Independent filmmakers and brothers Selton and Langston Shaw and their production company recently filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against famous Hollywood directors and producers named Spike Lee and Nate Parker and their three other affiliated companies. The complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. In the complaint, the filmmakers made allegations that Parker and Lee stole the idea for their 2019 film titled ‘American Skin’ from a very famous 2017 screenplay that the Shaw brothers wrote and entitled it as ‘A Routine Stop.’

According to the lawsuit, “American Skin” and the Shaw brothers’ scripts both focused on police violence against Black men and women and the country’s systemic indifference to it. Lee and Parker copied major themes, characters, storylines, the logline, and other elements from the screenplay ‘A Routine Stop.’” However, a representative for Lee did not prefer immediately to respond to a request made for comment on the suit. It is not about their identical themes only; there are several similarities that are uncanny between American Skin and the screenplay for A Routine Stop.

As detailed in the complaint, “In 2017, the Shaw brothers submitted their screenplay to the TV One Screenplay competition, which is a contest organized with and supported by the American Black Film Festival. While the brothers’ screenplay did not win the competition, it was circulated to a group of industry professionals who served as judges. Lo and behold, two years later, American Skin premiered at the Venice Film Festival with plot lines, characters, and themes substantially similar to A Routine Stop.”

“Among other things, in both A Routine Stop and American Skin, the main character, with a group of his friends, kidnaps and puts on a show trial of the white police officer involved in the shooting,” the complaint said. As per the case and reported details, it can be presumed that the case can be decided in the favor of brothers Selton and Langston Shaw. But till the time case is decided, it will remain a matter of suspense for the fans.

Picture Source :