Movie jobs head north as Hobbit delays continue

Film-maker Sir Peter Jackson can't guarantee The Hobbit will ever be made as concerns grow that a lack of jobs is causing movie industry workers to leave Wellington.

However, a spokesman for Jackson confirmed yesterday that the second of three Tintin movies will be shot in Wellington. Jackson will direct the film, with production duties going to Steven Spielberg – a reversal of their roles from the first film, to be released next year.

But Robert Baldock, of Wellington's Westside Studios, said shooting the film may not come in time to stop the drain of the capital's movie production talent. "If somebody was to come here with a major movie right now and wanted to get some talent, they might struggle because it's drifted north."

A factor leading to the talent drain is the film Kingdom Come. South Vineyard production company planned to make the movie but ended up owing investors more than $4.5 million. It is facing liquidation and has been given until July 26 to come up with $1m to pay creditors.

"There are a lot of people disillusioned, because Kingdom Come was a bridge between major productions with Peter Jackson."

Movie production workers, such as costume designers and set painters, had headed to Auckland where there was more work, Baldock said. "They're being offered three-year contracts on [TV show] Power Rangers. It is a lower rate than The Hobbit would offer, but they're looking for that continuity. Our movie reputation is drifting north."

Sir Ian McKellen was set to reprise his Lord of the Rings role as Gandalf in The Hobbit but told television's Good Morning show last week that he was now not so sure.

"Well, I'm not under contract and my time is running out and I'm enjoying working in the theatre and, frankly, I would like to race after doing Waiting For Godot, get on with doing another play, but we'll have to see. I don't give the producers the impression that I'm sitting waiting."

Influential website aintitcool.com – run by Jackson's friend Harry Knowles – quoted a well-placed source as being worried that delays in making The Hobbit would see Wellington lose talent. "What's of great concern to everyone right now is trying to stay on schedule and not slip back another year because we will start losing people – and that's increasingly difficult as each day passes."

Director Guillermo del Toro quit The Hobbit five weeks ago, saying the project had taken too long to get started and he wanted to work on other films. A replacement director and a start date for the two-part Lord of the Rings prequel have yet to be announced.

Jackson's spokesman, Matt Dravitzki, said: "We are working very hard to get The Hobbit made.

"In the event that The Hobbit did not go ahead, [Jackson's] Wingnut Films has a number of other projects in development. Tintin is currently in post-production at Weta Digital and the second Tintin film will be shot in Wellington in the future."

The first 3-D Tintin movie – The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn – is scheduled for release at Christmas next year.

The film industry contributes an estimated $285m a year to the Wellington economy.

Film Wellington spokeswoman Stacey Ferdinands said there were several potential projects in the pipeline, but would not give details.

Half the rights of The Hobbit films are owned by the embattled MGM studio, which owes about US$2billion (NZ$2.9b) and is on the verge of bankruptcy.