Hobbit Filming Kicks Off at Last
http://www.seraphus.com/hobbit-filming-kicks-off-at-last/746794
Hobbit Filming Kicks Off at Last
March 21, 2011 by Emily Keitel · Leave a Comment
After months of delays prompted by the lack of funds, problems related to the actors’ wages and the director’s need to undergo surgery, filming on the two Hobbit movies has finally kicked off.
The location for the film shooting is represented by the Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and other several venues around New Zealand. The production of the films in which Martin Freeman plays the role of Bilbo Baggins has been estimated to extend up to two years, with the first part expected to be released at the end of 2012.
The project would have been ready earlier if it hadn’t been for the numerous unfavorable circumstances that hampered the launch of the filming. The kickoff of the Hobbit movies was repeatedly postponed because the acting unions threatened to boycott the films in protest over payments. The incident determined Studios Warner Bros and New Line to consider moving the production away from New Zealand. The source of the protests initiated by the acting unions resided in the inconsistencies in the terms and conditions of New Zealand actors and other production workers compared with their overseas colleagues.
The protesters threatened to continue the strike if their demands of a collective contract were not observed. In response to this, director Peter Jackson adopted a fierce attitude, warning that shifting the entire project to eastern Europe “could so easily happen”. Once the possibility of withdrawing the production from New Zealand started to gradually turn into a real peril, thousands of people took to the streets up and down the state to demand that the production remained in the country. In addition to this, the legislation that the government of New Zealand passed in October 2010 regarding labour laws and tax breaks was designed to favour the film producers. The legal changes stipulated that actors and others working on the films would be hired as contractors not employees.
Hardly were these tensions lightened that director Peter Jackson had to undergo surgery for a perforated ulcer.
Now that the “impairments” have relatively been dealt with, filming has begun and it hopefully won’t be disrupted by any other hindrances. Relative to this subject, the film’s star, Martin Freeman, declared: “There are some bits of bad luck associated with it. We’re all very optimistic about it. We’re ready to go – just as soon as 2015 comes around.”
Hobbit Filming Kicks Off at Last
March 21, 2011 by Emily Keitel · Leave a Comment
 |
After months of delays prompted by the lack of funds, problems related to the actors’ wages and the director’s need to undergo surgery, filming on the two Hobbit movies has finally kicked off.
The location for the film shooting is represented by the Stone Street Studios, Wellington, and other several venues around New Zealand. The production of the films in which Martin Freeman plays the role of Bilbo Baggins has been estimated to extend up to two years, with the first part expected to be released at the end of 2012.
The project would have been ready earlier if it hadn’t been for the numerous unfavorable circumstances that hampered the launch of the filming. The kickoff of the Hobbit movies was repeatedly postponed because the acting unions threatened to boycott the films in protest over payments. The incident determined Studios Warner Bros and New Line to consider moving the production away from New Zealand. The source of the protests initiated by the acting unions resided in the inconsistencies in the terms and conditions of New Zealand actors and other production workers compared with their overseas colleagues.
The protesters threatened to continue the strike if their demands of a collective contract were not observed. In response to this, director Peter Jackson adopted a fierce attitude, warning that shifting the entire project to eastern Europe “could so easily happen”. Once the possibility of withdrawing the production from New Zealand started to gradually turn into a real peril, thousands of people took to the streets up and down the state to demand that the production remained in the country. In addition to this, the legislation that the government of New Zealand passed in October 2010 regarding labour laws and tax breaks was designed to favour the film producers. The legal changes stipulated that actors and others working on the films would be hired as contractors not employees.
Hardly were these tensions lightened that director Peter Jackson had to undergo surgery for a perforated ulcer.
Now that the “impairments” have relatively been dealt with, filming has begun and it hopefully won’t be disrupted by any other hindrances. Relative to this subject, the film’s star, Martin Freeman, declared: “There are some bits of bad luck associated with it. We’re all very optimistic about it. We’re ready to go – just as soon as 2015 comes around.”
