"The Apprentice" (2024) is an independent movie from Iranian-Danish director Ali Abbasi. It was made outside of the Hollywood system and was funded mostly by various foreigners, although Dan Snyder (a major Trump supporter and donor) also donated to the production and was furious when he found out that it was an anti-Trump propaganda movie.
Here's a description of the movie's legal problems from Wikipedia:
Billionaire Dan Snyder, formerly the owner of the Washington Commanders NFL team, donated money to the production of The Apprentice with the impression that the film would be a positive portrayal of Trump. Snyder is a close friend of Trump who donated $1.1 million to his inaugural committee and Trump Victory Committee in 2016 and $100,000 to his 2020 presidential campaign. After seeing a cut of the film in February 2024, Snyder was said to be furious, and lawyers for the Kinematics production company sought to oppose the release of the film.
The film includes controversial scenes, including those that depict Trump violently raping his first wife, Ivana, abusing amphetamines in order to lose weight, and undergoing liposuction and plastic surgery to remove a bald spot. The rape scene was based on divorce records. In a deposition under oath, rendered during their divorce proceedings, Ivana accused Donald of rape and of pulling out her hair by the handful when his plastic surgery to alter his hairline failed.
In 2015, Ivana Trump issued a statement clarifying earlier allegations made during her 1989 divorce proceedings. She explained that her use of the term "rape" was not meant in a literal or criminal sense and was made during a time of high emotion. Ivana stated, "Donald and I are the best of friends, and together we have raised three children that we love and are very proud of. I have nothing but fondness for Donald, and I wish him the best of luck on his campaign. [...] I have recently read some comments attributed to me from nearly 30 years ago at a time of very high tension during my divorce from Donald. The story is totally without merit. Donald and I are the best of friends and he would never rape me."
On May 20, 2024, Variety reported that Steven Cheung, the communications director of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, threatened legal action over the film. On May 24, Variety reported that Trump's attorneys sent a cease-and-desist letter to the filmmakers, seeking to block "all marketing, distribution, and publication of the Movie."
Subsequent to this, Abbasi offered to screen the film for Trump, believing that he might approve of its depiction of him. He also said that realistic movies need to be produced about the threat of fascism. The film's producers responded to the letter by issuing a statement saying, "The film is a fair and balanced portrait of the former president. We want everyone to see it and then decide."
And if Hollywood even refused to entertain the movie and it was reliant primarily on foreign investment. That should have set off Alarm Bells. Hollywood and its investors despise the man. What about the film made them refuse to touch it with a 30ft pole?
Maybe that's exactly what made Snyder trust them (it was an independent movie being made outside the Hollywood system).
Perhaps. I guess that I’m just cynical in that the “Woe is me. I’m a struggling Artist/Creative with a Vision the establishment won’t touch so I’m outside the system.” Act doesn’t work on me. In fact it would make me even more suspicious of their motives.
That and if I’m expected to invest large sums of money in an independent project. I’d want the full finalized script at minimum done and on my desk Before I signed a check. As added insurance against them pulling a switch.
"The Apprentice" (2024) is an independent movie from Iranian-Danish director Ali Abbasi. It was made outside of the Hollywood system and was funded mostly by various foreigners, although Dan Snyder (a major Trump supporter and donor) also donated to the production and was furious when he found out that it was an anti-Trump propaganda movie.
Here's a description of the movie's legal problems from Wikipedia:
lol. Preeeeetty sure it was Trump's father who taught him how to be a savage, not some Cohn punk. Whole lot of fiction in this
Maybe that's exactly what made Snyder trust them (it was an independent movie being made outside the Hollywood system).
Perhaps. I guess that I’m just cynical in that the “Woe is me. I’m a struggling Artist/Creative with a Vision the establishment won’t touch so I’m outside the system.” Act doesn’t work on me. In fact it would make me even more suspicious of their motives.
That and if I’m expected to invest large sums of money in an independent project. I’d want the full finalized script at minimum done and on my desk Before I signed a check. As added insurance against them pulling a switch.