Global Courant 2023-04-28 14:51:52
EXCLUSIVE: In her first statement following the conclusion of her court case over the collapse of the sci-fi pic A Patriot, Eva Green has criticized the press for its misreporting during the trial and said she was “forced to stand up to a small group of men” who tried to use her as a scapegoat.
Green won her high court case in the UK against White Lantern and SMC Specialty Finance over the collapse of A Patriot Friday morning.
The case stems from the collapse of the UK project in late 2019, which Green was due to star in and executive-produce. The case was essentially about determining which party was to blame for the collapse, with both parties having competing narratives on the issue.
Green, whose credits include 2006’s Casino Royale and Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City, claimed she was entitled to a $1M fee she agreed to at the outset of the project, arguing that since she had a “pay or play” contract she was owed the money regardless of the film’s collapse before the cameras rolled.
In a judgment Friday morning, Justice Michael Green ruled in Green’s favor, stating that she was entitled to the $1m fee, and dismissed the production counter-claim, PA reported.
Read the full statement below:
Today, after a lengthy legal battle, I’ve won my case in The High Court in London. The case has been widely misreported in the press and I’d like to take this opportunity to make my own personal statement.
I have won my claim against the financiers of the proposed film – and all the allegations which they made against me have been totally rejected by the Judge. My professional reputation has been upheld. The Judge has found that I was never in breach of my contractual obligations. The judgment is clear. I am grateful to the Court, to the Judge, to my legal team and to my valiant agent who is my strength and my shield.
In this legal action I was forced to stand up to a small group of men, funded by deep financial resources, who tried to use me as a scapegoat to cover up their own mistakes. I am proud that I stood up against their bully-boy tactics. They made false allegations about me in public court documents which the Judge has now shown are totally incorrect. A few people in the press were only too delighted to re-print these lies without proper reporting. There are few things the media enjoys more than tearing a woman to pieces. It felt like being set upon by hounds; I found myself misrepresented, quoted out of context and my desire to make the best possible film was made to look like female hysteria. It was cruel and it was untrue.
As a result of this case, the cat’s well and truly out of the bag that I am mildly terrified of public speaking, that I don’t understand technical financial structures, that I am fragile in the face of aggression, that I’m passionate about my work and that my heart breaks when people are unkind. I’m also the kind of person who escapes through the back door at parties and is happiest at home alone with my dogs. But, most importantly, I want to add that I’m also at my happiest when I’m making the films that I love and that I believe in, working side by side with brilliant crews in the UK and overseas. Therefore, the deliberate misreporting by some of the press has amplified the pain to a huge degree and has been more painful than I can say.
I fought tooth and nail to defend the beautiful film that I loved and had signed on for. A film that spoke of a cause I hold dear – climate change and warned of the resource wars and mass migration that would occur if we don’t address the problem.
I stood my ground, and this time, justice prevailed.
I wish I could say that this ordeal has made me stronger, better, wiser. But to have my personal life dragged through the press and the court was more painful and damaging than I can say. Which is why I want to thank those kind people who, when I was being vilified by the press, supported me, on social media and on other platforms. It was a great comfort for me to know that I wasn’t alone and it helped to know that so many people could see through the legal tricks, the PR and the spin.
I promise with all my heart, I will always strive to deserve the kind support that you have given me.
Thank you.
Eva x
