Actors' union seizes film rights

A little-known film starring Kevin Bacon was involved in the dispute

The largest acting union in the US has seized control of the rights of seven films over unpaid wages to 200 members.

Although mainly low-budget, the films involved featured stars including Kevin Bacon, Mark Wahlberg and David Bowie.

Producers often use film rights as collateral in their contracts with the Screen Actors Guild (SAG).

This is this is first time SAG has invoked a clause allowing it to seize the rights and sell them on to ensure its members get paid.

The films, including the 1997 Telling Lies in America starring Bacon and Calista Flockhart, have already been sold by auction.

Other films included Blood Money starring James Brolin, The Linguini Incident starring Rosanna Arquette and Bowie.

SAG said one of the films sold for a five-figure sum, while the remainder were bought by a sales agent who will in turn sell them on to ensure the maximum amount is returned to the union.

Protect

The money owed to the actors stems from unpaid "residuals" - money earned from their work being sold overseas or through cable and video deals.

The amount owed from the seven movies totalled more than $400,000 (£217,000).

"Recouping lost wages through foreclosure will be an ongoing course of action for (the union)," SAG deputy assistant general counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said.

"Producers who do not take their contractual responsibilities seriously must understand that this was not a one-time event.

"We will protect our members from problem producers who have a track record of not paying our members for their work."

He said film producers each year renege on millions of dollars in wages owed to SAG members.