Marc Beckman, producer of the documentary Melania, firmly rejected the claims made by filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood regarding the use of Phantom Thread music. In response to their accusations, Beckman emphasized that the production had obtained full legal rights to incorporate the score into the film. These Paul Thomas Anderson claims sparked a heated dispute over the documentary’s soundtrack.
Beckman Asserts Proper Permissions and Compensation Were Secured
Beckman told Breitbart News that the Melania team had
“a legal right and permission to use every song and piece of music in the film,”
labeling the allegations as “a blatant lie.” He stressed the production’s commitment to following the appropriate procedures and respecting artists involved, stating,
“We’ve done everything the right way, we followed protocol, we respect artists. We compensated everyone for their music.”
This strong rebuttal challenges the veracity of Anderson and Greenwood’s statements.
Anderson and Greenwood’s Statement Highlights Copyright Concerns
In a joint statement, Anderson and Greenwood asserted that a segment from the Phantom Thread score was included in Melania without Jonny Greenwood’s prior consent. They noted,
“While Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use which is a breach of his composer agreement.”
They further demanded,
“Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary.”
This statement suggests contractual violations linked to Universal’s involvement.
Producer Accuses Media of Failing to Verify Facts Before Reporting
Beckman responded to the situation by reiterating,
“We have legally binding, fully executed contracts in place to use every song in Melania,”
dismissing the claims as “just ridiculous.” He also criticized the media’s handling of the story, pointing out,
“It’s unfortunate that none of them contacted anyone in our camp to see if their reporting was factually correct.”
Beckman referred specifically to outlets like Variety for not reaching out to his team for comment prior to publication, emphasizing a lack of journalistic due diligence.
Dispute Focuses on Universal’s Role, Impact on Audiences and Industry Figures
Anderson and Greenwood attributed the controversy to Universal’s actions rather than blame Beckman or MGM Studios and Amazon, which produced Melania. Jonny Greenwood, who received an Oscar nomination for Phantom Thread in 2018 and a current nomination for One Battle After Another, remarked on the ongoing success of films despite the dispute, stating,
“Theaters continue to remain full. Audiences continue to applaud at the end of the film.”
This highlights the continuing support from viewers amid the fallout.
The disagreement over the Melania documentary’s soundtrack underlines the complex negotiations behind music rights in filmmaking and raises questions about how third-party usage is managed. Moving forward, this dispute may prompt closer scrutiny of licensing agreements to prevent similar conflicts and protect the interests of artists and producers alike.
