Latest news with #ThePerfectNeighbor
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix Wants $11 Million Back From Director Carl Rinsch, Who Allegedly Spent Lavishly on Cars, Bedding and a $28,000 Sofa
Netflix wants its money back. Five years after wiring $11 million to director Carl Erik Rinsch for a sci-fi series that never got made, the streamer is asking for a return on those funds. More from Variety Chicago's Doc10 Lineup Includes Sundance Hits 'The Perfect Neighbor' and 'Predators' (EXCLUSIVE) 'Black Warrant' Team Unpacks Netflix Series Success at Cinevesture Film Festival 'The Residence' Team on Casting Kylie Minogue, Honoring the Late Andre Braugher and How 'Knives Out' Rescucitated the Whodunit Genre Rinsch, 47, was arrested last week on charges of fraud and money laundering for allegedly using the cash for lavish purchases, speculative investments and legal fees to sue Netflix. He is out on a $100,000 bond and due to be arraigned in federal court in New York on April 3. Later in April, Rinsch is due back in civil court in Los Angeles for a debtor's examination by Netflix's lawyers. The company has obtained an $11.8 million judgment and is attempting to locate assets it may be able to seize. In previous divorce proceedings, Rinsch has said that he is broke. Rinsch owes $420,000 in spousal support to his wife, Gabriela, according to a recent filing from her attorneys. In January 2024, Rinsch told the court is suffering 'severe financial distress.' 'Over the past four years, in lieu of a salary, I have been forced to use company funds for living expenses,' he wrote. He said that his company's revenue had dwindled to nothing, and that he had to liquidate assets and borrow $150,000 from his family to stay afloat. 'My monthly income is zero,' he wrote. 'I have been forced to focus all my efforts on being a 'professional litigant.'' Rinsch, who is from Los Angeles, was once an up-and-coming commercial director with backing from two powerful mentors. Under the tutelage of Ridley Scott, he made futuristic ads for Heineken, BMW and Mercedes. That led to a job directing '47 Ronin,' a samurai film starring Keanu Reeves. After creative turmoil, the film flopped, causing Universal to lose at least $120 million. But Rinsch picked up a key ally. Reeves would go on to invest in 'White Horse,' his short-form TV series about humanoid AI beings. According to a court filing, the project bounced around, starting at Annapurna, then attracting interest from director Rian Johnson, who was brought on to executive produce. Six episodes were shot, ranging from four to 10 minutes in length, with a plan for seven more. In early 2018, Netflix executives were invited to Reeves' house to review the script, and ultimately agreed to put $44 million into completing the project — renamed 'Conquest' — while buying out previous investors. Once production began in Brazil, Rinsch quickly went over budget, according to an arbitrator's ruling. The ruling states there were numerous other problems, including casting issues and allegations of harassment and abuse on set. After further filming in Uruguay and Hungary, production wrapped in December 2019. Prosecutors allege that Rinsch sought an additional $11 million to finish the first season, and then gambled the money on the stock market and on crypto. He is also accused of using the money to buy a fleet of Rolls Royces, luxury items and antique furniture. In late 2020, Netflix decided to write off the $55 million investment. When told that the streamer would no longer fund the project, Rinsch did not take it well, writing an email to a Netflix executive that began, 'Dear Coward,' according the arbitration ruling. 'Time to fess up,' he continued. Other such messages followed, leading some to conclude he had become mentally unstable, according to the ruling. At an arbitration hearing, Rinsch testified that this behavior was the result of his neurodiversity — specifically, autism spectrum disorder. 'Whatever's going on there, I can tell you it's not drug-induced,' he said. 'It's not mentally ill. It's exacerbating a different neurotype that most people might not be able to understand.' As of May 2021, Rinsch's crypto bets had left him with a balance of $26.7 million in his Kraken account, according to court filings. In September of that year, he bought a black Hästens Grand Vividus mattress — hand-made in Sweden, and reputedly the world's most expensive mattress — for $439,900. He also bought a white Hästens Vividus King for $210,400. Both were ordered in custom, extra-wide sizes, roughly seven feet square. Rinsch took delivery of one mattress, which he complained was too short. He then tried to cancel his order, asserting that he had become concerned about the 'provenance of horsehair materials' due to ethical concerns and allergies, according to a lawsuit he filed against the company. Hästens sought to charge him a $100,000 return fee. (Most of his suit was dismissed by a judge and the case was ultimately dropped.) In litigation with Netflix, Rinsch testified that he planned to use the mattresses in the second season of 'Conquest' — which Netflix had not ordered. The arbitrator noted that it is customary to rent props or find cheaper substitutes for luxury items. She added that the purchase was 'especially unnecessary' because in Rinsch's own storyboards for a 'palace scene,' the mattress would not have been visible. Around that time, Rinsch also bought $5.4 million worth of furniture, according to the arbitrator's ruling. In one instance, he agreed to buy 14 pieces by the Art Deco designer Jacques Adnet, including a $48,000 desk and cabinet, a $28,000 sofa, and some armchairs. After expressing interest in a larger purchase, he scaled back the order, citing 'financial setbacks.' 'While I could tell you of my woes and disappointment, in markets here and abroad, it makes no difference,' he wrote to the dealer in January 2022. He later sought the return of a $200,000 deposit, saying, 'Our production was the victim of a studio meltdown.' The dealer sued, and after a jury trial in Philadelphia in 2023, Rinsch was ordered to pay a balance of $68,200. Rinsch's Kraken account was down to $1.5 million to $1.8 million by April 2022, according to his testimony in the divorce case. At a hearing in May, a judge raised a concern: 'Did you say, sir, that the crypto you acquired was from production funds?' 'Yes, sir,' Rinsch said. The judge seemed alarmed. 'Hold on a minute,' he said. 'Hold up. Hold up. So in the real world, people in your line of work either have or create an LLC, a loan-out corporation, a close corporation, an entity for the production. All of the money goes into an account held by that entity. Business purposes and business spending is segregated from personal spending. You know, business.' Rinsch replied: 'That's correct.' Prosecutors allege that Rinsch had transferred Netflix's money to a personal account and was rapidly spending it. He spent $1.8 million on credit cards, $1 million on lawyers to sue Netflix and litigate his divorce case, and $652,000 on watches and clothing, according to the indictment. As of May 2023, he had $482,000 in a checking account. His Kraken balance was down to $68,000. He listed monthly expenses including $16,500 on rent and $3,500 on restaurants. The judge ordered him to pay $275,000 to cover his wife's legal fees and to pay for her forensic accountant. 'I don't have that money,' he told the court. 'What can I do? I have no representation here today. I am trying to survive here. I don't even know legally what I can do. Can I write something saying, 'I am sorry, here are my accounts?'' As the judge tried to explain that he couldn't give legal advice, Rinsch interjected: 'Nobody should laugh at me.' The judge noted that he had been paying significant legal expenses. 'You seem to be able to get it,' he said. 'There is no money,' Rinsch repeated. In January 2024, he asserted that the legal costs had left him virtually destitute. His only assets, he claimed, were some kitchen appliances, $5,000 in cash, $3,900 in a brokerage account, and a $110,000 pension through the Directors Guild of America that he is not yet eligible to receive. California had also hit him with tax liens totaling $68,000. His wife's attorneys noted that as of April 2024, he was living at the Laurel in West Hollywood, which is advertised as an 'ultra-luxury' apartment building, which they saw as evidence that he was maintaining his previous standard of living. Rinsch did not respond to a phone call and email seeking comment. Netflix declined to comment. Once Netflix obtained its $11.8 million judgment last August, the company's lawyers hired private investigators to try to track down any remaining assets. Netflix told a judge that it had to move quickly: 'Mr. Rinsch reportedly has a propensity to go on spending sprees.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week Oscars 2026: First Blind Predictions Including Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, 'Wicked: For Good' and More What's Coming to Disney+ in March 2025
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Yahoo
Florida deadly shooting, 'stand your ground' laws spotlighted in new Netflix documentary
The Brief A documentary coming to Netflix later this year focuses on the "stand your ground" laws through the lens of an Ocala shooting. The documentary, titled "The Perfect Neighbor," tells the story of Ajike "A.J." Owens, who was shot and killed in 2023 by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, who has since been sentenced to prison. The film is directed by Emmy Award-winning Geeta Gandbhir and spotlights the minor neighborhood dispute that escalated into deadly violence. OCALA, Fla. - A documentary coming to Netflix later this year focuses on the "stand your ground" laws through the lens of an Ocala shooting. The documentary, titled "The Perfect Neighbor," tells the story of Ajike "A.J." Owens, who was allegedly shot and killed in 2023 by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, who has since been sentenced to prison. After a jury found Lorincz guilty of manslaughter in August 2024, she was then sentenced to 25 years in prison for the deadly shooting. What they're saying "The Perfect Neighbor" is directed by Emmy Award-winning Geeta Gandbhir and spotlights the minor neighborhood dispute that escalated into deadly violence. The film uses police bodycam footage and interviews to explore the impact of stand your ground laws. The documentary premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Directing Award: U.S. Documentary category. It was also an official selection at SXSW, CPH:DOX and the Miami Film Festival, according to a news release. "The Perfect Neighbor is a deeply personal project, created to transform grief into purpose and honor the lasting legacy of Ajike Owens and her family," Gandbhir said. "My team at Message Pictures, along with our incredible partners at S'OB Productions and Park Pictures, are thrilled the film will be available on Netflix, offering audiences worldwide the chance to experience this urgent and powerful story." Netflix has not yet announced an official release date for the documentary's release. What we know Lorincz was convicted in August of killing Owens, 35, by firing a single shot from her .380-caliber handgun in June 2023. Although she had faced a maximum of 30 years behind bars,during sentencing a judge opted for a slightly lesser term. She was sentenced to 25 years in prison in November 2024. Lorincz read a statement in court that included an apology to Owens' family, something they said was merely a last-ditch attempt to save herself. "I so wish I could go back and change things so she was still here," Lorincz said. "I never intended to kill anyone." The family of Owens originally wanted Lorincz to be charged with second-degree murder. When she was convicted of manslaughter, they wanted the maximum sentence possible. "The children are left for a lifetime of scars; not 10, 20, 30 years," said the victim's mother, Pamela Dias. "A lifetime of scars and trauma." The backstory On June 2, 2023, Lorincz called 911, complaining about kids who were playing in a field next to her apartment. Right before making the call, Lorincz had been videotaping the kids playing outside. Witnesses said she threw roller skates at them and swung an umbrella toward them. RELATED:Florida sheriff: Mom shot, killed by neighbor amid long-standing feud over her children Lorincz told the 911 dispatcher the young children had threatened her, and she was scared for her life. Owens went over to confront Lorincz at her unit. Her oldest son was one of the kids playing in the field, and he had told his mother about Lorincz's actions. Several witnesses testified that Owens was banging on the door hard and yelling loudly and angrily. Lorincz said she thought Owens was going to kill her, but she was standing inside her home with a door between them. Instead of going into another room or calling the police again, Lorincz grabbed a gun from her bedroom and shot through the door – not knowing if anyone else was present or if Owens was armed. Owens died from the gunshot wound. One of Owens' sons was nearby and watched as she was shot and killed. Dig deeper No arrest was originally made in the case, as authorities said they were investigating whether the shooting was justified and protected under Florida's stand your ground law. That law states that a person has the right to meet force with force if they believe it's necessary to prevent death or great bodily harm. "Any time that we think or perceive or believe that that might come into play, we cannot make an arrest," Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said. "The law specifically says that, and what we have to rule out is whether the deadly force was justified or not before we can even make the arrest." Along with Florida, Missouri, Texas, Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania also have stand-your-ground laws on the books, and there were a lot of questions over whether stand-your-ground applied in this case. "It's a statutory enactment by our legislature that permits someone who feels they're in danger of death or great bodily harm or… the imminent commission of what's called a forcible felony to defend themselves, and they may utilize deadly force in doing so," said FOX 35 legal expert and defense attorney Bob Fisher. Essentially, if one feels their life is in danger, one can fight back with deadly force. "In addition to that, if you feel someone is about ready to engage in the commission, the imminent commission of what's called a forcible felony – not only a threat to yourself but an imminent commission of a forcible felony - you may likewise use deadly force to prevent that," Fisher explained. In a case such as this one, where someone shoots through their front door, Fisher said, in some cases, it is permissible. "If a resident or homeowner inside their home is in fear of the imminent commission of a forcible felony – if someone outside on their property without their permission or consents has, by way of example, threatened to break into their house and harm them – well that burglary, the unlawful entry without permission or consent with the intent to commit a crime therein is a forcible felony, and you may use deadly force to prevent the imminent commission of that forcible felony," he said. Florida was the first in the nation in 2005 to adopt such a law. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information gathered from previous reporting, court hearings, official arrest records, police reports and Netflix.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Oh, Hi!' Review: Logan Lerman & Molly Gordon's Romantic Getaway Goes Wrong In Sophie Brooks Rom-Com — Sundance Film Festival
As the couple in Oh, Hi! struggles to fully commit, the Sundance romantic-comedy from Sophie Brooks also struggled to connect with its audience. Writer-director Brooks' sophomore feature stars Molly Gordon and Logan Lerman as Iris and Isaac, a new couple who goes on a romantic getaway that comes to a screeching halt when they reach a misunderstanding about their relationship status. With Isaac chained up during an act of light kink, Iris takes advantage of her captive audience to convince him to be her boyfriend. More from Deadline Netflix In Talks For Sundance Documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor' Sundance Title 'The Fishbowl', From Puerto Rico, Scores North American Deal A24 Boards Comedy 'Peaked' From 'Theater Camp's Molly Gordon Although Brooks' followup to the charming 2017 feature The Boy Downstairs has the recipe for an enjoyable romantic-comedy, with supporting performances from that always hilarious Geraldine Viswanathan and John Reynolds, Oh, Hi! ultimately struggles to find its footing. Even with some heavy-handed exposition to catch us up on their brief relationship, there's not enough character development to tell us how these people have changed as individuals, let alone as a potential couple. With more of a heartfelt connection between Iris and her mother (Polly Draper) and better comedic chemistry with a random neighbor (David Cross), there's hardly a spark left for her and Isaac. Perhaps that was the intention in Brooks' script, which co-written with Gordon, as the movie is ultimately about two people who should not be together. At one point during her impromptu hostage situation, Gordon's Iris admitted she didn't have much of a plan past keeping him tied up, which felt like an unfortunate metaphor for the structure of the story in which only half the jokes land… as if they were hoping the audience would get Stockholm syndrome. The second act slightly picks up as Iris is allowed to explore her craziness, but it's ultimately situational humor without any meaningful character development. Even though Iris prefaced their weekend getaway with a disturbing intrusive thought about a previous boyfriend, her big unhinged moment is ultimately a passive decision to not untie her boyfriend. Isaac later makes a more active move in his attempt to escape, even when it's pretty clearly an overcorrect as he's in no real danger — other than the monotony of a group of 20-somethings trying to socialize outside of an urban hub. While Oh, Hi! attempts to speak to a generation disillusioned with romance, in pursuit of something more lasting, it's ultimately a dark comedy that doesn't say anything new about how millennials and gen Z view sex, monogamy and mental health. Amid a film festival lineup with beautifully twisted stories about the raw, complex experience of human connection, Oh, Hi! falls a little short. Producers are David Brooks, Dan Clifton, Julie Waters, Sophie Brooks and Molly Gordon. Title: Oh, Hi!Festival: Sundance (Premieres)Sales Agent: UTA, WMEDirector: Sophie BrooksScreenwriter: Sophie Brooks, Molly GordonCast: Molly Gordon, Logan Lerman, Geraldine Viswanathan and John ReynoldsRunning time: 1 hr 34 min Best of Deadline Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize Winners Through The Years Deadline Studio At Sundance Film Festival Photo Gallery: Dylan O'Brien, Ayo Edebiri, Jennifer Lopez, Lily Gladstone, Benedict Cumberbatch & More TIFF People's Choice Award Winners Through The Years: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix Nears Deal to Acquire Stand Your Ground Sundance Doc ‘The Perfect Neighbor'
Netflix is in talks to acquire Sundance documentary 'The Perfect Neighbor,' according to an insider with knowledge of the project. 'The Perfect Neighbor' explores how a tight-knit community was torn apart after Susan Lorincz, a 60-year-old white woman from central Florida, shot and killed her neighbor Ajike Owens, a 35-year-old Black mother of four, through a locked door. The film uses police footage to document both the peaceful community life before the incident and the fallout in its tragic aftermath. In an unconventional approach to documentary filmmaking, director and award winning editor Geeta Gandbhir relied entirely on police body camera footage to tell the story. The film won the directing award in the U.S. Documentary category at Sundance. 'We got our hands on the body cam footage, and we realized how critical it was to show the before of this story,' Gandbhir told TheWrap CEO Sharon Waxman at TheWrap's Sundance Studio. 'We often see the aftermath of such a tragedy, right? But how rarely do we see the community and the family as they were before?' The film highlights issues around 'Stand Your Ground' laws, racial tensions and community divisions. Gandbhir noted that the police footage showed an otherwise harmonious neighborhood disrupted by one resident's actions. 'None of these other people call the police, none of these other people do that. It's her,' she said, referring to Lorincz' repeated complaints about children playing. Lorincz was sentenced to 25 years in prison for aggravated manslaughter in November 2024. Variety first reported the news. The post Netflix Nears Deal to Acquire Stand Your Ground Sundance Doc 'The Perfect Neighbor' appeared first on TheWrap.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix Nearing $5 Million Deal for ‘Perfect Neighbor,' Sundance Documentary About Florida's Stand Your Ground Law (EXCLUSIVE)
'The Perfect Neighbor,' a documentary that examines Florida's Stand Your Ground laws and gun regulations, is in final negotiations to sell to Netflix after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival. The price tag is roughly $5 million, although the deal hasn't been signed. Netflix declined to comment. More from Variety 'Rust' Doc Examining Halyna Hutchins Accidental Death and Aftermath to Premiere on Hulu 'Black Box Diaries' and 'Satisfied' Among 2025 Athena Film Festival Selections (EXCLUSIVE) Netflix, Max and Prime Video Negotiate With French Film Guilds for Earlier Access to New Releases After Disney+ Deal The film, which debuted to critical praise, uses police body-cam footage to tell the story of how a neighborhood dispute slowly escalated into a shocking act of violence. It follows a tragedy that captivated national attention, one in which a woman named Ajike 'AJ' Shantrell Owens was shot and killed by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz, after Lorincz kept complaining about children playing near her apartment. So far, it's been a glacial market with only a handful of films landing distribution out of Sundance. Netflix has been the most prolific buyer, also nabbing rights to 'Train Dreams,' an acclaimed drama starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones. Elsewhere, A24 scored a festival favorite in 'Sorry, Baby,' Sideshow and Janus Films landed the Ira Sach two-hander 'Peter Hujar's Day,' while Neon emerged victorious in a bidding war for 'Together,' a body-horror thriller starring real-life couple Dave Franco and Alison Brie. 'The Perfect Neighbor' was seen as one of the most accomplished and powerful documentaries to play at the festival and is believed to have awards potential. Geeta Gandbhir directed the film and had a personal connection to the story. Owens was her sister-in-law's best friend. Soledad O'Brien serves as an executive producer. In an interview with Variety, Gandbhir said that she decided to put the focus of the film on the police footage instead of having it contain interviews with people impacted by the incident because it gave the story more immediacy. 'You see Susan's interactions with the police over two years,' she said. 'You see this trail and the developments as they occur, and the issue gets worse. You see the inability and the helplessness of law enforcement to really manage it or to even see her as a threat. But you also see this beautiful, diverse and close-knit community who are taking care of each other's kids. Susan is this outlier, in a way that she is this looming threat that keeps encroaching and getting closer and closer, and there is no way to mitigate it.' Cinetic Media handled the sale of the film.
