Punk-tastic32 Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 ACTRESS SUES OVER INCLUSION IN GREEN DAY MUSICAL PROMO Fri Aug 13, 2010 @ 09:22AM PST By Eriq Gardner EXCLUSIVE: Producers of "American Idiot," the anti-establishment Broadway adaptation of a Green Day album, have been sued by a former cast member who isn't happy about the way she's been exploited. Morgan Weed, who served as an understudy for the lead female role of "Whatshername," claims in a new lawsuit that the production company filmed her performing in rehearsals without consent and used the footage to promote the show on television, in print and online. Ironically, "American Idiot" is a song about an individual rebelling against the propaganda of a media-saturated society. Weed's lawsuit alleges that producers misappropriated her identity and likeness and caused her emotional distress by blasting her image in its promo campaign. Weed performed the role when the show was in its gestation phase at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in the Bay Area. That's where she was filmed. By the time the show got to Broadway, Weed was no longer part of the cast. Nevertheless, Weed says producers continued to use footage of her, including her singing a version of Green Day's power ballad "21 Guns" at the band's studio, despite never requesting permission for future use of her image. She says the efforts were "extreme and outrageous" and caused her severe mental anguish, manifested by headaches, sleeplessness, anxiety and stress. Weed is demanding compensatory and punitive damages and says she's entitled to some of the show's profits for damaging her reputation and jeopardizing future projects. Really? Sounds a tad overstated, but it'll be up to higher authorities to figure out the harm to an actress suffering from a little extra publicity. Taken from here. Sorry if this isn't thread worthy/ in the wrong place. Personally, I think it's kinda silly suing over this. And I wonder how it could cause 'severe mental anguish' But then again, they didn't have her permission.
RobyRoom Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 This girl is having a lot of free publicity from the musical anyway, I don't get why that would ruin her carrier. Anyway if she's never given away her permission, she's in the right. I don't remember her to be honest though
Comedy & Tragedy Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 One of those things...she's probably overreacting. But she could very well have a case
Holly Ann Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Oh my. My god, that's overreacting. You're in a musical!
GDM Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 We've actually been talking about this in the AI musical thread for the past couple of days.
Anita_GD Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 she says she's entitled to some of the show's profits for damaging her reputation and jeopardizing future projects. She does have a case yes but, imo, if A.I had bombed at the box office Morgan Weed would be just fine right now.
heartscollide Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Wow.... Are you fucking kidding me? Ugh, no one fucking cares about your face being on ads. Gtfo.
Liam Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 OK I really think this is a load of bullshit. Yes she has a right to sue them for still using her image but about the emotional distress is a load of bullshit. I wanna know how this has ruined her career. Shes just money hungry.
GDM Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Wow.... Are you fucking kidding me? Ugh, no one fucking cares about your face being on ads. Gtfo. Producers, directors, casting agents, managers, blah blah blah, from her perspective, might. And I can totally see some asshole producer mentioning that her image is in the show but she wasn't "good enough to make" past the preview
Ellenkc Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Unfortunately she has a case, hopefully the judge won't buy her 'mental anguish' story. She's pissed off and wants money. Thank god someone like that didn't get onto the final cast. She wasn't the only member dropped before Broadway, what's the bet that footage of the Berkeley Rep included the other guy too? Don't see him complaining... I also fail to see how publicity in a successful Broadway musical would ruin her acting career in Broadway musicals.
Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 She does have a point, they indeed used her image in the 21 Guns video and if it's also on the song, yeah, I see why she would be suing and it's a valid reason. It must be frustrating and all, too... but "damaging her reputation and jeopardizing future projects.", wtf. Her ego may be damaged, but her reputation or chance on getting another role... yeah no.
Lauren Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 over reacting, but if they didn't have her permission, she has a right to sue.
MascaraTears Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 well she has a right to sue, but "mental anguish"? really now?
Katarina. Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 They didn't have her permission, which means she could be right. But overreacting for sure..
susanananananaa Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Does she really appear in those ads? All of the ones I've seen have Rebecca, not that girl.
farley drexel hatcher Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 The thing is they might have permission. There is a hell of a lot of small print in those kinds of contracts. That said, I don't really get why she's mad about getting extra exposure if she's an actress. Probably just bitter she didn't make it to Broadway and therefore didn't get a decent cut of the money it's making now, that it probably didn't make while she was in it.
lizziebix Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Actually it is her reputation that is at issue. She wasn't chosen to go to Broadway. But to sue? If she's been in this business for any length of time she must be aware that there is always disappointment and you don't get every job you audition for. Plus, how the heck were they suppose to edit her out of the music video after the fact? Billboards etc, yes they could of done that. Maybe should of. But the video? She must have signed a contract that allows them to use her image - it's standard business practice. Just another silly lawsuit that is tying up our court system, I say.
Lindsay Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 Definitely an overreaction, but they didn't have her permission so she unfortunately does have a case. I personally think she's just doing it for attention, but maybe that's just me.
in_your_face Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 SUCKS! well, yeah..they SHOULD have asked permission from her before they used some of her rehearsal video clips.
Wretched & Divine Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 She's basically getting free exposure and publicity and she's suffering "severe mental anguish, manifested by headaches, sleeplessness, anxiety and stress" because of it? Alriiiiiiiiiiiight.
Zero. Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 yeah she can sue, but thats just lame, I think she kinda needs to get over herself a little bit....
BJWolf Posted August 14, 2010 Posted August 14, 2010 It's obvious by now that I don't care for the musical and it's cast getting so much more publicity than Green Day. I mean honestly does Green Day even exist in the public eye any more with the cast always fucking with their tv performances. However this is just fucking ridiculous. why the hell would she bitch about getting extra publicity and that can only help her career?
Punk-tastic32 Posted August 14, 2010 Author Posted August 14, 2010 She's basically getting free exposure and publicity and she's suffering "severe mental anguish, manifested by headaches, sleeplessness, anxiety and stress" because of it? Alriiiiiiiiiiiight. Oh this publicity! It's killing me! I'm a performer and *gasp* people are watching me!
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