Affleck to donate profit from Weinstein, Miramax Films
Los Angeles, Nov 7 (IANS) Amidst the Harvey Weinstein scandal, actor-filmmaker Ben Affleck says he has decided to donate any further profits from a Miramax or Weinstein Co film to charity.
In an interview with Fox 5 DC, Affleck said he would follow the lead of his friend and filmmaker Kevin Smith and donate the residuals of any of his Weinstein-backed films to Film Independent (FI) or to RAINN, an anti-sexual assault organisation that runs the National Sexual Assault hotline, reports variety.com.
“Once Kevin suggested that, I decided to do the same thing, so any further residuals that I get from a Miramax or a Weinstein movie will go either to FI or to RAINN,” Affleck said.
“I just didn’t want to cash any more checks from the guy, you know? Some people probably couldn’t afford to give all their residuals away, but even if you do 10 per cent, that’s something.”
Weinstein has played a large role in Affleck’s early career, with the actor gaining recognition through Miramax films like the Weinstein-executive produced “Good Will Hunting”, which won Affleck an Oscar.
Harvey Weinstein hired private investigators
Los Angeles, Nov 7 (IANS) Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein reportedly hired private investigators to collect information about the women who accused him of sexual misconduct and reporters who were investigating his past.
According to an article in The New Yorker magazine, the producer employed Black Cube, which is run mostly by former officers of Mossad and other Israeli intelligence agencies. He also hired Kroll, a popular corporate-intelligence company, reports deadline.com.
Private investigators from Black Cube met actress Rose McGowan, who has been on the forefront of Weinstein scandal, accusing him of rape.
The article by Ronan Farrow, who wrote on the October 10 expose on Weinstein, reports that one of the investigators posed as a women’s rights advocate and secretly recorded at least four meetings with McGowan.
That same investigator met a journalist to find out which women were talking to the press. In addition, Weinstein directed journalists to interview women and they would report back to him with details.
Attorney David Boies confirmed that his firm paid Black Cube and Kroll and that the investigators sent him reports which he gave to Weinstein.
Boies also signed the contract to attempt to uncover information that would block the New York Times story that ignited the Weinstein scandal.
Weinstein spokesperson Sallie Hofmeister said in a statement to The New Yorker: “It is a fiction to suggest that any individuals were targeted or suppressed at any time.”