Greater than a 12 months and a half after his movie Minamata debuted on the Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant in February 2020, director Andrew Levitas is alleging MGM of ‘burying’ the movie amid star Johnny Depp’s authorized turmoil.
MGM acquired the movie in October 2020 via its newly-relaunched American Worldwide Footage, initially scheduled for launch in February 2021.
Whereas a launch within the U.Okay. and Eire will occur on August 13, there’s nonetheless no deliberate North American launch, with the director claiming in a letter he despatched to MGM and others that he was advised the studio is ‘burying’ the movie.
Turmoil: Greater than a 12 months and a half after his movie Minamata debuted on the Berlin Worldwide Movie Pageant in February 2020, director Andrew Levitas (proper) is alleging MGM of ‘burying’ the movie amid star Johnny Depp’s (left) authorized turmoil
Burying: Whereas a launch within the U.Okay. and Eire will occur on August 13, there’s nonetheless no deliberate North American launch, with the director claiming in a letter he despatched to MGM and others that he was advised the studio is ‘burying’ the movie
Levitas despatched the letter on Monday to MGM together with Minamata’s backers, The Eugene Smith Basis and the Minamata Basis, the place he claims he was advised by somebody at MGM that Minamata wouldn’t be promoted in any respect by the studio.
‘MGM had determined to “bury the movie,”‘ Levitas says within the letter.
The movie was picked up whereas Depp was battling libel fees, which he finally misplaced, the most recent in a string of authorized battles with ex Amber Heard.
Letter: Levitas despatched the letter on Monday to MGM together with Minamata’s backers, The Eugene Smith Basis and the Minamata Basis, the place he claims he was advised by MGM’s acquisitions head Sam Wollman advised him Minamata wouldn’t be promoted in any respect by the studio
Depp had additionally backed away from his position as Gellert Grindelwald within the Harry Potter spin-off motion pictures Incredible Beasts, which occurred after Minamata was picked up by MGM.
Levitas is arguing that MGM ought to rethink as a result of the movie’s subject material is extra necessary than Depp’s authorized troubles.
Depp performs iconic photographer Eugene Smith, who helps expose Japan’s Chisso Company, who have been chargeable for the mercury poisoning of the residents from Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan within the Nineteen Fifties.
Backed away: Depp had additionally backed away from his position as Gellert Grindelwald within the Harry Potter spin-off motion pictures Incredible Beasts, which occurred after Minamata was picked up by MGM
Photographer: Depp performs iconic photographer Eugene Smith, who helps expose Japan’s Chisso Company, who have been chargeable for the mercury poisoning of the residents from Minamata, Kumamoto, Japan within the Nineteen Fifties
The movie additionally stars Minami as Smith’s translator, Invoice Nighy as Robert Hayes, Smith’s former Life Journal editor and Hiroyuki Sanada as a villager who helps Smith expose the corruption of the Chisso Company.
When requested in regards to the letter Levitas despatched, an MGM spokesperson mentioned it is going to nonetheless be launched by AIP, although there is no such thing as a date set.
‘The movie was acquired for launch by way of American Worldwide Footage (AIP), a division of MGM which handles day-and-date releases. Minamata continues to be amongst future AIP releases and right now, the movie’s U.S. launch date is TBA,’ the assertion learn.
No date: When requested in regards to the letter Levitas despatched, an MGM spokesperson mentioned it is going to nonetheless be launched by AIP, although there is no such thing as a date set
Levitas mentioned that he discovered this week that, ‘regardless of an already profitable international roll out, MGM had determined to “bury the movie” (acquisitions head Mr. Sam Wollman’s phrases) as a result of MGM was involved in regards to the chance that the non-public problems with an actor within the movie may replicate negatively upon them and that from MGM’s perspective the victims and their households have been secondary to this.’
‘In a stark reminder of The Chisso Company’s actions in Minamata and much too many different massive companies’ unethical techniques, MGM said that it will dwell as much as its “authorized obligation” and nothing extra,’ Levitas added, which means it will launch the movie however not market it in any manner.
‘In doing so, MGM is making a acutely aware choice to harm these innocents but once more, callously trampling on their lives, their legacy, their useless family members, and their bravery,’ Levitas continued.
Private points: Levitas mentioned that he discovered this week that, ‘regardless of an already profitable international roll out, MGM had determined to “bury the movie” (acquisitions head Mr. Sam Wollman’s phrases) as a result of MGM was involved in regards to the chance that the non-public problems with an actor within the movie may replicate negatively upon them and that from MGM’s perspective the victims and their households have been secondary to this’
The director added that whereas the studio is effectively inside their rights to bury the story, however additionally they have a, ‘ethical obligation to do higher than that.
‘At a minimal we implore you to talk on to Mr. Uemura (the father or mother of one of many victims) and the opposite victims and supply them the dignity of understanding first hand why you assume an actor’s private life is extra necessary than their useless youngsters, their siblings, their mother and father, and all victims of business air pollution and company malfeasance,’ Levitas added.
The director additionally included among the pictures Smith himself took within the Nineteen Fifties, concluding that, ‘We stay steadfast that MGM will land on the precise aspect of those points.’
Photographs: The director additionally included among the pictures Smith himself took within the Nineteen Fifties, concluding that, ‘We stay steadfast that MGM will land on the precise aspect of those points’
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