I figure since I reported that Julie Taymor, the remarkably inventive director who was thrown out of the “Spider-Man” mix, sued the producers for breach of contract, I should report that this lawsuit settled.
Oh, and the producers had filed a countersuit against Taymor, “saying that she violated the terms of her contract and ‘could not and would not do the jobs’ that she was hired to do…” [quoted from the New York Times item about the settlement].
So everything’s relatively peachy (even if the peaches are somewhat bitter) in the kingdom of “Spider-Man.” Of course, “terms of the settlement were not disclosed, and representatives for Ms. Taymor declined to comment further … A representative for “Spider-Man…declined to comment.”
Thought you’d like to know. I do lean toward Taymor here, because I’ve seen a couple of her productions and she is gifted as a designer and director. She sets magic on the stage. And when producers contract with reputedly difficult, i.e., complex and controlling, directors, they are simply getting what they contracted for. Difficulties, along with the magic. I can’t imagine an expensive Broadway musical that gets mounted without huge, screaming battles and dire threats exchanged between the creative people and the money people.
By the way, the declination to comment is undoubtedly inscribed within the settlement agreement which probably has a non-disclosure or non-disparagement clause, containing language like this:
[Parties] agree not to make or cause to be made any statement that disparages, defames or damages the reputation of [parties], its employees or any of the Releasees.
And then there will be a confidentiality clause, stating that everyone who signs the agreement will not discuss it and its terms. Or else. And that’s why nobody will comment.
How do I know this? Because I once signed such an agreement.