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Wellington - New Zealand actor Sam Neill on Wednesday appealed for "sweet reason" in a union dispute threatening to derail production of The Hobbit in his homeland, advising both sides to talk over a cup of tea.
Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson has threatened to move his latest Tolkien saga from New Zealand over alleged "bully boy" tactics from unions, prompting claims from actors that workers on his sets are being short-changed.
Neill, whose credits include Jurassic Park and The Piano, expressed dismay at the "anger and hysteria" the row has generated, saying everyone wanted to see The Hobbit made in New Zealand.
"The sooner we see calm and sweet reason return the better," he told the Otago Daily Times from Canada, where he is working on his latest film.
"This is not hard. Shaking hands and a cup of tea should do it."
Politicised
Neill also advised politicians to stay out of the dispute surrounding the troubled two-part prequel to Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.
"Unless they wish to calm the situation or indeed mediate, our politicians should absolutely be quiet," he said. "The last thing we need here is for the situation to be politicised."
New Zealand's conservative Prime Minister John Key this week urged unions not to hold Jackson's production to "ransom".
Key's government has also backed the director's contention that he cannot strike a collective agreement with the actors' union under New Zealand industrial laws.
Boycott
The Hollywood studios backing Jackson have said they are scouting alternative locations because of the dispute, with Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia and eastern Europe all potentially in the frame.
But the union, NZ Actors Equity, has called for an international boycott of The Hobbit after accusing producers of refusing to recognise its right to negotiate minimum standards for its members.
Jackson says the union, which is linked to Australia's Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, is unfairly targeting his production as part of a campaign to muscle in on the New Zealand film industry.
Listening
Neill, who turned down a major role in the original Lord of the Rings films due to prior commitments, urged both sides to be open to dialogue, adding "it doesn't help to have lots of people yelling from the sideline".
"Both parties, it seems to me, need to sit down, take a deep breath, and begin talking and - more importantly - listening, in the friendly and co-operative way we do things in the New Zealand film industry," he said.
"And we all need to remember that Peter Jackson and his outfit and the actors of New Zealand have been very good for each other over the years."
The Hobbit has already been delayed by financial woes at studio MGM, prompting director Guillermo del Toro to quit the project in May.
Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson has threatened to move his latest Tolkien saga from New Zealand over alleged "bully boy" tactics from unions, prompting claims from actors that workers on his sets are being short-changed.
Neill, whose credits include Jurassic Park and The Piano, expressed dismay at the "anger and hysteria" the row has generated, saying everyone wanted to see The Hobbit made in New Zealand.
"The sooner we see calm and sweet reason return the better," he told the Otago Daily Times from Canada, where he is working on his latest film.
"This is not hard. Shaking hands and a cup of tea should do it."
Politicised
Neill also advised politicians to stay out of the dispute surrounding the troubled two-part prequel to Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.
"Unless they wish to calm the situation or indeed mediate, our politicians should absolutely be quiet," he said. "The last thing we need here is for the situation to be politicised."
New Zealand's conservative Prime Minister John Key this week urged unions not to hold Jackson's production to "ransom".
Key's government has also backed the director's contention that he cannot strike a collective agreement with the actors' union under New Zealand industrial laws.
Boycott
The Hollywood studios backing Jackson have said they are scouting alternative locations because of the dispute, with Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Australia and eastern Europe all potentially in the frame.
But the union, NZ Actors Equity, has called for an international boycott of The Hobbit after accusing producers of refusing to recognise its right to negotiate minimum standards for its members.
Jackson says the union, which is linked to Australia's Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, is unfairly targeting his production as part of a campaign to muscle in on the New Zealand film industry.
Listening
Neill, who turned down a major role in the original Lord of the Rings films due to prior commitments, urged both sides to be open to dialogue, adding "it doesn't help to have lots of people yelling from the sideline".
"Both parties, it seems to me, need to sit down, take a deep breath, and begin talking and - more importantly - listening, in the friendly and co-operative way we do things in the New Zealand film industry," he said.
"And we all need to remember that Peter Jackson and his outfit and the actors of New Zealand have been very good for each other over the years."
The Hobbit has already been delayed by financial woes at studio MGM, prompting director Guillermo del Toro to quit the project in May.
