16. I agree with you 100% Janice. I think everyone should boycott the movie and the restuarants that this group owns. And if Will Smith were the honorable person some of you think he is, then he should of stood up and told the production company these people don't get paid then I don't star in this movie.

Posted at 3:08PM on Aug 21st 2007 by gagal

17. How on earth can someone like Will Smith or the owner not have the studio pay the staffs' lost wages? With films costing in the very high millions, this would be a mere pittance in actual dollars, but a ton of good will.

Posted at 3:17PM on Aug 21st 2007 by boonestone

18. First, when was the last time Will made a movie for adults? Who watches his boring movies anyway?

Second, that's life in the service industry, it doesn't take a whole lot of training to learn how to fill a glass of water. I'm sure the owner is taking care of the "Top" crewmembers and paying them under the table. I'm not familiar with this restaurant but suppose forty employees are on the payroll, I wouldn't be surprised if thirty were dead weight. This is the SERVICE INDUSTRY PEOPLE, no health care, no vacation, NOTHING! People know this before they enter.

Unbelievable!

Posted at 3:23PM on Aug 21st 2007 by Jizum H Chrust

19. No Pay, that bites. good idea up there, first day open nobody show up for work!

Posted at 3:24PM on Aug 21st 2007 by Snarky Bitch

20. Ok, so why not Charlize Theron? And why in God's name are the majority of you not holding the actual EMPLOYERS responsible? I don't get it. So because Will Smith is acting in a movie, he should make sure that the employees at a restaurant they are filming in get paid? Who paid the Patina Group? I don't think Will Smith did, so why is he responsible for paying the wages of employees? It just doesn't make sense to me. If I were a staff member of the restaurant, I would be angry with my boss, the employer - not some random rich guy just because he has money... he wouldn't owe me jack.
My employer on the other hand hired me, is getting paid for filming to take place at his location, told me to make myself scarce for a week, and is not paying me. I would be angry as hell at my boss.... and if I had a choice would quit that horrible job.

Posted at 3:27PM on Aug 21st 2007 by just another reader

21. So this conglomeration of multimillionaires puts a bunch of working stiffs who make crap pay out of work for a week, and no one cares? Let's hope the movie is an absolute bomb and that rat turds are found in the restaurant, bringing huge fines to Joachim Spilchal or Jowjaow Spitball or whatever the frig his stupid name is. All those people are swine.

Posted at 3:46PM on Aug 21st 2007 by Tootle Gielgud

22. I agree with CurlyB...they ALL need to call in sick for 1 day. That would definitely send a message.

The restaurant would have been duly compensated and should use that money, not to mention whatever profit above normal receipts, to pay their staff.

Won't be eating there!

Posted at 4:05PM on Aug 21st 2007 by San

23. That's not right..........The production company should pay their wages.

Posted at 4:22PM on Aug 21st 2007 by LuvTMZ

24. THE CHEF ALSO OWNS NICK & STEFS IN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES. GREAT STEAK HOUSE!

Posted at 4:37PM on Aug 21st 2007 by teckertime

25. I for 1 will not be eating at Patina Resturant Group (home of Celeb chef Joachim Splichal) EVER or paying to watch Will's new pic. Of course Will cannot dictate what the owner of PRG does, Will most definately will be cashing in on profits from this movie AS well as MILLIONS in a paycheck just working/acting in the film....
Will I used to admire you....NOT anymore if you DONT use your CLOUT to make the owners of PRG to pay these WORKING-POOR-FOLKS!!!!

Posted at 4:47PM on Aug 21st 2007 by 1 less viewer & 1 less customer

26. Okay, people, let's not get too worked up here.
I have worked IN the restaurant industry as a server, bartender, and manager, and at the end of the day, there's 4 days of lost work. Most of the staff wouldn't be working all 4 days, because the schedule is created 1-3 weeks in advance, and since the busiest shifts are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, the odds are that most of the staff would have at least 1, if not 2 of those 4 days of filming off anyway. So, now they are potentially only losing 1-2 days of work.
Also, something to consider is this: What if the restaurant had prior notification? I happen to know this restaurant location and know that it's quite busy, especially for dinners with pre-theatre crowds...as a result, what about the 100's of customers that would be turned away, angry, with no prior notification.
The statistics say that the management staff would have known in ample time about the restaurant closure, thus allowing them to reschedule certain reservations, STOP taking additional reservations, and then SCHEDULE OFF the staff. So, if the staff had notice the restaurant would be closed, is it still their obligation to pay them? No, it's not. It's the service industry, by its nature, the industry is fickle, is temporary and isn't stable.
The staff could've found other temporary employment, such as catering, or extra work (let's be honest, most of them are actors) in the interim.
Just my thoughts.

Posted at 4:48PM on Aug 21st 2007 by Ace

27. Why are you people so gullible. One statement and everyone gets all riled up. Do you even know if what they say is true? Will Smith is one of the stars of the movie, what about everybody else? Why is he responsible for the restaurants employees pay? Give me a break. Wake up people, you are being manipulated again. Before the movie is even finished, before the critics get there say, you already don't want to see the movie. I can't believe you keep falling for the same thing, over and over.

Posted at 5:04PM on Aug 21st 2007 by Dawn

28. This is so typical of Hollywood. The only time regular folks matter is when they cough up their money for the latest production. They should have used the employees in the movie.

Posted at 5:05PM on Aug 21st 2007 by did I say that?

29. Why are most of you straight brain dead? Dont be an idiot and know what your typing before you type, It has nothing to do with Will Smith nor any obligation on his part to use his own money to pay the employees should be expected. He is just the Star of the film, he does not choose locations nor specific restaurants. He ACTS! He does not take care of any logistical arrangments or does he need to be aware of any. It is up to the restaurant itself to pay the employess with their profits if they so choose so.

Posted at 5:07PM on Aug 21st 2007 by Mario

30. The restaurant is on the Maguire Gardens of the Central Library is Downtown Los Angeles. Property is owned by Maguire Partners who happen to own or manage many buildings is downtown Los Angeles. Maguire Partners are likely responsible for renting space to the filming industry, NOT the actors NOR their production companies. If you plan to boycott anything, boycott parking your car under the gardens to the library, owned by Maguire Partners. At $26.00 day rate for parking, and being that they own lots in downtown, YOUR boycott won't make a dent.

SILLY FOOLS

Posted at 5:11PM on Aug 21st 2007 by boyblu