Breakdown Services Lawsuit

According to the Hollywood Reporter, Breakdown Services is seeking a preliminary injunction against  three individuals–Frank Moran, Louise Yanofsky and Steven Rubin–who manipulated the system to bypass a credential check. Breakdown Services receives scripts and requests for script reads from casting directors. Then these submissions are sent to licensed talent agents and qualified personal managers who screen the roles before they are passed on to the actors and actresses. The casting directors use the service because they know that their materials will be in the hands of qualified and reputable actors and actresses–this limits the number of unqualified submissions and “leaks” of movie plots on various websites. If Breakdown is unable to maintain this confidentiality with the directors, directors will use other services to distribute their materials.

Moran, Yanofsky, and Rubin collected these breakdowns and distributed them directly to the talent–leading to obviously inappropriate actors reading for various roles (i.e. a thin actor reading for a “husky” part). The defendants charged actors for the distribution of these materials as well as for representation (however, agents only are permitted to earn compensation through commission). They also joined talent agencies strictly to obtain access to the breakdowns. Ultimately, Breakdown Services asserts claims of tortious interference and unfair competition. The court has yet to rule on the request for a preliminary injunction.