The title of the world’s most “unfilmable film” has recently hung around the neck of “Don Quixote,” a novel by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes.  This 400 year old work of fiction is as much celebrated in literary circles as it is maligned in Hollywood board rooms.  The Soviets pulled off a so-so effort in the 50s but in America all we’ve managed is a TV version starring John Lithgow that I would not recommend adding to your Netflix queue anytime soon.  More famously, the story of this chivalrous gentleman sits unfinished in movies attempted by Orson Welles and Terry Gilliam.  The later was turned into a terrific documentary on the proposed curse of filming Quixote called Lost in La Mancha that is a must see.

However, with a saga of never ending production hell to rival the Lord of the Rings trilogy itself, J.R.R.

Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” is quickly trying to take the crown of the most “unfilmable.”  It’s been three years since director Peter Jackson announced his plans to film a prequel to his Lord of the Rings trilogy and since that brief moment of nerd happiness, it’s been all downhill.  Arguments with the studio, New Line, led to lawsuits from both Jackson and the Tolkien family, then MGM (who was in on the distribution deal) ran into major financial woes casting a shadow on the production.  More recently, acclaimed director Guillermo Del Toro dropped out after two years of work on the movie.  And now, with Jackson agreeing to helm the project himself and things looking up, The International Federation of Actors and the Screen Actors Guild are encouraging actors to stay away from the movie because of some non-union complaints from a local New Zealand guild.  SAG was quick to remind its members that work on this film is in violation of their bylaws and could result in expulsion.  And by “expulsion” and “members” they are pointing the finger at who, Cate Blanchett?  Ian McKellen?  yeah, I see that happening.

Jackson has some colorful comments about the moves from the unions and so far the studios are defending him as well.  I don’t think anyone sees this as an entirely benevolent play from SAG etc., especially seeing as The Hobbit will be basically an identical production to the three LOTR movies already made in New Zealand.  There is a question of financial gain for the accusers to be sure and as long as the filmmakers can show they are acting in good faith and attempting to make the movie on a level playing field, I don’t see how any of this will derail production at this time.

The problem I have with this move from SAG is that it is a little late to the game.  This isn’t a move to create better working environments in New Zealand, its a play against runaway production, a problem that actor’s unions have overlooked for decades because frankly, it doesn’t generally affect their bottom line.  Runaway production hits the pockets of below the line talent and craftsmen, people who can’t move from state to state or country to country to work.  Actors can do just that, so why all of a sudden are groups like SAG and IFA interested?  Possibly because they see a weakness they can exploit with The Hobbit’s troubled beginnings?  Who knows, but I don’t think Jackson’s accusations of “power grabbing” are that far off.  This is Hollywood politics taken to the Kiwis and hopefully, it won’t keep what is sure to be a great movie away from the fans who love Tolkien’s work so dearly.