A former collaborator of Antoine Fuqua, a renowned director, has filed a lawsuit against him for not paying or giving credit for his alleged work as a consultant on the movie The Equalizer 3. The complaint was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by Paul Lozada, who claims to have provided valuable information about European organized crime, weapons, and fight choreography to enhance the film’s authenticity. Lozada alleges that Fuqua promised him a position on the movie but failed to follow through.
Lozada, who has previously worked as a consultant or adviser on Fuqua’s films including Training Day, Tears of the Sun, and The Equalizer (2014), states that in May 2022, Fuqua approached him about collaborating on a potential TV project. Fuqua then asked for Lozada’s input on The Equalizer 3, expressing dissatisfaction with the script and the need for accurate information on the Italian Mafia’s operations, specifically the gang members in Italy where the movie was being shot. Lozada claims that Fuqua requested him to gather information on the Italian Mafia Crime Group (Camorra) and its activities.
According to the complaint, when Lozada asked if the script was ready for review, Fuqua responded that it was still going through rewrites. However, Lozada immediately began researching the organization and the weapons that Denzel Washington’s character would use in the film. In the following month, Lozada sent Fuqua several reports related to Italian organized crime, after which Fuqua asked for additional material. They had multiple conversations about Fuqua’s concerns regarding the script’s authenticity, prompting Fuqua to ask Lozada to review it meticulously and provide his observations and thoughts.
The complaint states that Fuqua, who was seeking authenticity and realism, particularly in the crucial opening scene, relied heavily on Lozada’s expertise during August 2022. Lozada points to the movie’s depiction of drugs being packaged in wine bottles from Afghanistan as evidence that Fuqua used his ideas.
Regarding compensation, Fuqua allegedly deferred the matter to production manager Clayton Townsend, who never contacted Lozada. When Lozada asked again a month later, Fuqua reiterated that Townsend would get in touch. Believing he was part of the production team, Lozada flew to Rome where the movie was being filmed. However, when they met to clarify Lozada’s consultant position, Fuqua claimed that the production was shutting down due to COVID-19 protocols and refused to discuss the matter further.
In a text message, Fuqua allegedly wrote, “It’s already costing a mil. And this is the first week,” when Lozada inquired about visiting the set. Following this incident, Fuqua stopped communicating with Lozada. When Lozada confronted him about payment, Fuqua denied his contribution to the movie. In an email, Fuqua stated, “Not one thing in Equalizer had anything to do with you. Not one thing. You came to Rome, and I wanted you involved somehow. To help you. Not me.”
The complaint asserts a breach of oral contract among other claims. No immediate response has been received from Fuqua or Sony, the production company.
In conclusion, Paul Lozada, a former collaborator of Antoine Fuqua, has filed a lawsuit claiming that Fuqua refused to pay or credit him as a consultant for his alleged work on The Equalizer 3. Lozada contends that he provided valuable information on European organized crime and contributed to enhancing the film’s authenticity. The lawsuit alleges breach of oral contract and other claims. The response from Fuqua and Sony is still awaited.
