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New York Post
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Ex-Disney exec Rich Frank cheated widow, kids out restaurants owned by Michael Chiarello: lawsuit
A former top Disney exec allegedly hatched a treacherous plot to seize an acclaimed Napa Valley restaurant from the estate of late celebrity chef Michael Chiarello — cheating the chef's widow and children out of their inheritance, according to an explosive lawsuit. Rich Frank — who did a nine-year stint as president of Disney Studios under Jeffrey Katzenberg beginning in the mid-1980s, cranking out hits including 'Pretty Woman,' 'The Lion King' and 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit?' — allegedly cooked up a 'malicious scheme' to take over Chiarello's thriving restaurants, according to the lawsuit. Those included Bottega — a hotspot frequented by the likes of Julia Roberts, Sophia Loren, Ryan Seacrest Carrie Underwood and David Beckham, according to the suit filed in Napa County Superior Court on Monday. Advertisement 3 The estate of late chef Michael Chiarello is suing his minority investors over his famed restaurant, Bottega in Napa. WireImage Frank and hospitality entrepreneur John Hansen — who had both been minority investors in the business — had issued a press release June 10 heralding their takeover of Bottega, calling themselves 'longtime friends' of Chiarello. But according to the suit — shortly after Food Network star Chiarello died unexpectedly in November 2023 at age 61 due to an allergic reaction — Frank, Hansen and a third investor, Peter Crowley — met at Bottega to allegedly hatch a scheme at the 'expense of the plaintiffs,' which include his surviving family. Over dinner, the trio 'finalized their plan to defraud the estate, seize assets and eliminate any association with Chef Chiarello, his estate, his family or his legacy,' the suit claims. Advertisement 'Given the devastating circumstances, I expected cooperation from these investors, especially considering that over the years Michael had treated them like family,' said Eileen Gordon, who is Chiarello's widow and the mother of his youngest daughter. 'Yet the people he trusted took everything for themselves, depriving all other shareholders including Chef Chiarello's children,' Gordon told The Post, noting their daughter was a senior in high school when her dad died. Following Chiarello's surprise death, the suit claims the defendants immediately took charge of his three restaurants — the acclaimed Bottega in Napa Valley, Ottimo Yountville, the casual dining spot next door to Bottega; and Coqueta, a beloved Spanish eatery on San Francisco's Embarcadero. Advertisement 3 Rich Frank, a former Disney exec, is one of the investors who is being sued for allegedly hatching a plot to grab Bottega. Getty Images for AFI The lawsuit alleged that the defendants 'falsely represented themselves' as owners of the restaurants when in fact they were minority stakeholders in single-purpose entities that owned them. According to court papers, Frank allegedly held secret meetings at his home where he directed restaurant staff to stop selling wines from the Chiarello Family Vineyards — featured on Bottega's menu for more than 15 years — and replace them with wines from Frank Family Vineyards. Frank sold his winery in 2021 for $315 million to Treasury Wine Estates, but his family remains involved and his wife Leslie was named to the board of directors last year, according to Arnold & Porter, which advised the family on the sale. Advertisement Gordon, who was the estate's trustee, attempted to communicate with Crowley, a consultant and paid advisor to one of the entities, about plans to protect the chef's legacy, the suit claims. But Crowley allegedly ignored Gordon and dealt with Frank and Hansen instead. It was all part of a 'malicious plan' by the trio, who in February 2024 sent Gordon a letter saying they would buy the restaurants what the lawsuit deems a 'hostile takeover.' 3 Chiarello died unexpectedly in 2023, sparking a war over his restaurant empire. Getty Images The suit claims that a critical option expired for the estate to claim ownership of Bottega, but because the paperwork was allegedly withheld by the investors, the estate had no way of knowing. That paved the way for the defendants to acquire Bottega, the suit claims. In April 2024, the defendants allegedly told Gordon that once the deal was done, she and the estate would be out of the business. The lawsuit likewise alleges that the investors relied on falsified financial information to win a rock-bottom price for the assets. A legal battle ensued after Gordon allegedly refused and both sides entered into arbitration, according to court papers. The arbiter sided with the defendants and Bottega was sold to Frank and Hansen in May 2025, along with valuable intellectual property such as trademarks, menus, concepts, and recipes. 'The minority investors exercised their legal right to acquire Bottega from the estate in accordance with Bottega's ownership agreement and the decision of an arbitrator,' attorneys for Frank and Hansen told The Post Tuesday. The Post reached out to Crowley for comment. The IP, however, was never transferred by Chiarello to the restaurant LLC governed by the arbitration, and is rightfully Gordon's, the suit alleges. Gordon, claiming the estate's value has been impacted over the Bottega sale and transfer of the IP, and is seeking unspecified damages that could balloon due to the alleged malicious and fraudulent acts of the defendants. Advertisement 'After an extraordinary career, Michael soldiered through the worst five years, from 2017 to 2021, to save his Napa Valley institutions after wildfires, COVID, and then more wildfires,' Gordon told The Post. Based on his enduring reputation, the restaurants had their biggest year ever in 2023,' she added. 'Michael honored his family heritage, and we created our family trust 15 years ago to hold the business assets so they would be passed down to the next generation, not sold off in the event of his death,' Gordon said.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Wow, Disney Really Went There With New Elio Post: ‘Stop Complaining That Disney Doesn't Make Original Stories If You Don't Show Up To Movie Theaters.'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. This past week saw the release of Pixar's latest film, Elio, which is about a space-loving young boy who finds himself on an adventure of intergalactic proportions when he bonds with alien life forms. As of late, most of Pixar's sequels have been the more successful films, so this latest feature represents a project from the studio that doesn't come from an existing IP. With that, the studio and its parent company, Disney, are encouraging audiences to support the film and, based on a post, they seem to mean business. By way of a recent Instagram post, Pixar followed the new internet trend where people share hard truths off screen and then pretend they don't know where the source of the statement is. The studio's video involved a social media personality talking about audiences complaining that there aren't any original stories but that audiences don't show up to the movie theaters to support these original ideas in the first place. The video was blunt and ended with the pundit encouraging people to show up to the theaters to support Elio this week. You can see it below: Honestly, I didn't expect this from the Disney-owned company, as bigwigs have played things pretty safe when it comes to marketing their movies. This post definitely represents frustration, though, and it's understandable. Pixar's latest flick is a fresh idea that animators worked to perfect for years and years. Additionally, reviews for Elio have also been positive, with critics being charmed by the new project and the messaging at the core. The cosmic, coming-of-age romp deserves support, especially considering how hard it can be to get original ideas off the ground in Hollywood. Still, Elio bombed at the box office in its opening weekend a week ago, with its debut marking the worst opening for a Pixar movie ever. That's a hard fact to consider, especially considering it's the summer and many kids (who'd be potential viewers) are out of school by now. An analyst could make the argument that the film is facing competition from DreamWorks' live-action How to Train Your Dragon, which is soaring, and probably also benefiting from the fact that it's based on an existing IP. More on Elio Every Pixar Movie, Ranked From Worst To Best, Including Elio In general, this box office failure may just be a symptom of original movies performing undesirably across the board. That's one of the reasons that CinemaBlend's own Dirk Libbey isn't worried about Pixar just yet. However, the studio still needs a winner. Sure, it's understandable why some may be pumped for Toy Story 5 or Incredibles 3. However, supporting original films means there's more promise for new ideas and inspired stories, which could possibly end up becoming classic Disney movies. So, as conveyed in the IG video above, why not take a trip to the movie theaters and support a fresh film? Elio is in theaters now, so make sure to check it out on the big screen while you can. For more information on other titles heading to cinemas this summer, make sure to consult our 2025 movie release schedule.
SBS Australia
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- SBS Australia
New South Wales government announces funding for new movie studio site
Australia's movie industry received some happy news on the final day of the Sydney film festival. With the New South Wales government announcing a $380 million package to support the film and digital games sector. It will help develop a domestic sector that has played a starring role famous films like Happy Feet, Babe, and Planet of the Apes. New South Wales Arts Minister John Graham is hoping to help the industry attract even more Hollywood investment. "When filming happens, when screen production happens in Australia, half the time it happens here in New South Wales. This is the powerhouse. We're determined to keep that lead. That's why the government's investing strongly here." The package includes $280 million to support post, digital, visual effects and video game development. Another $100 million will help kickstart the hunt for a location to serve as Sydney's second film studio. Mr Graham says there's a critical shortage of production space, with Disney Studios at Moore Park currently the city's only film studio. The facility has played a pivotal role in blockbuster movies like Mad Max Furiosa and The Matrix "Unfortunately, no one can be told what the matrix is. You have to see it for yourself." Treasurer Daniel Mookhey expects to see the investment spur economic activity and job creation. "The industry supports over thirteen thousand direct jobs, and with this investment, we're confident that it's going to create a great degree of spillover. This is what it looks like to be boosting economic growth in New South Wales in the twenty first century." He says the sector already injects more than $1 billion into the local economy. The treasurer also announced new plans to cut red tape in an effort to make the movie and game-making as seamless as possible. Head of Screen New South Wales, Kyas Hepworth welcomed the news. "It's just exciting to see the government standing for the creative work as practitioners and storytellers within the state and we're not only looking at the state what happens in New South Wales affects Australia and elevates our storytelling globally." Other states have been competing for big budget films, too. Queensland is giving a $71 million boost to its screen industry, and W-A forking out $300 million for a studio complex in Perth. It comes against the backdrop of threatened movie tariffs from the U-S -- which have created uncertainty that investments like these hope to redress.
The Advertiser
15-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Red carpet rolled out to lure Hollywood amid tariffs
The red carpet is being rolled out to attract Hollywood A-listers and blockbuster movies with a cool $100 million being set aside to build home-grown, world class studios. The NSW government has committed to help build a massive, multi-use production space in Sydney that can be used for making local films and international hits to complement the existing Disney Studios at Moore Park. It's part of a $380 million package in the 2025-26 budget, to be delivered later in June, to support the screen and digital games sector. Sporting a pair of red-laced Air Jordans matching the red carpet of the Sydney Film Festival as it comes to a close, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey pitched the state as an attractive destination for film-makers and animation creators. "If you want to make movies, do it here in NSW, if you want to make games, do it here in NSW. NSW provides great locations with incredibly talented people," he told reporters on Sunday. Since 2021, studio films made in Sydney include Thor: Love & Thunder, Mad Max Furiosa, The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Arts Minister John Graham said the package would be complemented by cutting red tape, including tripling the time frame from 30 to 90 days for when filming takes place on private land without a development approval. But he also took aim at the ushering of tariffs by US President Donald Trump who in May announced a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the country. The tariffs are yet to be imposed but if rolled out they could prove a major disincentive to US studios sending productions to offshore locations like Australia. "This highly vital industry hasn't been disturbed yet, but if the US is going down this path it would not only damage activity here in NSW - it would damage it in Hollywood," Mr Graham said. "This would be self-defeating if the US presses ahead but that's a matter for them." He affirmed his commitment to the domestic film industry despite any potential economic fallout. "When filming happens, when screen production happens in Australia, half the time it happens NSW. This is the powerhouse. We're determined to keep that lead." NSW is not the only state opening its coffers to lure screen productions, with WA spending $290 million on a 16-hectare studio complex in Perth. Claudia Karvan, star of hit shows such as Bump and The Secret Life of Us, explained how it would help film-makers get projects off the ground with a dedicated, fit-for-purpose studio lot to call their own. "When we're shooting an episode of Bump, we're stopping every time a plane flies over or when we shot Doctor, Doctor you're dealing with parking trucks so you're open to the elements," she said. "If you're in a studio, you've got more creative control so you can have high productions values." The red carpet is being rolled out to attract Hollywood A-listers and blockbuster movies with a cool $100 million being set aside to build home-grown, world class studios. The NSW government has committed to help build a massive, multi-use production space in Sydney that can be used for making local films and international hits to complement the existing Disney Studios at Moore Park. It's part of a $380 million package in the 2025-26 budget, to be delivered later in June, to support the screen and digital games sector. Sporting a pair of red-laced Air Jordans matching the red carpet of the Sydney Film Festival as it comes to a close, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey pitched the state as an attractive destination for film-makers and animation creators. "If you want to make movies, do it here in NSW, if you want to make games, do it here in NSW. NSW provides great locations with incredibly talented people," he told reporters on Sunday. Since 2021, studio films made in Sydney include Thor: Love & Thunder, Mad Max Furiosa, The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Arts Minister John Graham said the package would be complemented by cutting red tape, including tripling the time frame from 30 to 90 days for when filming takes place on private land without a development approval. But he also took aim at the ushering of tariffs by US President Donald Trump who in May announced a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the country. The tariffs are yet to be imposed but if rolled out they could prove a major disincentive to US studios sending productions to offshore locations like Australia. "This highly vital industry hasn't been disturbed yet, but if the US is going down this path it would not only damage activity here in NSW - it would damage it in Hollywood," Mr Graham said. "This would be self-defeating if the US presses ahead but that's a matter for them." He affirmed his commitment to the domestic film industry despite any potential economic fallout. "When filming happens, when screen production happens in Australia, half the time it happens NSW. This is the powerhouse. We're determined to keep that lead." NSW is not the only state opening its coffers to lure screen productions, with WA spending $290 million on a 16-hectare studio complex in Perth. Claudia Karvan, star of hit shows such as Bump and The Secret Life of Us, explained how it would help film-makers get projects off the ground with a dedicated, fit-for-purpose studio lot to call their own. "When we're shooting an episode of Bump, we're stopping every time a plane flies over or when we shot Doctor, Doctor you're dealing with parking trucks so you're open to the elements," she said. "If you're in a studio, you've got more creative control so you can have high productions values." The red carpet is being rolled out to attract Hollywood A-listers and blockbuster movies with a cool $100 million being set aside to build home-grown, world class studios. The NSW government has committed to help build a massive, multi-use production space in Sydney that can be used for making local films and international hits to complement the existing Disney Studios at Moore Park. It's part of a $380 million package in the 2025-26 budget, to be delivered later in June, to support the screen and digital games sector. Sporting a pair of red-laced Air Jordans matching the red carpet of the Sydney Film Festival as it comes to a close, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey pitched the state as an attractive destination for film-makers and animation creators. "If you want to make movies, do it here in NSW, if you want to make games, do it here in NSW. NSW provides great locations with incredibly talented people," he told reporters on Sunday. Since 2021, studio films made in Sydney include Thor: Love & Thunder, Mad Max Furiosa, The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Arts Minister John Graham said the package would be complemented by cutting red tape, including tripling the time frame from 30 to 90 days for when filming takes place on private land without a development approval. But he also took aim at the ushering of tariffs by US President Donald Trump who in May announced a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the country. The tariffs are yet to be imposed but if rolled out they could prove a major disincentive to US studios sending productions to offshore locations like Australia. "This highly vital industry hasn't been disturbed yet, but if the US is going down this path it would not only damage activity here in NSW - it would damage it in Hollywood," Mr Graham said. "This would be self-defeating if the US presses ahead but that's a matter for them." He affirmed his commitment to the domestic film industry despite any potential economic fallout. "When filming happens, when screen production happens in Australia, half the time it happens NSW. This is the powerhouse. We're determined to keep that lead." NSW is not the only state opening its coffers to lure screen productions, with WA spending $290 million on a 16-hectare studio complex in Perth. Claudia Karvan, star of hit shows such as Bump and The Secret Life of Us, explained how it would help film-makers get projects off the ground with a dedicated, fit-for-purpose studio lot to call their own. "When we're shooting an episode of Bump, we're stopping every time a plane flies over or when we shot Doctor, Doctor you're dealing with parking trucks so you're open to the elements," she said. "If you're in a studio, you've got more creative control so you can have high productions values." The red carpet is being rolled out to attract Hollywood A-listers and blockbuster movies with a cool $100 million being set aside to build home-grown, world class studios. The NSW government has committed to help build a massive, multi-use production space in Sydney that can be used for making local films and international hits to complement the existing Disney Studios at Moore Park. It's part of a $380 million package in the 2025-26 budget, to be delivered later in June, to support the screen and digital games sector. Sporting a pair of red-laced Air Jordans matching the red carpet of the Sydney Film Festival as it comes to a close, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey pitched the state as an attractive destination for film-makers and animation creators. "If you want to make movies, do it here in NSW, if you want to make games, do it here in NSW. NSW provides great locations with incredibly talented people," he told reporters on Sunday. Since 2021, studio films made in Sydney include Thor: Love & Thunder, Mad Max Furiosa, The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Arts Minister John Graham said the package would be complemented by cutting red tape, including tripling the time frame from 30 to 90 days for when filming takes place on private land without a development approval. But he also took aim at the ushering of tariffs by US President Donald Trump who in May announced a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the country. The tariffs are yet to be imposed but if rolled out they could prove a major disincentive to US studios sending productions to offshore locations like Australia. "This highly vital industry hasn't been disturbed yet, but if the US is going down this path it would not only damage activity here in NSW - it would damage it in Hollywood," Mr Graham said. "This would be self-defeating if the US presses ahead but that's a matter for them." He affirmed his commitment to the domestic film industry despite any potential economic fallout. "When filming happens, when screen production happens in Australia, half the time it happens NSW. This is the powerhouse. We're determined to keep that lead." NSW is not the only state opening its coffers to lure screen productions, with WA spending $290 million on a 16-hectare studio complex in Perth. Claudia Karvan, star of hit shows such as Bump and The Secret Life of Us, explained how it would help film-makers get projects off the ground with a dedicated, fit-for-purpose studio lot to call their own. "When we're shooting an episode of Bump, we're stopping every time a plane flies over or when we shot Doctor, Doctor you're dealing with parking trucks so you're open to the elements," she said. "If you're in a studio, you've got more creative control so you can have high productions values."
Perth Now
15-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Red carpet rolled out to lure Hollywood amid tariffs
The red carpet is being rolled out to attract Hollywood A-listers and blockbuster movies with a cool $100 million being set aside to build home-grown, world class studios. The NSW government has committed to help build a massive, multi-use production space in Sydney that can be used for making local films and international hits to complement the existing Disney Studios at Moore Park. It's part of a $380 million package in the 2025-26 budget, to be delivered later in June, to support the screen and digital games sector. Sporting a pair of red-laced Air Jordans matching the red carpet of the Sydney Film Festival as it comes to a close, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey pitched the state as an attractive destination for film-makers and animation creators. "If you want to make movies, do it here in NSW, if you want to make games, do it here in NSW. NSW provides great locations with incredibly talented people," he told reporters on Sunday. Since 2021, studio films made in Sydney include Thor: Love & Thunder, Mad Max Furiosa, The Fall Guy and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. Arts Minister John Graham said the package would be complemented by cutting red tape, including tripling the time frame from 30 to 90 days for when filming takes place on private land without a development approval. But he also took aim at the ushering of tariffs by US President Donald Trump who in May announced a 100 per cent tariff on films produced outside the country. The tariffs are yet to be imposed but if rolled out they could prove a major disincentive to US studios sending productions to offshore locations like Australia. "This highly vital industry hasn't been disturbed yet, but if the US is going down this path it would not only damage activity here in NSW - it would damage it in Hollywood," Mr Graham said. "This would be self-defeating if the US presses ahead but that's a matter for them." He affirmed his commitment to the domestic film industry despite any potential economic fallout. "When filming happens, when screen production happens in Australia, half the time it happens NSW. This is the powerhouse. We're determined to keep that lead." NSW is not the only state opening its coffers to lure screen productions, with WA spending $290 million on a 16-hectare studio complex in Perth. Claudia Karvan, star of hit shows such as Bump and The Secret Life of Us, explained how it would help film-makers get projects off the ground with a dedicated, fit-for-purpose studio lot to call their own. "When we're shooting an episode of Bump, we're stopping every time a plane flies over or when we shot Doctor, Doctor you're dealing with parking trucks so you're open to the elements," she said. "If you're in a studio, you've got more creative control so you can have high productions values."
