The parents of an assistant propmaster killed in an accident during the filming of “The Kingdom” have sued director Peter Berg, seeking reimbursement of funeral expenses and other damages.
Berg was traveling in a sport utility vehicle in August 2006 when it collided with a golf cart-sized vehicle on a road near Mesa, Ariz. The impact killed Nick Papac, who was working on the closed set of “The Kingdom,” an action thriller starring Jaime Foxx and Jennifer Garner.
Papac’s parents, Mike Papac and Michele Bell, filed suit against the director, a driver and a production company in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday. They are asking for an unspecified amount that would include the costs of the funeral, lost earnings and medical expenses.
The film had just finished shooting for the day on a closed stretch of highway on the far eastern side of metropolitan Phoenix when Papac, 25, was struck. A statement released by the filmmakers at the time said that Papac collided with Berg’s SUV and was attended to by paramedics for Universal Pictures/Forward Pass. He later died at a hospital.
Berg’s attorney did not immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday morning.
Mike Papac is a longtime Hollywood propmaster. Studio officials said at the time of the accident that he was at his son’s side at the time of his death.
His attorney declined to discuss specifics about the case, saying it was still in its early stages.
Berg, whose directing credits include this summer’s blockbuster “Hancock” and previous films such as “Friday Night Lights,” was not injured in the crash.
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pérez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More