11 Nov 2010

Hobbit films 'seen as cash cow by unions'

2:54 pm on 11 November 2010

A co-writer of The Hobbit films says actors' unions viewed the production as a big cash cow lumbering down the road.

Philippa Boyens' comments come as the Screen Production and Development Conference discusses the movies, production of which was said to have been at threat of being moved overseas amid a threatened actors' boycott.

Ms Boyens says that before union action began, the studio Warner Brothers had already offered a residual pool for actors.

She says she thinks the film was perceived as a lumbering cash cow and likened the unions' actions to putting a gun to producers' heads.