June 15, 2009

Memo to self -- check the fine print on the contract

Horror story from Seattle's station KING-5:
Hollywood film turns horror story for Seattle homeowner
When Daphne Tomchak was approached to allow producers to use her home for the set of a new movie, the out of work architect felt like it was a remake of "Pennies From Heaven."

"Cool, I could get a remodel, they would pay me a little bit of money," she said.

The film, "The Details," is said to be a dark comedy about a couple whose yard is infested with raccoons.

Daphne moved all of her stuff into the basement and moved herself into a friend's house.

The movie makers gave her $13,000 up front for her troubles.

Tomchak gave permission for producers to remodel her home to fit their script, with the understanding that they would pay for everything to be fixed when they were done.

But just three days into the project she got word that financing for the film had fallen through.

Tomchak came home to find rugs torn up, walls ripped down, electricity cut, trees chopped, and nobody taking responsibility.

"I was kind of in shock," she said.

Tomchak says the demolition of the home was supposed to be even worse, including one scene where a character takes a chainsaw to one of her walls. If there is any silver lining to be found here, it's that the financing ran out before they shot that scene.
Googling her name gives me an address that borders on the Washington Park Arboretum -- that is not a cheap place to live and those houses are gorgeous. This is going to be one interesting and expensive lawsuit... Posted by DaveH at June 15, 2009 8:46 PM | TrackBack
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