CTU Statement on The Hobbit and Warners

CTU Statement on The Hobbit and Warners


Helen Kelly, CTU President, said today that the industrial issues concerning the film industry were resolved at a meeting with SPADA last week.

“This established a path that guaranteed films commencing before 31st March next year would use the existing Pink Book and in that period a revised Pink Book would be agreed for subsequent films.”

Helen Kelly also holds a sequence of emails between MEAA, the Screen Actors Guild, and Warners showing that MEAA advised SAG on Sunday LA time of a recommendation from NZ Equity that they rescind any forms of advice to their members that they not work on the feature film production The Hobbit, and that Warners were preparing a press release to announce this on Monday LA time.

“I have also repeated the commitment made by MEAA that there will be no disruption to the Hobbit films.”

Helen Kelly said that the CTU will work with anyone to ensure that the Hobbit films are made in New Zealand, on time and on budget.

Equity has legitimate issues that they have been seeking to resolve and we support their right to do so and have found a way we believe will do just that.

Helen Kelly said that she also regretted that instead of the resolution calming the waters on this dispute, a ‘war of words’ with Sir Peter Jackson has broken out, despite our previously productive meeting.

“It is inevitable that this has damaged relationships but we are committed to rebuilding those as circumstances allow”.

“The main thing now is to ensure the films are made in New Zealand”.

ENDS

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