French filmmaker Luc Besson’s company fined over death of cameraman on movie set

Luc Besson’s company fined over death on film set

PARIS — A Paris appeals court fined French filmmaker Luc Besson’s movie company €100,000 ($140,580) on Monday over the death of a cameraman who was hit by a car during a 1999 stunt shoot.

The court also handed stunt director Remy Julienne, 79, a six-month suspended prison sentence.

A lower court had originally acquitted Besson’s company, Europacorp, of wrongdoing in the case and given Julienne an 18-month suspended sentence.

The appeals court convicted Europacorp of manslaughter and fined it €100,000. In addition, the company and Julienne were ordered to jointly pay €20,000 to each of the cameraman’s parents and €10,000 to each of his two brothers.

Alain Dutartre, a 41-year-old cameraman, was hit during the August 1999 shooting of “Taxi 2,” a French car chase film. Besson produced the film, and has also directed such movies as “The Fifth Element,” and “La Femme Nikita.”

It was not immediately clear whether Julienne or Europacorp would appeal the ruling.