Tony Jaa's Thai manager threatens to sue 'Fast & Furious 7'

[webfact]

Tony Jaa's Manager Threatens To Sue 'Fast & Furious 7'
By Khaosod Online



BANGKOK: -- The motion pictures tycoon Somsak Techarattanaprasert threatened a lawsuit against the producers of that upcoming movie ′Fast and Furious 7′ if they featured the Thai action star Tony Jaa in the film.

Mr. Somsak, the president of Sahamongkol Film International, said the actor, whose real name is Panom Yeerum, is still under a contract with his company, so Mr. Panom needs his consent for any project.

Mr. Panom became famous after he starred in the action-comedy films Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong, which were produced by Sahamongkol. The actor also was reported that he would also star in a sequel to the international hit Fast and Furious series.

Mr. Somsak, known to the Thais as Siah Jiang, was speaking in a press conference alongside Pratchya Pinkaew and Panna Rittikrai, directors of the movie ′Tom Yum Goong 2′, in which Mr. Panom reprised his role.

According to the tycoon, Mr. Panom told him he would feature in an advertisement and did not inform him anything about a movie. A few days later, Mr. Somsak said, he received a letter from Mr. Panom′s lawyer saying that the contract the actor has signed with Sahamongkol is now terminated.

Full story: http://www.khaosod.co.th/en/view_newsonline.php?newsid=TVRNM09ESTVOakExTmc9PQ==

-- KHAOSOD English 2013-09-05

[garydubbs]

big time beckons, your services are no longer required.. c'ya

[gl555]

If he's still under contract then the company he's contracted to has every right to take legal action. Being ungrateful is one thing but breaking a legal document is another. Will be interesting to see how this plays out in court. I doubt the Fast And Furious 7 producers will let it get this far. They should just drop him and get another action star with less baggage.

[Zolt]

He could sue Tony Jaa himself for breach of contract, but I'm pretty sure he won't have a case if he tries and sue the american producers.

[laurentbkk]

would also star in a sequel to the international hit Fast and Furious series.

All that noise for just a sequel ? and actually he has to sue the "actor" not the producer of this american movie.

[RegularReader]

Why are most people posting here so ready to say Tony Jaa is at fault ?

None of us know the details.

However, there are plenty of examples in the entertainment world (and more particularly in Thailand) of young innocent artists signing contracts when they were unknowns, which seem great at the time, because they do things such as provide a set salary for life, a car, rent free house etc. Then the act goes on to become famous and generates bucket loads of money - which he, or she never sees, beyond what they signed for in the original contract.

Some of the most notable examples in the Music world have been, Dionne Warwick, Percy Sledge and Tina Turner. It took each of these artists a long time to get out of agreements signed when they were unknown kids.

Tony Jaa is now a worldwide bankable Movie Star.

Does his current agreement take this into account ?

In his case, I am not saying, just saying....

[rkidlad]

Why are most people posting here so ready to say Tony Jaa is at fault ?

None of us know the details.

However, there are plenty of examples in the entertainment world (and more particularly in Thailand) of young innocent artists signing contracts when they were unknowns, which seem great at the time, because they do things such as provide a set salary for life, a car, rent free house etc. Then the act goes on to become famous and generates bucket loads of money - which he, or she never sees, beyond what they signed for in the original contract.

Some of the most notable examples in the Music world have been, Dionne Warwick, Percy Sledge and Tina Turner. It took each of these artists a long time to get out of agreements signed when they were unknown kids.

Tony Jaa is now a worldwide bankable Movie Star.

Does his current agreement take this into account ?

In his case, I am not saying, just saying....

[gl555]

Well he's been in the business for more then 10 years and the fact is, he did sign a NEW contract when he was already famous. As much as there are innocent starlets who probably really are being exploited, I really doubt Tony Jaa is that naive stereotype. Whatever the case, a contract is a contract.

Why are most people posting here so ready to say Tony Jaa is at fault ?

None of us know the details.

However, there are plenty of examples in the entertainment world (and more particularly in Thailand) of young innocent artists signing contracts when they were unknowns, which seem great at the time, because they do things such as provide a set salary for life, a car, rent free house etc. Then the act goes on to become famous and generates bucket loads of money - which he, or she never sees, beyond what they signed for in the original contract.

Some of the most notable examples in the Music world have been, Dionne Warwick, Percy Sledge and Tina Turner. It took each of these artists a long time to get out of agreements signed when they were unknown kids.

Tony Jaa is now a worldwide bankable Movie Star.

Does his current agreement take this into account ?

In his case, I am not saying, just saying....

[chooka]

Fair enough, just ignore him for a part. He can go back to making thai soaps for 300 baht per day. Hollywood doesn't need him, he needs Hollywood. Bye Bye Tony.

[Katipo]

Sahamongkol are a large greedy corporation that just want a piece of the pie. While this might be understandable in many cases, they have not used Tony for several years now. The man has a right to make a living.

[lomatopo]

It seems like many international stars are rumored to be in FF7?

Tony Jaa, Deepika Padukone, Kurt Russell (replaces Denzel Washington).

If they can't get Jaa then Iko Uwais might be an alternative?

[varun]

As far as I can see, Tony Jaa's contract was already terminated.

Thus, Mr. Somsak is free to sue whoever he wants, although I doubt the producers will take notice.

[Thai at Heart]

A film company owning an actor.

How very 1950's. I think Tony Jaa needs slightly better management.

[Curt1591]

He could sue Tony Jaa himself for breach of contract, but I'm pretty sure he won't have a case if he tries and sue the american producers.

This is the whole point.

Tony Jaa illegally signed the contract.

[wave]

A film company owning an actor.

How very 1950's. I think Tony Jaa needs slightly better management.

Absolutely agree, its the same situation with record companies in Thailand as well.

Not at all legal for Western media companies to do this as its represents a classic "conflict of interest"

But of course TIT

[Thai at Heart]

A film company owning an actor.

How very 1950's. I think Tony Jaa needs slightly better management.

Absolutely agree, its the same situation with record companies in Thailand as well.

Not at all legal for Western media companies to do this as its represents a classic "conflict of interest"

But of course TIT

I think boss or oowner might be a better description of this business relationship.

[Globeman]

If he's still under contract then the company he's contracted to has every right to take legal action. Being ungrateful is one thing but breaking a legal document is another. Will be interesting to see how this plays out in court. I doubt the Fast And Furious 7 producers will let it get this far. They should just drop him and get another action star with less baggage.

Of just pay off the peanuts that his Thai contract would be worth - relative to a Hollywood franchise budget.

[BrianCR]

Brilliant advertising and promoting of the new film Fast and Furious 7. I bet many posters will be kicking themselves when we find out that Tony Jaa has been released to the US production company with a distribution deal for Thailand involving Sahamongkol. Theaters will be full to the brim and all thanks to Ex-Pat and Thai posters who were so busy commenting that they forgot about advertising and promoting of a product! Brilliant!!!

[Garry]

It seems like many international stars are rumored to be in FF7?

Tony Jaa, Deepika Padukone, Kurt Russell (replaces Denzel Washington).

If they can't get Jaa then Iko Uwais might be an alternative?

Possibly Korean Pop Star 'Rain' who did a pretty good job in Ninja Assassin

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186367/

Edited September 5, 2013 by Garry

[Baerboxer]

He could sue Tony Jaa himself for breach of contract, but I'm pretty sure he won't have a case if he tries and sue the american producers.

This is the whole point.

Tony Jaa illegally signed the contract.

Ah, you've read his existing contract have you? The one the movie mogul claims he is still under.

If not, then you are potentially putting yourself at risk for a defamation suit from Tony Jaa for writing that he has acted illegally. In fact, given Thai defamation law, there is no "potentially" about it.

Edited September 5, 2013 by Baerboxer

[dunque]

Fair enough, just ignore him for a part. He can go back to making thai soaps for 300 baht per day. Hollywood doesn't need him, he needs Hollywood. Bye Bye Tony.

You do know, of course, that he is not a soap star ? imdb

[jamhar]

FF6 did $787,435,000 world wide!!

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=fast6.htm

This is No small budget film. Lots of mula floating around.

It all depend on how much the producers want this guy.

Edited September 5, 2013 by jamhar

[tezzainoz]

Most all contracts have a way out

you just need a good lawyer to find it

so until we know what grounds the contract was terminated on

what we thing really has no relevance

[GeorgeO]

Sahamongkol are a large greedy corporation that just want a piece of the pie. While this might be understandable in many cases, they have not used Tony for several years now. The man has a right to make a living.

If this really is the case, then he defeats the suit with a counter-suit based upon 'constructive dismissal'.

[Phatcharanan]

Tony Jaa is now a worldwide bankable Movie Star.

[lee b]

let him sue, like they dont have the money!!

[chooka]

Fair enough, just ignore him for a part. He can go back to making thai soaps for 300 baht per day. Hollywood doesn't need him, he needs Hollywood. Bye Bye Tony.

You do know, of course, that he is not a soap star ? imdb

Had a look on youtube trashy C grade movies made for the teenage audience. Terrible acting. he will never get nominated for an Oscar that is for sure.

[ozyjon]

Pointing the finger "yeah he did it" practicing for when the time comes

[gl555]

To be fair, neither will Vin Diesel.

Fair enough, just ignore him for a part. He can go back to making thai soaps for 300 baht per day. Hollywood doesn't need him, he needs Hollywood. Bye Bye Tony.

You do know, of course, that he is not a soap star ? imdb

Had a look on youtube trashy C grade movies made for the teenage audience. Terrible acting. he will never get nominated for an Oscar that is for sure.

[noitom]

Fair enough, just ignore him for a part. He can go back to making thai soaps for 300 baht per day. Hollywood doesn't need him, he needs Hollywood. Bye Bye Tony.

Correct. Or, the Hollywood guys will offer a token release to the Thai agent/film company. The Thai film guy may have been better off with a 'friendly call" to the Hollywood producer's lawyer reminding him that the actor was under contract. Instead, in typical Thai style, they threatened to sue.