A producer and aspiring actor, in addition to a manufacturing firm with which he’s a principal, are suing a second producer and his agency in a dispute over alleged unpaid commissions and different guarantees regarding financing of three movies with the likes of Chris Pine, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, Anna Kendrick and Kate Beckinsale.
Matthew Dwyer and Rescue Dog Productions LLC introduced the lawsuit towards producer Jeff Elliott in addition to Chad Moore, Elliott’s affiliate government with their firm, Bricknell and Broadbridge International, alleging fraud and breach of contract. The plaintiffs search unspecified compensatory damages and restitution within the go well with introduced Friday.
The movies at situation are Poolman, which is Pine’s directorial debut; The Dating Game, which is Kendrick’s directorial debut and Canary Black, which stars Beckinsale.
“It is clear to plaintiffs now that they fell victim to a shell game-type con perpetrated by defendants, one in which defendants moved from film to film, making more and more promises to plaintiffs, having plaintiffs raise more and more financing based on those promises, only to take the funds plaintiffs raised and run, without honoring their end of the bargain,” reads the go well with.
Representatives for Elliott and Moore couldn’t be instantly reached for remark.
According to the go well with, the plaintiffs had been launched to Elliott earlier this 12 months and Elliott indicated that he was urgently attempting to lift cash for Poolman, a function movie starring Chris Pine, Susan Sarandon, Annette Bening and Danny DeVito.
“Elliot told plaintiffs that he needed to raise the $1.1 million for the film in two days,” the go well with states.
In change, Elliot allegedly promised Rescue Dog 12% to 12.5% fee on funds raised, 3.5% fairness within the movie, government producer credit for each Dwyer and his fellow Rescue Dog government, Michael Hollingsworth, together with information releases within the leisure media saying Rescue Dog, Dwyer and Hollingsworth as producers.
The defendants additionally promised Dwyer, an aspiring actor, a task in Poolman as a waiter serving Pine and different actors in a scene, the go well with alleges.
Ultimately, Rescue Dog was paid solely $150,000 in commissions for its work, Dwyer and Hollingsworth didn’t obtain producing credit or point out within the commerce media and Dwyer didn’t get his performing function, based on the go well with. Elliott advised Dwyer he had a greater function awaiting him in Netflix’s The Dating Game, which was to star Anna Kendrick, the go well with states.
Elliott started speaking to the plaintiffs in June about elevating cash for The Dating Game and agreed to pay the plaintiffs a ten% fee on any monies raised by the plaintiffs for the movie, the go well with states. Elliott additionally allegedly advised Dwyer that the plaintiff’s performing function in The Dating Game was assured and that he can be paid $37,500 for 4 to 6 scenes within the movie, together with a “juicy role across from Anna Kendrick.”
Dwyer and Rescue Dog raised $1.1 million for The Dating Game, however a few of the cash was later allegedly allotted to manufacturing of Canary Black, the go well with states.
Dwyer and Rescue Dog had been by no means paid the promised commissions, nor was Dwyer given any function within the movie, regardless that manufacturing went forward in October, based on the go well with.
In late August and early September, Elliott allegedly made a few of the identical fee, publicity and performing guarantees to the plaintiffs regarding the Kate Beckinsale movie Canary Black, saying he wanted $4.4 million in financing.
“Elliott went so far as to offer up five or six potential roles in Canary Black for Dwyer and told him that he could take his pick,” the go well with signifies.
The plaintiffs had been capable of elevate $2.05 million for Canary Black, however as soon as once more they didn’t get the guarantees for which they’d bargained, based on the go well with, which alleges the defendants used a “bait and switch” technique to acquire the plaintiffs’ help with fundraising, solely to renege on all the guarantees that the plaintiffs relied on in return for his or her help with fundraising.
After the final funds raised by the plaintiffs for Canary Black reached the defendants’ checking account, Elliott and Moore “stopped returning Dwyer’s phone calls, going radio silent for several weeks,” the go well with alleges.
City News Service contributed to this report.
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