Columbus woman won $15K lawsuit against Travolta movie producers but still seeks payment
A production company for a movie starring John Travolta that was filmed in Columbus owes a local caterer $15,000, according to a court judgment.
Carla Goldman, doing business as Celebrity’s Catering, entered into an agreement with Cash Out Picture Number One LLC to supply catered meals on location during the June 9-24 filming of “Cash Out” in Columbus.
The contract called for two meals per day for 100 people over 13 days, totaling an estimated $28,419 for 2,600 meals.
Goldman told the Ledger-Enquirer she provided one day of meals for the movie’s cast and crew before a representative of the production company told her they decided to use another caterer because they wanted more options.
The production company wouldn’t pay Goldman the $10,000 she requested as compensation for the meals provided and meals prepared, plus food and supplies bought for anticipated meals, she said, so she sued for $15,000 to cover legal expenses as well.
After multiple emails failed to get the money from the movie producers, Goldman has retained a collection agency to pursue the payment. Three months after she won the lawsuit, she still hasn’t been paid.
“The principle of it is that they owe me the money, period, end of discussion,” she said. “This judgment isn’t going to make or break me. My concern is … they might put the next person out of business, when a big movie comes to town and doesn’t pay them.”
The lawsuit names two defendants: Joe Dimaio, doing business as Cash Out Film Picture One LLC, and Picture Number One LLC — both listed with the same phone number. The L-E didn’t reach any of the defendants before publication.
Goldman filed the lawsuit June 17 in Columbus Municipal Court. Judge Michelle De Los Santos ruled in Goldman’s favor Oct. 11 after the bench trial, where Goldman represented herself and nobody appeared on behalf of the defendants, according to the case file. Judge Steven Smith signed the judgment Oct. 19.
Growing film industry in Columbus
Travolta and Kristin Davis are among the stars in the movie “Cash Out” that was filmed this summer in Columbus. The 2020 movie “Survive the Night,” starring Bruce Willis, was filmed just north of Columbus in Harris County. It originally was titled the “The Long Night” when it was filmed in 2019.
They are among more than 30 movies filmed in the Columbus area since 2010. Local officials continue to seek a share of the state record $4.4 billion that was spent on 412 film and TV productions in Georgia during fiscal 2022.
The L-E reported last week Catalyst Productions, which moved its headquarters from Pennsylvania to Columbus, has signed a contract with W.C. Bradley Real Estate to manage Flat Rock Studio. The deal is expected to exponentially increase the number of movie and television productions filmed in Columbus.
This story was originally published January 4, 2023 at 12:16 PM.
