Posts
Peter
Jackson’s “Precious”…
Frank
McSkasy
.
.
28
November, 2012
Today
was the premiere of the first movie in “The Hobbit” trilogy.
I
was not about to comment on todays events. For me, the shine has long
since corroded from the Ring Trilogy and the “Hobbit” that came
after.
Events
surrounding the industrial dispute; the mass hysteria that followed;
the vilification of actors who stood with Actor’s Equity; the
demonisation of trade unionists; the the carefully crafted
manipulation of public hysteria by some very skilled creators of
illusion; the actions of National in unilaterally changing employment
law – all left a sour taste in my mouth.
Whilst
I loved the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy; the talents of actors,
technicians, director and producer, and all the other fantastically
imaginative craftsmen and woman who contributed to one of the most
epic movies of this century - I can no longer share those same
feelings with “The Hobbit”.
As
with our fraudulent claim to be “100% Pure”, there is something
about “The Hobbit” which is a sham.
Unlike
the “Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit” is not the product of
Kiwi ingenuity. It is the product of back-room deals; media
manipulation; and political-corporate connivance.
Have
a look at TV3′s report today into the tumultuous background
of “The Hobbit”, when Hollywood Hell broke loose in our
country,
.
To
see video GO
HERE
.
Note
Peter Jackson’s comment @ 1:27,
“We are now being given signs that they [Hollywood producers] are looking very seriously about shifting [the Hobbit].”
Source: Ibid
That
was a lie.
We
know it was a lie.
We
know it was a lie because Peter Jackson admitted it in an email to
National’s Economic
Development Minister,
Gerry Brownlee, on 18 October 2010,
.
Sir Peter Jackson told the Government he did not believe an international actors’ boycott would force The Hobbit overseas, emails show.
The message, sent to the office of Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee on October 18, is in stark contrast to comments the film-maker made earlier in the month.
On October 1, he said: “The Hobbit is being punished with a boycott which is endangering thousands of New Zealand jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign income, for no good reason.”
Sir Peter dismissed the idea that movie production was moving overseas because it was cheaper to make films there.
“It’s completely absurd! Eastern Europe is only being considered because a minority group of the New Zealand acting community have invoked union action that has blacklisted our film, making it impossible to shoot in New Zealand.”
But on October 18, Sir Peter said the boycott had nothing to do with the movies potentially moving overseas.
“There is no connection between the blacklist (and it’s eventual retraction) and the choice of production base for The Hobbit,” he wrote.
“What Warners requires for The Hobbit is the certainty of a stable employment environment and the ability to conduct its business in such as way that it feels its $500 million investment is as secure as possible.”
The October 18 email also suggests Sir Peter thought the boycott had been lifted, even though he said in television interviews three days later he was unsure if it had been officially ditched.
Sir Peter declined to comment through a spokesman yesterday.
.
And
Fairfax Media reported,
.
The email showed Warner Bros wanted ”stability” to film the movies in New Zealand and was worried about ”grey areas” of employment law.
The Government secured the movies in October by an urgent amendment to the law which prevented independent contractors from claiming entitlements as employees, as well as an agreement to increase the tax concession for big screen productions.
The report said the email was signed ”Peter J” – apparently director Sir Peter Jackson – and was sent to the office of Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee who was involved in the negotiations with Warner Bros.
It said there was no connection between Actors’ Equity union action against The Hobbit movies and choice of location, which contradicted government statements at the time – which were that Warner Bros was concerned about strife caused by the blacklisting of the movies because of a row over collective pay conditions.
See:
Union: Protest
did not affect Hobbit decision
.
It
was all a giant con. And we, as a country, were the ones being
conned.
Because
three days later, on 21 October 2010, Jackson issued a Press
Release stating,
“Next week Warners are coming down to New Zealand to make arrangements to move the production offshore. It appears we cannot make films in our own country even when substantial financing is available.”
Peter
Jackson knew full well was unlikely that Warner Bros would move
“The Hobbit”, for several practical, hard-nosed reasons.
Which Jackson duly shared with Gerry Brownlee.
Unfortunately,
neither Brownlee nor Jackson shared that information with the rest of
the country, and the mounting public hysteria gave John Key and
National the ‘mandate’ they needed to act decisively.
The
country panicked; and National used the opportunity to play “hero”
by saving the day. It was like a Hollywood scripted movie.
(Though, for the life of me, I’m not sure that the “good guys”
won.)
In
48 hours, National rammed through legislation amending the law
covering all workers in the movie and television entertainment
industry. The Bill was introduced on 28 October. It gained Royal
Assent on 29 October. The fastest piece of legislation enacted since
politicians voted themselves generous superannuation entitlements,
late one night, in the 1980s.
At
the stroke of a pen – similar to a Decree issued by a lone despot
in some authoritarian regime – National unilaterally changed
workers from being employees to sub-contractors.
The
resulting change was stark;
- Employees can negotiate collectively for a collective agreement
- Sub-contractors cannot
- Employees had minimum wage; sick pay; holiday pay; appropriate employment/termination protections; etc.
- Sub-contractors do not.
The
government got what it wanted; public support through a bit of Union
bashing, and preliminary legislative attacks on de-unionisation of
the workforce. (See: New
industrial relations laws rewrite labour rules)
Warner
Bros got what they wanted; more money (courtesy of the taxpayer) and
de-unionisation of “The Hobbit” workforce.
Peter
Jackson got what he wanted; an irritation out of his life.
In
a way, I don’t blame Peter Jackson – despite his masterful
manipulation of public opinion and reaffirming (if re-affirmation was
ever required) that we can be a nation of sheep.
Peter
Jackson is a talented, imaginative artist who can create the most
visually stunning images on a screen. He is, in most likelihood, a
genius.
Unfortunately,
geniuses are often so focused; so obssessed; and so fixated on their
work, that they will disregard all others around them. A genius is
all-consumed with his work, to the detriment of others.
In
this case, Peter Jackson identifies utterly with his projects;
immersing himself in childhood fantasies that he now has the power to
bring to life – albeit a two-dimensional “life” on the big
screen.
In
doing so, he swats aside any irritation that might distract him from
his work.
Actors
Equity was such a distraction, and Jackson used his masterful skills
at perception-manipulation to rid himself of that irritation.
He had the power – so he used it.
He’s
not evil or tyrannical or nasty.
He’s
simply a boy who never quite grew up and realised that he could
fulfill all his childhood fantasies.
Unfortunately,
in doing so, and like many other obessively-dedicated geniuses before
him – he has hurt many people in the process.
Will
I go to see “The Hobbit”? I really don’t know.
But
if I do, it won’t be the same as “Lord of the Rings”.
The
illusion will be broken - the suspension of disbelief (film
makers and writers will understand what I’m referring to).
Because
all the while, there will be the spirit of a little boy who never
quite grew up; holding on to his childhood fantasies; and murmuring
‘my
precious‘,
as he never lets go.
