'Obsession' executive producer sues production company over unpaid share of profits
An executive producer of Obsession has filed a lawsuit against the film’s production company, alleging she was excluded from sharing in the movie’s $505 million (P31 billion) box office earnings.
Producer Leonora Ann Darby sued Tea Shop Productions co-founders and fellow Obsession producers James Harris and Mark Lane.
In the Aug. 28 suit, Darby claims the pair failed to recognize her significant contributions to the film properly and backed out of an agreement that would have given her equal producer status at the company.
“This action arises from a seven-year pattern of unequal treatment and broken compensation promises by two older male film producers to a younger female producer whose labor was material to the growth of their company,” the court document read, as obtained by Entertainment Weekly. “And who rescued their biggest film, the global hit Obsession.”
According to the Los Angeles Times, the complaint accuses the company of unfair treatment, broken pay promises, and retaliation over wage complaints, among others.
The lawsuit claims that Harris and Lane treated Darby “as their subordinate, including in a highly demeaning and gendered manner” and repeatedly failed to pay her properly, eventually “culminating in ruthlessly cutting Darby out of the overall net profits” from Obsession.
It also stated that Darby became involved after the film’s editing was taken away from Barker and assigned to another editor. She pushed for Barker to regain control of the edit and called for reshoots to address problems with the film.
Additionally, it claimed that Darby’s feedback on the characters, their development, and the film’s supernatural elements significantly changed the direction of the movie and contributed to its success.
Her lawyers also claimed that although she was officially credited as an executive producer on the horror film, she performed the duties of a lead producer and should have been paid accordingly. They also argue that she was key to the film’s success, particularly through her support of 26-year-old director Curry Barker.
“Ms. Darby has brought serious and substantial claims, supported by a detailed factual record,” Darby’s lawyers said in a statement. “She is confident in her case and intends to pursue it fully.”
Aside from her share of the profits from Obsession, Darby is also asking for an accounting of several other projects, unpaid wages and expenses, and compensation for retaliation.
Obsession follows music store employee Bear (Michael Johnston), who uses a cursed novelty item to wish for his friend Nikki (Inde Navarrette) to fall in love with him.
