Rhames Says Producer Owes Him $25,000

LOS ANGELES (CN) - Actor Ving Rhames says a producer owes him $25,000 for appearing in the martial arts movie "The Red Canvas." Rhames says he agreed to play Gene "The Machine" Gunner for $200,000. Rhames says his part was supposed to take six days to film, but Red Canvas Film Productions principal Kenneth Chamitoff stopped payment on a $25,000 check after Rhames refused to work for a seventh day without extra payment.

Chamitoff claimed that Rhames had breached his pay-or-play agreement by refusing to work an extra day, according to the Superior Court complaint.

Rhames claims that Chamitoff eventually promised a replacement check by Jan. 25, but failed to follow through. Chamitoff also refused to pay Screen Actors' Guild fringe benefit contributions, the lawsuit states.

Rhames says he got only $175,000 of the $200,000 Chamitoff promised. The money was held in escrow until the movie was completed. Rhames demands the $25,000, plus $200,000 in damages for fraud. He is represented by Dennis Holahan

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