Reports suggest landmark five-year legal battle is set to conclude with media giant reimbursing those who have undertaken unpaid work at the company since as far back as 2005
The two interns who won a landmark case against Fox film studio after working unpaid on the set of Black Swan have succeeded in their five-year campaign to push the studio into paying those who had undertaken unpaid work experience at the company, according to Deadline.
Fox, which lost and then appealed a landmark ruling in a lawsuit filed by former interns Alexander Footman and Eric Glatt in 2013, has decided to settle rather than take the case back to court.
Continue reading...
The two interns who won a landmark case against Fox film studio after working unpaid on the set of Black Swan have succeeded in their five-year campaign to push the studio into paying those who had undertaken unpaid work experience at the company, according to Deadline.
Fox, which lost and then appealed a landmark ruling in a lawsuit filed by former interns Alexander Footman and Eric Glatt in 2013, has decided to settle rather than take the case back to court.
Continue reading...
- 7/13/2016
- by Henry Barnes and agencies
- The Guardian - Film News
After a half-decade of fighting the Black Swan interns lawsuit, Fox said today that it has reached a settlement in the case that changed Hollywood. The deal puts the studio in the company of NBCUniversal, Lionsgate, Viacom and ICM Partners among those that have opted to settle such complaints rather than go to trial. “On July 8, 2016, the Plaintiffs Eric Glatt, Alexander Footman, Eden Antalik, and Kanene Gratts and Defendants Fox Searchlight Pictures, Inc. and Fox…...
- 7/12/2016
- Deadline
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday vacated much of the 2013 legal ruling won by two unpaid interns who sued Fox in 2011 for violation of labor statutes. The ruling also struck a blow to the cause of younger, less experienced interns and their attempts to file class-action suits over unpaid trainee programs. Alex Footman and Eric Glatt, both of whom worked as unpaid interns on the Fox Searchlight film “Black Swan,” sued in 2011 for what they felt were violations of minimum wage and overtime laws. A third intern, Eden Antalik, joined the case and attempted to make a class.
- 7/2/2015
- by Thom Geier and Joe Otterson
- The Wrap
Interns suffered a big setback on Thursday when the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals decided to vacate a federal judge's summary judgment ruling in favor of two interns who both worked on Fox Searchlight's Black Swan. Alex Footman and Eric Glatt brought suit in 2011 and contended that Fox's unpaid internship program violated minimum wage and overtime laws. In June 2013, a federal judge declared them the winner and also certified a class action over the internship programs of Fox Entertainment Group. The ruling soon led to many other lawsuits against media and entertainment companies, and large ones including NBCUniversal
read more...
read more...
- 7/2/2015
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
With the future of Corporate America internship programs on the line, Fox Entertainment Group has filed a petition before the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to have a federal judge's controversial ruling in June reviewed. This past summer, U.S. District Judge William Pauley granted summary judgment to Alex Footman and Eric Glatt, who both worked on Fox Searchlight's Black Swan and claimed that the company's unpaid internship program violated minimum wage and overtime laws. The judge determined that Searchlight was their "employer," as that term is defined in the Fair Labor Standards Act and New
read more...
read more...
- 10/2/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A former intern who worked on the 2010 ballet drama "Black Swan" and who won a judgment from Fox Searchlight Pictures is now asking that the company to stop dancing around the matter. An attorney for former intern Eric Glatt filed a memo in U.S. District Court in New York on Monday, asking that Fox Searchlight's request for a stay of all proceedings in the case be denied. Glatt's lawyer also asked the court to order Fox Searchlight to produce contact information for other members of the class in the class-action suit...
- 7/8/2013
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Fox Searchlight attorneys are apparently not writing checks out to its former interns without a prolonged battle. The media giant filed documents Tuesday, demonstrating a desire to appeal to the Second Circuit Court for answers on what the "Black Swan" production company considers outstanding questions in its case. Last month, Judge William H. Pauley III ruled that Fox Searclight intern Eric Glatt and fellow "Black Swan" intern Alexander Footman were entitled to payment for their work on the film under the Fair Labor Standards Act and New York labor law. Also read: Fox...
- 7/2/2013
- by Tony Maglio
- The Wrap
Gawker Media is the latest to feel the legal wrath of former interns. On Friday, the digital publishing outfit was hit with labor claims in New York federal court by three former interns who say they worked on the New York company's blogs but weren't "paid a single cent." The latest lawsuit comes after a decision by a New York judge that held that Fox Searchlight had improperly classified two interns -- Alex Footman and Eric Glatt -- working on the film Black Swan. The judge also certified a class action over corporate internships at the Fox Entertainment Group. Story: Gawker's Nick
read more...
read more...
- 6/21/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A June 11 court hearing has ruled that Fox Searchlight violated labor laws by not paying two interns on the set of Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan." This might put the future of the Hollywood internship into permanent limbo. Per the Hollywood Reporter, college credit -- the long-accepted form of "payment" for interns' work -- is now scaring off Hollywood employers worried about possible future lawsuits. Paying minimum wage to interns may not even be enough, as overtime hours could trigger Social Security Tax payments under the new Affordable Care Act. This extra expense plus the hassle of dealing with a lawsuit if interns aren't paid may be enough to cause production companies to shut down internship programs altogether. In 2010, Alex Footman and Eric Glatt were interning on the set of "Black Swan," tracking purchases, making photocopies and other familiar intern activities. Reportedly a union rep at the production complained that...
- 6/20/2013
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
A New York judge's ruling that Fox Searchlight interns are entitled to be paid for their work should "serve as a warning" to employers seeking free labor under the umbrella of unpaid internships, one of the plaintiffs who worked as on the film "Black Swan" said on Wednesday. "This decision should serve as a warning to employers across the country," Eric Glatt said in a statement issued by Outten & Golden Llp, the law firm representing the plaintiffs. "You cannot simply slap the term 'intern' on a job description and think that...
- 6/12/2013
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
Lesson of the day: Don't treat your unpaid interns like some little herd of free laborers, okay studios? Not only is in poor form (pun intended), but it can also land you on the receiving end of a big, fat lawsuit with the quickness.
That's just what happened with a pair of so-called "interns" on 20th Century Fox's production of "Black Swan," Alexander Footman and Eric Glatt, who've now won their federal case against the studio for mishandling their term on the set.
As detailed by The Guardian, the duo complained they were made to do menial little odd-jobs on the set of the 2010 Oscar-nominated Darren Aronofsky picture rather than anything remotely educational in nature ... despite that being what the law requires of would-be employers offering internships.
Presumably peeved about their lack of paycheck after essentially being reduced to production piss-ants, the two took the big dog studio to court...
That's just what happened with a pair of so-called "interns" on 20th Century Fox's production of "Black Swan," Alexander Footman and Eric Glatt, who've now won their federal case against the studio for mishandling their term on the set.
As detailed by The Guardian, the duo complained they were made to do menial little odd-jobs on the set of the 2010 Oscar-nominated Darren Aronofsky picture rather than anything remotely educational in nature ... despite that being what the law requires of would-be employers offering internships.
Presumably peeved about their lack of paycheck after essentially being reduced to production piss-ants, the two took the big dog studio to court...
- 6/12/2013
- by Amanda Bell
- NextMovie
The two have won an action against 20th Century Fox, claiming their unpaid work should have been done by paid employees
Two interns who completed unpaid work on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan have won a landmark case against the studio behind the movie, 20th Century Fox.
Alexander Footman and Eric Glatt had complained they were made to undertake menial work with little or no educational value that ought to have been carried out by paid employees. Us law makes it clear that unpaid interns must gain educational benefit from their work experience and cannot be used to replace regular paid workers. Federal judge William Pauley ruled yesterday that Footman and Glatt were in fact "employees" of studio offshoot Fox Searchlight, which oversaw production of Black Swan, meaning they were entitled to legal protection under minimum wage and overtime laws. The judge also dismissed suggestions by Fox that the interns...
Two interns who completed unpaid work on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan have won a landmark case against the studio behind the movie, 20th Century Fox.
Alexander Footman and Eric Glatt had complained they were made to undertake menial work with little or no educational value that ought to have been carried out by paid employees. Us law makes it clear that unpaid interns must gain educational benefit from their work experience and cannot be used to replace regular paid workers. Federal judge William Pauley ruled yesterday that Footman and Glatt were in fact "employees" of studio offshoot Fox Searchlight, which oversaw production of Black Swan, meaning they were entitled to legal protection under minimum wage and overtime laws. The judge also dismissed suggestions by Fox that the interns...
- 6/12/2013
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Two interns who said they worked on the 2010 film "Black Swan" that sued Fox Searchlight for allegedly violating minimum wage and overtime laws scored a legal victory on Tuesday, when a judge partially granted their motion for summary judgment. In a 36-page memorandum and order, U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III found that Eric Glatt and Alexander Footman acted in the capacity of employees covered by New York Labor Law and the Fair Labor Standards Act, rather than unpaid interns, and partially granted their motion for summary judgment. Also read:...
- 6/12/2013
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
In a ruling that is likely to be well read throughout Hollywood and maybe corporate America at large, a federal judge on Tuesday has handed a couple of the interns suing Fox Searchlight a victory on summary judgment and also certified a class action over the internship programs of Fox Entertainment Group. The lawsuit was first brought in late 2011 by two interns -- Alex Footman and Eric Glatt -- who both worked on Fox Searchlight's Black Swan and claimed that the company's unpaid internship program violated minimum wage and overtime laws. Read the ruling here The lawsuit then got bigger with
read more...
read more...
- 6/12/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fox Entertainment Group is today facing a class action investigation of all its internships after two interns successfully challenged the way they were treated while working on Black Swan. Alex Footman and Eric Glatt were told it was improper for them to be classed as interns when they were asked to do menial work with no clear educational benefit.
"They worked as paid employees work, providing an immediate advantage to their employer," said Judge William Pauley, ruling on the case. "They received nothing approximating the education they would receive in an academic setting or vocational school."
The judgement has implications that go far beyond Fox itself, in an industry that relies heavily on the use of interns. Significantly, Judge Pauley held that it was the studio which was responsible for managing Footman and Glatt and that responsibility could not be passed to the production companies involved in making the film.
"They worked as paid employees work, providing an immediate advantage to their employer," said Judge William Pauley, ruling on the case. "They received nothing approximating the education they would receive in an academic setting or vocational school."
The judgement has implications that go far beyond Fox itself, in an industry that relies heavily on the use of interns. Significantly, Judge Pauley held that it was the studio which was responsible for managing Footman and Glatt and that responsibility could not be passed to the production companies involved in making the film.
- 6/11/2013
- by Jennie Kermode
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Former "Black Swan" interns Eric Glatt and Alexander Footman won a small skirmish in their court battle with Fox Searchlight this morning when Judge William H. Pauley III allowed them to file a motion to amend their suit to expand the plaintiff class to include everyone who has worked as an unpaid intern at Fox Entertainment Group for the past several years.
Elizabeth Wagoner, an attorney with Outten and Golden, the firm representing the plaintiffs, told The Huffington Post that Pauley set the deadline for the motion at Sept. 5, and that he said he would rule on it at a hearing on Oct. 9. She said Pauley encouraged Fox's legal team not to contest the motion.
Pauley also ruled today that Fox would have to give the plaintiffs an email the company sent to all former unpaid interns, which the plaintiffs say was designed to coerce them not to join the lawsuit.
Elizabeth Wagoner, an attorney with Outten and Golden, the firm representing the plaintiffs, told The Huffington Post that Pauley set the deadline for the motion at Sept. 5, and that he said he would rule on it at a hearing on Oct. 9. She said Pauley encouraged Fox's legal team not to contest the motion.
Pauley also ruled today that Fox would have to give the plaintiffs an email the company sent to all former unpaid interns, which the plaintiffs say was designed to coerce them not to join the lawsuit.
- 8/24/2012
- by Joe Satran
- Huffington Post
Interns who sued Fox Searchlight over unpaid work on Black Swan expand action to cover all internships at parent company
Two interns who last year sued Fox Searchlight over unpaid work on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan are now expanding their legal action to include all internships at parent company Twentieth Century Fox, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Alex Footman and Eric Glatt's latest suit could have a major impact on working practices in Hollywood, where unpaid internships have risen in recent years. Fox itself says it changed its guidelines in July 2010 to ensure that all interns are paid at least $8 an hour. But the plaintiffs remain angry, claiming that they were made to undertake menial work with little or no educational value that ought to have been carried out by paid employees. The financial success of Black Swan, filmed in New York in 2009 prior to Fox's rule change,...
Two interns who last year sued Fox Searchlight over unpaid work on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan are now expanding their legal action to include all internships at parent company Twentieth Century Fox, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Alex Footman and Eric Glatt's latest suit could have a major impact on working practices in Hollywood, where unpaid internships have risen in recent years. Fox itself says it changed its guidelines in July 2010 to ensure that all interns are paid at least $8 an hour. But the plaintiffs remain angry, claiming that they were made to undertake menial work with little or no educational value that ought to have been carried out by paid employees. The financial success of Black Swan, filmed in New York in 2009 prior to Fox's rule change,...
- 8/14/2012
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Fox Searchlight Pictures responded dismissively to the lawsuit brought by two unpaid interns who worked on Black Swan, claiming that the accusations are meritless because the plaintiffs never officially worked for them. Alex Footman and Eric Glatt had filed a lawsuit in Manhattan last week, claiming that Fox Searchlight had violated work laws with the not-uncommon industry practice of unpaid internships. According to their lawsuit, as reported in the New York Times, labor rules required that unpaid interns receive hands-on educational experience, not the menial tasks — such as fetching coffee and taking out the trash — that interns are routinely assigned.
- 10/4/2011
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
How do we love thee, "Black Swan?" Let us count the ways.
First, you are probably the only movie that could convince two of America's biggest mainstream sex symbols to get that kind of raunchy in the name of art. We love you for your twisted plot, the Portman child whose conception you are in some way responsible for, and last, but not least, the seemingly endless number of jerks coming out of the woodwork saying they had a hand in making you.
Following the filing of a lawsuit by two interns who claim Fox violated wage laws by employing unpaid staffers, the studio has responded with what may be their biggest twist ending: the interns never worked there at all. (Cue spooky "Swan Lake" music).
Deadline reports that Fox Filmed Entertainment released a statement earlier today refuting the class action suit filed by Alex Footman and Eric Glatt, who claim that they,...
First, you are probably the only movie that could convince two of America's biggest mainstream sex symbols to get that kind of raunchy in the name of art. We love you for your twisted plot, the Portman child whose conception you are in some way responsible for, and last, but not least, the seemingly endless number of jerks coming out of the woodwork saying they had a hand in making you.
Following the filing of a lawsuit by two interns who claim Fox violated wage laws by employing unpaid staffers, the studio has responded with what may be their biggest twist ending: the interns never worked there at all. (Cue spooky "Swan Lake" music).
Deadline reports that Fox Filmed Entertainment released a statement earlier today refuting the class action suit filed by Alex Footman and Eric Glatt, who claim that they,...
- 10/4/2011
- by Sarah Crow
- NextMovie
Fox Searchlight claims it never employed the two 'Black Swan' interns who are suing them. Alex Footman, 24, and Eric Glatt, 42, filed a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan last month alleging that Fox Searchlight violated minimum wage and overtime laws and failed to provide training similar to what would be given in an educational institution, but the company says director Darren Aronofsky's production company first hired the interns. Fox Searchlight said in a statement: ''Now that we have had a chance to review this suit, it is clear that these are completely meritless claims...
- 10/4/2011
- Virgin Media - Movies
Fox Filmed Entertainment today finally gave its side of that lawsuit filed by two interns against Fox Searchlight over their work on the hit indie Black Swan. The studio maintains that the interns were working for director Darren Aronofsky’s production company well before Fox Searchlight ever became the distributor. Now that we have had a chance to review this suit, it is clear that these are completely meritless claims aimed solely at getting press coverage for the litigants and their attorneys. These interns were not even retained by Fox Searchlight and, in fact, were working for the production company that made Black Swan well before Fox Searchlight even acquired its rights in the film. These individuals were never employed as interns or retained in any capacity by Fox Searchlight, which has a proud history of supporting and fostering productive internships. We look forward to aggressively fighting these groundless,...
- 10/4/2011
- by NIKKI FINKE
- Deadline Hollywood
Two interns, who worked on Black Swan, are not happy with their experience, and have filed a lawsuit against Fox Searchlight.
The New York Times reports that a lawsuit was filed against Fox Searchlight Pictures (on Wednesday) for not providing their interns with an educational work experience while working on the film Black Swan. Instead, the two men claim that they were assigned menial tasks. Labor laws insist that internships be educational, otherwise an employer is required to pay his/her interns.
The New York Times article states:
.Fox Searchlight.s unpaid interns are a crucial labor force on its productions, functioning as production assistants and bookkeepers and performing secretarial and janitorial work,. the lawsuit says. .In misclassifying many of its workers as unpaid interns, Fox Searchlight has denied them the benefits that the law affords to employees.. Workplace experts say the number of unpaid internships has grown in recent years,...
The New York Times reports that a lawsuit was filed against Fox Searchlight Pictures (on Wednesday) for not providing their interns with an educational work experience while working on the film Black Swan. Instead, the two men claim that they were assigned menial tasks. Labor laws insist that internships be educational, otherwise an employer is required to pay his/her interns.
The New York Times article states:
.Fox Searchlight.s unpaid interns are a crucial labor force on its productions, functioning as production assistants and bookkeepers and performing secretarial and janitorial work,. the lawsuit says. .In misclassifying many of its workers as unpaid interns, Fox Searchlight has denied them the benefits that the law affords to employees.. Workplace experts say the number of unpaid internships has grown in recent years,...
- 9/30/2011
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
(Updated: 11:21 a.m. Pst) Unpaid internships are commonplace in the movie business and considered a necessary step for aspiring filmmakers. But two former interns on “Black Swan” are striking back at the practice. They’re suing the Oscar-winning film’s producer Fox Searchlight for violating minimum wage and overtime laws. Also read: Fresh Out of the Gate, Cross Creek Makes 'Black Swan' Splash Russell Nelson, a spokesman for Fox Searchlight, declined to comment. The suit was filed in Manhattan federal court on behalf of Alex Footman, a Wesleyan film school graduate, and Eric Glatt, a Case Western...
- 9/29/2011
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
[1] There's no doubt in anyone's mind that unpaid internships can suck, but are they illegal? Former Black Swan interns Alex Footman and Eric Glatt think so. The two men are filing a federal lawsuit against Fox Searchlight Pictures for violating labor laws by hiring unpaid interns to do the menial work typically associated with internships -- fetching coffee, taking out trash -- which they argue should have been done by paid employees instead. And while some have scoffed that that Footman and Glatt shouldn't complain about "paying their dues" as many film industry vets have before them, the law may actually be on their side. Read more after the jump. According to the New York Times [2], the lawsuit alleges that the studio broke the law by not meeting the Department of Labor's legal guidelines [3] for unpaid internships. Among the requirements are "that the position benefit the intern, that the intern not displace regular employees,...
- 9/29/2011
- by Angie Han
- Slash Film
Two interns who worked on Oscar-winning movie Black Swan have filed suit against the film studio as part of a dispute over unpaid work placements.
Alex Footman and Eric Glatt filed a lawsuit in a New York court on Wednesday taking aim at executives of Fox Searchlight Pictures, alleging they were taken on as interns but ended up covering duties which should have been undertaken by paid employees.
The lawsuit states, "Fox Searchlight's unpaid interns are a crucial labour force on its productions, functioning as production assistants and bookkeepers and performing secretarial and janitorial work. In misclassifying many of its workers as unpaid interns, Fox Searchlight has denied them the benefits that the law affords to employees."
Footman, a 24-year-old film studies graduate, tells the New York Times, "The only thing I learned on this internship was to be more picky in choosing employment opportunities. Black Swan had more than $300 million in revenues. If they paid us, it wouldn't make a big difference to them, but it would make a huge difference to us."
Fox Searchlight spokesman Russell Nelson says, "We just learned of this litigation and have not had a chance to review it so we cannot make any comment at this time."...
Alex Footman and Eric Glatt filed a lawsuit in a New York court on Wednesday taking aim at executives of Fox Searchlight Pictures, alleging they were taken on as interns but ended up covering duties which should have been undertaken by paid employees.
The lawsuit states, "Fox Searchlight's unpaid interns are a crucial labour force on its productions, functioning as production assistants and bookkeepers and performing secretarial and janitorial work. In misclassifying many of its workers as unpaid interns, Fox Searchlight has denied them the benefits that the law affords to employees."
Footman, a 24-year-old film studies graduate, tells the New York Times, "The only thing I learned on this internship was to be more picky in choosing employment opportunities. Black Swan had more than $300 million in revenues. If they paid us, it wouldn't make a big difference to them, but it would make a huge difference to us."
Fox Searchlight spokesman Russell Nelson says, "We just learned of this litigation and have not had a chance to review it so we cannot make any comment at this time."...
- 9/29/2011
- WENN
Former interns Alex Footman and Eric Glatt are jumping on the somehow still trendy "Black Swan screwed me over" bandwagon. Only they're not settling for some measly TV interview; they're going for the cash. In the lawsuit against Fox Searchlight, Black Swan's production company, Footman claims that he was forced to perform horrifying menial tasks like making coffee, taking lunch orders, and keeping the office tidy. Jeez, Aronofksy. Everyone knows that work is reserved for the principal actors, best boy, and lighting designer, not unpaid interns. Footman said in an interview: "The only thing I learned on this internship was to be more picky in choosing employment opportunities. Black Swan had more than $300 million in revenues. If they paid us, it wouldn't make a big difference to them, but it would make a huge difference to us... I hope this case will [...]...
- 9/29/2011
- Nerve
Two interns who worked on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan – which took $300m at the global box office – claim Fox Searchlight broke the law by not paying them
Two interns who worked on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan are to sue studio Fox Searchlight. They claim producers broke the law by failing to pay them for their work.
Alex Footman and Eric Glatt filed their suit on Wednesday at a federal court in Manhattan, asking for back pay and an injunction against the studio for improperly using unpaid interns on future projects. They claim the studio used them to complete menial work that did little to educate them in the minutae of film-making and which ought to have been undertaken by paid employees. They are particularly angry that they received no renumeration when Black Swan made more than $300m (£191m) at the global box office on the back of its awards season buzz,...
Two interns who worked on the Oscar-winning film Black Swan are to sue studio Fox Searchlight. They claim producers broke the law by failing to pay them for their work.
Alex Footman and Eric Glatt filed their suit on Wednesday at a federal court in Manhattan, asking for back pay and an injunction against the studio for improperly using unpaid interns on future projects. They claim the studio used them to complete menial work that did little to educate them in the minutae of film-making and which ought to have been undertaken by paid employees. They are particularly angry that they received no renumeration when Black Swan made more than $300m (£191m) at the global box office on the back of its awards season buzz,...
- 9/29/2011
- by Ben Child
- The Guardian - Film News
Two 'Black Swan' interns are suing the production company behind the film. Alex Footman, 24, and Eric Glatt, 42, have criticised the film industry's practice of unpaid internships by filing a lawsuit in federal court in Manhattan yesterday (28.09.11) claiming that Fox Searchlight violated minimum wage and overtime laws and failed to provide training similar to what would be given in an educational institution, the New York Times reports. The lawsuit states: ''Fox Searchlight's unpaid interns are a crucial labour force on its productions, functioning as production assistants and bookkeepers and performing secretarial and janitorial work.
- 9/29/2011
- Virgin Media - Movies
No, making coffee and taking out the trash don't necessarily qualify as "educational" activities.
Apparently unpaid interns are no longer willing to do the often agonizing tasks that unpaid interns are usually called upon to do, as two of them are suing the producers of "Black Swan" for their tedious intern experience whilst working on the Oscar-winning hit, according to The New York Times.
The lawsuit filed by Alex Footman and Eric Glatt claims that Fox Searchlight Pictures had the interns do menial work that should have been done by paid employees and did not provide them with the type of educational experience that labor rules require in order to exempt employers from paying interns.
Footman said his responsibilities included preparing coffee for the production office, ensuring that the coffee pot was full, taking and distributing lunch orders for the production staff, taking out the trash and cleaning the office.
Apparently unpaid interns are no longer willing to do the often agonizing tasks that unpaid interns are usually called upon to do, as two of them are suing the producers of "Black Swan" for their tedious intern experience whilst working on the Oscar-winning hit, according to The New York Times.
The lawsuit filed by Alex Footman and Eric Glatt claims that Fox Searchlight Pictures had the interns do menial work that should have been done by paid employees and did not provide them with the type of educational experience that labor rules require in order to exempt employers from paying interns.
Footman said his responsibilities included preparing coffee for the production office, ensuring that the coffee pot was full, taking and distributing lunch orders for the production staff, taking out the trash and cleaning the office.
- 9/29/2011
- by Bryan Enk
- NextMovie
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.