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Friday, April 19, 2024 | Back issues
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Wannabe Actor|Goes After Weinsteins

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A Hollywood resident claims that Charitybuzz broke a promise to offer him a speaking role in a movie in return for his giving $100,000 to La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego.

Michael Trigg sued online charity auctioneer Charitybuzz, The Weinstein Company and the nonprofit La Jolla Playhouse in Superior Court on Monday. He claims the defendants broke several promises after he handed over $100,000 to perform in the comedy horror movie "Scary Movie 5."

Trigg claims that in 2012 he was promised a few lines in the movie and a 20-minute meet and greet with Weinstein Company co-founder Harvey Weinstein, in return for contributing $100,000 to La Jolla.

He claims that Charitybuzz and the production company never told him his performance might not make the final cut or that the schedule for shooting could change at a moment's notice.

"Had Trigg known these facts, he would not have agreed to the purchase," the 13-page complaint states.

Trigg says that when he objected, the defendants agreed to revise the agreement so that he would receive a refund of $40,000 if his part was cut, and promised him a line with a complete sentence rather than a sentence fragment.

After it was agreed that Trigg would take the role of "FedEx Guy" in "Scary Movie 5," Trigg says, he booked a flight and hotel. But he claims that a day after he signed the agreement, on Oct. 8, 2012, the shooting schedule was changed.

"The new date conflicted with Trigg's pre-paid and pre-arranged travel plans out of the country. Therefore, Trigg canceled the trip to shoot the part, at significant cost to himself. However, on October 9, 2012, TWC and/or Charitybuzz agreed to reimburse him for the cancellation costs. In fact, they never did reimburse him," the complaint states.

Trigg claims that The Weinstein Company and Charity Buzz instead offered him the role of "Cop with Dog" in a movie called "Demonic." But when he showed up on set to play the part, he says the director told him to only nod his head. After Trigg complained, he was told to say the sentence fragment "Hey, Detective" to another character.

Though Trigg was unhappy with this compromise he says he was too embarrassed to push the issue on set.

"Charitybuzz and The Weinstein Company refused and failed to cure said shortcoming or otherwise compensate Trigg for same. In fact, TWC even asserted falsely that Trigg was contractually limited in the use of the photograph taken of Trigg with Harvey Weinstein after a brief meeting they had in New York City. Such false and deceptive practices are consistent with the prior conduct of defendants in this matter," the complaint states.

Trigg seeks restitution and punitive damages for breach of contract, negligent misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation, money had and received, unjust enrichment, violation of business and professions code, and violation of consumer law.

He is represented by Daniel Kolodziej with Trygstad, Schwab & Trygstad.

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