SAG-AFTRA is taking authorized motion towards a manufacturing firm for violating the collective bargaining settlement by filming a film outdoors the USA in Romania.
The guild, in a lawsuit filed in California federal court docket on Monday, sued UFO Footage to implement fee of a $163,000 arbitration award supposed to pay expertise extra compensation on Past the Legislation.
UFO Footage founder Micah Brandt denied the claims. “It wasn’t my production company at fault, nor does my company owe them money,” he says. “It wasn’t my company funding the project — it was a subsidiary.” He declined to call different events concerned within the matter.
In 2019, UFO Footage signed onto SAG-AFTRA’s so-called “Ultra Low Budget Project Agreement,” which is meant for movies taking pictures solely within the U.S. with a most price range of $300,000. The contract waives and relaxes sure phrases of the CBA, together with minimal charges.
SAG-AFTRA alleged in an arbitration it introduced in 2020 that Past the Legislation, which stars Steven Seagal, Johnny Messner and Earl Simmons (also called DMX), shot in Romania, triggering minimal fee phrases outlined within the CBA. After UFO Footage didn’t defend itself, an arbitrator present in favor of the guild.
“Producer is hereby ordered to pay SAG-AFTRA … the compensation due to Affected Performers appearing in the Picture, late payment liquidated damages, pension and health contributions (“P&H”), and an estimate of employer aspect taxes and payroll home bills totaling $163,665.67,” state court docket filings citing the arbitration.
SAG-AFTRA, which didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, filed Monday’s lawsuit as a result of UFO Footage has refused to pay. Different titles the corporate has produced embody Verotika, Captors and Blood Coronary heart.
