As a devoted fan of movies and a strong advocate for underrepresented voices in cinema, I find myself deeply troubled by this latest copyright infringement lawsuit against Netflix over the film “Rez Ball.” The alleged similarities between Rob Grabow’s script “The Gift of Game” and the movie are striking, especially given Grabow’s personal experiences in basketball and acting that he used to craft his story.
A screenwriter has filed a copyright infringement suit against Netflix over the film “Rez Ball,” though the film was already shot by the time he shared his screenplay.
Rob Grabow claims that the movie bears striking resemblances to his script titled “The Gift of Game.” Both narratives revolve around Native American high school basketball teams vying for the state title.
The movie titled “Rez Ball” made its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival and later became available on Netflix in September. This production was a joint effort by Sterlin Harjo (“Reservation Dogs”) and LeBron James, with the former handling the scripting duties and the latter producing it. The film draws inspiration from “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation,” a 2019 book written by Michael Powell. During the 2016-17 season, Powell followed the basketball team from Chinle, Arizona for this book.
Based on a statement from the New Mexico Film Office, the movie was filmed at several spots across the state in May 2023.
In his legal claim, Grabow asserts that approximately nine months after the initial event, around early 2024, he circulated his script among a group of individuals who were either personal friends of Harjo or had professional connections with him.
The copyright for ‘The Gift of Game’ was officially recorded at the U.S. Copyright Office on January 25, 2024, indicating that it was penned in the previous year, 2023. As per the registration, Grabow used his personal background in basketball and acting to craft a narrative centered around a multiracial team with a prominent Native American player.
In 2024, Grabow engaged in multiple discussions with prospective partners who eventually declined participation in the project. Additionally, he distributed the script to numerous production companies and performers, some of whom were linked to Harjo.
The legal action points out multiple claimed resemblances between “Rez Ball” and “The Gift of Game,” such as their shared dramatic conclusions.
Devin McRae, the lawyer for Grabow, contended that if his script was distributed following the completion of the main filming for “Rez Ball” in May 2023, potential copyright violations could still occur.
McRae stated via email that while it’s not definitively confirmed if principal photography was finished at the time, if it had been, the 16-month gap between then and the film’s premiere would offer ample opportunity to make substantial alterations during post-production. This could involve editing, capturing additional footage, re-shooting scenes, or adding voiceovers.
Netflix declined to comment.
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2024-11-16 02:16