Peter Jackson blasts Oz Union calling for global actor boycott of 'Hobbit' film

Auckland, Oct 1(ANI): 'The Hobbit' producer Sir Peter Jackson has come out swinging against the Australian union calling for a world actors boycott of the New Zealand film.

Defending the record of his production company, Wingnut Films, Jackson said that the fees New Zealand actors have received over the past 10 years have been "consistently fair and generous".

"For years our company WingNut Films has hired actors on terms and conditions that are among the best and most generous in New Zealand," The New Zealand Herald quoted Jackson, as saying.

"We have always treated cast and crew with kindness and respect, because it is the right thing to do, not because it is enshrined in an industry code of practice."

"I am a firm supporter of unions, but when a tiny minority is empowered to endanger the livelihoods of so many people, something is very wrong," he added.

The controversy arose after the Australian Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance called for a worldwide boycott of the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy, as Jackson had refused to enter into a union-negotiated agreement with the actors. (ANI)