Fox Entertainment Group is today facing a class action investigation of all its internships after two interns successfully challenged the way they were treated while working on Black Swan. Alex Footman and Eric Glatt were told it was improper for them to be classed as interns when they were asked to do menial work with no clear educational benefit.
"They worked as paid employees work, providing an immediate advantage to their employer," said Judge William Pauley, ruling on the case. "They received nothing approximating the education they would receive in an academic setting or vocational school."
The judgement has implications that go far beyond Fox itself, in an industry that relies heavily on the use of interns. Significantly, Judge Pauley held that it was the studio which was responsible for managing Footman and Glatt and that responsibility could not be passed to the production companies involved in making the film.
Fox has noted its intention to appeal.
