“Melania Producer Defends Amidst Allegations of Theft”
A producer for the recently released documentary “Melania” has responded to allegations regarding the film’s use of music. Marc Beckman, a long-time adviser to first lady Melania Trump, defended the documentary amidst claims of copyright infringement.
Allegations of Copyright Breach
The controversy began when Jonny Greenwood, composer for the film “Phantom Thread,” and director Paul Thomas Anderson issued a statement. They claimed that a piece of music from Greenwood’s score was used in the “Melania” documentary without proper consultation with Greenwood, violating a composer agreement.
- Greenwood stated that Universal Pictures failed to consult him regarding the use of “Barbara Rose,” a track from his Oscar-nominated score.
- The pair demanded the removal of the music from the documentary.
Response from Producer
In an interview with conservative outlet Breitbart, Beckman strongly denied the allegations. He stated that they hold legal rights to use the music in question.
- Beckman emphasized that they have fully executed contracts for all songs featured in the film.
- He expressed disbelief at the claims, calling them “a blatant lie.”
Film Performance and Box Office Success
Despite the allegations, Beckman took pride in the documentary’s box office performance. The film earned over $13 million in its second weekend of release, surpassing projections for the Super Bowl weekend.
- “We crossed $13 million in sales,” Beckman stated.
- The documentary had a total budget of $75 million, which included a $40 million purchase price and a $35 million marketing budget.
Although earning $13.4 million since its debut, the documentary has not yet recouped the expected financial outlay. Beckman mentioned that Amazon MGM hopes to recover losses through streaming on Prime Video.
Future of the Documentary
The film, which is screening in over 2,000 theaters across the country, will eventually be available for streaming on Prime Video. Beckman anticipates improved financial returns from online views and potential advertising revenue.
As the situation develops, the tension between the producers and the involved parties remains palpable as they navigate copyright issues and public reception of the film.
