SAG and AFTRA Members May Now Accept Work on ‘The Hobbit’
NZ Actors’ Equity on Monday, October 18th, recommended that the international performer unions of FIA withdraw their respective member advisories prohibiting members from accepting employment on the theatrical motion pictures “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again”.
In light of this advisory and the recommendation from NZ Actors’ Equity, SAG and AFTRA hereby notifies all members that they may now accept employment on “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” under Screen Actors Guild contract terms and conditions. Click Here for details.
Casting on the two movies based on J.R.R Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”, is underway in Los Angeles and New Zealand. Peter Jackson will be directing the two-part Lord of The Rings prequel. Guillermo del Toro was previously set to direct “The Hobbit” films, however he pulled out of the project on June 1, 2010 and cited excessive delays to the shooting start date as the reason he quit. Guillermo del Toro had to leave the project due to contractual obligations with other studios.
Peter Jackson directed all three “Lord of the Rings” films, which earned a total of 30 Academy Award nominations and 17 Academy Awards. Jackson will shoot “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” back-to-back in Digital 3-D, using the latest camera and stereo technology.
Principal photography on “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” will begin February, 2011 in New Zealand.
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Thursday October 28, in New Zealand that he had reached an agreement with Warner Bros. executives “that will enable the two Hobbit movies to be directed by Sir Peter Jackson to be made in New Zealand.” Key said that he had assured the Warner executives that labor laws in the country would be changed to define more clearly the differences between a contract worker and a studio employee.
Key also agreed to provide an additional $7.5 million tax rebate for each Hobbit movie on top of the 15 percent tax break that the country already provides. In addition, he said that the country will contribute $10 million to a joint marketing deal with Warner Bros.
● “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is currently slated to hit theaters December 14, 2012.
● “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” is currently slated to hit theaters December 13, 2013.
Casting Information for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again”:
You MUST have New Zealand Tax number and be able to legally work in the country. You must be either a New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident or have a temporary working visa that would see you through the entire filming schedule. NZ law says they must hire locals before they can even consider bringing in overseas people, unless they perform a task that can not be performed by locals.
Note: If you are under 30 years old, you can often get a one or two year Working Holiday Visa for New Zealand, that will allow you to visit, live there, and earn money as you go. If you get it soon, you should be there in time for the filming of The Hobbit.
Inquire at your local NZ Embassy, or check out their website: www.immigration.govt.nz
Principal Actor Casting
New Zealand:
See the post titled Headshot and Resume Information regarding how to submit for acting roles.
Please submit photos and resumes by mail only.
No phone calls or personal drop-offs.
Liz Mullane Casting
“The Hobbit”
17 Taipakupaku Road
Karaka Bay
Wellington, New Zealand 6022
lmullane@ihug.co.nz
Los Angeles:
Victoria Burrows
Scot Boland
“The Hobbit”
333 W. Washington Blvd.
PO Box 309
Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
Extras Casting:
Click Here for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” extras casting information.
Production Companies:
Do NOT send photos and resumes to the production companies (they will most likely end up in the trash can), they do not cast the films. They hire casting directors who sort through the thousands of submissions and hold the acting auditions.
3 Foot 7 Ltd.
PO Box 15-208
Miramar Wellington 6003
New Zealand
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc. (MGM)
10250 Constellation Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Warner Bros. Pictures
4000 Warner Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91522-0001
New Line Cinema
116 N. Robertson Blvd.
Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Key Creatives Creating, LLC
9595 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 800
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Producers:
Peter Jackson
Fran Walsh
Ken Kamins
Callum Greene
Carolynne Cunningham
Philippa Boyens
Writers:
Peter Jackson
Frank Walsh
Philippa Boyens
Guillermo del Toro
Director:
Peter Jackson
Starring:
Martin Freeman – Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen – Gandalf
Orlando Bloom – Legolas
Cate Blanchett – Galadriel
Elijah Wood – Frodo
Hugo Weaving – Elrond
Stephen Fry – Master of Laketown
Andy Serkis – Gollum
Lee Pace – King Thranduil
Richard Armitage – Thorin Oakenshield
Leonard Nimoy – Smaug
Christopher Lee – Saruman
Story:
The adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” will be made into two live action films. Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo alone and unaided who had to confront the great dragon Smaug, the terror of an entire countryside.
