David O’Russell’s film Nailed, starring Jessica Biel and Jake Gyllenhaal, has long been caught up in behind-the-scenes drama, and now its lsot its director, even though the bulk of it has already been filmed. Shot in 2008, the film was initially financed by a company run by David Bergstein and Ron Tutor, however when several of Bergstein’s companies got caught up in allegations of dodgy dealing and were forced into involuntary bankruptcy proceedings, Nailed got trapped in a post-production hell.
There was talk of further work, including reshoots, being needed on the film, but little could be done because of the financial situation. However several months ago in order to try and get the movie finished, Tutor paid millions to get the footage out of Bergstein’s control, but the drama hasn’t ended there. THR is reporting that with Tutor trying to cut costs and lower fees on the production, his negotiations with writer-director O’Russell have now broken down and the helmer has left the half-finished project.
“This has been a painful process for me,” Russell told THR. “The multiple production delays and stoppages, which were caused by David Bergstein and preceded Ron Tutor’s direct involvement with me, have now spanned two years, and the circumstances under which the film would now be completed are much different on several fundamental levels than when we embarked several years ago. I, unfortunately, am no longer involved in the project and cannot call it ‘my’ film. I wish Ron Tutor well.”
It seems Tutor has also lost the main producers on the film after trying to squeeze their fees. but he’s planning to try and find another director to finish off the flick. Biel and Gyllenhaal are apparently contractually required to return for the needed reshoots, although they’re unlikely to be happy about it, especially as it’s difficult to see the film succeeding now.
Nailed is about a small-town waitress who is shot in the head by a nail gun and later goes to Washington to fight for better health care; there, she meets a clueless congressman, and a romance develops.
It’s also a worrying sign as Tutor, who has little direct experience in the movie business (his film dealings were previously handled by the now shunned Bergstein), is currently attempting to buy Miramax. Nailed may be a special case of a film where the financier is deparately trying to keep the already escalating costs down, but it’s a worrying sign if even before he’s bought Miramax and during his first major movie talent negotiation, Tutor has lost a respected director and producing team.