Filmmakers file lawsuit over Facebook comments
Two Vancouver filmmakers are suing another filmmaker for defamation after a falling out over the production of a horror film.
Twin sisters Jennifer Soska and Sylvia Soska claim Lisa Ovies posted defamatory comments on her Facebook page that amounted to allegations the sisters were thieves, liars and saboteurs.
The sisters, who say they have supported emerging filmmakers and especially women in film, helped Ovies with the production, direction, writing and acting for a film called Puppet Killer, according to the lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court.
The sisters say they volunteered to help after Ovies requested their assistance. But because of “creative differences,” they permanently quit helping Ovies in February, says the lawsuit.
They say Ovies refused their input on the film, demanded the right to use their images in the future and demanded they continue to work on and promote the film.
At some point, Ovies wanted the sisters to contractually agree to unlimited use of their images and commit to future work on the film, demands they refused, the suit says.
In April, Ovies sued the sisters and filed a breach of contract claim, alleging there was an oral contract without agreement on price between her and the sisters.
“At all material times, Ms. Ovies knew the facts pleaded in the breach of contract claim were false and that legally there is no such thing as an agreement on price,” says the sisters’ lawsuit.
In June, Ovies, who has over 900 Facebook friends, many of them film insiders such as producers and directors, made the allegedly defamatory posting on Facebook.
The sisters are seeking unspecified damages for defamation, libel and injurious falsehood as well as damages for abuse of process.
No response has yet been filed to the lawsuit, which contains allegations that have not been tested in court. Ovies could not be reached for comment.