(Untitled)

[apt_rhiannon]

Spielberg series sued for haircut

A family from the Mescalero Apache tribe is suing the producers of a Steven Spielberg TV series for cutting their daughter's hair for the show.

The family said the hair of Christina Ponce, aged eight, was cut without regard for their tribal customs.

"It's part of our culture not to cut a girl's hair until her Coming

Comments

[schmarty_hosen]

I agree with the collective assessment. It is a shame that it happened and I really hope it doesn't affect this little girl much in the long run.
- BUT -
Usually, when you audition for something, one of the questions that they ask is whether or not you are willing to change your appearance for a role; cut your hair, etc... When you sign the application, it becomes a binding legal agreement like any other job application.
So while the company does shoulder some responsibility for not learning something about the community they were recruiting performers from (it's quite possible that no one even thought to ask), and if the parents indicated that it wasn't acceptable then the company is liable. But if that was in the contract, then the company, legally speaking, had no obligation to ask the parents permission to cut their daughter's hair. Essentially, legally speaking again, the parents would be at fault for signing a contract without reading it first.

So do you think that this is REALLY just a case of economic privilage going berzerk? Or is it another example of the kind of misunderstanding that can happen in just about any situation.

[dyheli]

My thoughts exactly. Before she began acting for the show the parents must have signed a contact allowing them to change her appearance. For the TV show they'll do a lot from dressing her to putting make-up on her to cutting and styling her hair. If there is a such contract and the parents did indeed sign, the producers should not be made to give them a cent. While I agree the producers should have learned a little bit more about the community they shouldn't be held accountable if the parents gave permission via contract for a change in her appearance.

[metahara]

I have not ever been on a set where the parnets were consulted with before any radical changes were made to the appearance of a minor. minors are treated very differntly than adults in film...I could understand this misunderstanding happening on a low budget film with inexperienced people...but, speilburg? People have come to expect a certain decorum/ level of professionalism/respect on his sets for all involved in the process.