“Slumdog” Director Fights Back
Variety reports:
The rewards of being an early awards favorite are many — but so are the perils, as those behind Oscar best pic nominee “Slumdog Millionaire” learned this week.
On Thursday, director Danny Boyle and producer Christian Colson issued a statement refuting accusations that the film exploited two child actors, Rubina Ali and Azharuddin Ismail. Fox Searchlight and international distribs Fox Star and Pathe also issued a corresponding statement supporting the “Slumdog” team.
Boyle and Colson said the kids were enrolled in school for the first time after filming, and a fund had been set up to cover their education, as well as their basic living costs, health care and any emergencies. If the children stay in school until they are 18, they will receive another lump sum.
“Since putting these arrangements in place more than 12 months ago, we have never sought to publicize them, and we are doing so now only in response to the questions raised by the press,” Colson and Boyle’s statement said.
