Justin Timberlake facing lawsuit from director of shelved 20/20 Experience documentary

Justin Timberlake is facing a new lawsuit from a director who says he was hired to shoot and edit a documentary about his breakthrough album The 20/20 Experience.

According to the legal documents obtained by TMZ , John Urbano maintains Timberlake proposed a deal in 2012 where he would share in the profits from the film instead of being paid a normal fee. 

But in the wake of the massive success of the album, which went on went on to become the best-selling album of the year, the pop star shelved the project, leaving Urbano without a payday, with the exception of a $20,000 fee that was paid up front.

Lawsuit: Justin Timberlake, 41, was slapped with a lawsuit from a director who claims he was hired to shoot and edit a documentary about his breakthrough album The 20/20 Experience

Lawsuit: Justin Timberlake, 41, was slapped with a lawsuit from a director who claims he was hired to shoot and edit a documentary about his breakthrough album The 20/20 Experience

The deal portrayed by Urbano leaves him without most of the payment for his services, as long as the documentary remains unreleased.

Urbano claims in the documents that he filmed Timberlake for a total of 60 days all across the world, and he subsequently spent around 2,500 hours editing the footage that was titled The Making Of The 20/20 Experience.

If the director had been paid in a more traditional manner — on the front end — he says the fees for his filming and editing work would amounted to about $2,450,000.

Along with the $20,000 payment he received up front, the only other money he’s seen from Timberlake was reimbursements for expenses incurred during the shoot.

After crunching the numbers, Urbano maintains he has been paid the equivalent of just $7 per hour for the project. 

The deal: John Urbano maintains Timberlake proposed a deal in 2012 where he would share in the profits from the film instead of being paid a normal fee, but in the end the pop star decided to shelf the project as his third studio album, The 20/20 Experience, became more successful

The deal: John Urbano maintains Timberlake proposed a deal in 2012 where he would share in the profits from the film instead of being paid a normal fee, but in the end the pop star decided to shelf the project as his third studio album, The 20/20 Experience, became more successful

The legal wrangling: The deal portrayed by Urbano resulted in him without any payment for his services, with the exception of a $20,000 fee paid up front, as long as the documentary remains on the shelf; Timberlake is pictured on the 20/20 Experience World Tour in 2014

The legal wrangling: The deal portrayed by Urbano resulted in him without any payment for his services, with the exception of a $20,000 fee paid up front, as long as the documentary remains on the shelf; Timberlake is pictured on the 20/20 Experience World Tour in 2014

Initially, Urbano said Timberlake seemed be interested in the documentary, but as his album continued to climb the charts and become more successful, the SexyBack star appeared to lose interest.

Having seen the project get put on the back burner, the director wants compensation for his work due to an alleged breach of their agreement.

Along with more money from Timberlake, Urbano also wants a judge to declare that he owns the rights to the documentary. 

So far, Timberlake has not commented publicly on lawsuit or any of the accusations made in the legal documents.

20/20 part 2: The 20/20 Experience is considered the first half of a two-piece project, that was followed-up by his fourth studio album, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013)

20/20 part 2: The 20/20 Experience is considered the first half of a two-piece project, that was followed-up by his fourth studio album, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013)

The 20/20 Experience (2012) debuted at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200 before going on to become the best-selling album of 2012.

It spawned three singles: Suit & Tie (featuring Jay-Z), Mirrors, and Tunnel Vision. 

The 20/20 Experience is considered the first half of a two-piece project, that was followed-up by his fourth studio album, The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013).

Along with Timberlake, Urbano has directed projects for Carrie Underwood, Justin Timberlake, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, One Direction, and Tim Timbaland, among others. 

Breach of agreement claim: Urbano claims if he had been paid in a more traditional manner, on the front end, his fees for the filming and editing work would amounted to about $2,450,000; the director also wants a judge to declare that he owns the rights to the documentary; Urbano is pictured with his sister Marisa and DJ Dark Intensity

Breach of agreement claim: Urbano claims if he had been paid in a more traditional manner, on the front end, his fees for the filming and editing work would amounted to about $2,450,000; the director also wants a judge to declare that he owns the rights to the documentary; Urbano is pictured with his sister Marisa and DJ Dark Intensity

source: dailymail.co.uk