The Hobbit

Peter Jackson Undergoes Emergency Surgery For Stomach Ulcer

As if the “Hobbit” movie hasn’t already had enough problems with directors, unions and other issues, the movies mastermind and most recent Direct Peter Jackson had to step away from pre-production on Thursday so he could undergo emergency surgery for a stomach ulcer.

Jackson was rushed to a Wellington hospital with “acute stomach pains” and was immediately taken into surgery.

Thankfully for everyone involved in the movie, Jackson’s publicist says he’ll be back on his feet in no time:

“Sir Peter is currently resting comfortably and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery. Sir Peter’s surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to The Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming.”

Racist Casting Director Fired From “The Hobbit” Production

by Chris Franklin

The Hobbit production has had it’s ups and downs, but now the biggest issue doesn’t appear to be actually shooting the film, but rather dealing with an issue of colorism. Last week a casting agent was fired for telling a potential extra that they were “too dark” to play a hobbit.

According to Peter Jackson:

“No such instructions were given, the crew member in question took it upon themselves to do that and it’s not something we instructed or condoned.”

In a local newspaper that fired independent contractor said hobbit extras “should have light skin tones.”

Peter Jackson Finds His Bilbo Baggins For “The Hobbit” Series

by Chris Franklin

Peter Jackson has found his Bilbo Baggins, a role that will encapsulate the two movies that will make up The Hobbit.

According to Indyposted:

The studios behind the much-anticipated upcoming epic movie “The Hobbit” signed British actor Martin Freeman star as Bilbo Baggins in the two-part prequel.

Unions Screw Over Workers In New Zealand, Peter Jackson Moving Entire Production “Off Shore”

by Chris Franklin

While the NZ Equity and MEAA have decided Peter Jackson and The Hobbit production can film in New Zealand and that they are in fact treating workers fairly, Jackson and Warner Bros. have decided that they don’t want to work around the groups demands and public outings of the films production, instead announcing today that they will be abandoning New Zealand and shooting “off shore.”

Here’s the Press Release Jackson released:

The lifting of the blacklist on The Hobbit does nothing to help the films stay in New Zealand. The damage inflicted on our film industry by NZ Equity/MEAA is long since done.

Next week Warners are coming down to NZ to make arrangements to move the production off-shore. It appears we now cannot make films in our own country – even when substantial financing is available.

The spectacle of NZ Actors’ Equity suddenly cancelling their Wellington meeting, because film workers wanted to express to them their concern at losing The Hobbit, exemplifies the pure gutlessness of this small, self-centered group. They don’t appear to care about the repercussions of their actions on others, nor are they prepared to take responsibility for decisions made in their name. [There’s much more, but you get the idea.]

New Zealand Is Suddenly Cool With Filming “Hobbit” Again

by Chris Franklin

New Zealand’s Actors’ Equity and Screen Production & Development Association have decided that boycotting “The Hobbit” film, being directed by Peter Jackson would be a bad very idea after all.

According to Radio New Zealand, more than 1,500 industry workers marched through Wellington today chating “Save Middle-Earth.”

The march came just one month after several New Zealand unions told their members that the unfair treatment of nonunion performers and crew should be enough to stop production elements from being performed where the original Lord of The Rings Trilogy was filmed.

The Hobbit

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