Actor sues over fake shooting in documentary

[Preacherman]

From Netscape News (http://channels.netscape.com/ns/new...2229000286391&dt=20030421222900&w=RTR&coview=):

04/21/2003 22:29 RTR

Actor sues documentary maker over scare tactics

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An actor has sued a documentary maker, claiming he was put "in extreme fear of his life" during an audition for the filmmaker's latest project -- because he had a gun pointed at his head and fired.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses John Ronald Whitney and his production company, Fire Island Films, of assault, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence in connection with a February 2003 audition at a Los Angeles home.

Actor James Larsen said he was told in the audition to improvise with two women who handcuffed him to a chair and began dancing in a "playfully seductive manner." An unidentified man burst into the house, shouting "What the hell is going on? This is my house, and this is my girlfriend," the lawsuit said. The man began fighting with casting supervisor Josh Coleman, then pulled out a gun, pointing it at Larsen's head and pulling the trigger.

Larsen "was in extreme fear for his life and leapt forward to the floor with the chair still handcuffed to him as the gun shot sounded," the lawsuit said.

Whitney and several other crew members came out from hiding and informed him that the entire event had been staged and filmed, the lawsuit said.

The New York-based Whitney, who made the HBO documentary "Just, Melvin: Just Evil" about his abusive grandfather, said he had not seen the lawsuit.

"All the conversations we have had with James Larsen subsequent to filming have been extremely positive and he has always been excited about the project," he told Reuters Monday.

Larsen's suit is seeking unspecified monetary damages.

 

[Airwolf]

In this case I hope he wins big-time.

Just what we DON’T need. More unsafe and irresponsible gun handling shown to a gullible public. You can damn well bet that somewhere down the line there will be someone (probably a kid or young adult) killed trying the same stunt. The excuse(s) offered by the survivor?

1. I didn’t know the gun was loaded.

2. It wasn’t a REAL gun just an (Airsoft, pellet, BB gun). We didn’t think it would hurt him.

3. Well, they did it on TV and was really cool.

The other alternative is pulling this kind of stunt on someone who is packing or skilled in unarmed combat. No different than pointing a toy gun at a cop. It will get you DEAD very quickly.

IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Pendragon]

This meets the definition of assault. A reasonable person may well have feared for their life in that situation.

I have seen stuff like that on Jamie Kennedy - he played a aerobics instructor or something and some huge guy came into class all pissed off and threatening - pretty worrisome if you are not in on it.

One of these days, they will pull something like that and a mark will draw a gun and shoot someone.

 

[boing]

Just Plain Stupid.

 

[Open Carry]

A lot of the 'candid camera' type shows these days have actual misdemeanors and a few felonies in the mix. MTV immediately comes to mind. Jackass is full of criminal activity. Some of it is pretty funny though.

 

[Kilrain]

Although it does not meet the definition of assault in California(sorry Pendragon), it does meet the definition of:

417.4 PC-Brandishing An Imitation Firearm

Every person who, except in self-defense, draws or exhibits
an imitation firearm in a threatening manner against another in such a way as to cause a reasonable person apprehension or fear of bodily harm is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for a term of not less than 30 days. For purposes of this section, an imitation firearm means a replica of a firearm that is so substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.

Unless, of course, it was a real firearm, in which case it meets the definition of:

417(a)(2) PC-Brandishing A Firearm

Every person who, except in self-defense, in the presence of
any other person, draws or exhibits any firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, in a rude, angry, or threatening manner, or who in any manner, unlawfully uses a firearm in any fight or quarrel is
punishable as follows:
(A) If the violation occurs in a public place and the firearm is a
pistol, revolver, or other firearm capable of being concealed upon
the person, by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than three months and not more than one year, by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that fine and imprisonment.
(B) In all cases other than that set forth in subparagraph (A), a
misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not less than three months.

 

[edamon]

now it'd be pretty funny if the guy was a ccw holder and shot the
other actor.

ok, maybe not funny, but well.. funny.
-d

 

[4570Rick]

Plot for new reality TV show.

Scene 1

Actor James Larsen is told in the audition to improvise with two women who handcuffed him to a chair and begin dancing in a "playfully seductive manner." An unidentified man bursts into the house, shouting "What the hell is going on? This is my house, and this is my girlfriend,"

The man then pulls out a gun, pointing it at Larsen's head and pulls the trigger.

The shot doesn't kill Larsen. With a burst of adrenalin, Larsen breaks the chair, releasing his cuffs, then beats the gunman to death with a chair leg.

John Ronald Whitney informs him that the entire event had been staged and filmed.

Scene 2

John Ronald Whitney and his production company are recovering from their beatings in a hospital.

 

[Leatherneck]

4570Rick



TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Don Gwinn]

Apparently the chair wasn't fixed to the floor, so they're lucky he didn't beat the "gunman" to death with it. A lot of people would just presume he'd missed and continue the fight.

 

[cool45auto]

:banghead:

 

[cuchulainn]

Brandon Lee.