"Randy Quaid is an instantly recognisable household name and much-admired actor on the world's stage with a worldwide box office total of nearly $2 billion (£1.1bn)..."
Now there's an overstatement if I ever heard one. Makes Randy Quaid sound like Sir Lawrence Olivier... LOL
Randy Quaid Sues Over 'Brokeback'
Actor claims producers defrauded him
http://tmz.aol.com/article2?id=20060323195809990001
By TMZ.COM STAFF
(Mar. 23) -- Randy Quaid has filed a lawsuit claiming he was done in by producers of 'Brokeback Mountain.'
TMZ obtained a copy of the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming producers falsely represented the movie to him as \"a low-budget, art house film, with no prospect of making any money.\" Qauid claims the representations were a ruse from the beginning. 'Brokeback' has grossed around $160 million.
Quaid's suit claims that in 2004, he met with director Ang Lee, who offered him the role of Joe Aguirre. The suit alleges that Lee told Quaid: "We can't pay anything, we have very little money, everyone is making a sacrifice to make this film."
The suit does not specifically state how much Quaid made, but it does claim that the defendants "were engaged in a 'movie laundering' scheme designed to obtain the services of talent such as Randy Quaid on economically unfavorable art film terms..."
The suit asks for $10 million in damages as well as punitive damages. It also seeks "restitution for all ill-gotten gains."
Randy Quaid Sues Over 'Brokeback'
Actor claims producers defrauded him
http://tmz.aol.com/article2?id=20060323195809990001
By TMZ.COM STAFF
(Mar. 23) -- Randy Quaid has filed a lawsuit claiming he was done in by producers of 'Brokeback Mountain.'
TMZ obtained a copy of the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, claiming producers falsely represented the movie to him as \"a low-budget, art house film, with no prospect of making any money.\" Qauid claims the representations were a ruse from the beginning. 'Brokeback' has grossed around $160 million.
Quaid's suit claims that in 2004, he met with director Ang Lee, who offered him the role of Joe Aguirre. The suit alleges that Lee told Quaid: "We can't pay anything, we have very little money, everyone is making a sacrifice to make this film."
The suit does not specifically state how much Quaid made, but it does claim that the defendants "were engaged in a 'movie laundering' scheme designed to obtain the services of talent such as Randy Quaid on economically unfavorable art film terms..."
The suit asks for $10 million in damages as well as punitive damages. It also seeks "restitution for all ill-gotten gains."
I am surprised he would do this, it seems unwise. I mean he would likely get more parts based on brokeback, so
I personally would take it as lucky I was in it, rather than start to get reputations as difficult. You know what I mean?
I doubt Ang was trying to deceive him, he just had limited moneys and I am sure someone else would have gladly done
the part...
Yeah I can see frustration at seeing the profits, but what can they do? They would have taken the bath if it failed...not him.
It's interesting to hear Ang said that to him, I wonder what Jake and Heath were told? Probably the same thing but both realize
how much this has done for their careers so they will sit tight, Randy Quaid may be feeling he literally needs the money.
It's interesting to hear Ang said that to him, I wonder what Jake and Heath were told? Probably the same thing but both realize
how much this has done for their careers so they will sit tight, Randy Quaid may be feeling he literally needs the money.
I would expect Ledger and Gyllenhaal to sit tight. For the record, I will be very disillusioned in Jake if he does something like this. He had stated in many interviews (The BBC Donnie Darko one, for example) that the box office was never a prime motivator for his selection of roles.
Right and also I don't think his income potential is bad at all ;)
Randy Quaid is more limited there, but still...it seems that Hollywood is a small town and he will now be labeled difficult or ungrateful. I can't believe his phone didn't ring more after the movie came out...
I think he sort of forgot that the Producers and the Studio did in fact take the risk. It could have ended up a flop. How would they know? Hollywood didn't want to take the risk for 7 to 8 years.
He is certainly motivated now to do this after seeing the enormous profits the movie is raking for the producers.
I think so too. Ang even told his younger brother in Taiwan not to get the licensing right for Taiwan market because he didn't think the movie was going to be making a lot of profits.
Perhaps Randy is using BBM to get his fame regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit.
It is indeed a bad taste. We can really scratch Randy Quaid from BBM then and oh his brother who made some lame joke at SAG.
It is indeed a bad taste. We can really scratch Randy Quaid from BBM then and oh his brother who made some lame joke at SAG.
Wel, you know, I will grant that he at least accepted the part and starred in the movie. I think his acting was quite good -- more than good, perhaps.
I am disappointed with his current actions, but I am thankful that BBM did get an excellent cast all the way -- no exceptions. I do not wish him the best in this lawsuit, but I cannot complain about his role in the film itself.
Wel, you know, I will grant that he at least accepted the part and starred in the movie. I think his acting was quite good -- more than good, perhaps.
I am disappointed with his current actions, but I am thankful that BBM did get an excellent cast all the way -- no exceptions. I do not wish him the best in this lawsuit, but I cannot complain about his role in the film itself.
Agreed. It is Randy Quaid we are talking about.
Is he now accusing Focus and Ang Lee for "stemming the rose"? On the other hand, I do hope the cast and crew get their fair share though - but not lawsuits.
Yes, as Toadily had said, Ledger and Gyllenhaal would probably have more sense than to quibble about box office profits now. They got something infinitely more valuable. If I am not reading too much here, I would say that wiith BBM, they have a shot at cinematic immortality.
Anyone could have played that part and it wouldn't have mattered.
>:(
I hope they tell him to go "stem his own rose." ;D
>:(
I hope they tell him to go "stem his own rose." ;D
hahahahahaa!! YES! ;D
>:(
I hope they tell him to go "stem his own rose." ;D
>:(
I hope they tell him to go "stem his own rose." ;D
If anyone deserved a 'bonus' it would have to be Jake and Heath who also worked for very little. Clearly Ang and company had no idea it would break out the way it did. People were wondering if it would even break even when it first came out. I actually think it would be fair to give some kind of bonus to Jake and Heath. However, Randy was hardly in the film and this lawsuit is tacky to say the least. Very dissapointing.
>:(
I hope they tell him to go "stem his own rose." ;D
HA! HAAAAA!!! LUV IT!!
He should go and sleep with the sheep!
Jennis.x
If anyone deserves a bonus it is the horse that had to carry Randy Quaid and his over-sized ego around the mountain.
Hello ennisandjack, well said. It is indeed disappointing. Clearly, money is his motivation. He is not a starving actor, is he?
Yes, as Toadily had said, Ledger and Gyllenhaal would probably have more sense than to quibble about box office profits now. They got something infinitely more valuable. If I am not reading too much here, I would say that wiith BBM, they have a shot at cinematic immortality.
You're not reading too much at all. It's been said numerous times...BBM is a landmark film. All the primary actors in this film earned a piece of cinematic immortality for their participation. Randy Quaid stands to loose quite a bit more than money if he pursues this suit. Assuming there is some merit to his case, winning will be difficult. Regardless of what he could have been paid, the budget was under 15 million. It's doubtful anyone's paycheck came close to what would have been paid under a standard film budget.
Randy has earned a number of new fans as a result of his BBM performance. He shouldn't risk the possible loss of respect. If money is his primary motivation then he should take this as a lesson learned...next time he signs up for a low budget film, include a profit percentage clause in the contract!
In my local paper (NJ Star Ledger) last night there was a small article about this topic, Randy suing. At the end was this blurb: "You don't hear this kind of whining from Heath Ledger, now do you? On the other hand, Quaid didn't get to kiss Jake Gyllenhaal."
ROFLMAO!!!
In my local paper (NJ Star Ledger) last night there was a small article about this topic, Randy suing. At the end was this blurb: "You don't hear this kind of whining from Heath Ledger, now do you? On the other hand, Quaid didn't get to kiss Jake Gyllenhaal."
ROFLMAO!!!
In my local paper (NJ Star Ledger) last night there was a small article about this topic, Randy suing. At the end was this blurb: "You don't hear this kind of whining from Heath Ledger, now do you? On the other hand, Quaid didn't get to kiss Jake Gyllenhaal."
ROFLMAO!!!
In my local paper (NJ Star Ledger) last night there was a small article about this topic, Randy suing. At the end was this blurb: "You don't hear this kind of whining from Heath Ledger, now do you? On the other hand, Quaid didn't get to kiss Jake Gyllenhaal."
ROFLMAO!!!
In my local paper (NJ Star Ledger) last night there was a small article about this topic, Randy suing. At the end was this blurb: "You don't hear this kind of whining from Heath Ledger, now do you? On the other hand, Quaid didn't get to kiss Jake Gyllenhaal."
ROFLMAO!!!
An interesting point of view this morning in The New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/29/movies/29quaid.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1143717278-zMALLx6VV+SwSMyr496yQg
The actors were paid a total of 520K dollars? Who is screwing who?
I probably missed this but does anyone have any idea what Jake and Heath were paid for BBM..when I think of the millions of dollars that Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts and others get for some of their "trash" and I imagine that our boys probably got nothing even close to that it makes me crazy...they deserve 20M each for their performances.......I hope that at least in their future roles they are paid competetively..I know it's not all about money......I wouldn't think they were paid much at all Bubbaluna,not by todays standards.If the figure of $521,000 was the pay for the whole cast then it was minimal.No doubt they have recouped revenue from promotion etc,but the work they did creating such a mind blowing film will be remembered for all time as a work of love
Maybe he's just mad because he didn't get paid more for promotion. I mean, Heath, Jake, Michelle, and Anne all got paid to be on talk shows and stuff. Then again, he had a very small part. You don't see the other people that had small parts complaining.Did he actually do any promoting? Not that he needed too,just wondered.
Maybe he's just mad because he didn't get paid more for promotion. I mean, Heath, Jake, Michelle, and Anne all got paid to be on talk shows and stuff. Then again, he had a very small part. You don't see the other people that had small parts complaining.Did he actually do any promoting? Not that he needed too,just wondered.
J.x
Perhaps Randy is using BBM to get his fame regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit.
It is indeed a bad taste. We can really scratch Randy Quaid from BBM then and oh his brother who made some lame joke at SAG.
Maybe he's just mad because he didn't get paid more for promotion. I mean, Heath, Jake, Michelle, and Anne all got paid to be on talk shows and stuff. Then again, he had a very small part. You don't see the other people that had small parts complaining.
Good point, bram. I don't see Roberta Maxwell or Peter McRobbie filing suits. Besides, many acting contracts are written with % of profits clauses - Quaid could have done that; he's been around for years and knows the game well. Stop your whining, Randy.
I have always known I do not fit in as a member of the straight community. But being a member of this forum has also shown me that I do not fit in as a member of the gay community. My thoughts, perceptions, ideas and the way I see things are so different from those of others here.
So quick to vilify but nobody has said one word about what Randy requested be done with the settlement.Split it with all the actors.