newsmakers

newsmakers

Singer Allman, filmmakers sued in Ga. train death

SAVANNAH, Ga.

Movie producers and singer Gregg Allman are among 18 parties being sued by the parents of a young camera assistant who died when a film crew was struck by a freight train in southeast Georgia.

The parents of 27-year-old Sarah Jones filed a lawsuit Wednesday over her death during production of “Midnight Rider,” a movie based on Allman’s memoir. Filming had just started Feb. 20 when a train smashed into the crew on a railroad bridge southwest of Savannah. Jones was killed, and six others were injured.

The lawsuit names director Randall Miller and his production company as defendants, as well as CSX railroad and forest-products company Rayonier, which owned the land along the train tracks.

The lawsuit accuses all parties of negligence and seeks unspecified monetary damages.

Portrait gallery adds Perry to collection

WASHINGTON

Katy Perry is getting an honor usually reserved for later in life. Her portrait is joining the collection at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington.

The museum said Wednesday that a 2010 portrait of Perry by artist Will Cotton, titled “Cupcake Katy,” will go on view beginning June 18. It will be part of a rotating display of recently acquired portraits. The tongue-in-cheek picture depicts Perry as a cupcake.

Perry previously collaborated with Cotton on the design for her “California Girls” music video.

Museum Director Kim Sajet says Perry comes from a tradition of strong women entertainers who challenge their supposedly superficial pop personas. She says on closer look, Perry is a complex figure.

Other pop stars in the Smithsonian collection include Beyonce, Madonna and Michael Jackson.

‘Star Wars’ fans to get chance at cameo

LOS ANGELES

“Star Wars: Episode VII” director J.J. Abrams is giving fans a shot at a cameo in the film that’s set to be released next year.

Disney, Lucasfilm and Bad Robot have teamed up for a campaign to raise funds for UNICEF. Abrams announced the initiative in a video from the set of the movie in Abu Dhabi.

For every $10 donation at Omaze.com/StarWars, contributors will become eligible to appear in the film when it shoots in London. The campaign began just after midnight Wednesday and runs until 11:59 p.m. PDT on July 18.

The cast of “Episode VII” was revealed in April, and Adam Driver is among the newbies. Disney will release the film in December 2015.

Associated Press