It looks like the force is with Rian Johnson in a lawsuit from his ex-agent that sought a 10 percent share of his pay for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, as a California judge has sustained his demurrer to the complaint.
Agent Brian Dreyfuss in May 2016 sued Johnson, along with his producing partner Ram Bergman, claiming the director owed him commission from the Star Wars franchise — even though those deals were negotiated after Johnson and Dreyfuss parted ways.
The courtroom battle was paused a few months later while the parties waited for the California Labor Commissioner to weigh in on a ...
Agent Brian Dreyfuss in May 2016 sued Johnson, along with his producing partner Ram Bergman, claiming the director owed him commission from the Star Wars franchise — even though those deals were negotiated after Johnson and Dreyfuss parted ways.
The courtroom battle was paused a few months later while the parties waited for the California Labor Commissioner to weigh in on a ...
- 12/16/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It looks like the force is with Rian Johnson in a lawsuit from his ex-agent that sought a 10 percent share of his pay for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, as a California judge has sustained his demurrer to the complaint.
Agent Brian Dreyfuss in May 2016 sued Johnson, along with his producing partner Ram Bergman, claiming the director owed him commission from the Star Wars franchise — even though those deals were negotiated after Johnson and Dreyfuss parted ways.
The courtroom battle was paused a few months later while the parties waited for the California Labor Commissioner to weigh in on a ...
Agent Brian Dreyfuss in May 2016 sued Johnson, along with his producing partner Ram Bergman, claiming the director owed him commission from the Star Wars franchise — even though those deals were negotiated after Johnson and Dreyfuss parted ways.
The courtroom battle was paused a few months later while the parties waited for the California Labor Commissioner to weigh in on a ...
- 12/16/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
It's a high seas haunting in the new movie Haunting of the Mary Celeste, which will be available on digital services starting October 23rd, and we have an exclusive clip just for Daily Dead readers!
"Supernatural thriller film Haunting Of The Mary Celeste is slated for a release on demand and on digital, October 23 via Vertical Entertainment. Emily Swallow, Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Alice Hunter (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”), Dominic Devore (“P-Valley”),Pierre Adeli and Ava Acres (Free Ride) star.
Swallow stars as Rachel, a concerned researcher whose team who has set out to sea to prove that the disappearance of a family and crew from a merchant ship was for reasons having to do with the supernatural. Her theory that those on the Mary Celeste vanished into a “rift” between dimensions proves true as the boat breaks down and her crew begins to vanish one by one.
The true...
"Supernatural thriller film Haunting Of The Mary Celeste is slated for a release on demand and on digital, October 23 via Vertical Entertainment. Emily Swallow, Richard Roundtree (Shaft), Alice Hunter (“DC’s Legends of Tomorrow”), Dominic Devore (“P-Valley”),Pierre Adeli and Ava Acres (Free Ride) star.
Swallow stars as Rachel, a concerned researcher whose team who has set out to sea to prove that the disappearance of a family and crew from a merchant ship was for reasons having to do with the supernatural. Her theory that those on the Mary Celeste vanished into a “rift” between dimensions proves true as the boat breaks down and her crew begins to vanish one by one.
The true...
- 10/22/2020
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
On March 20, 2014, Rian Johnson had a momentous meeting that would shape his career and land him in court for years. On that day, the director was presented with the opportunity to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII. Johnson didn't immediately commit. Instead, he told Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy he'd think about it. But the meeting provoked a different move on the director's part. The following day, Johnson decided to fire his agent, Brian Dreyfuss, who had been representing him for about a decade.
Why did he do it? The reason was made clear in a ...
Why did he do it? The reason was made clear in a ...
- 2/21/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
On March 20, 2014, Rian Johnson had a momentous meeting that would shape his career and land him in court for years. On that day, the director was presented with the opportunity to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII. Johnson didn't immediately commit. Instead, he told Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy he'd think about it. But the meeting provoked a different move on the director's part. The following day, Johnson decided to fire his agent, Brian Dreyfuss, who had been representing him for about a decade.
Why did he do it? The reason was made clear in a ...
Why did he do it? The reason was made clear in a ...
- 2/21/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Star Wars: Episode VIII helmer Rian Johnson is now piloting a campaign that might be described as the talent strikes back. In March, Johnson was dragged to court by his former agent Brian Dreyfuss, who claimed entitlement to 10 percent of all commissionable projects including Star Wars. Not only is Johnson resisting the demand, he's now returning fire by seeking to have Dreyfuss disgorge past commissions from past works. Dreyfuss began representing Johnson in 2002 as an agent at Kohner Agency and helped raise money for Johnson's first feature-length film, Brick. Four years later, Dreyfuss formed his own firm, Featured Artists Agency, and
read more...
read more...
- 5/13/2016
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rian Johnson isn’t exactly a household name, to the level of a Steven Spielberg or a Martin Scorsese, but he’s about to receive a jolt of publicity once his name is associated with Star Wars: Episode VIII. But with that attention often comes headaches, such as a new lawsuit Johnson is facing because a former colleague is trying to slice off a piece of the director’s sure-to-be-big Star Wars pie. With Rian Johnson busy preparing Star Wars: Episode VIII for its December 15, 2017 release date, The Hollywood Reporter reports that Johnson’s former agent, Brian Dreyfuss, is suing the director for a breach of implied contract. Basically, he’s claiming that he is owed 10 percent on commission on “any and all projects he facilitated,” up to and including Star Wars: Episode VIII. The complaint claims that when Johnson brought CAA on ...
- 3/20/2016
- cinemablend.com
Director Rian Johnson has been hit with a breach of contract and fiduciary duty lawsuit from his former agent, who claims he deserves 10 percent of the director’s “Star Wars” earnings. Agent Brian Dreyfuss’ lawsuit states that he helped arrange a meeting between Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Johnson in 2012 but that the director told him he wasn’t interested in pursuing the company’s projects, the Associated Press reported. The complaint, filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, states Dreyfuss was fired in March 2014, around a year before Johnson confirmed he will direct the eighth film in the “Star Wars” franchise.
- 3/19/2016
- by Debbie Emery
- The Wrap
There's bad blood behind the scenes of the next Star Wars movie. Rian Johnson, the film's writer-director, is being sued by his former agent, Brian Dreyfuss, who claims he helped Johnson get the gig but is now being cut out of his 10% commission. Filed today in Los Angeles Superior Court, the breach of implied contract suit (read it here) claims that Ram Bergman, who produced Johnson's last three films and is producing Star Wars: Episode VIII, has been conspiring for…...
- 3/19/2016
- Deadline
Rian Johnson hasn't finished directing Star Wars: Episode VIII, but he's already being sued over the film. Agent Brian Dreyfuss is suing Johnson for breach of implied contract, claiming the director is refusing to pay him his 10 percent commission, according to the complaint filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. Producer Ram Bergman is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit. Dreyfuss claims Bergman "orchestrated much of Johnson's business life" and "adopted a course of conduct to marginalize Dreyfuss and limit his influence." According to the complaint, Dreyfuss began representing Johnson early in his career and
read more...
read more...
- 3/19/2016
- by Ashley Cullins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rian Johnson is as cold-blooded as Boba Fett ... so claims his ex-agent who says the director axed him right before he signed on to direct "Star Wars: Episode VIII" ... just to dodge the bill. Brian Dreyfuss claims in a new lawsuit he took on Johnson as a client before the guy ever directed a single film ... even getting his own dad to invest in Johnson's debut flick, "Brick." Dreyfuss claims his deal with Johnson called...
- 3/18/2016
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Phase 4 has acquired North American rights to "Free Ride" starring Anna Paquin and directed by Shana Betz. It's the first film produced by Casm, Paquin's production company with Stephen Moyer. Written by Betz and based on her own life story, Paquin stars as a single mother who moves to Florida and gets pulled into the high-stakes drug trade.The drama also stars Cam Gigandet and Drea De Matteo. Producers are Susan Dynner, Cerise Hallam Larkin, Chris Swinney and Paquin; executive producers are Mark Larkin and Moyer. The deal was negotiated by Phase 4's Larry Greenberg and Katharyn Howe with Paradigm's Nick LoPiccolo and attorney Ron Levin on behalf of the filmmakers. Featured Artists Agency's Brian Dreyfuss reps Betz and was heavily involved in packaging the movie. Cargo Entertainment is handling international sales.
- 5/19/2013
- by Indiewire
- Indiewire
Breaking: Cargo Entertainment has acquired international rights to Free Ride, a Shana Betz-directed crime drama that stars Anna Paquin and Twilight Saga‘s Cam Gigandet. True Blood star Paquin plays a single mom who moves to Florida with her daughters to try and make a better life but gets caught up in the drug-trade business in the late 1970s. Gigandet plays Paquin’s love interest. Betz, who’s making her directorial debut, wrote the script based on her own life story. The film also stars Liana Liberato, Ava Acres, Drea De Matteo, Jeff Hephner and Paquin’s True Blood cohort Brit Morgan. Cerise Hallam Larkin, Susan Dynner, and Paquin are producing and Mark Larkin and Stephen Moyer are exec producers. Lindsay called Betz’s story “riveting and awe-inspiring.” Paradigm’s Nick LoPiccolo brokered the deal with Ronald J. Levin and Cargo’s Mark Lindsay and Marina Grasic, and Featured Artists Agency...
- 4/25/2013
- by MIKE FLEMING JR
- Deadline
With the publication of the 2010 Black List another compilation of the year's best unproduced screenplays has arrived. This is the fifth year that The Black List has been in existence, and its purpose is to shine a spotlight on what 290 film executives think are some of the best creative executions of ideas worthy for the big screen.
To be nominated and included on The Black List a screenplay can't have been released in 2010. As well, the minimum number of votes that a screenplay needed to have to warrant inclusion on the list is five. Several of the projects listed on Tbl are in development and will be released in the next twelve months. Others might have heat but take years to reach theaters, and there are also many that will never be greenlighted.
In the words of the creators of The Black List, don't take this assembly of screenplays to...
To be nominated and included on The Black List a screenplay can't have been released in 2010. As well, the minimum number of votes that a screenplay needed to have to warrant inclusion on the list is five. Several of the projects listed on Tbl are in development and will be released in the next twelve months. Others might have heat but take years to reach theaters, and there are also many that will never be greenlighted.
In the words of the creators of The Black List, don't take this assembly of screenplays to...
- 12/15/2010
- by Patrick Sauriol
- Corona's Coming Attractions
Back in 2004, a list was compiled of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood of that year. This came to be known as The Black List. It was all started by a young executive at Leonardo DiCaprio’s production company Appian Way, who polled 90+ peers to send him their 10 favorite, new, unproduced screenplays to read over the holidays. It has since become a tradition at the end of every year, in December, to release this list, which is voted on by a group of individuals in the entertainment industry from producer assistants, talent agency individuals, and many people involved with film development all the way up to VP's.
The 2010 Black List is here, and thanks to Deadline we have the list of best unproduced screenplays. Most of the scripts we've heard of, many of them are in production, some have already wrapped filming, they just wont be released until next year.
The 2010 Black List is here, and thanks to Deadline we have the list of best unproduced screenplays. Most of the scripts we've heard of, many of them are in production, some have already wrapped filming, they just wont be released until next year.
- 12/13/2010
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
The Black List has been released. The annual list is compiled with a poll of 300 (up from last year's 250) development executives and high-level assistants, and contains a ranking of the hot screenplays making the rounds in Hollywoodland, which were written in, or are somehow uniquely associated with, 2010 and will not be released in theaters during this calendar year. Basically, the black list contains the hottest projects in Hollywood that you haven't heard of yet. Note: The headline is a slightly inaccurate, because a lot of these screenplays have already been acquired (six of the top ten listed), a bunch are in production now, and some have even finished production. One of this year's top ten screenplays, J.C. Chandor's Margin Call, about the last 24 hours at now-defunct investment bank Lehman Brothers is already in the can and set to premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival with Chandor at the helm...
- 12/13/2010
- by Peter Sciretta
- Slash Film
Frank Leonard is the most popular man in Hollywood today. This fine December day marks the release of the 6th annual Black List, a ranked collection of the top un-produced screenplays in the town, compiled by Leonard. Last year the top script was The Muppet Man from Christopher Weekes about “the life and times of the late Jim Henson.” Coming in second was Aaron Sorkin‘s The Social Network script, which is a current frontrunner to sweep the Oscars. The year before was The Beaver, now starring Mel Gibson and set for a release in 2011.
The top one this year, College Republicans, has Shia Labeouf and Paul Dano attached. As for the rest of the list, I’ll be seeing Margin Call (pictured above) at Sundance 2011 and Safe House goes into production next year. We also reported on Oldboy director Park Chan-wook‘s English language debut with Carey Mulligan attached,...
The top one this year, College Republicans, has Shia Labeouf and Paul Dano attached. As for the rest of the list, I’ll be seeing Margin Call (pictured above) at Sundance 2011 and Safe House goes into production next year. We also reported on Oldboy director Park Chan-wook‘s English language debut with Carey Mulligan attached,...
- 12/13/2010
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Peter Douglas is going retro with his Montecito based indie Vincent Pictures and focusing only on remakes and sequels of such interesting 1960s film fare as director John Frankenheimer's. Not surprisingly, most of the rights already secured are from films that his father Kirk Douglas produced or starred in, with Peter self-financing the acquisitions and intending to form partnerships with established filmmakers who have existing distribution, production, and financing deals. But many of these movies were iconic, so the pressure will be on to ensure these modern reinterpretations live up to their reputations. The list includes Seven Days In May, the gripping 1964 political thriller from Frankenheimer who directed one of Kirk's best performances, Seconds, the 1966 cult classic elevated because Frankenheimer coaxed Rock Hudson's best dramatic work, and Grand Prix, which featured Frankenheimer's fab racing footage, became one of the 10 highest grossing films of 1966, and won Academy Awards for Best Sound Effects,...
- 11/10/2010
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.