A major bank in Hong Kong, Standard Chartered, alleges that the Los Angeles based production company, Hannibal Pictures, forged important documents needed for financing the 2011 Antonio Banderas film, “The Big Bang.” Hollywood web reporter, TheWrap, reports that the bank has halted all film lending activities. Elaine Chin, a bank spokesperson, will not comment on the legal investigation, however, she states that the bank is ending their film lending business because it is not a need in Asia or the Middle East.
Hannibal Pictures, founded in 1999 by Richard Rionda Del Castro, produces about 3-6 films a year and most recently produced the Kevin Spacey film, “Casino Jack” and is currently working on the upcoming film, “USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage.”
According to sources close to the film, Hannibal Pictures allegedly forged the signature of an employee from Film Finances, the bond company on the production, as well as the notice of assignment to the bank. These documents were then used to obtain a loan in the amount of 7 million dollars to put toward the 17 million dollar film production. When asked about the legal investigation, Hannibal’s spokesperson only replied with, “It’s in the lawyer’s hands.”
The forgeries were not discovered until the movie was delivered and the situation is an embarrassment for Standard Chartered.
The film, “The Big Bang”, starring Antonio Banderas, only opened in select theaters in 2011 and received mediocre reviews. According to The New York Times, the movie is, “a jumble of notions tossed into a hat.”
