Kevin Costner seeks $3.85 mn for film festival fraud

Actor Kevin Costner is suing Chinese financier Kylin Pictures for using his name to sell the film “Shanghai Sojourners” at the Shanghai International Film Festival and then removing him from the project and not paying him.
The complaint was filed on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, reports hollywoodreporter.com.
Costner, along with Treehouse Films, is suing Kylin for breach of contract and fraud, as well as for goods and services rendered.
In April, Treehouse and Beacon Films signed a deal to produce “Shanghai Sojourners”, which according to Kylin’s website is the story of a Chinese woman who falls in love with a Jewish man during World War II and tries to help him escape the Nazis.
According to the lawsuit, Costner and Armyan Bernstein were set to receive a combined producing fee of $3 million. Also, Treehouse and Beacon were to receive a $1 million overhead fee and a share of profits.
During the Shanghai International Film Festival this summer, Kylin promoted the film and highlighted the involvement of Costner and Treehouse — resulting in investments in the film.
Hollywoodreporter.com said that according to the suit, Kylin had already decided to fire Costner and Treehouse but waited until August to tell them they were no longer wanted.
A Kylin Pictures spokesman said in a statement: “We are unable to discuss the matter at this time, although we will be happy to make a statement once the suit has concluded.”
IANS