Reuters, LOS ANGELES: A woman who claims credit for discovering "Twilight" as a potential feature film is demanding payment for her role in helping launch one of Hollywood's biggest movie franchises.
Nanette Shipley says in a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court that she was "a literary scout," whose job was to find potential feature films for Maverick Films.
Shipley claims enormous success, helping Maverick find and obtain the rights for two motion pictures, "Twilight" and "The Lighting Thief."
She says her complaint against Maverick and topper Mark Morgan that she was promised $75,000 for her work in connection with "Twilight" and $100,000 for her work in connection with "The Lighting Thief."
She says she's only been paid $20,000 and wants the outstanding $155,000 plus legal costs.
Maverick Films was an indie film production studio started by Madonna. It was then led by Morgan, who in 2008, acquired sole ownership of the company's current projects and relaunched as Imprint Entertainment. He's been quite successful, setting up "Twilight" with Summit, which went on to gross nearly $400 million worldwide and spawn four sequels ("Breaking Dawn" will be released in two parts) and "Percy Jackson & the Lighting Thief" with Fox, which has grossed more than $200 million worldwide.
Morgan couldn't be reached for comment.
