Actors Say They’re Not Boycotting ‘the Hobbit’

Actors Say They’re Not Boycotting ‘the Hobbit’

New Zealand Actors’ Equity president. Jennifer Ward-Lealand, denies her union is boycotting Sir Peter Jackson’s production of “The Hobbit”.

Speaking today on TV3’s “The Nation” she also said her members wanted a “a standard contract, and a standard agreement with minimum terms and conditions” for working on “The Hobbit”

But she said New Zealand actors had not voted for a boycott of the film.

All they had voted for so far was to seek a meeting with Sir Peter to discuss their proposal for a standard contract.

However actor Craig Parker (who played Haldir in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy) said the one moment of strength an independent contractor had was before a contract was signed and they decided whether they took the job or not.

“It’s not a strike, it's not a down tools, no one is employed yet,” he said.

“What we're saying is we don’t agree with these contracts, we would like to discuss them so they're mutually agreeable, then we can sign.”

Ms. Ward-Lealand said the fact that New Zealand Actors Equity had not filed returns for three years and was deregistered last week was an “administrative error” and she also said the reason the organiser for the Australian Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, Simon Whipp, was in New Zealand was because he was the director of the New Zealand union as well.

Both Ms. Ward-Lealand and Mr. Parker maintained that what they wanted was a meeting with Sir Peter.

ENDS

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