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Hollywood actress/producer attacks LOTR production - Lord of the Rings news - J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings

October 10, 2000 at 22:04:19

The Press has published an article in which a Hollywood actress/producer has blasted Peter Jackson's 'The Lord of the Rings' production for exploiting extras.

Actress Anna Wilding (note: her Web site's plug-in may crash your browser and/or PC) is visiting family in New Zealand and she spoke with The Press, sharing her thoughts on the contracts that Three Foot Six Productions are writing with extras, especially those who are performing as Rohirrim with horses.

Comparing the conditions and pay the extras as saddled with to slavery, Wilding has been extremely critical of the film's management. Three Foot Six publicist Claire Raskind has responded by pointing out that all the extras were informed before signing their contracts of what the pay scale and working conditions would be. Although Wilding is urging the extras to go on strike (a bit lit, perhaps, given that principal photography wraps in a few more weeks), Raskind insists many of the extras would gladly pay for the privilege of appearing in the movies.

Wilding's Web site claims she is an award-winning actress, but her awards page only lists Internet awards and links. No filmography is posted on the Web site.

Wilding has appeared in the television movies "Rainbow Warrior Conspiracy" and "The New Romantics" and theatrical films "Highway 61" and "Walk, Don't Walk". She produced or helped produce two of the films and has also appeared on New Zealand's renowned Shortland Street in 1992.