Accusations fly in Kerner Optical bankruptcy

SevitskiKerner Optical worked on Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. From the time it was spun off from Industrial Light & Magic in 2006 until its recent demise, Kerner Optical stood as the movie industry's most revered models-and-miniatures shop. The San Rafael, Calif.-based company had once been ILM, in the days when special effects were created by engineers with high-speed cameras, not digital artists with software. More recently, as a standalone company, Kerner could claim to be the industry's foremost master of destruction, specializing in scenes like the leveling of a town by an A-bomb in "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Now Kerner Optical itself stands in ruins, its offices closed, its stages empty and its longtime artisans jobless as it goes through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. At first, many assumed the failure of Kerner was just another sad milestone as digital technology replaced classic moviemaking crafts, that it was another victim of progress and the f/x industry's dubious management practices. But the inside story is far more complicated, even bizarre.The company's CEO is alleging that Kerner was set up by a fraudster who used the company to bilk investors of millions -- even as the company's minority shareholder is similarly accusing that CEO.While it's not clear if anyone got bilked (and if so, who did the bilking), some things are clear: that a man who had been convicted of running a pyramid scheme became owner of a one-third stake in Kerner without putting up any money and with only the flimsiest relationships with his partners, from whom he hid his identity; that those partners entrusted him with courting investors even after they learned of his history; that the structure of Kerner came to resemble the structure of the pyramid scheme he once ran; and that investors lost millions in Kerner. Yet to this day his former partners and some ex-Kerner staffers defend him, insisting he did nothing wrong and that he is among the injured parties. They blame the company's current majority owner, who bought him out -- and is asking for a criminal investigation to get to the bottom of the whole mess.Eric Edmeades, Kerner's majority owner and CEO, has written to the California attorney general seeking a criminal probe of Kerner's original owners, claiming they hid the fact that one of them had been convicted of running a pyramid scheme, and that they followed the same pattern at Kerner.Meanwhile, one of Kerner's original partners, Kevin Duncan, has filed legal briefs with the bankruptcy court alleging extensive mismanagement and misappropriation of funds by Edmeades.Not in dispute: One of Kerner's trio of original owners was Joseph T. Sevitski, who pleaded guilty in 1996 to tax evasion and mail fraud for operating a pyramid scheme involving oil and gas investments. According to contemporary news accounts, Sevitski admitted to defrauding investors of about $10 million and was sentenced to three years in federal prison.The name "Joseph Sevitski" was never attached to Kerner, however, and his partners didn't know him by that name. He was using the name "Yuska Siuicki," though he still went by Joe. Variety reached Sevitski on his cellphone and, in an emotional phone interview, he confirmed his 1996 tax evasion and mail fraud convictions. "I screwed up, a lot of people got hurt. It destroyed my family, it destroyed my life," he said. "The only thing I can't do is sell unregistered securities in California. That is the end of my restrictions." When Variety asked if he had legally changed his name, Sevitski did not respond to the question and quickly ended the call.Duncan, who put up the money for the acquisition of Kerner from Lucasfilm and became co-owner of the company in 2006 along with Sevitski and former Industrial Light & Magic model maker Mark Anderson, disagrees with Edmeades on almost everything about Kerner's failure. But Duncan and Edmeades agree that one of Kerner's problems was a proliferation of companies under the Kerner name, which made it difficult to track cash through the enterprise. Edmeades described "a complicated web of companies" and called the movement of funds among them "an involved shell-game that duped investors." Both believe assets were diverted from Kerner Optical through those companies. The charge is significant because the diverting of assets in that fashion was a hallmark of Sevit-ski's oil and gas fraud in the 1990s. The bankruptcy court in that case, which found six separate companies run by Sevitski, said, "These enterprises were ostensibly separate corporations and partnerships; but Sevitski allowed his own financial affairs and those of his various enterprises to become thoroughly and inextricably intertwined."That court also said, "Sevitski commingled all funds he received in a single general operating account and spent money from that account as he pleased." It said that of the $21 million invested, only $3 million had been invested in oil and gas producing properties or equipment. Duncan, who said he is out $3 million now that Kerner is in Chapter 7, blames Edmeades for Kerner's numerous shell companies, however, and says he is sure no money was ever siphoned out of Kerner by Sevitski. "(The money) went to salaries, rent and insurance," he said. "I've seen the bills." Duncan alleged Edmeades diverted assets from Kerner Optical, in which Duncan was a shareholder, to other Kerner companies entirely owned by Edmeades. Sevitski acquired his one-third interest in Kerner without a long relationship with either Anderson or Duncan, and without putting up any cash. So brief was their acquaintance at the time Anderson and Duncan don't even agree on how the trio came together. Anderson told Variety he was introduced to Sevitski by mutual friends when he was looking for partners to buy the model shop, and Sevitski then found Duncan. But Duncan said Anderson introduced him to Sevitski. However they came together, within weeks they were partners. Anderson and Duncan said they were unaware of Sevitski's criminal history at the time.Duncan said the ILM model shop "looked like an unbelievable opportunity," and the chance to buy it directly from Lucasfilm "seemed like a sweet inside deal." Duncan put up cash, and Anderson said, "Both Joe and myself were sweat-equity investors." Anderson had 34% of newly formed Kerner Optical; Sevitski and Duncan got 33% each. Anderson became CEO of the new company and was the only buyer announced to the press at the time. Duncan saw an opportunity with Kerner Optical because it was the original Industrial Light & Magic, the models and miniatures shop that created special effects for many hit pics before the rise of digital visual effects. In the middle of the previous decade, Lucasfilm could no longer afford the overhead of the model shop; rather than shutter it, Lucasfilm spun it off, freeing itself to work with visual f/x companies besides ILM. By agreement with Lucasfilm, Kerner would not go into the digital effects business. However, its new owners hoped Kerner would follow in the footsteps of another Lucasfilm spinoff, Pixar, and parlay its engineering expertise into high-tech ventures beyond f/x. Sevitski had represented himself as a 3D expert, and the company moved aggressively into the technology, building 3D camera rigs and working on a glasses-free 3D TV. But even Anderson is unclear on Sevitski's actual 3D experience. He said, "I don't necessarily know if the (3D) experience or the capabilities were from him as much as it was from the group of individuals that he pulled together as a team that did have a lot of experience or knowledge in the 3D world." Former Kerner technologists agree Sevitski was not an engineer, though he kept himself informed and could make a good impression.Duncan said he became aware of Sevitski's criminal history about a year after the sale. Some Kerner staff had become suspicious when a Google search on "Yuska Siuicki" brought back no hits, something one former Kerner staffer called "impossible" for someone with long experience in entertainment tech. Sevitski eventually revealed in one-on-one meetings with some staff that he had served time for a white-collar crime. Anderson, Duncan and some former staffers defend Sevitski and the work he did for Kerner. "He showed up to work, knew people in the industry and knew about cameras," Duncan said. Anderson said, "I think of him as a person that made some mistakes, paid his dues on it, and he was not that person while I was working with him."Though Sevitski owned a one-third stake in Kerner, he was never an officer of the company, Duncan said, and had no control of cash. He had no formal executive title, but according to former staffers, Sevitski kept stacks of business cards with various titles, including COO and CEO. When he was introduced to Variety, the card he used said "chief of disruptive technologies."Sevitski became one of Kerner's conduits to investors. Former staffer Marty Brenneis, who was in charge of computer security for Kerner, said: "Joe was the professional smoke blower. He was the guy who went in and was charming." Rose Duignan, former Kerner director of marketing, told CineSource magazine in an interview posted Sunday: "Nobody was bilking people. But Joe attracted a sleazy underbelly of potential investor (sic). There were a lot of get rich-quick schemers circling. The brand of Kerner was greatly diminished." Another former staffer said the f/x team watched the parade of potential investors skeptically, telling each other, "Just keep the model shop open."The financial crisis of 2008 hit Kerner hard. It had a deal with a Japanese company to build a 3D TV, but the Japanese company went out of business during the crunch. Edmeades, an Internet entrepreneur and motivational speaker with no show business background, acquired a majority share in Kerner in summer 2009, buying out Anderson and Sevitski. Duncan remained as a minority shareholder and secured creditor. Edmeades' letter to the attorney general says, "By the time I came to meet the three partners, investors had already lost over $5 million. I have since learned that at least some of my funds were used to pay off early investors to satisfy demands and threats of legal action."All sides in the dispute agree Edmeades was informed that Sevitski had a tax evasion conviction. Anderson and Duncan said Edmeades knew all about Sevitski's history before buying in -- though in conversations with Variety, both indicated they thought Sevitski's only conviction was for tax evasion. Edmeades said he was never told of Sevitski's mail fraud or his admission that he defrauded investors. In a legal brief filed with the bankruptcy court, Duncan's lawyers argue that Edmeades' complaint that he was not informed of Sevitski's mail fraud or pyramid scheme is "a distinction without a difference" and "there is no evidence anywhere that Mr. Siuicki was ever convicted of any crime other than tax evasion."However, a September 2009 email obtained by Variety shows Duncan writing to Anderson with the subject "History Repeats" over text of news accounts of Sevitski's guilty pleas and his admission of defrauding investors. Duncan said he wrote the email out of frustration because "Joe had investors in, and it was close, close, close, and it would all fall apart." Both sides agree that numerous Kerner companies were set up and that assets were removed from Kerner Optical. Edmeades blames Sevitski and the previous management for that proliferation of Kerner companies, Duncan blames Edmeades, and Duignan said, "Both of them (Sevitski and Edmeades) were starting tons of them."Duncan and Edmeades are now in a bitter dispute over whether Edmeades was fully informed of Sevitski's past, over who mismanaged the company and over the disposition of its technology, some of which remains valuable.After Edmeades bought him out of Kerner, Sevitski continued his involvement with 3D through another company, PLLX3, which tried to buy out Kerner's 3D businesses. Websites list Sevitski (under his alias Siuicki) as a principal of PLLX3 -- but Anderson, who was briefly with the company, insisted Sevitski was never an employee there. Today PLLX3 is dormant, with only a front page on its website, but Anderson said it may yet be acquired. Over the summer, Duncan sent Kerner into Chapter 7 when he refused to accept Edmeades' bankruptcy reorganization plan. Duncan insisted Edmeades step down, but Edmeades refused, so Duncan refused to endorse the plan. Now former Kerner technicians are looking for opportunities to acquire its technology and other assets. They hope to form smaller f/x companies that can scale up when needed, without carrying the cost of a permanent stage. Sevitski, in his short conversation with Variety, blamed Edmeades for the mess and insisted: "I never had shit to do with the books. I never touched a dollar. I never made money off (Kerner). Like an idiot I handed Edmeades my 33% of the company for a dollar, and he never even paid me the dollar."All I did was, with my two friends, try to keep a place I loved alive and keep the people working." A moment later, he ended the call. Duncan said he's sure Sevitski did nothing wrong. "He didn't even get a salary his last year and a half there," he said. "Joe is out, and he's broke," But he said if he had it to do over again, he wouldn't put his money into Kerner, at least not without asking more questions. "Shame on me," he said. "My lack of due diligence got me into this mess."Anderson called the whole situation "a big tragedy.""It's real sad to see a company with such heritage and lineage go away," Anderson added. "I wish the employees the best of luck. They're not only people that I worked with for years but they're also good friends. It's a very unfortunate time, and it's too bad that it fell apart." (Shelby Hill and Steven Gaydos contributed to this report.) Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Grey's Anatomy's Jaw-Shedding Moments: Meredith and Derek Get married, George Dies

Patrick Dempsey and Ellem Pompeo During the last eight seasons, the authors of Grey's Anatomy have place the doctors of Dallas Sophistication with the ringer. George was hit with a bus, Izzie was stricken with cancer, as well as Meredith died (for some time). A healthcare facility flooded, a guy gunned a number of their co-employees lower, however the doctors continue to be chugging along. Gallery: Take a look at Grey's jaw-shedding moments Take a look at our listing of Grey's most jaw-shedding moments, striking your comments ought to together with your faves we might have skipped. Grey's Anatomy airs Thursdays at 9/8c on ABC.

A few Causes Of the initial Trailer - and First Gossips - for Very Noisy and very Close

Now’s edition of Oscar Index made the objective of enabling for Very Noisy and very Close becoming an honours contender on paper, while withholding any kind of hype until we’d all seen no less than a trailer. Several hours later, that trailer turned up. But a lot more interesting in comparison to footage therein? How about test-screening gossip trickling out around Stephen Daldry’s miracle-realist 9/11 tearjerker? [Warning: Spoilers ahead.] To start with, here’s the completely new trailer, which first demonstrated Wednesday evening: Meanwhile, at In Contention, Kristopher Tapley last longer than the effect of a viewer who produces that Max von Sydow — the Swedish icon presently inside the seventh decade of his screen career — is likely to be the deep cast’s front-runner with an acting nomination: “[Von Sydow’s character] lost his capacity to talk in Germany throughout WW2. […] He's what ‘yes’ and ‘no’ inked on his palms and wears a notepad round his neck. It’s an very significant performance, lots of interesting shrugs and expressions. He has the boy on his journeys across the city and plays a crucial role within the healing. “I’m not destroying anything here, but an important take into account the film will be the voice messages the dad leaves round the family reacting to machine while locked in the tower. The digital camera is on von Sydow hearing [these] final messages. It’s slightly master class in reacting.” Coincidentally, that’s exactly the same feedback I learned by another viewer who saw another test screening in NY. Lowering being reported directly, the viewer provided other feedback too: · It’s well-socialized: While Tom Hanks and newcomer Thomas Horn are strong, the consensus inside the room was that Sandra Bullock and quiet von Sydow were the standouts most likely to obtain honours-season recognition (within the Supporting groups). · It’s sad: The viewer virtually blocked recounting story elements and sequences in my opinion, mostly addressing the bond between Hanks and Bullock. · It’s too soon: Among the NYers who’d were living here through the 9/11 attacks, the film’s current introduction — featuring falling physiques, crushing thuds, together with other strongly horrifying pointers in the initial scene on the planet Trade Center — was less psychologically affecting than inappropriate. Another audiences made an appearance to defer for the minority. Expect cuts? · It’s extended: The viewer thought the current running time a couple of-and-a-half several hours. Again, expect cuts? Anyway, there you have it. Your move, War Equine.

Is Chuck Lorre Writing a Tell-All?

Chuck Lorre Is Chuck Lorre writing a tell-all book about his ordeal with Charlie Sheen?The 2 . 5 Males creator suggested at such within the vanity card following Monday's episode - which broadcast hrs after he, Warner Bros. TV and Sheen arrived at funds within the actor's $100 million suit over his firing.Charlie Sheen, Warner Bros. achieve settlement over lawsuitLikening themself for an "reluctant contestant inside a reality show," Lorre authored he "virtually hated every second from itInch and stored praying for this to finish. "But this didn't. Somewhere on the way, something inside me died," he ongoing. "Anyway, now, all of a sudden, I am being told the reality show's been cancelled. Apparently, it had been one of individuals stuff that in some way got unmanageable. Sorry. Whoops. Live and learn. Moving forward. Game over. And that is fine. I'm so great with this. Yes, please, let us all move ahead. There's only one problem. That factor inside me that died? It walks during the night. It's angry. It's hungry. And for the worst situation ... it's writing a tell-all book."Fall Preview: Get scoop in your favorite coming back showsDetails of his settlement with Sheen weren't launched, but Sheen will apparently get $25 million from his contract and should drop all his legal claims. The actor was fired from Males in Feb after making numerous rants against Lorre, Warner Bros. and CBS once the show didn't resume production carrying out a hiatus to permit Sheen to go in rehab.Charlie Sheen on his publish-Males behavior: You will find "portions" I would have amendedSheen has backtracked on his rants recently, saying around the Tonight Reveal that he was unmanageable and would have fired themself too. Younger crowd made an appearance finally week's Emmy Honours to require his alternative Ashton Kutcher and also the Males crew well around the year.Can you read Lorre's book?

Photo Gallery: Browse the Best TV Brainiacs

Information, Steve Urkel And also the geek shall inherit our planet!Drop Preview: Get scoop in your favorite coming back showsThe TV landscape happens to be full of the brainiest and also the most socially awkward dorks - even much more nowadays between your Large Bang Theory men, Community's Abed and Chuck's Nerd Herd. So come along once we celebrate them and also the best TV brainiacs of yesteryear here.

CBS Orders Rob Schneider Comedy for Midseason

Rob Schneider CBS has picked up Rob Schneider's family comedy for midseason, TVGuide.com has learned. In his first prime-time role since NBC's Men Behaving Badly, Schneider stars as a lonely bachelor who marries into a large, tight-knit Mexican-American family. Fall TV: Get the lowdown on this season's must-see new shows Originally in contention as a pilot in the fall, the comedy was retooled and largely recast. Next to Schneider, the only original cast members left are Eugenio Derbez and Lupe Ontiveros. Claudia Bassols, Diana Maria Riva and Cheech Marin later joined the cast of the comedy, which is executive-produced by Schneider and Lew Morton.

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Kaira Pitt's 'Moneyball': Just what the Moviegoers Say

Kaira Pitt hit theaters Friday in Moneyball, through which he plays Concord As manager Billy Beane.our editor recommends'Moneyball': Kaira Pitt, Jonah Hill in New Trailer'Moneyball': Just what the Experts Are Saying'Moneyball's' Kaira Pitt Becomes One of the Handful of Non-Sports sports athletes to cover Sports Outlined The baseball drama, which co-stars Jonah Hill, assigned el born area office Friday evening, raking inside an thought $6.8 million. PHOTOS: 'Moneyball' Premiere in Concord The film has introduced reviews which are positive from experts, but are you aware the moviegoers saying? Jerry Seinfeld, for starters, can be a fan. "Moneyball my new favorite movie ever! Disregard all previous!" he tweeted, although among his fans requested when the comedian have been sincere or sarcastic. Many moviegoers also hit Twitter to discuss their opinions, which have been mostly positive. Incorporated within this: 9ActionJ9 Moneyball: 2 thumbs up. A wise financial investment ($10). VIDEO: Kaira Pitt Learned a Lesson From Jennifer Aniston Comments Kevin Davis I believed Moneyball was good. It's unfortunate that opening evening it absolutely was hardly playing anywhere Zenmatt Not surprising, I loved Moneyball. Andrew Farrar #Moneyball with Tyler last evening. Excellent movie that precisely described my fantasy baseball team-building strategy. Turquoise Wave Kaira Pitt and Jonah Hill were awesome in Moneyball! #movies VIDEO: Kaira Pitt Appears on 'Ellen DeGeneres Show' for brand new Chris Olds One step to consider in the get-use #moneyball is applying appear/music. John Moe The most popular scene comes about when Moneyball helps the orphanage by throwing 100mph wads of cash their way. Go, Moneyball, go! Doug Clayton Moneyball is important see. Recommend it. Casual fans enjoy that certain. See the book if u haven't already. Jeanne Bee Moneyball will be a good yarn. Altho departed fr book it told how the sport changed. Fenway bakes a look and feel too. Kaira Pitt wz xclnt. STORY: New Movie Reviews: 'Moneyball,' 'Abduction,' 'Machine Gun Preacher' Striking Theaters Jason Deuman Hey @JonahHill and @prattprattpratt #moneyball is really good! Im prone to notice again on Tuesday happily! Bill #Moneyball reduce lots of wonderful recollections from right area inside the Colosseum watching the best team in baseball. Brendan Fitzpatrick Saw moneyball last evening. Sooo extended! However loveee being well rested around the foggy 'life was imple'. Time for glen deli Still, a few others were not as impressed: 680thefan Moneyball is meaningless simply because they accomplished nothing significant! STORY: Box Office Preview: Kaira Pitt's 'Moneyball' Looks to Out-Run Rachelle Lefervre's 'Abduction' Im Gisriel Moneyball and Super 8 are two movies everyone loved which i'm like yeah there ok. very good not exceptional Jimmy Traina Billy Beane is referred to just like a mix involving the Fonz & Rocky while Art Howe is Three Stooges. It's slightly much. Related Subjects Kaira Pitt Jonah Hill Moneyball

Ashley Bell Back for 'Last Exorcism 2'

Sonia Recchia/Getty ImagesAshley Bell The Last Exorcism star Ashley Bellapparently has more demons to expel. The actress is in final negotiations to return for the sequel, tentatively titled The Last Exorcism 2, for Strike Entertainment. At the same time, she has also been cast in the indie film Chasing Shakespeare. The Exorcism sequel was written by Damien Chazelle, and Strike's Eric Newman, Gabrielle Neimand and Marc Abraham are producing. The first film, directed by Daniel Stamm, grossed$67.7 million worldwide last August on a budget of a few million dollars. Shakespeare, which is about to begin filming in Texas, is a love story between a young African-American man and a Native American girl with a passion for Shakespeare.Bell will co-star as a fellow actress who meets the girl at an audition for Hamlet and becomes her friend and roommate. Danny Glover will also co-star. Norry Nivenis directing a script by James Bird, andNiven and Loren Basulto are producing. Repped by Paradigm and Principato-Young Entertainment, Bell most recently starred in The Day, which had its world premiere in the Midnight Madness section of the Toronto International Film Festival. WWE Studios picked up U.S. rights to the film after its first screening. The Last Exorcism Ashley Bell

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Zeffirelli brings opera to Middle East

Franco Zeffirelli will open the Royal Opera House in Oman on March. 12 with Puccini's 'Turandot.'ROME -- After staging operas for many years at venerable Civilized world venues, for example La Scala and also the Met, Franco Zeffirelli takes "Turandot" towards the new Royal Opera House in Oman, where, on March. 12, Puccini's Persian princess fable will end up the very first opera ever to participate in the Persian Gulf.Zeffirelli sees the "Turandot" gala, which is a hot ticket within the entire region, like a cultural milestone of sorts."They've overcome their publish-Sept. 11 anxiety about being marginalized, and today they're opening to Western culture," he states.Sultan Qaboos Bin Stated, who's leader from the emirate, is really a longtime classical music and opera aficionado. He chose Zeffirelli to spread out this entrance for opera within the Gulf after admiring the maestro's work this past year at Italy's Arena di Verona.The Omani ruler selected "Turandot," which is dependant on a Persian story book in regards to a princess that has her suitors beheaded, as his operatic ice-breaker over Verdi's "La Traviata" which, because the title indicates, is all about a fallen lady. Her whirlwind romance might possibly not have been appropriate because the first opera to participate in the region."Whenever we had discussions in Oman this past year throughout Ramadan, I discovered that they (Traviata) would be a harder figure on their behalf,Inch Zeffirelli recounts.Sadly, Zeffirelli has become fighting with losing tenor Salvatore Licitra, who died lately inside a scooter accident.Increasing opera star, viewed as Luciano Pavarotti's artistic heir, was designed to act as Prince Calaf and, among other arias, perform Puccini's "Nessun dorma" in the inaugural from the 1,100-chair opera house in Muscat, capital from the oil-wealthy nation within the U . s . Arab Emirates."He am filled with enthusiasm without any equals, or anybody even coming close," states Zeffirelli, who's still finalizing discussions for his alternative.Zeffirelli's next challenge is to bring "Don Giovanni" towards the 15,000-chair Arena di Verona, which, based on the maestro, has to date never "dared" to stage this type of large-scale manufacture of Mozart's masterpiece.Zeffirelli, that has been pointing plays, films, and operas in excess of six decades, laments the Met lately began phasing out his classic productions, including "Traviata," "Tosca," and "Carmen," for "financial reasons," he states. And replacing all of them with "hippie garbage.""It is a terrifying cultural revolution," states the maestro. "Considering it makes me sleep deprived." But, he adds, "they are not touching my 'Boheme.' "Indeed, Zeffirelli's honored manufacture of that Puccini classic, a Met staple since 1981, remains a hot ticket among NY auds. Contact Nick Vivarelli at nvivarelli@gmail.com

Nicolas Cage May Be Immortal According to 1800s Photo

In bizarre Nic Cage news, a eBay seller named jack_mord has put a Civil War photograph up for auction that suddenly transpires with bear an beneficial resemblance for the Oscar-winning star of 'Trespass.' Not merely one to feed up an opportunity, Mr. Mord is cashing within the dead ringer (no pun intended) by stating the look is picture taking proof of Nicolas Cage's existence just like a vampire or possibly a spook. Per the eBay listing: Original c.1870 carte p visite showing a man who looks just like Nick Cage. Personally, For me it's him which he's some type of walking undead / vampire, etc, who quickens / reinvents themselves once every 75 years roughly. 150 years from now, he might be a politician, the best option from the cult, or possibly a talk show host." Mind to eBay to purchase the photo yourself, or you will just purchase it let us target the $millions of cost. [with the Thanatos Archive] Photo because of Getty Images as well as the Thanatos Archive.

Security Demands Toronto Fest Volunteers Turn Away From Madonna (Report)

TORONTO -- There's confusion following Madonna's press conference at the Toronto International Film Festival on Monday for W.E. over who told volunteers to turn away from the Material Girl when she passed by.our editor recommendsWeinstein Co. Acquires Madonna's 'W.E.''Edge,' Madonna pic set for Turin festival "We are still trying to figure out who and why anyone would ask the volunteers to turn away from Madonna. She has never and would never ask anyone to do that ever," Madonna's rep Liz Rosenberg said, according to a Toronto Sun newspaper report Wednesday. "Neither Madonna nor her security ever gave instructions for the volunteers to turn away from Madonna. In fact, she was so impressed with the volunteers that she publicly thanked them from the stage for their hard work before the premiere of her film last night which earned a standing ovation," Rosenberg continued. At last count, the diva demand looks to have come from a private security firm, whose identity has not yet been revealed. Festival execs are not commenting on the Madonna brouhaha, preferring to focus on programming for Wednesday and the rest of TIFF until the event wraps on Sunday. The Madonna incident follows a recent law change by the Ontario provincial government to allow Hollywood stars attending the Toronto International Film Festival to bring their own hired muscle. Related Topics Toronto International Film Festival Madonna International

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