CTU to sue lawyers over Hobbit decision - report

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From the NZPA: The Council of Trade Unions will seek legal advice on challenging an Ombudsman's rejection of its bid to get a copy of the Crown Law opinion on last year's industrial dispute over the filming of The Hobbit. In a final decision, Ombudsman David McGee rejected appeals from the CTU and Radio New Zealand and said the legal opinion should remain secret, Radio New Zealand reported. Last year, the Government said the Crown Law opinion confirmed that by law, film producers could not enter into union-negotiated agreements with actors who were independent contractors.
 
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They can't stop production, can they? [unsure]
That's definitely not what Peter and Co. need to be worrying about on top of everything else on their plate.
 
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...is a copy of the Crown Law opinion. This should not affect the production. IMO, there is no reason for the opinion to remain a secret. In such cases, transparency is best.

In any event, there are greater issues at stake here than our own desires to see the Hobbit come to life. I don't want any more delays, but I would hesitate to be so selfish as to want society to grind to a halt because of my need to see these films made.
 
the CTU wants information so that it can prepare for the next big industry stoush that comes along, regardless of what industry that happens to be. As the Hobbit filming is well under way, I can't see how the CTU can influence the production at all.
 
In any event, there are greater issues at stake here than our own desires to see the Hobbit come to life.
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Do you agree with the bolded? Now that's what I call news. [tongue]


Just for the record - I perfectly agree with what Gandalf's Mother has written, but as I have no particular desire to see The Hobbit come to life (let's say that once it is happening, I am very interested to see how), I don't think I am in the position to scold those who feel passionate about it.
 
Just challenging a decision of an ombudsman isn't suing someone. Now if the CTU was suing its own lawyers over the advice given during the dispute, that would be an interesting story.
 
[:)] - of course not. The main point I was agreeing with is this:

"... I would hesitate to be so selfish as to want society to grind to a halt because of my need to see these films made."

I'm not scolding others; as I said, I think that this is a refreshing point of view, and I applaud it.





 
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So it's not really surprising that he praises a statement which somewhat denigrates the importance of the Hobbit films. [angelic]

As for myself, I'm quite the opposite – I personally find these films infinitely more interesting and important than whatever social or bureaucratic shenanigans are afoot in far-flung New Zealand, and I can't condone anything that wilfully obstructs the production. Perhaps that's not very moral of me, but at least it's the truth.
 
As a Mexican, I know all too well what it is to shoot on one's feet, and how good politicians are at it. I'm all for transparency, but I do believe New Zealander politicians are not being very smart about this, making huge a fuzz against a man and a project that have given them so much international recognition, etc., etc.

Perhaps Mr. Jackson or Wingnut, or whoever is directly concerned have their shaere of fault, it's true... but I truly believe what would be best for the country is to maintain that welcoming image they have created for themselves in terms of business and particularly the movie industry. Do you really want to rekindle in people's minds those two months when The Hobbit was going to be shot in Australia or Ireland?

Oh well, just my two cents.
 
With the upheaval and intensity of that conflict, it's not surprising that more would surface and challenges would be made. I'm sure they are prepared for any problems and that the legal-reps for the production were anticipating this and have it all covered.

It would have been a shocker to me if there hadn't been more noise about any of this.
 
Didn't get me very far though, did it? [:)]

But really; I don't suppose anyone here has anything to worry about - I don't expect these proceedings will affect the making of the movies in any way.
 
However, I wouldn't let that excitement lead me to scoff at these so-called "social shenanigans." These sorts of disputes affect people's real lives, and concern grave issues of justice and morality. In the end, they are far more important than our films, and I imagine Tolkien would agree with that.

In any event, I think this CTU request will have absolutely no affect on the production, so we needn't worry.

We will have our Hobbit films! And, if recent reports are true, they will be refreshingly humorous.
 
but its where some of us live and work.
Of course if things do get troublesome the US can always send in the Marines (to quote Tom Lehrer).
 
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It's kind of sad in a way that this particular movie would be associated with this sort of thing. They are not talking about access to state secrets in wartime.

In any event, there are greater issues at stake here than our own desires to see the Hobbit come to life.
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