新西兰英语 354 Making The Hobbit movie

　　For the last month we have heard news of problems between the actors’ union and the people who are making the movie of “The Hobbit”. The book, written by Tolkien, came before “The Lord¹ of the Rings” trilogy. Sir Peter Jackson made those three movies and is now ready to make two movies of “The Hobbit”.
However, there have been problems with the actors’ union. The people in the union say that they just wanted to talk to the movie makers² about their pay and conditions of work but these talks have not happened. They want a union agreement not individual contracts. The actors’ union has been supported by actors’ unions overseas.
Sir Peter Jackson says that the actors’ behaviour means that they have had to delay the start of filming by a month. He also says that the film company, Warner Brothers, is coming to New Zealand on Monday because they are worried about this. The film will cost them $500m and they are frightened that they could lose a lot of money if the actors refuse to work in the middle of filming. Warner Brothers is considering moving the film to another country.
On Wednesday evening, 1,000 people marched in protest³ at the actors. Sir Richard Taylor of Weta Workshops led this march because he wants to work on this film and so do many other people in New Zealand. “The Lord of the Rings” movies brought many tourists to New Zealand to see where the films were made.
To learn more about the success of Sir Peter Jackson and Weta Workshops, listen to BAFTA Awards
Questions
1. Does it matter if “The Hobbit” movie is made in another country?
2. The Prime⁴ Minister will talk to Warner Brothers people who come here on Monday. What can he do?
3. Did you see “The Lord of the Rings”? Do you think you will want to see “The Hobbit”?

1 lord   

n.上帝，主；主人，长官；君主，贵族

参考例句：

• I know the Lord will look after him.我知道上帝会眷顾他的。
• How good of the Lord not to level it beyond repair!上帝多么仁慈啊，竟没有让这所房子损毁得不可收拾！

2 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 protest   

v.反对，抗议；宣称；n.抗议；宣称

参考例句：

• I can't pass the matter by without a protest.我不能对此事视而不见，我要提出抗议。
• We translated his silence as a protest.我们把他的沉默解释为抗议。

4 prime   

adj.首要的，主要的；最好的，第一流的

参考例句：

• The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
• He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。