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The Complete Tales: It's better than old socks.

quote:

"Our issue with New Line Cinema has only ever been about their refusal to account for financial anomalies that surfaced from a partial audit of The Fellowship of the Ring. Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the Fellowship audit with New Line for over a year but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative. This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes taking legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative.

For over two years, New Line has denied us the ability to audit The Two Towers and The Return of the King, despite repeated requests. Film auditing is a common and straightforward practice within the industry and we don't understand why New Line Cinema has taken this position.

In light of these circumstances, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to be involved in New Line Cinema's 40th Anniversary video. I have never discussed this video with any of the cast of The Lord of the Rings. The issues that Bob Shaye has with the cast pre-date this law suit by many years.

Fundamentally, our legal action is about holding New Line to it's contractual obligations and promises. It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make it personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so."   

quote:

ORIGINAL: Miksterious

What you people dont seem to be realising is the other side of the coin.

Jackson gave an interview to AICN where he absolutely refuted what Shaye has said:

quote:

"Our issue with New Line Cinema has only ever been about their refusal to account for financial anomalies that surfaced from a partial audit of The Fellowship of the Ring. Contrary to recent comments made by Bob Shaye, we attempted to discuss the issues raised by the Fellowship audit with New Line for over a year but the studio was and continues to be completely uncooperative. This has compelled us to file a lawsuit to pursue our contractual rights under the law. Nobody likes taking legal action, but the studio left us with no alternative.

For over two years, New Line has denied us the ability to audit The Two Towers and The Return of the King, despite repeated requests. Film auditing is a common and straightforward practice within the industry and we don't understand why New Line Cinema has taken this position.

In light of these circumstances, I didn't think it was appropriate for me to be involved in New Line Cinema's 40th Anniversary video. I have never discussed this video with any of the cast of The Lord of the Rings. The issues that Bob Shaye has with the cast pre-date this law suit by many years.

Fundamentally, our legal action is about holding New Line to it's contractual obligations and promises. It is regrettable that Bob has chosen to make it personal. I have always had the highest respect and affection for Bob and other senior management at New Line and continue to do so."   

Now this isnt just about money for Jackson, its money for his company and the people who work in it. New Line have fucked up with this before because the actors revolted due to them being underpaid as well.

Had Jackson not produced the epic brilliance that he did for the trilogy (and I dont think that it was fautless by any stretch of the imagination) he would've been very happy continuing with the films that he was making in the first place. On the other hand, if he hadnt...New Line would be bust and many many people working for New Line would have been made redundant. These films didnt just save New Line for the present, but they have continued to operate because of the tent-pole success that LotR brought them. New Line have made generally shite and unsuccessful films since then. So its only fair that they let Jackson find out whether him and his company deserve not MORE money for them, but the RIGHT amount of money.

Trust me, these comments by Shaye make it MORE likely that PJ will eventually film The Hobbit, not less likely. Just not with New Line.

Why?

Well, all the actors have declined to be in New Line's 40-year anniversary? Then you can bet your house on the fact that they'll decline to be in The Hobbit. So what you're going to get is a quickly knocked out version of a film without the original cast, original director, original special effects team (with something this ugly I cant see them turning against PJ on this one), original sets, original locations etc etc, all shrouded in controversy and full of petitions calling for PJ to do the job. This is now looking like an increasingly expensive and unappetising prospect for anyone to get involved in. I cant see them getting this up and running or even remotely successful (which is has to be if MGM, who have said that they want PJ in the job, agree to distribute it). So they'll either run out of time, or it wont get released and then another company will come in, see a guaranteed billion dollar franchise and pump $100 million in for PJ to film it.