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The Lawsuit Details

The producers of ThatÔÇÖs Amore ran out of money and skipped town without paying $570,000 in wages to dozens of workers while continuing to incur costly expenses to promote the movie, according to a complaint filed against the production.

In a lawsuit, filed in New York federal court on Dec. 8, IATSE says that it reached a settlement in August to resolve the grievance but that the production continues to refuse to pay 77 members for nearly a month of work. ItÔÇÖs threatening to blacklist writer-director Nick Vallelonga, whoÔÇÖs also a producer on the film, until workers are paid.

The project ran out of money in October, forcing IATSE to file for arbitration for unpaid wages for that month, as well as November. A settlement required the production to settle its tab, which it allegedly failed to do in full.

“To date, ThatÔÇÖs Amore has not paid the gross wages, incidental expenses and benefit payments owed for work performed by seventy-seven (77) Union Workers for weeks ending October 29, 2022, November 5, 2022 and November 12, 2022,” writes Hope Pordy, a lawyer representing IATSE, in the suit.

Workers who werenÔÇÖt paid include the cinematographer, camera operator, editor, costume designer, wardrobe supervisor, hair and make-up stylists and grips, among others.

The legal Standoff

The suit, which doesnÔÇÖt name Vallelonga, stresses that producers continue to engage in “expensive marketing strategies” and incur expenses such as “the recording of a soundtrack with full orchestra despite the non-payment of contractually owed wages and benefits.”

IATSE notes that it can invoke its “international constitution” to declare a company or individual “unfair,” which bars members from rendering services until financial obligations are met.

In a statement, IATSE International president Matthew D. Loeb said, “This lawsuit underscores our commitment to vigorously protecting our members and ensuring that their rights are not trampled upon.”