The 17 August letters
October 28th, 2010 at 2:04 pm by David FarrarI’ve now got a copy of the full release from Peter Jackson regarding the 17 August global boycott letter, and a copy of the letter itself. Read them both carefully and then try telling me this is not the cause of what happened.
Media Release – The Hobbit 271010
And in case one thinks Sir Peter is lying, here is the letter itself.
So Warners and co have had this boycott threat hanging over them for over two months.
Related posts:
- Global boycott started in August
- The Hobbit dispute
- MEAA refuses to allow Jackson to attend meeting
- Rally for keeping The Hobbit in NZ
October 28th, 2010 at 2:11 pm
Ah. Now I know why Helen Kelly and Robyn Malcom have been conspicuous by their absence from our TV screens in recent days. Their pants caught fire.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Mallard is chucking shit about this .. I guess he doesn’t like people working in NZ under subsides .. he would prefer to simply pay hundreds of Mill on benefits to do fk all
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
And before anyone says the demand for a ‘boycott unless union negotiated agreements were struck’ came from FIA, not explicity Simon Whipp, know this: Simon Whipp is on the board of the FIA, and I’m sure it won’t have escaped readers’ notice that Whipp is listed as the main point of contact. Also, at the time this letter went world wide an MEAA ‘fact sheet’ (never has such an incorrect title been given to a document) also went round the world, noting that the ‘do not work’ resolution had been authorised by Simon Whipp.
That man should never again be allowed to set foot in this country.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
And as more and more about this story comes to light, there will be those in the main stream media (Brian Rudman, I’m taking about you!) who may well be regretting the slant they have started to put on some of their stories.
Additionally the left continue to dig themselves in to a deeper hole by claiming that John Key has somehow sold out our sovreignty. Warner Bros came to New Zealand looking to move production, and left as partners in a New Zealand Tourism Venture! How’s THAT for a win??
Meanwhile, I have a mental image of Robyn Malcolm being shown to a waiting room, where Paul Henry welcomes her warmly…
“Hello Robyn, there’s a spare seat here now Tony Veitch has his job back. I like Tony, he looks like a New Zealander…….”
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Says it all really. Unions really are the scum of the earth. It’s a shame that such a good concept – the protection of workers against exploitive employers – have been co-opted into this power hungry, money hungry socialist vehicle. It’s actually fucking disgusting.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:26 pm
Look at that letter again, David.
The Boycott was announced and ratified BEFORE they even sent that very first letter to Peter Jackson/3’7 on the 17 August.
It wasn’t just a threat, THEY’D ALREADY DONE IT.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
I would just like to take this opportunity of accusing Robyn Malcom of being a fucking liar.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Murray – you might like this then: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Robyn-Malcolm/123611131031190?v=wall
I dont think we will be seeing much of her on our screens for some time to come. I mean – would you hire her if you were a producer?
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Where’s Maggie? Where’s Viper? Where’s Mickysavage?
Come on folks; come and defend the indefensible!
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
@ Jaba – Watching Mallard throwing fits on this has been the highlight of my week. He has said he doesn’t like it in opposition and thought of quitting.
Here is hoping that this helps him see the light that labour are going to be there for some time yet – and perhaps he would be better chucking in the towel.
Fuck – another great win for New Zealand.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
I2 – I actually feel sorry for Viper. I cannot imagine going thru life with that bitter and twisted view (s)he has.
Still – its not 1/2 fun knowing that its frothing at the mouth when it types.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Funny I don’t recall hearing the Labours and the Union Party complaining about the last government giving 85% of the current subsidy to the evil Hollywood corporations.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Meanwhile Helen Kelly continues to attempt to spin her way out of this one, she should just STFU…
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
What I enjoy most (besides successfully keeping the hobbit), is that the unions have now lost the pretence of a moral high ground. From now on they will have to try harder to justify their viewpoint, rather than simply make unsupported claims and claim the high ground as of right.
Which will do them a world of good.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:04 pm
“But with Warner Bros holding a gun to its head …” (NZ Herald today). The government’s head, that is …
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
tany already there.
STFU “Tom”. You rabble had your shot and you screwed it by trying to bullshit the entire country. Try and creapweasle your way out of something else.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Tom, when faced with evidence such as the actual letter – why is it so hard to say:
“Sorry, the Union made a mistake.”
Why do you keep on trying to defend and spin around something that any reasonable person knows was a union fuck up?
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Pascal – the left reminds me of a kid who wont admit they are in the wrong. Probably turning blue by now.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
Of course, being good socialists they will continue to tell lies and rewrite history.
Vote:I just love the wallies, all inflicted with Small Country Syndrome, who want John Key to tell Warners to bugger off. And Russell Norman wittering on about sovereignty.
I know many cherish the memory of Lange’s virtuoso performance at Oxford Union but, in the end, what did it achieve for us?
We have to live in the real world and, as a tiny speck on the globe, have to maximise every chance we get. Thank the lord, Key understands that so well and isn’t into juvenile grandstanding.
Our creative community can look forward to some good jobs, we will leverage off the Hobbit for years as we have off LOTR and those silly women and awful Mr Whipp can bugger off.
October 28th, 2010 at 3:34 pm
“I2 – I actually feel sorry for Viper. I cannot imagine going thru life with that bitter and twisted view (s)he has.”
Viper is in fact a she (Clare Curran), about says it all.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
trueblue – it says something when she is so ashamed of all the tripe she writes that she dosnt use her own name on a labour blog
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:42 pm
You’d be surprised to find most on the left are as disgusted by this as anyone. Perhaps more so. It’s just taken a while for the truth to get out and sink in.
Anyone who defended this in the mean time is going to look like a fool.
Why do you think NONE of the other Film Industry Workers Unions supported this, and went very, very quiet about the whole thing publicly?
In fact, you’ll see on Public Address, pretty much the entire community have been the most vocally critical of this whole thing right from the beginning.
The stuff David’s presenting now came out 2 days ago over there.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
“trueblue – it says something when she is so ashamed of all the tripe she writes that she dosnt use her own name on a labour blog”
Not only that she changes name like the weather, Loota, Colonial Viper now Viper II, maybe she’s schizophrenic.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
FYI: http://www.pundit.co.nz/content/one-last-hobbit-related-question
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Id just like to say….He He He He He Ha Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho diddums etc
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
WTF would Wussle know about sovereignty? No one has even been given the oportunity to elect him or not yet.
Classic leftie moralising at everyone else from a postion he never got voted into.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Whut? Are you serious?
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Iventory2 – less than an hour after the original message you are ranting and raving as to where people are. Who do you think you are, someone important?
For your info, I went down to the library, then made lunch. Now, its hot in Brisbane and I’m going for a swim.
There is nothing new here. The union blackmailed Warner Bros, in turn they blackmailed Key. Common enough practice, clumsy maybe, but hardly a scandal. That came when Key caved in.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:12 pm
BeaB, John Key didn’t have to tell Warners to bugger off. All he had to do was look them in the eye and say “Sorry gentlemen but we are already contributing a large amount of money to this venture, we simply cannot afford any more.”
For mine, David Lange made me proud to be a Kiwi. Key makes me ashamed to be one.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Maggie,
Can you explain the large amount of money we are contributing? How much and what is it being spent on?
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
David Lange was fat lying adulterator who deliberately screwed our international relations with the US in order to make himself the victim and then folded like a house of cards when the French called his bluff.
He is one of the single most appalling people this country has ever produced and he disgusts me Maggie. Could be because I was lot closer to what he was doing than you were and I didn;t get my information filtered by either the media or ideology.
You think you’re a better negotiator than John Key then go ahead and get yourself elected.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:34 pm
For once, Murray is talking some sense.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
John Key makes me proud to be a Kiwi. In the maelstrom that MMP delivers with so many in the parliament who would have a snowballs chance in hell of ever convincing a majority of an electorate to ever give them a mandate with any voting system other than our stupid stupid System, The Man just keeps on moving this country towards a place where people are rewarded for their skills and entrepeneurship and the luddites who think a union movement born out of the low education standards of the workforce of the 19th century will advance workers rights in 2010 will die in the ditch.
Vote:Every worker should have the right to gain rewards for their work and not have their income coveted by parasites masquerading as representatives of the workers when in fact the unions have become the financial arm of the Labour party and the development school for most of their talent (talent used in its historical context and implies no rating of the current chosen ones).
John Key does sometimes cause me disquiet but he is the man of the hour, the day and the week. All Trev the “Mus” can hope for now is for the ABs to get beaten by the Wallabies and then he will have a new weapon to attempt to score a hit on the PM.
BTW has Julia G had Phil Goff put on a spit for the weekend barbie or has he gone somewhere safe like Afghanistan.
October 28th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
“Can you explain the large amount of money we are contributing? How much and what is it being spent on?”
What I find annoying with the way the media is reporting this, is that it makes the tax rebate sound like we are giving them money when in reality all we are doing is effectively taking less from them (although there’s now also the marketing $$ we’re throwing in as well, but there are benefits for doing it).
What it comes down to, isn’t it better that we get smaller % of something than bigger % of nothing in tax? Not to mention all the other benefits of actually employing all those people who make the movie (including caterers, builders, drivers etc) and all the GST we get from those hundreds of millions.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
It’s as amusing as all get out to see these Labour types complaining about rolling over for overseas corporations.
Exhibit A: JK pulls a bit of a win out of a god-awful situation landed in his lap at short notice.
Exhibit B: “Taking the” Micky Cullen gets slid up a treat by Toll in a situation all of his own ideological making.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Yes, it’s somewhat stupid to hear people talk about how the government could have “spent” that money on operations for the elderly, ignoring the fact that the money provided means that we have $500m being injected into our economy which would simply not be there otherwise. That money will be spent on a wide variety of things, including taxable wages, consumable items that have GST etc etc.
The fact is, this tax credit is going to pay for itself many times over. And as an added bonus, Key got them to put some tourism promotion material in with the DVDs – another investment that’ll pay dividends.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
@ the bird is the word
Related:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/4281126/Its-not-all-the-film-unions-fault-but-they-picked-the-wrong-fight
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
I see Maggie is posting from Australia. Does she live ther?
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 6:24 pm
Maggie just has to be Whipp with that dreadful campy little voice.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
Ah sweet Maggie, she raised the average IQ of both NZ & Oz when she moved over there.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
Murray, I knew Lange well and worked closely with him in the 1972 election campaign. He was at his height then, and impressive orator with a common touch. He makes Key look like a kindergarten kid. Can you imagine Key debating the Oxford Union? “Um, er, um…….ah,. er…….”
Its funny how personally abusive rightwingers become when confronted with calm, logical argument. It must frustrate them awfully.
Yes, I live in Brisbane, I am a male not a female. I chose the nick because I was born and raised in Hawke’s Bay.
Nothing is ever quite what it seems, kiddies, never make assumptions.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 7:27 pm
Maggie? Maggie? Maggpie??? Shit sounds like Magpie!!!!!!!
Bugger me philu’s moved to Oz.
Thank Christ for that.
The bastards deserve him after what the little turd Whippersnapper tried to do to our glorious movie industry.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 8:11 pm
Currently watching parliament. I think Trevor the Duck has secretly joined the National Party and has embarked on a mission to destroy the Labour Party. He has realised that all is lost and has jumped ship and is really getting stuck into to totally destroying his old party. The man does not realise just what a plonker he really is. He has been at since 2pmm this afternoon.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
maggie: “For your info, I went down to the library, then made lunch. Now, its hot in Brisbane and I’m going for a swim.”
You have a library card for that library in Brisbane?
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Maggie .. Lange would “possibly” be better at the Oxford debate but was crap as a MP when the heat came on .. were you close to him then as well??
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 8:38 pm
Great, not just a unionist, but an Australian unionist. Just recently we have decided we just don’t like those types. Now, be a good girl and go get me a beer from the eskie. There’s a good girl. And when ya’ve done with that, fuck off and get tea sorted. Ta.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:09 pm
Rich Prick, my gender has been uncovered, so to speak. Try to keep up, there’s a luv.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
“Try to keep up.” A line I am sure you have had to use a lot once blokes know you are union.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:39 pm
You worked with Lange on the 1972 election campaign eh Maggie. Funny that, considering that he did not stand for Parliament until 1977 …
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
Perhaps she worked with him on his 1972 erection campaign IV2.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Good work IV2, Heh, we have a record of dealing to those with fraudulent CV’s, especially forengiers.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:44 pm
No John, that was the Pope woman and that was in 1988 I think, Maggie cook me some eggs bitch.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
Just wondering if Maggie is Margaret Pope … the “other woman”
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
“Yes, I live in Brisbane, I am a male not a female.”
Maggie claims to be “The other man” IV2.
Who would have guessed that “Big Dave” swung both ways.
Whats the world cumming to.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
“Its funny how personally abusive rightwingers become when confronted with calm, logical argument.”
You wouldnt know a logical argument if a great number of them were presented to you over and over again on the internet. Kind of like how it has been for the last few days.
What is frustrating is that you are ignoring the facts of what actually happened regarding the hobbit and you insist on repeating the same BS over and over again. You think you are presenting a case, but you havent done anything like that. You arent ever going to convince the people on this thread of anything, and not because they are ideologically blinded, but because your argument is piss weak and relies upon the goings-on in some parallel universe.
The boycott was in place before negotiations. The fact that you did not and still will not admit to this fact means you lost before you even started.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 10:22 pm
IV2, now you are on to it. I doubt Maggie is a man, but would either/or by now, have slung a breast under each bingo-wing and run off to the RSL to win a cup of 20 cent pieces. Such is the life of failed unionists with un-appealling features.
Vote:October 28th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Nah. Maggie is the grown up daughter of Homer Simpson, just spat her dummt
Vote:October 29th, 2010 at 3:12 am
Inventory2 – my mistake re dates. Blame the Aussie wines. ’72 was, of course, Norman Kirk. Great man.
Personal abuse is the refuge of those who no longer have any argument. Kimble is an excellent example. Spends four paragraphs telling me I am wrong but doesn’t give even one concrete example. Piss poor, Kimble.
RP, I doubt you are rich, but you sure got the other part right.
Vote:October 29th, 2010 at 4:24 am
maggie
“Inventory2 – my mistake re dates” – now is that what I think it is? Perhaps an admission that the letters released are actually a true representation of the facts and that the boycott PREDATED the negotiations? Care to comment on the wisdom of that strategy? This has been the most spectacular political own goal since Chris Carter’s ‘anonymous’ letter.
There’s been so much union spin that they’ve spun enough yarn to clothe every child in China! I read MEAA’s Press Release after Key’s Press Conference and reckoned George Orwell turned in his grave so total was the double speak! I was most amused by the wonderful fisking SPADA did.
Vote:October 29th, 2010 at 12:13 pm
The Oxford debates are wonderful platforms for intellectual masturbation; watching one academic taking on another in an attempt to unscrew the inscrutable is always good for a laugh.
However; when it comes to governance, especially on a national level, some good old fashioned common sense, used to temper academics’ ideologist perspective and recommendations, goes a long way.
What I believe you might have missed in your comparison of Lange and Key is that Key has such simple common sense while Lange didn’t. In addition, Key has an ability to apply laterality to a negotiating situation and swing something in that costs the other bargaining party virtually nothing (e.g. an advertisement for New Zealand – crafted by one of the world’s greatest visual message directors, Peter Jackson,) for a taste of something they need to save face (e.g. a few millions of dollars)! Imagine what such publicity would cost on the open market – US$2 per copy? (Probably much more.) A good commercial brain works out a win-win negotiating position and swings it for a home run at the last appropriate minute, another skill Kay has acquired through his non-politician personal evolution, and which Lange and his fellow academia origin Labour party prime-ministers did not.
Looking at some of the ‘deals’ the various Labour governments have delivered to the country over the decades, I’d say they don’t come close this week’s single one, in terms of ROI or even DCF. Would anyone postulate differently?
Vote:October 29th, 2010 at 12:15 pm
Maggie -”Personal abuse is the refuge of those who no longer have any argument.
…
RP, I doubt you are rich, but you sure got the other part right.’
Ipso facto Maggie…
Vote:October 29th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Aaah, no, sorry RightNow, you don’t even get one mark for effort.
RP calls himself a prick. Therefore agreeing with him is hardly abusive.
Keep trying, though.
Vote:October 29th, 2010 at 3:50 pm
Chortle. That’s not even an attempt at a defence. Not that there is one, you shot yourself that time.
Vote:October 30th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Chuckle. So if you call yourself an idiot and I agree with you, that’s personal abuse is it?
Vote:October 30th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Oh you, you’re such a maggie.
Vote:October 30th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
Well, is it?
Vote: