SCOTTISH director Lynne Ramsay is facing career meltdown in Hollywood over allegations she pointed a fake pistol at crew members on the set of the movie Jane Got A Gun.
Ramsay, who was Bafta-nominated for We Need to Talk About Kevin, starring Tilda Swinton, is being sued for her alleged on-set antics which also include claims of getting drunk and failing to deliver her script on time.
In court papers seen by the Sunday Herald, it is alleged Ramsay flouted health and safety laws by aiming a "prop gun directly at a camera and, in turn, at the camera crew before first taking proper precautions".
But in a statement released last night to US website Screen International, the award-winning Scottish director denied knowledge of the lawsuit.
It reads: "Lynne Ramsay has not been served with this lawsuit and, when she is, she will respond in court and not in the media. That said, the allegations ... are simply false. Lynne looks forward to presenting the truth about this situation in the proper forum."
Ramsay is being sued for nearly £500,000 after failing to turn up to work on the big-budget but beleagured Jane Got A Gun, starring Natalie Portman, above.
She is said to have been "generally disruptive", repeatedly drunk on set, and failed to provide script rewrites.
Ramsay left the film, which then got into further trouble when British star Michael Fassbender followed the director off the project. Jude Law was brought in as a replacement but also walked away, as did Bradley Cooper. Ewan McGregor, below, was finally brought in to star with Portman, and Gavin O'Connor, director of sport drama Warrior, took on Ramsay's former role.
The lawsuit filed by Jane Got A Gun Production LLC demands that Ramsay return the £466,000 fee paid to work on the screenplay and direct it.
The suit also says she made "disparaging statements" to potential investors considering funding the film and that her suddenly leaving the film led to the departure not only of a principal actor but also a costume designer and other staff.
The legal action alleges that 43-year-old Glasgow-born Ramsay was in breach of contract by not appearing on set in New Mexico as planned.
It is alleged that, despite "multiple requests", she has not returned any of the money paid to her. The original contract would also have given her a share of the film's proceeds, a bonus if it was nominated for an Academy Award and royalties from sales of the soundtrack album.
According to the court papers, submitted in Albuquerque, New Mexico, problems with Jane Got a Gun developed in February and March before filming was due to start. The lawsuit, filed by executives led by Scott Steindorff, claims Ramsay failed to deliver a script, delaying the movie.
The papers read: "Defendant Ramsay's failure to complete the required rewrites unreasonably delayed completion of a final budget for the picture, and of the picture itself.
"During this period of time, defendant Ramsay was repeatedly under the influence of alcohol, was abusive to members of the cast and crew, and was generally disruptive."
Steindorff said: "I have millions of dollars invested, we're ready to shoot, we have a great script, crew and cast.
"I'm shocked and so disappointed someone would do this to 150 crew members who devoted so much time, energy, commitment and loyalty to a project, and then have the director not show up.
"It is insane somebody would do this to other people. I feel more for the crew and their families, but we are keeping the show going on, directors are flying in, and a replacement is imminent."
The producers are asking that Ramsay repay the money. They seek punitive damages over claims of fraud and breach of contract.
Director Gavin O'Connor said production had been delayed for three days to replace Ramsay.
Joel Edgerton, one of the movie's other stars, said the cast decided to complete the film.
He added: "The producers decided they were going to be the guys playing the violin on the Titanic, that they were going to keep playing. That was kind of infectious."
Ramsay has previously worked on the movies Ratcatcher and Morvern Callar, both of which were set in Scotland.
She lost her job as director of the 2009 film The Lovely Bones after admitting she wanted to change sections of the plot. Peter Jackson replaced her.
Jane Got A Gun stars Portman as the wife of an injured outlaw who is forced to defend her farm from his former gang after they attempt to murder him.
The movie is expected to be released in the US next year.
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