Is Julie Trying to Close Down Spider-Man or is Spidey Stiffing Her?

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 2:33pm

What do you make of her SDC filing right before the opening of the show?

Are you in sympathy for her claim or do you favor the decision to change direction in the show? Or is her claim separate and independent of that?

Is it possible for the SDC to be an independent arbiter between directors like the Writers Guild will decide who gets authorial credit on screenplays?

Can an arbitration be fair unless the new director is included as a party with consideration given to his position?

Lots of questions here...
Updated On: 6/10/11 at 02:33 PM

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 4:33pm

I don't have answers to any of your questions but I found the timing of this new lawsuit very funny. Of course Julie WOULD pick the couple of days before the show opens to file a complaint...

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 4:46pm

Is it all about her, d'ya think?

Even someone else's opening night?

[Idiot]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 4:55pm

I honestly don't think the show needs Julie's help to close. The number of people willing to see this thing is finite.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:07pm

I remember people saying the same thing about The Lion King.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:09pm

That the "number of people willing to see this thing is finite"?

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:14pm

I don't think she is trying to close the show down. She just wants her royalties. This show has been grossing pretty well, and it will continue to make more money over the summer as tourists come in. I don't see this closing any time soon.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:16pm

The show might be grossing "pretty well" but it's not selling out which it needs to do (for what, something like every performance for 8 years) if it's just going to break even so it's not doing "that" great.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:19pm

I wonder if royalties are just being set aside until it is decided who is entitled to what amount given the change in directors and other elements of the show.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:21pm

It's interesting because the huge SPIDERMAN sign above the theater still credits Julie as the director.

[finishmyhat]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:21pm

Spider-Man is not doing well at all. Last week they made just over $1M.

That was their proposed weekly operational cost BEFORE they overhauled the damn thing and BEFORE people started getting hurt and changes were made.

Technically, last week Spider-Man made no money. And for a show that "opens" next week, that's pretty damn scary.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:25pm

If you're being paid from royalties, it would be self-defeating to try to close a show.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:27pm

Last week was all around a bad week for most shows. That could be a factor. Just a thought.

Updated On: 6/9/11 at 05:27 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:27pm

It's interesting because the huge SPIDERMAN sign above the theater still credits Julie as the director.

The playbill still credits Julie as the director as well. McKinley is only listed as a creative consultant so unless further negotiations change that the sign above the theatre is technically accurate.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:34pm

She has the unusual credit of "Original Direction by" in the program.

[uncageg]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 5:40pm

If those insane visuals were her idea, then she needs to get paid. They are the best part of the show.

Updated On: 6/9/11 at 05:40 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 11:39pm

A contract is a contract, and unions are there to defend the contractual rights of their members.

It's juvenile to ascribe motives beyond that.

[evic]

Posted: 6/9/11 at 11:47pm

If they are still using some of her ideas after she was fired and not paying her, of course she should take action-especially after spending years developing it. I am surprised she waited this long. Arachne shall get her revenge. This show is a gonner anyway. At least the cast got a full year's work.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 12:26am

Did she actually sign a contract?
Wasn't that the problem with the Writer's Guild?
The ego is just kicking herself in the butt now over and over.
She certainly is deserving of something but if she thought she was above being fired and didn't sign anything, she screwed herself. Her directing royalties could be huge and certainly help drain the nut on top of McKinley's fees. And two choreographer's salaries? I pity the poor bookepper.

Posted: 6/10/11 at 12:37am

I get why some have not been thrilled (to put it mildly) by Julie's actions with Spider-man, but I think she definitely has every right to sue for royalties--there still is a LOT of her work in the show, from the masks to direction, and frankly I would find it crazy is she didn't try to get royalties (not to mention this whole fiasco has probably made it much less likely for her to find major work anytime soon--as well as the complete flop of her Tempest movie back in Dec...)

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:24am

"According to Penn, the union filed a grievance a month ago with the Broadway League, the trade association of legit producers and presenters, in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement between the union and the League."
Variety article

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:32am

This Reuters article sheds some light and shows how little Taymor has been paid so far out of a $70 million budget:

"Julie Taymor... is seeking an estimated $300,000 in unpaid royalties from producers, the union representing her said on Thursday.
...
"Taymor has given nine years of her life to this project," Laura Penn, executive director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society...

"The producer has absolutely no right, legally and ethically, to withhold royalties that are due to her," the statement said.

... Taymor received only her original director's fee of $125,000 about five years ago, but has not received any of the royalties owed to her since preview tickets went on sale last November."
Reuters article Updated On: 6/10/11 at 01:32 AM

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:39am

Another $300,000 is NOTHING to the Producers now. Just pay her. It will be another foot into the red zone. This show will be gone by mid November possibly mid January if they try to hold out for the Holidays. They have yet to make a gross over their nut (from what its recorded to be.)

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:42am

Sure doesn't seem like a lot compared to the budget. Is this all her royalties and pay including the writing, input on sets and Puppets, etc.?

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 6/10/11 at 1:47am

Wow I'm an idiot. I only saw the $300,000 bit but didnt see that she was SEEKING about that much more. So as far as we know...she could be claiming a multi million dollar lawsuit and want another $300,000