In early 2016, producer Sebastian Bear-McClard contacted a 17-year-old woman on Instagram — an overture that led to an off-the-cuff assembly at a Soho loft. Not lengthy after, he knowledgeable the Safdie brothers that he had discovered the proper individual to play a small position of their upcoming film ‘Good Time’. The woman, who got here from an impoverished New York setting, was excited to fulfill the star of the movie, Robert Pattinson, a then-favorite of teenage ladies world wide due to the ‘Twilight’ franchise. On the day of filming, she waited all day on the New York set for her scene to be referred to as, not understanding what it entailed. By the point she bought to a cramped room, she was bare and standing in entrance of almost a dozen male solid and crew members, together with Josh and Benny Safdie. As an alternative of showing in a scene with Pattinson, she was paired with an actor who had lately been launched from jail earlier than being employed for the movie.
That is obvious from an announcement by the younger lady and obtained by Selection,” she was totally surprised and felt terrified. My misery solely bought worse when, out of the blue, I [an actor] whispered in my ear if “he might stick it in” because the cameras rolled. I mentioned no’.’ The girl’s assertion, now 24, was made in reference to a authorized dispute involving Bear-McClard. The producer is at present embroiled in a contentious divorce and custody battle with actor and mannequin Emily Ratajkowski, in addition to non-public mediation with the Safdie brothers, who fired him final summer time from their shared manufacturing firm, Elara Footage. The assertion was considered one of three statements from ladies within the wake of Bear-McClard and Ratajkowski’s extremely publicized break up final summer time and paints the producer as a predator who usually preyed on younger ladies on set. (The “Gone Woman” actor filed for divorce from Bear-McClard in Manhattan Supreme Court docket, citing an enduring breakdown of the wedding.)
Extra of Selection
Selection additionally spoke to greater than a dozen sources accustomed to Bear-McClard’s habits, together with two who have been within the room when the 17-year-old woman shot the disturbing “Good Time” scene. Not lengthy after manufacturing ended, she began having intercourse with Bear-McClard, regardless of nonetheless being 17. They continued to have a consensual romantic relationship for over two years. (The age of consent in New York is 17.)
Bear-McClard declined to remark by way of a spokesperson. A spokeswoman for the Safdies says: “The Elara crew was made conscious of Sebastian McClard’s habits in July 2022. They instantly took motion and fired him.”
The statements – made in August – additionally relate to Bear-McClard’s habits on the set of the Adam Sandler drama ‘Uncut Gems’. One lady, who was 18 on the time, says she met a then-married Bear-McClard throughout manufacturing and he started “grooming” her on Instagram, citing his place within the movie trade to make large profession guarantees to her. In her assertion, additionally obtained by Selection, she described an incident that happened within the condo Bear-McClard shared with Ratajkowski. “Sebastian and I began kissing. It escalated after which, with out asking my permission, Sebastian went inside me and not using a condom.’
The girl described different disturbing habits, together with Bear-McClard calling her derogatory phrases like “retarded” and “kike,” although he backed off, taking that language as a joke. Based on her assertion, she says he additionally began monitoring her by way of an app on her telephone. The girl additionally claims that Bear-McClard started sending messages on Instagram to a 15-year-old woman who was not a part of the manufacturing however had visited the set. When confronted, Sebastian appeared happy with himself and laughed at my remark. He didn’t deny my allegations,” the girl mentioned within the assertion. Inform a number of sources Selection that Bear-McClard’s contact with the 15-year-old and his romantic involvement with one more younger lady on the set of “Uncut Gems” – an assistant with ties to the movie trade – led to the Safdies firing him. (The Safdies additionally directed “Uncut Gems”.)
A 3rd lady, who has labored on a number of unbiased movies on the intern and assistant stage, made an announcement obtained by Selection that doesn’t cowl sexual misconduct within the office, however alleges that Bear-McClard engaged in disturbing conduct.
Ratajkowski, 31, declined to remark, however associates say she shouldn’t be shocked by the allegations. She is represented by highly effective attorneys Brett Ward and Jackie Combs, whose agency Clean Rome beforehand dealt with Tom Cruise in his divorce from Katie Holmes, in addition to Channing Tatum in his divorce from Jenna Dewan. Bear-McClard, now 42, is working with high-profile lawyer Caroline Krauss, who represented Robert De Niro in his 2018 break up from Grace Hightower. Ratajkowski and Bear-McClard married in February 2018 in a New York courthouse after simply two weeks of relationship. up to now. Ratajkowski is preventing for sole custody of their son Sylvester, who was born in March 2021.
Each “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems” have been launched by A24, the New York indie upstart behind Greatest Image Oscar winners “All the pieces All over the place All at As soon as” and “Moonlight.” The allegations elevate critical questions on why a 17-year-old woman who had no agent on the time was filming nude scenes on the set of a film. There is no such thing as a ironclad rule prohibiting underage nudity, however there’s a basic requirement from the Display Actors Guild that employment situations usually are not “dangerous to the minor’s well being, morals, and security.”
“It appears like they bypassed our trade’s complete security construction by hiring somebody on Instagram who wasn’t a union member, who would not know her rights,” mentioned Anne Henry, co-founder of BizParentz, an advocacy group for little one actors. . “Often minors need to have their contracts ratified by the courtroom, and there are numerous extra hoops to solid a minor. That is so not regular. All the pieces is improper with this case.”
Bear-McClard has produced the Safdie brothers’ three most up-to-date movies – a movie duo celebrated for his or her edgy verité fashion and use of non-actors blended with professionals. The trio based the manufacturing firm Elara in 2014. One among their most notable tasks, the crime thriller ‘Good Time’ made a smashing debut on the 2017 Cannes Movie Competition the place it competed for the Palme d’Or.
Pattinson was not on set the day of the problematic “Good Time” scene, which doesn’t seem within the ultimate minimize of the movie. The artist’s identify seems within the credit. Based on her assertion, Bear-McClard didn’t talk about pay associated to the position and solely purchased her cigarettes after the shoot. The girl doesn’t obtain a the rest of A24 for her position. That claims an professional supply Selection that the scene was utilized in promo photos introduced to consumers on the Cannes market in 2016. A24 purchased the movie from these photos. A supply near the Safdies, who’s accustomed to their modifying course of, says the scene by no means made it to the ultimate minimize for artistic causes.
The ladies’s claims concerning the “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems” units solid an uncomfortable highlight on A24, which continues to be celebrating its large Oscars this month. The corporate signed the Safdies and Bear-McClard’s Elara to a first-look deal in 2020, nicely after the “Uncut Gems” allegations turned a scorching subject amongst insiders related to the movie.
A24 declined to remark.
Better of the variability
Join Selection’s e-newsletter. For the most recent information, observe us on Fb, Twitter and Instagram.
Click on right here to learn the complete article.
