The Hobbit Trilogy Discussion Thread

[Bageara]

New Zealand is Middle Earth. I dont think Australia has the right choice of locations that NZ has

[Josh]

Not that I think filming will end up anywhere but New Zealand, but it looks like Canadian actors don't want the film to be shot in the great white north:

Canadian union ACTRA today issued a statement saying it was not prepared to deal with Sir Peter or the producer of the films unless all actors had a union-negotiated agreement, CBC News reported.

"Our message to the producers of The Hobbit is simple: You can't hide here in Canada," ACTRA national president Ferne Downey said.

"We hope that the producers will come to the table and provide union contracts to all performers."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=10678833

Though, the Gold Coast is always an option. Now, if only that pesky Australian-based union would stay out of it.

Conspiracy theory alert! What if Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (based in Australia) was just stirring things up in New Zealand so that production would shift to Australia when they would get really quite about unionizing the workforce?

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

Hey Bob, maybe they can work in Nemoy's classic 'Ballad of Bilbo Baggins' into the film.


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I had to laugh when I read that! One of the most ridiculous songs ever recorded - I thought it would have been suitable for that "Return to Eden" Star Trek episode where Spock grabs his vulcan harp and jams with those space hippies. They should put it in the Hobbit when the movie ends and the credits start rolling.

[Darkhawk9587]

I'm glad the MGM-Spyglass deal got done. Hopefully we can move forward with this and Bond now!

[Josh]

One step forward, one step back. While the MGM deal appears to be (finally) moving ahead, the fight with the labor union appears to have failed:

And in a separate development, attempts by the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) to settle a dispute between Hobbit producers and actors' unions has failed, according to industry sources, as the apparent stalemate continues over the union's bid for a collective contract for Hobbit actors.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=10679085

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Josh

One step forward, one step back. While the MGM deal appears to be (finally) moving ahead, the fight with the labor union appears to have failed:


http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainm...ectid=10679085

The fact that they're not being more amiable in these negotiations kind of tells you they're probably not in a hurry to get this movie or movies made.

[kjacobs03]

I thought that was settled a week ago.

[radagast]

According to this, The Hobbit IS leaving NZ:

http://paralleluniverse.msn.com/feat...zealand/story/

[kjacobs03]

That just looks like a recap of what been going on for the past few weeks. Nothing new or definate.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by radagast

According to this, The Hobbit IS leaving NZ:

http://paralleluniverse.msn.com/feat...zealand/story/

This defies logic, as the Hobbiton set is mostly built, and many of the other set pieces (Rivendell, the stone trolls, orc costumes, etc.) already exist in NZ. The smell of money is killing this project, but instead of being a fan's dream, or movie production crew's dream, it is more likely to be a lawyer's dream.

[Darkhawk9587]

Sorry if already posted earlier, but an interesting article. To make this film apparently require a boatload of cash:

Hobbit Most Expensive Movie Ever?
Two-part LOTR prequel to cost a helluva lot of Brandybucks.

It's time to sell The Shire, or maybe that much coveted One Ring, because The Hobbit is reportedly shaping up to be the most expensive film ever made and it hasn't even been green-lit yet.

According to NEWS.com.au, the two-part film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is expected to cost roughly $500 million, with legal fees alone stemming from the rights issues currently running about $100 million. (The Pirates of the Caribbean sequels currently stand as the most expensive U.S. films ever made.)

The site says that if the Hobbit films were released in 3D that it might ultimately help recoup some of its money. The rule of thumb in Hollywood is that a film generally has to earn 2 1/2 times what it cost (production + prints & advertising) in order to be profitable, which means that the Hobbit films will need to make over $1 billion at the box office.

That's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, seeing as how The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King alone made $1.1 billion at the global box office and is ranked as the third highest-grossing worldwide release of all time (and that's not including home video and merchandising).

http://movies.ign.com/articles/112/1127006p1.html

[Darkhawk9587]

I think he'd make a great Bilbo:

Martin Freeman on Hobbit Role
Office star admits that he'd still love to play Bilbo Baggins in the long-gestating sequel.

Martin Freeman has been discussing his continued interest in playing Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit after a scheduling conflict initially ruled him out of the film.

"I did have to say no to it for the second series of Sherlock" he told Empire. "But if something could be worked out, that would be great."

And with The Hobbit still a way off commencing principal photography, the Office star remains optimistic about his involvement, saying "I'd like to think so. If there is any outside possibility, then that would be great. But I've learned not to think too much of hope too much about stuff. It will happen if it happens."

As for the role itself, Freeman told the mag that he'd be game for playing this earlier incarnation of Bilbo, stating "I reckon I could do a young Ian Holm. I think I could give that a go."

http://movies.ign.com/articles/112/1127021p1.html

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Darkhawk9587

Sorry if already posted earlier, but an interesting article. To make this film apparently require a boatload of cash:



http://movies.ign.com/articles/112/1127006p1.html

$100 million for legal fees? God bless lawyers - that's worth almost as much as Bilbo's mithril coat!

[TheWildWhelk]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

$100 million for legal fees? God bless lawyers - that's worth almost as much as Bilbo's mithril coat!

This film can't catch a break. One more major problem with it and it's going to get written off. Warner must be so sick of this production that it's not funny. Are they really going to rebuild the hobbiton sets in another country 3 months before principle photography? I doubt it. Just give the actors a union deal!

[radagast]

Originally Posted by Grand Bob

$100 million for legal fees? God bless lawyers - that's worth almost as much as Bilbo's mithril coat!

We really need tort reform. Several months back I read about a class-action lawsuit against Walmart. The plaintiff won $1000. Any others who joined it got a pittance. The four lawyers EACH got 28 million dollars.

[kjacobs03]

Originally Posted by radagast

We really need tort reform. Several months back I read about a class-action lawsuit against Walmart. The plaintiff won $1000. Any others who joined it got a pittance. The four lawyers EACH got 28 million dollars.

WOW! Maybe I should become an Ambulance chaser.

[Darkhawk9587]

Originally Posted by SonOfTorah

This film can't catch a break. One more major problem with it and it's going to get written off. Warner must be so sick of this production that it's not funny. Are they really going to rebuild the hobbiton sets in another country 3 months before principle photography? I doubt it. Just give the actors a union deal!

Or maybe they have so much invested in this they're going to see it through to the end.

[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by radagast

We really need tort reform. Several months back I read about a class-action lawsuit against Walmart. The plaintiff won $1000. Any others who joined it got a pittance. The four lawyers EACH got 28 million dollars.

Reminds me of a law student I knew while I was still an undergrad at Ohio State. I asked him if he was in it for justice, and he replied no, it was just an easy way to make money. He said something to the effect that the day of the Abraham Lincoln - type lawyers was long over. I wouldn't be suprised to discover that he is one of the guys suing Warner over the Hobbit production.

[Duffy12]

Peter Jackson: 'Hobbit' decision in 'week or 2'

Report: Situation same after union, management meeting


By Jonathan Handel

October 14, 2010, 12:33 AM ET

"The Hobbit" is still on hold.

A report in the New Zealand Herald quotes a spokesman for director-producer Peter Jackson as saying, "Warner Brothers are running financial models about the costs of shooting in a variety of countries. We expect a decision is still a week or two away."

This came despite a meeting today between union and management representatives, which a statement characterized as "a useful and productive discussion."

Jackson's spokesman told the Herald that the "Hobbit" situation remained unchanged following the meeting.

The meeting, which was facilitated by Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee, involved representatives of the country's Screen Production and Development Assn., New Zealand Actors' Equity and the Council of Trade Unions. No representatives of Jackson were present at the meeting, THR has learned.

It's unclear to what extent the meeting focused on "Hobbit." The statement suggested a broader focus: "The parties have agreed to work together to update the conditions of engagement for performers in the New Zealand screen production industry."

The joint statement added that "the parties believe this process will help to ensure New Zealand remains an attractive screen production environment." SPADA, NZAE and the CTU have agreed to a press blackout.

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[Grand Bob]

Originally Posted by Duffy12

.

"Hobbit" decision in a week or two? Well we waited this long, but while we're waiting I'm curious about a few things such as:
1) How the scenes involving the finding of the Ring and Gollum's lake are going to filmed, since they occur in almost total darkness, and are key to the story and the entire Middle earth saga. A similar "darkness problem" will be faced in Mirkwood, which is a sizable chunk of the story, and Bilbo's conversation with Smaug.

2) How Beorn's animals are going to be depicted carrying plates, chairs, etc.

3) If they are planning on using the statues of the stone trolls from Lord of the Rings, and if so, what other props will share double duty.

4) How the White Council will be portrayed, and if it is included will Cirdan have a beard as is mentioned in the LotR chapter "The Grey Havens"?

Anyone else curious about specific scenes?