesn't mean it's the best or most desirable method. Hence unions which protect the interests of the guy who cleans up the popcorn. The team owner doesn't notice the $5k blip per game in his income but for the popcorn and gum scrapers it might make the difference between a third job and a little more time home with the family.

If the world were left to its own devices most of us would literally be slaves and owned property. But we decided that the economic benefit was subordinate to the public good.

Unions seem like a good middle ground between too much government interference and unprotected labor. Ideally the union and the employer have similar clout and can negotiate on a level footing in good faith. Without unions I think it's safe to say that NOBODY would be getting residuals on the Hobit. The studio is being generous and awarding everyone union wages--but without a union those wages wouldn't have ever been on the table.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top