Kelly: 'Sorry, Jackson is not a brat'

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Trade union council president Helen Kelly has apologised for calling Peter Jackson a "spoiled brat" but is not sorry for backing industrial action that may see filming of The Hobbit moved overseas. Her apology comes as one of the newly cast stars in the Lord Of The Rings prequel speaks out about the dispute. Scottish actor Sylvester McCoy, famous for his role as sci-fi's Dr Who in the 1980s, was this weekend cast as wizard Radagast the Brown in the film. Speaking at the Armageddon Expo in Auckland yesterday, McCoy said he - like all of New Zealand - was still waiting to hear where and when filming would go ahead. More..
 
I'm glad she apologized, but she has to realize that her personal attack severely undermined her credibility. She's supposed to represent all trade workers, not just the actors, and she jeopardized the livelihoods of thousands of trade workers by taking sides.
 
Helen Kelly:
I personally regret calling Peter Jackson a brat. That was not helpful. I shouldn't have said that, because he is not a brat. He is clearly deeply hurt ... and it's not my style to usually get so personal.
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Instead of her saying, "That was not helpful", I think she would have been better off saying, "I am not helpful". She seems to have a knack for making bad situations worse, and is making this whole thing resemble high school drama.
 
I guess I just have a hard time accepting "public apologies" as genuine, since so many public figures tend to only make them to save face. But when it really comes down to it, she did say something out of frustration, realized it was a mistake, and tried smoothing things over. You are right, SirDennis, it is rather hypocritical of me to bash the basher. [unsure]
 
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BTW my comment wasn't directed at anyone in particular, so no worries.

Starting to think this might be the first production that could benefit from the establishment of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission though.
 
Apologies can be both cheap and self-serving. I am really not convinced that she's sorry for her comments, apart from the backlash they've caused.
 
"I personally regret calling Peter Jackson a brat. That was not helpful," said Kelly. "I shouldn't have said that, because he is not a brat. He is clearly deeply hurt ... and it's not my style to usually get so personal."


...but she's on my top-10 list... that's really only got 4 others on it. "not helpful"? "not my style...?" Nothing came from her but self-serving contempt.

She's scrambling to sound professional and not ego-driven.

Too late.


Bless McCoy! He's going to be a GREAT Radagast!! First, I was delighted the Wizard is being included... and now to have him is awesome!!
 
and I'd like to think it's sincere and not politically-driven.

I'm not normally a pessimist... but she's vexing me.

*bows to SirDennisC's quality* :)
 
about the overall impression you have of this woman - I was about to say, as usual, 'lady', but precisely, I cannot write that about her, because a true lady wouldn't have acted the way she did. I mean, not only towards Sir Peter, but also towards the very people she is supposed to represent and protect; she didnt 'even consult anybody before putting out those 'small' demands that were actually illegal, and then issuing this incredible boycott order that in my view was downright crazy.
A rather irresponsible person, I would say, and I'm really glad the Prime Minister said pointblank that those Union persons had shown 'minimal competence' or something like that!!! Well said!... [evil]
I have never used yet this sardonic smily, as usually I am very compassionate, and I tend to trust people, but with her, well, it is not so! [mad].
At least she now apologises, that's the only positive thing; even if it is not quite sincere, I give her the benefice of the doubt; but she must be rather jealous of Sir Peter's notoriety, to have spoken about him with such an unbelievable arrogance!!!
 
And the wording of the apology, and the timing, just... it seems she's trying to save face, and that she's not actually apologetic. I'm really not impressed with her.
 
...all of whom I have a great deal of admiration and affection for...

I would hate to throw anyone's apology back in their face so quickly and without a lot more information. For one thing, I don't find a video of this apology which would allow me to kind of read her tone or her facial expressions. For another thing, I don't know her or any other character involved in this issue well enough to completely damn or exonerate any of them.

I have a tendency to consult 'the book' for many matters of life. 'The book' being "Lord of the Rings". When I talked about this issue to my husband (who is not terribly interested but both of us have, I will admit, been members of unions.. .support the concept of collective bargaining.. and have seen and studied the consequences of a workplace where the workers have no say or power) I said something to the effect of: I don't know the true motivations of either side of this issue. But it seems to me that the union and/or the union spokespeople may have gone about this the wrong way. And now they seem entrenched in their position and cavalierly unwilling to rethink their approach. Sometimes, all it takes is "I'm sorry. I have strong feelings on this matter and I stand by those, but I think my approach was faulty and I'd like to try this again with a different ____ (tone / tactic / approach / etc)." I maintained -- as I spoke to the Mr. -- that an apology can go a long way.

When I did some personal self study of how the LOTR books had affected me, I finished it with this set of goals for myself:
May I find a way to keep Middle Earth as a symbol of centeredness—what my vaules are—and let that sense of center guide me in the ways of the world.

May I have:
Frodo’s courage
Sam’s faith
Merry and Pippin’s growth
Legolas’ far sight and awareness
Gimli’s willingness to change
Boromir’s willingness for self-examination, self-reflection
Gandalf’s connection and pity to all on earth
Aragorn’s humbleness and acceptance of duty

​
It actually took me a little time to figure out what the character of Boromir represented to me. But when I did, it seemed so right. Sometimes, we mess up. And when we do, we can posture and blame and explain or make excuses... or we can just fess up and admit it and apologize.

I choose to take this apology:
"I personally regret calling Peter Jackson a brat. That was not helpful," said Kelly. "I shouldn't have said that, because he is not a brat. He is clearly deeply hurt ... and it's not my style to usually get so personal."
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at face value. I don't sense, in those words alone, any backpedaling, blaming, conditions, or other qualifiers that would make me reject it as anything but sincere.

I understand that I am not as emotionally invested in this matter as some. I understand that I am perhaps more pro-union than some. But refusing an apology is a very strong action and I feel I need more information that I have here for me to have a right to do so. Of course, once I feel I have enough information to distrust a person, all the apologies in the world fail to move me.

I think we should ponder on something else. Some of us here are mad as h*ll. Peter and Fran and Philippa are pretty darn frustrated too. But Peter and Fran and Philippa need to work with the actors (to get the film made) and will need to - in some form - work with the union. I doubt, from what I seem to know about them, that they will reject all attempts to reconcile into a working relationship. I believe, that at some point, being good hearted people and good business people, that they will find a way - if they can - to come to the table to talk with the union and the actors (both union and non union).

If we, the fans, refuse to accept any effort at good will from the side we have labeled as WRONG, then are we really giving PJ, et. al, the room to do what they need to do to be effective filmmakers? We don't have to accept this apology... we may be wary... but I would counsel us not to throw it back in their faces.



Moving from apologies to more political thoughts: I will be honest that this sort of statement alarms me:
Stargate Atlantis actor Torri Higginson told the crowd, "If anyone knows him [Peter Jackson] tell him I'll work for free. F*** the unions."

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I don't begrudge him his opinion of the unions. But for masses of people (and masses may be too strong a word but I hear it used freely here and around the net) to say they will work for free when others will have more wealth heaped on to their already hefty coffers is, IMHO, insane. Believe me, the moguls in Hollywood love to hear that people are willing to work for free. Yeah... passion for art... that is enough... who needs to make a living?

I think we all donate our services for things we feel passionate about or we think will further our goals in life. But acting is, for many people, a living. They pay their rent, and buy life insurance, and save for their kids' education and their own retirement. They can't afford to work for free. And if they have to compete against people who will work for free then they will struggle. And if they are working on a project where no one is making money.. but they all feel passionate about it... then that's one thing. But if they are working on a project when they sweat blood and tears and sacrifice time with families... and now the dough is rolling in and they have made base rate and the company is tinkering with the numbers so those actors don't get one penny more... then yeah.. I'd be looking for a way to make sure that doesn't happen.

Did the unions go about this the right way? I don't know. I tend to think not. But if we want to sling around strong labels, then I think Higginson is a bit of an idiot to offer to work on The Hobbit for free when all that does is put more money in a Hollywood big-wig's pocket. Sometimes, we need to band together and ask for equity and fairness. And if I tried to do so in a way that was ill-thought out and blew up in my face, I hope I'd find the guts to fess up and apologize. But I wouldn't abandon the concept of collective bargaining. What I want and how I get it are related but two different things.
 
While I find myself not trusting both the union in question and Warners, I think you have put a good deal of things into context, and your listing of the qualities of our favorite characters made me take pause....you nailed Boromir, I totally agree..he reflected on his actions trying to take the ring, although too late. Will it be too late for NZ to save the Hobbit? Is the apology for calling PJ a brat too late? It seems like people are taking a step back from the edge, but time will tell....deep breaths, in and out....
I posted that I....not an actor....would work for second breakfasts, beer and pipe weed to make these films, before this really hit the fan....of course I would not get hired, it was my ernest thoughts but partially in jest, as I was incensed that 200 actors could possibly help destroy NZs film industry...
I don't think anyone replied to my post...after reading tons of posts and news I have a better understanding of what is happening and know that local actors are just as caught up in this outcome as producers and technicians....
I am hoping the movie shoots in NZ....
 
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