Thursday, March 28, 2024

Director of ‘Iverson’ Doc Sued by Producer Who Claims to Have Film Rights

Allen Iverson
Allen Iverson

*Mark Brown says he was stunned to see Showtime airing a documentary on NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, because he claims to have spent $50,000 in 2007 to purchase rights to the film and thought the project had been shelved.

In a lawsuit filed in California federal court, Brown says he spent years on the film after buying the rights through Iverson’s agent. He even hired the director, Zatella Beatty, who once worked as a film production assistant for Brown on the films, “Two Can Play That Game” and “The Salon.”

Beatty is now the target of his lawsuit, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the complaint, Brown allowed Beatty to direct and spent an additional $170,000 in production costs.

“In or around 2008, due to unforeseen economic circumstances, Brown ceased funding the Project,” states the lawsuit. “This was partially due to the difficulty Brown was experiencing with Iverson’s schedule. Often times, Brown would fly out to a location to interview Iverson and Iverson would suddenly and unexpectedly become unavailable. At that time, the raw material of the Project was approximately 85% edited, but still required a few finishing touches, such as soundtrack music. In light of Brown’s significant downsizing, Beatty and Brown amicably parted ways. Brown is unaware if Beatty or any other member of the production crew took over funding.”

The lawsuit states that in October, 2014, Beatty signed a deal memo with Showtime without his knowledge. Showtime paid approximately $325,000 to license the documentary, according to the complaint. Brown says that despite not owning rights to the project, Beatty and 214 Films represented that it had all the rights and authority to enter into the agreement with Showtime.

Iverson premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival earlier this year. On May 16, it aired on Showtime, which is when Brown says he learned about it.

“Shocked, Brown called Beatty,” states the lawsuit. “Beatty told Brown that she ‘meant to tell him’ about the Deal, but she had decided she ‘wanted to surprise him.’ The Parties came to a preliminary agreement in which Brown would receive a ‘good faith’ $25,000 down payment on a minimum payment of $85,000 that was due to Brown along with certain equity interests.”

Brown says he still hasn’t received compensation, nor credit. He’s now filed claims of breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, conversion, unfair competition and copyright infringement. He’s demanding an accounting, injunctive relief and monetary damages.

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