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.
Director Hans Emanuel Joins Caviar For Commercials and Music Videos
Production company Caviar has signed director Hans Emanuel for U.S. commercial and music video representation. The film and advertising director fuses his keen--and Berlinale Film Festival Award-winning--eye for cinematic storytelling with a commercial background across multiple genres including beauty, automotive, dance, and visual effects-heavy projects, to produce creative for clients like Kia, Nivea, Nissan, L’Oreal, BMW and more.
Caviar executive producer Salim El Arja noted, “Hans has a unique ability to blend stunning visuals with heart and humor, rooted in his confidence as a craftsman. This allows him to focus on drawing exceptional performances from actors--including celebrities--and crafting films that are not only visually striking but also deeply engaging and often hilariously comedic. His sensibilities align perfectly with Caviar’s vision, and we’re excited to collaborate with him on work that pushes creative boundaries.”
Emanuel added, “Caviar is a renowned name, certainly since I began my career. They have a solid reputation for quality work, and I’ve always respected them as a company. Life is about where destiny makes you flow with the people you need; thanks to a series of projects, I was introduced to Florence Jacob with Caviar Paris first, and the rest is history. I feel they can support my career growth with their comedic expertise and filmmaking prowess.”
Prior to joining Caviar, Emanuel had been repped by production house Stadium. He was born and raised in Santa Monica, Calif., to a Mexican-German mother, benefiting from a culturally diversified upbringing that carried through his education interests. Knowing he wanted to be a filmmaker from the start, he began his career in the luxury and beauty field,... Read More