Hobbit link dump

More information on the deal reached by New Zealand’s government and Warner Bros.–including one world premiere

Hobbit Video Showcases Hobbiton, Lee & Brodie

Whew! Now That’s Done…Let The Casting Rumors Continue!

Why NZ Matters

Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh issue statement of thanks while labor bill set to pass 69 to 53

Video of a heli flyover of ‘Hobbit’ set

Video to save NZ ‘Hobbit’ now a ‘thank you’

Hobbit, Hobbit, Hobbit

http://www.kristinthompson.net/blog/?p=1849

Debate over New Zealand labor law goes into a second day

TVNZ reports that the debate in Parliament over the labor-law change designed to keep The Hobbit in New Zealand was not resolved despite the debate going on into the evening last night. Some members declared that the change wasn’t needed, as the law is clear as it stands; others found it disgraceful that the government was bowing down to a foreign company in this fashion. There’s a fairly extensive account of the debate highlights. The debate will resume at 9 am Friday New Zealand time (which is today, Thursday, at 3 pm here in the Central time zone).



http://www.kristinthompson.net/blog/?p=1852

Gordon Campbell on the outcome of the NZ government’s negotiations with Warner Bros.

Veteran Kiwi journalist Gordon Campbell has written another of his long, insightful analyses of the Hobbit project’s situation on Scoop.co.nz. He criticizes the government’s handling of the situation but adds:

In the end.. even this crappy deal was still value for money, I’d argue. Key does appear to have bargained like a two-week old kitten, but the stakes involved will still mean we come out ahead. This week, the Los Angeles Times reported Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee as saying The Hobbit would create 1,000 jobs in New Zealand, and generate $US1 billion in economic activity. At that rate, even a $US100 million price tab for the subsidies would still be generating a ten-fold boost in economic activity, with much of that being taxable. [...]


http://www.kristinthompson.net/blog/?p=1856

More on the brand partnering in the New Zealand government’s deal with Warner Bros. (and Hobbit DVD supplements)

As I mentioned in an earlier post, part of the new deal between the New Zealand government and Warner Bros. involves brand partnering. This is where a film studio partners with another company (usually a company) to mutually promote each other. Here’s part of what that will involve with The Hobbit and what the potential benefits are:

But the Prime Minister says for the other $13 million in marketing subsidies, the country’s tourism industry gets plenty in return.

“Warner Brothers has never done this before so they were reluctant participants, but we argued strongly,” Key said.

Every DVD and download of The Hobbit will also feature a Jackson-directed video promoting New Zealand as a tourist and filmmaking destination. [...]