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Jamaican writer sues Sony Pictures
SHELDON WILLIAMS, Staff Reporter
A Jamaican female writer living in the US who claims that SONY Pictures plagiarised her work and used her ideas to make the movie, Death At A Funeral, is seeking to recover millions in damages when the matter goes to trial on September 6.
In a summary judgement ruling, three other charges claiming copyright infringement were dismissed by the court after no basis for those claims under the Copyright Act were found and for lack of subject matter jurisdiction.
Pamella Lawrence, who will be representing herself in court, told THE WEEKEND STAR that the film company evidently infringed on her real life experience to make the movie as it was documented in her book. 'Caught on Video ... the Most Embarrassing Moment de Funeral published in 1994.
Also, she maintains that the company infringed on a similarly titled videotape of events that took place at an actual funeral in Los Angeles.
Furthermore, Lawrence argues that the plots of both versions of 'Death of Funeral,' one a British release in 2007 with an all-white cast and the other an American release in 2010, starring Chris Rock and Martin Lawrence among others, encroached on her works.
would not be entertained
Lawrence told THE WEEKEND STAR that she attended a "pitch meeting" in 1998 with a representative from Sony Columbia TriStar to put forward the idea of making a movie based on her book.
She was reportedly told at the time that the company would consider her idea but no offer was made and no particulars were discussed.
The following week, Lawrence reportedly received a letter explaining that the idea would not be entertained at the time.
Then in 2007, the British Comedy, Death at a Funeral was released in the United Kingdom.
It is understood that in the same year, American actor Chris Rock had seen the movie and approached the film-makers for permission to do an American remake which was released in 2010.
Interestingly, in 2000, Lawrence filed a suit against the movie company based on the events surrounding the pitch meeting. Lawrence and her attorney reportedly settled on that claim in 2001 with undisclosed terms.
Meanwhile, Lawrence pointed out to THE WEEKEND STAR that there are several similarities between her works and the film.
She pointed out that in her book the key locations include, a funeral home, US Post Office and a US flag in Los Angeles, California.
funeral home
It is understood that in the American version of the movie, the funeral home is directly across from Post Office truck which copies the location of the funeral home in book.
Also in the British version, the film is set at a funeral home.
Additionally, Lawrence refers to herself as 'the writer' in the subject book which describes the DVD of her ordeal being sold in New York and Los Angeles.
In comparison, in the American version of the movie, the character Ryan played by actor Martin Lawrence is identified and de- picted in the film as a writer who flies from New York to Los Angeles for the funeral.
In the British version, the character, Robert, played by actor Rupert Graves is also identified and depicted as a writer who flies from New York to London for the funeral ( variation of element in Lawrence's book and about Lawrence page 109).
Another similarity is evident with the female lead character.
It is understood that the mother of the persons is shown in video wearing a black dress holding a white handkerchief.
Similarly in both versions of the film, the lead female character is shown in a black dress holding white handkerchief, among other things.
At the same time, when contacted, Sony Pictures did not speak in detail on the matter.
"We're pleased with US District Judge Stephen V. Wilson's summary judgement ruling and our complete victory on the merits of all three copyright claims in this case," a Sony Pictures spokesperson told THE WEEKEND STAR.
THE WEEKEND STAR was also advised that no additional comments would be provided by them on the matter.
According to the website, Boxofficemojo.com, Death at a funeral (2007), grossed GBP46,789,413 worldwide.
On the other hand, the 2010 version was estimated to have grossed US$49,050,886 worldwide.