Officers and inmates who worked as extras during the October filming of "Black August" at the Nevada State Prison haven't been paid, according to the Nevada Corrections Association.
A film crew from the San Francisco Bay area spent several days at the prison shooting a film about George Jackson, a prison inmate and black power activist who started a San Quentin Prison riot in August 1971 that led to his death and the deaths of two other inmates and three officer.
"They didn't pay anybody," said Gene Columbus, president of the Corrections Association. "They came in, did the filming and took off out of town like Bonnie and Clyde."
Twelve officers who worked on the film are owed more than $14,000, while about 30 inmates are owed $2,000, he said.
Financing for "Black August," to be provided by former NBA player Isaiah Rider, has fallen through, said producer Andy Hill. Filming is about 80 percent complete.
"Obviously, we're in a very awkward and unfortunate situation," Hill said, adding that the crew finished its fourth week of filming before funding for that week had come through.
Columbus suggested the Nevada Department of Corrections compensate the officers and then go after the film company. But prison system officials said the officers were working on the film as independent contractors.
"The information I received was that all the staff worked on the film either on their days off or they took annual leave, and that they did sign W-9 forms for 'Black August' in order to get paid for the film," said Darrel Rexwinkel, assistant director of support services at the department.