Martin Scorsese is set to direct a new action movie, “Wall of White,” which tells the story of a deadly 1982 avalanche near Lake Tahoe. However, production has been halted due to the Writers Guild of America West (WGA) banning its members from working on the film.
The WGA cited Randall Emmett’s history of not paying writers for their work as the reason for the ban. Emmett’s production company, Convergence Entertainment Group, has a long list of unpaid debts to the guild, including $541,464 in 2021 and over $700,000 in interest. The guild has also filed arbitration claims against companies owned by Emmett over the past decade.
Emmett has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he will pay writers for their work on the upcoming film. However, Leila Azari, a senior WGA attorney, said that Emmett has made previous promises to pay and never followed through.
The “Wall of White” project is based on a 2010 book and a 2021 documentary about the 1982 avalanche. Screenwriter Petter Skavlan, a WGA member, was attached to the film until the guild banned its members from working with Emmett’s company. Author Jennifer Woodlief, who wrote the book, is not a member of the WGA.
This is not the first time Emmett has faced controversy over his business practices. In 2022, he was the subject of an investigation and a Hulu documentary that alleged abuse against women and assistants, which he denied. Despite this, Emmett continues to line up producing partners and big-name stars for his small-budget films.
The WGA ban on “Wall of White” is a significant blow to Scorsese’s project, which was expected to go into production this year. The guild has made it clear that its members will not work with companies or individuals who are on the WGA strike list.
Source: https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-04-16/wga-bans-martin-scorsese-randall-emmett-film-project