Kennedy v. Wardour Studios CA2/2

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

I. Facts1

Madeleine Kennedy (plaintiff) “is an award-winning actress, producer and writer” based in Australia. In August 2017, three companies “partnered together” to develop a film called Qi: Spacetime Warriors for distribution in China. Those partners were (1) The Genfilms Group (Genfilms), a Chinese company that develops and finances films; (2) Wardour Studios Inc. (Wardour Studios), an American company that distributes international films; and (3) USA Hollywood Pictures International, LLC (USA Hollywood Pictures), an American company that facilitates financing among foreign and Chinese investors. These companies approached plaintiff to be a producer and co-writer of the film. She entered an employment contract in October 2017, setting her compensation at $1,212,000 (to be paid

Because no evidence was presented at the trial in this case, we draw the facts from the allegations in the operative complaint.

2 in monthly installments) as well as a share of 3 percent of the film’s profits (which ended up totaling more than $200 million).2 Plaintiff “expended hundreds of hours” working on the film from August 2017 to May 2018, when her…