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MEDIA RELEASE

WELLINGTON – Wednesday, 27 October 2010

"I Was Never Asked For A Meeting...Not Without a Gun to my head."

In an email circulated yesterday to members of Actor's Equity from their executive thefollowing claim is made:

"All NZ Equity sought was to meet with the production and discuss the conditions under which performers would be engaged....This request to meet was backed by the International Federation of Actors (FIA) and performers’ unions around the world including SAG and Equity UK. The request was in the first instance made privately, without the glare of themedia on August 17. "

Today Peter Jackson released the August 17th letter which was addressed not to himself,but to the US directors of 3 Foot 7 Limited. "I was not being asked to meet, I was copied ona request by the union to enter into collective bargaining with the US Directors of Warner Brothers production company, 3 Foot 7 Limited."The August 17

letter, attached, reads:

Recently, The International Federation of Actors (FIA) became aware that the production of “The Hobbit” intends to hire performers under non-union contracts. For this reason FIA, at itsmost recent meeting, unanimously passed the following motion:“Resolved, that the International Federation of Actors urges each of its affiliates to adopt instructions to their members that no member of any FIA affiliate will agree to act in thetheatrical feature film “The Hobbit” until such time as the producer has entered into acollective bargaining agreement with the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance for productionin New Zealand providing for satisfactory terms and conditions for all performers employed on the production”.FIA therefore encourages you to meet immediately with representatives of the MediaEntertainment and Arts Alliance in order to reach an agreement covering all performersengaged on this production.In the first instance could you please make contact with Simon Whipp of the MediaEntertainment & Arts Alliance."