Johannesburg – What started as an exciting career highlight ended in sadness after a group of actors and crew members shot a movie and never got paid.
Renowned actors Pallance Dladla, Christopher Jaftha, rapper Rouge (real name Deko Barbara-Jessica Wedi) and Mpolokeng Chabane are among the actors who are fighting for their hard-earned cash.
The production of the movie started rolling in mid-May and ended last month.
This is after executive producers Lizette Khan and Justine Strydom of Skinny Chick Productions failed to pay crew and cast members after shooting a movie called Deadly Minds in Durban last month.
The crew spent a month away from their homes.
According to whistle-blowers, actors were promised to get paid, but halfway through shooting the producers changed their tune.
“Halfway through the movie we were told that one of the two funders pulled out, however, we were promised not to worry, they will pay us from the company’s cash flow,” said the source. To their dismay on the day before the payment, they received e-mails instead citing that they won’t be getting paid.
“They told us they can’t pay us because the second sponsor also pulled out,” said the source.
According to the cast and crew that worked on the production, the producers made them shoot the film before securing funding and getting the movie to be commissioned.
Instead, they lied that funds were already secured.
“First, they were cagey about who the funders were; we only knew that they were American.
“We left our homes in Jozi during Covid to put food on the table for our loved ones, but instead we got played by greedy and horrible people, who were hoping to sell the movie to either Showmax, Netflix or big screens,” said another source.
Sunday World has also learnt that the producers left Durban without paying the catering company, which was feeding the crew on set.
According to another source, the two also exited the WhatsApp group they created.
“They are not responding to our e-mails and texts messages. We are in the dark, as we speak some of us are looking for legal aid or someone who can help us legally. They can’t mess with our bread and butter and think they will get away with it,” said the source
When contacted for comment, Khan said: “I don’t know what you are talking about, I spoke to everyone and they are fine, I don’t see a story there.”
“I think it’s a bit premature, we finished shooting about three weeks ago, there are some outstanding payments, but most people got paid.”
Also read:
Kwesta dealt financial blow as EP is blocked due to Ayanda Jiya’s dispute with producer
Ayanda Ncwane quits Real Housewives of Durban
Open Mic Productions backs up Master KG claims over Jerusalema royalty claims
Nomcebo drags record label to court for unpaid royalties for Jerusalema
Jerusalema fallout: Master KG hits back at Nomcebo
Look: Somizi tries on Anele Mdoda’s thigh-high boots
Follow @SundayWorldZA on Twitter and @sundayworldza on Instagram, or like our Facebook Page, Sunday World, by clicking here for the latest breaking news in South Africa. To Subscribe to Sunday World, click here.
Sunday World
