East Valley movie inspires lawsuit
By Blake Herzog, Tribune
A low-budget movie filmed in and around the East Valley with some big-name stars a year ago has yet to see the light of a movie projector, but "Forget About It" hasn’t been forgotten.
It’s at the center of a $4 million lawsuit.
Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch and other celebrities thrilled spectators as they filmed "Forget About It" at Falcon Field, Centennial Center, Buckhorn Baths, Casino Arizona and other East Valley landmarks.
But it’s one of the lesserknown players, Mesa actor and businessman Michael Paloma, who was the financial muscle for the project, according to a lawsuit he filed in Maricopa County Superior Court in February.
Paloma is seeking the $4 million he invested in the production, compensatory and punitive damages against Beverly Hills Film Studio, and all paperwork and financial records tied to the production.
Paloma, two trusts in which he is trustee, and three Valleybased companies are listed as plaintiffs.
The lawsuit claims Paloma and "Forget About It" director BJ Davis signed a memorandum of understanding to create the film studio, giving Paloma’s company, Red Rock Entertainment, a 51 percent interest and Davis a 49 percent interest.
The suit says Davis subsequently resigned as president of Beverly Hills Film Studio and was replaced by Kimberly Kates, who also acted in "Forget About It."
Kates sent the raw footage of the film to Paloma after agreeing to finish the movie under the deal he made with the Beverly Hills studio, then backed out, according to the complaint.
No response has been filed yet by the studio, which has changed its name to Bigscreen Entertainment.
Bigscreen attorney Michael Gardiner wouldn’t comment on the suit’s allegations, but said, "It is our position that we are 100 percent owner of the copyright, and it will be coming out. It’s in postproduction." He said he didn’t know when that might happen.
The shooting of "Forget About It" went virtually undetected early last year until unhappy crew members spent one day walking picket lines at Sunrise Village Mobile Home Park, which served as the movie’s chief location.
Production then resumed on the film, in which Paloma plays a mobster sent by the witness protection program to the retirement village where Reynolds, Welch, Charles Durning and Robert Loggia live. Some Sunrise Village residents were extras in the movie.
Paloma’s recent health problems are further complicating the situation. Gardiner said, "It’s another reason why I don’t want to go into any of this. It’s not what’s important right about now."
Paloma, 44, had a heart attack and is recovering from quadruple-bypass surgery, his lawyer Dustin Dudley said.
Just before he fell ill this spring, Paloma opened a flower shop and a deli at McKellips and Recker roads in Mesa.
Angela Maloy, manager of Run Florist Run, said she’s talked to Paloma since the surgery and he appears to be recovering.
She said she’s worked for Paloma in various capacities for five years. Paloma has done numerous TV commercials, and other ventures include dinner theater productions and celebrity impersonations.
Maloy was the film’s set designer, and often has to field questions from locals anxious to see the film released.
"Everybody has been asking me what happened to it," she said, "and I have to say ‘I don’t know.’ "
By Blake Herzog, Tribune
A low-budget movie filmed in and around the East Valley with some big-name stars a year ago has yet to see the light of a movie projector, but "Forget About It" hasn’t been forgotten.
It’s at the center of a $4 million lawsuit.
Burt Reynolds, Raquel Welch and other celebrities thrilled spectators as they filmed "Forget About It" at Falcon Field, Centennial Center, Buckhorn Baths, Casino Arizona and other East Valley landmarks.
But it’s one of the lesserknown players, Mesa actor and businessman Michael Paloma, who was the financial muscle for the project, according to a lawsuit he filed in Maricopa County Superior Court in February.
Paloma is seeking the $4 million he invested in the production, compensatory and punitive damages against Beverly Hills Film Studio, and all paperwork and financial records tied to the production.
Paloma, two trusts in which he is trustee, and three Valleybased companies are listed as plaintiffs.
The lawsuit claims Paloma and "Forget About It" director BJ Davis signed a memorandum of understanding to create the film studio, giving Paloma’s company, Red Rock Entertainment, a 51 percent interest and Davis a 49 percent interest.
The suit says Davis subsequently resigned as president of Beverly Hills Film Studio and was replaced by Kimberly Kates, who also acted in "Forget About It."
Kates sent the raw footage of the film to Paloma after agreeing to finish the movie under the deal he made with the Beverly Hills studio, then backed out, according to the complaint.
No response has been filed yet by the studio, which has changed its name to Bigscreen Entertainment.
Bigscreen attorney Michael Gardiner wouldn’t comment on the suit’s allegations, but said, "It is our position that we are 100 percent owner of the copyright, and it will be coming out. It’s in postproduction." He said he didn’t know when that might happen.
The shooting of "Forget About It" went virtually undetected early last year until unhappy crew members spent one day walking picket lines at Sunrise Village Mobile Home Park, which served as the movie’s chief location.
Production then resumed on the film, in which Paloma plays a mobster sent by the witness protection program to the retirement village where Reynolds, Welch, Charles Durning and Robert Loggia live. Some Sunrise Village residents were extras in the movie.
Paloma’s recent health problems are further complicating the situation. Gardiner said, "It’s another reason why I don’t want to go into any of this. It’s not what’s important right about now."
Paloma, 44, had a heart attack and is recovering from quadruple-bypass surgery, his lawyer Dustin Dudley said.
Just before he fell ill this spring, Paloma opened a flower shop and a deli at McKellips and Recker roads in Mesa.
Angela Maloy, manager of Run Florist Run, said she’s talked to Paloma since the surgery and he appears to be recovering.
She said she’s worked for Paloma in various capacities for five years. Paloma has done numerous TV commercials, and other ventures include dinner theater productions and celebrity impersonations.
Maloy was the film’s set designer, and often has to field questions from locals anxious to see the film released.
"Everybody has been asking me what happened to it," she said, "and I have to say ‘I don’t know.’ "
