A Hollywood director was sued Tuesday for allegedly breaching her contract with a production company, which contends she acted erratically during filming of the movie “Music, War and Love,” including wearing a Nazi officer’s garb on the set.
Music, War and Love LLC filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against director Martha Coolidge and Ozma Productions Inc., alleging the picture went millions of dollars over budget because of Coolidge’s actions. The suit seeks unspecified damages and a court ruling that the director breached her agreement with the plaintiffs.
A representative for Coolidge could not be immediately reached.
The film is being privately financed and deals with a story of humanity against the backdrop of World War II, according to the complaint. Coolidge was hired as the film’s director in April 2015, the suit states.
Coolidge often yelled a crew members for issues that were her own fault and screamed at one man to “get off her set,” the suit states.
The suit further contends that Coolidge “demonstrated a severe and inexcusable lack of judgment” when she donned a Nazi SS officer’s clothing and hat while shooting was taking place in the movie’s Auschwitz concentration camp scenes.
“Needless to say, Coolidge’s decision … evidences gross, willful misconduct on the part of Coolidge,” the suit states.
Coolidge caused delays in the pre-production of the film by teaching a film-making class at Chapman College, the suit states. When filming began in Poland in October 2015, the production was plagued by Coolidge’s “unprofessionalism, disorganization and failure to adhere to the agreed-upon budget and timetable,” the suit alleges.
Coolidge often showed up late on the set and took too long to make decisions as to the creative aspects of the film, the suit states.
“All of the foregoing acts … by Coolidge resulted in the picture going vastly over the budget of $8.4 million,” the suit states.
Coolidge suffered a severe injury while riding her horse in November and was hospitalized for five weeks, but she did not tell the plaintiffs about her injuries or her ability to complete the picture, the suit alleges.
The plaintiffs terminated the director’s agreement in January because of Coolidge’s alleged breaches, the suit states.
–City News Service