Hmmm. I hadn't heard this yet...

[Owain]

"Special effects company Weta Digital risks losing lucrative post-production work if The Hobbit goes overseas – with no guarantee it will be involved at all."

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/4270646/Hobbit-fans-warned-we-could-lose-it-all

This doesn't really make any sense to me at all. Losing the production but the post-production? Wow! You aren't going to get any better work in the world than from Park Road Post or Weta Digital.

 

[Welsh hero]

this CAN NOT happen.

When pepole say how can the film change with out the hobbit, well here is the reason. Weta are one of the best in the world, and the only ones that can work on the hobbit

 

[Owain]

And up until now it seemed that the post-production was safe.

The article states that CO of New Line Cinema, Toby Emmerich and a legal staff are the heavy hitters from Warner Bros. visiting New Zealand.

 

[Flagg]

Weta may not be guaranteed to work on post-production if the film moves, but there's still a strong possibility that they will. Jackson still has considerable clout, in spite of Warners ultimately calling the shots. If he wants Weta to work on the film, I think that's probably how it will happen.

If it comes to the worst, what special effects company do you think should take over from Weta? I think Industrial Light & Magic could be a good replacement. They have done some very impressive work in the past, and I assume that the millions of dollars worth of pre-pre-production work done by Weta and GdT would be preserved and incorporated into the films in any case.

 

[shadowdog]

I can't imagine a project like the Hobbit seeking assurances and guarantees from the US government before agreeing to film in the US. Very Strange.

 

[Flagg]

that one large film leaving the US wouldn't destroy the entire US film industry.