Producers clash over 'Crash' credits

Two lawsuits have been brought over the production credits for Crash, just days before it might be awarded the Oscar for best picture.

On Wednesday independent film financier Bob Yari brought a claim against the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild of America, claiming they are wrongfully denying him credit for producing the film. He argues that the ways in which credits are awarded are unfair, arbitrary and lack transparency - he seeks to have the rules changed.

When the film was released last year, six people were listed as producers, yet the Academy and the PGA decided that only two - co-writer and director Paul Haggis and Cathy Schulman - would qualify for the top honour.

Meanwhile, Schulman has sued Yari for failing to pay over $2 million in fees and bonuses, claiming that his neglecting to reimburse certain parties has damaged her reputation. The suit also claims that Schulman and producing colleague Tom Nunan were not rewarded with their producing fees for three other projects they worked on for Yari.

The parties have held fire until balloting closed on Tuesday, so the legal actions will have no bearing upon the success of the film, which is nominated in six categories at Sunday's ceremony.