Destry Allyn Spielberg's debut film owes vendors a large sum
Destry Allyn Spielberg, daughter of acclaimed filmmaker Steven Spielberg, is set to make her directorial debut with the independent feature film Please Don't Feed the Children. However, the low-budget thriller, filmed in Santa Fe, New Mexico last year, has run into significant financing issues. Per Variety, the project owes a mammoth $2,00,000 to numerous vendors. Spielberg has earlier helmed the shorts Rosie and Let Me Go the Right Way.
Unpaid debts plague Spielberg's indie film production
The film's transportation coordinator, Mike Garcia, expressed his disappointment in an email to Spielberg and the producers in January. "All the vendors and crew did everything we could to make this film possible. To not pay for their services in return is unacceptable." Then, on Wednesday, the film's lead producer, Jason Dubin revealed that new funding has been secured from a Seattle investor which should enable them to settle their debts with vendors possibly by the end of this week.
'We're working hard to get this taken care of ASAP'
Despite Dubin's assurances since December that vendors would be paid, payments were still outstanding as of February 8. "As with many independent films, it has been a very challenging uphill battle financing this film from the start." "However, we were able to come back to Santa Fe when we had to shut down and we are now so close to having everybody fully paid. Please know, we are working hard to get this taken care of ASAP," Dubin wrote.
Spielberg's film awaits state credits amid vendor complaints
Some vendors have taken their complaints to the New Mexico Film Commission, which oversees the state's tax incentive program. Dubin disclosed that about $4.4M was spent on the project in New Mexico and they expect to receive $7,50,000 in state credits. However, these cannot be claimed until all vendors are paid. Earlier, in March, Dubin expressed hope of providing a "concrete date" for payment by month-end.
Final financing secured for Spielberg's indie film
Josh Kesselman, Spielberg's manager, confirmed to Variety on Wednesday that the final portion of financing has been secured. "We will be paying our vendors within a week," Kesselman said. He described the financing journey as an "up-and-down roller coaster" and asked for patience from those awaiting payment. The film, starring Hollywood actors Giancarlo Esposito and Michelle Dockery, was one of few independent productions allowed to continue filming during last year's SAG-AFTRA strike as it was not tied to a studio.
