via:TheGrio
Two years ago, film director Cynthia Mort set out to cast Mary J. Blige as the iconic Nina Simone in Nina, a biopic about Simone’s life. Unfortunately, because of a scheduling conflict, Blige had to back out of the film. It was then that Mort tapped Zoe Saldana to take over the role.
The fact that Mort picked Saldana didn’t sit well with many people. Some cited the fact that Saldana bears no resemblance
to the darker-skinned and broader-nosed Simone. Others took it a step
further and questioned Saldana’s acting abilities, even though she’s a
more seasoned actress than Blige.
None of these issues stopped Nina from being made. Today the
film is being screened at the Cannes Film Festival, but the drama
surrounding the film only gets meatier.
Mort has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging that Ealing Studios Enterprises Ltd., the United Kingdom producer behind Nina, has breached the terms of her director deal. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Mort decided to take legal action after being cut out of the decision-making process regarding the film.
Mort has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging that Ealing Studios Enterprises Ltd., the United Kingdom producer behind Nina, has breached the terms of her director deal. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Mort decided to take legal action after being cut out of the decision-making process regarding the film.
“She worked tirelessly to prepare the Film for a wide and successful
commercial release,” says the lawsuit. “Yet, throughout the course of
the Film’s production and post-production, Defendants consistently acted
to frustrate Mort’s involvement in the Film, thereby breaching the
Director Agreement. These breaches by the Defendants include, but are
not limited to: taking complete control of editing the Film in June 2013
and failing to consult with Mort about subsequent cuts and changes;
abandoning Mort’s previous cuts of the Film; failing to disclose the
Film’s financials, finishing budget, and financing deals; and failing to
keep Mort informed of other crucial creative and budgetary developments
and decisions throughout production and post-production of the Film.”
Mort says the film doesn’t reflect her vision of Simone as a woman,
musician and civil rights activist. Mort is seeking unspecified monetary
damages and doesn’t want the defendants to make decisions regarding the
film without her permission.
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