The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) local unions representing film and television workers in New York City have filed a civil lawsuit against That’s Amore Movie, LLC in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York.
The legal action, initiated by IATSE and seven affiliated New York production locals, alleges that the production company failed to fulfill its wage and benefit obligations to union workers, marking a firm stance against labor rights violations and non-compliance with collective bargaining agreements.
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The film That’s Amore with a projected budget of $34 million and featuring A-list actors like John Travolta, Katherine Heigl, and Christopher Walken, started production on September 19, 2022, running through November of the same year. However, in October, under producer Nick Vallelonga’s (Green Book) leadership, the production reportedly ran out of funds, leaving dozens of union workers owed over $570,000 in combined wages and an estimated hundred thousand dollars or more in benefit contributions.
Following an arbitration process that resulted in a settlement for the LLC to compensate the workers, the production company allegedly failed to adhere to the agreed-upon terms, missing most required payments and defaulting on contractual obligations to the union workers. In response, IATSE and the New York local affiliates have taken legal action, seeking judicial intervention.
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IATSE International President Matthew D. Loeb emphasized the union’s commitment to protecting its members, stating, “This lawsuit underscores our commitment to vigorously protecting our members and ensuring that their rights are not trampled upon. In this country, when you work, you get paid. Anything less is theft. We will not stand idly by while companies like That’s Amore Movie, LLC attempt to undermine the fair and hard-won terms of our collective agreements. We will relentlessly pursue all avenues to ensure justice is served.”
While no official declaration of “unfair” has been made, historically, IATSE has invoked its International Constitution to bar its workforce from providing services to companies or individuals deemed “unfair” until financial obligations are met. The last such invocation occurred in 2019 when the IATSE General Executive Board declared Weasel Works Productions “unfair.”
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