Sofia Espinosa - H 2013
Rio NegroMEXICO CITY – Lawyers representing Mexican pop icon Gloria Trevi have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the producers of the Mexican biopic Gloria for use of an “unauthorized” script about the singer-songwriter’s life.
Shooting on Gloria (working title) began on Nov. 29, several weeks after Trevi told Mexican media that she had not authorized the story. Mexico’s Rio Negro is producing alongside Oscar-winning Lord of the Rings producer Barrie Osborne, Alan Curtiss (Master and Commander: Far Side of the World) and Ocean Films Brasil.
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Representing Trevi, Los Angeles-based law office King, Holmes, Paterno & Berliner said in a recent statement: “The project is being developed without script authorization on behalf of Gloria Trevi. In addition, the limited authorization that might have existed under contract has expired and it was not and will not be renewed by Gloria.”
The film’s producers said Trevi signed a notarized contract allowing for the biopic’s production, including musical rights.
“The contract is not subject to script authorization on behalf of Gloria Trevi; in fact she read the screenplay in 2010, was fully in agreement and even passed along some notes which have since been included,” a producers’ statement said.
Often dubbed the “Mexican Madonna” for her provocative lyrics and edgy performances in the 1990s, Trevi’s career came crashing down in the late ’90s after she and her former manager were accused of luring young girls into a cult-like pornographic ring. Trevi went on the lam and was later arrested in Brazil, where she was held in a prison there for more than four years. She was released in 2004 when a court found her innocent on charges of kidnapping, rape and corruption of minors.
Trevi returned to Mexico and staged a successful career comeback.
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Gloria marks the directorial debut of Swiss filmmaker Christian Keller. Sofia Espinosa, who appeared in the HBO prison drama Capadocia, plays Trevi.
“The production does not wish to stir up controversy on the matter,” the producers said, “but it does wish to make clear that it has every right to proceed in the making of this film and to proceed with its commercialization accordingly.”
