The Hobbit - Legal and Ethical Issues

The Hobbit Legal and Ethical Issues:

The rights of the Shire between Lord of the rings and The hobbit lead to the discussion of law fundamentals over a contract, and because the Shire is meant to evoke, its new contract is likely to be similar.

Customers of the Hobbit were questioning the difference between the book and film about Bilbo’s offer to give terms, or whether it was a counter offer.

For the film there was many contract counter offers due to disagreements based on legal issues on engagement and agreement.

Greed played a key factor due to having characters in Lord of the rings and The hobbit driving the narrative forward made the characters moral choices bogged down due to their actions.

Tolkien criticized those that made a judgment on Bilbo’s (humble, selfless character)

The film was seen by some people for the ethical treatment of animals as an unexpected cruelty once it was discovered that as many as 27 animals died because they were housed on a treacherous farm full of death traps, while many more were mistreated. Jackson has strongly denied the allegations saying that there was “no mistreatment, no abuse... absolutely none”. He protects his crew and Warner Brothers by blaming the farm where the animals were housed. 

126 respondents out of a group argue that the films transported themes of war, death, and betrayal, which are seen to be beyond the suitability for children to watch. For example, one respondent said: ‘the whole thing is unsuitable for children, in my opinion. There is too much war and death (e.g. burning)

The hobbit was filmed with a faster camera speed with a 48-frames-per-second camera, which is found to apparently trigger nausea. This requires the eye to sweep up and down faster than usual in close-ups to absorb detail on a big screen, causing a significant amount of eye strain. One audience member came out the movies saying "I left loving the movie but feeling sick." Another audience member said: "My eyes cannot take everything in, it's dizzying," he said. "Now I have a migraine." However, Jackson wanted to film in a Higher Frame Rate in an effort to make the film feel more immersive.

Legal and ethical issues surrounding Film:

•      Copyright is a big issue, therefore legal protection is advised.
•       When casting a crew, no audition should be excluded based on race, sex or disability. This provides equal opportunity, this act took effect in 2011 – replacing the 1995 equal opportunity act.
•       National security is another issue. Filmmakers and producers must be aware of certain laws such as official secrets act 1911.
•       Health and safety, cast and crew must be in a place of work that is safe to do so.  With this, a medic or health manager must be on set to make sure no one gets hurt.
•       Risk assessments have to take place, to ensure everyone’s health and safety is prioritized.
•       Directors, producers when casting or recruiting they must insure against liability for injury or illness. Employer liability insurance is compulsory, as set out by the employer liability act 1969.
•       Cast and crew must have a safe clean workplace, pay during illness, request for flexibility, breaks and to train.
•       Trademarks are an indication used by a business or company that defies that company and makes it stand out from all the other companies – making it different.
•       Confidentiality. Within the Film or TV crew and cast, the information based on the story or what is going to happen must be kept behind closed doors unless permission is given. This is to exclude the likes of journalists that want to spill spoilers.  This act was put into place in 1991.
•       Exclusivity act stops people from working with more than one other project or crew. Meaning when working on a project first that takes priority and not the new opportunity, if the other project needs you, they must work around your free schedule.
•       Ethical issues are monitored hence regulators for TV and Film so, no references or acts offend viewers. Also, linking to ethical – representational issues shouldn’t have an effect on choosing an actor for the cast.
•       Also with representation, of places, objects, events, cultural identities, people or abstract concept mustn’t be portrayed negatively or harming in the film or show.
•       Reporters must approach a situation take both sides, respecting their company and the producers of a show.
•       TV producers and Film producers must have a responsibility to protect children and younger actors from unsuitable content and nor allowed over 3hrs a day on set ‘filming’
•       Privacy is important, workers on the project or actors and producers in general mustn’t be forced to leak information, must be by choice.