Destry Allyn Spielberg took on her first directorial role with "Please Don't Feed the Children", a low-budget thriller. Even with the benefit of being Steven Spielberg's daughter, independent filmmaking proved a challenging task for her as the film encountered extensive financial difficulties, momentarily halting production. The film managed to complete production near Thanksgiving, although outstanding dues of around $200,000 remain.
Complaints from the film’s unpaid vendors and crew members arose, pushing the lead producer, Jason Dubin, towards securing new financing. This came in the form of a Seattle investor. Dubin is hopeful of settling all outstanding payments by end of the week and acknowledges that the responsibility for payment engagements falls on him.
The financing struggle for the film was a steep task from the start, Dubin explained. However, everyone who participated in the film is set to receive their complete dues by the end of the month. Unpaid vendors encompassed those providing communications equipment, trailers, portable bathrooms, and picture cars, etc.
To date, numerous vendors are still awaiting payment. Dubin, in an effort to solve the issue, assured one vendor this was to be resolved by the end of the month. However, that promise has yet to be fulfilled.
The New Mexico Film Commission has received multiple complaints due to outstanding payments. The production spent approximately $4.4 million in the state and currently anticipates receiving $750,000 in state credits, which will only be awarded once all vendors have been paid.
Josh Kesselman, Spielberg's manager, assured Variety that Spielberg's team had acquired the final proportion of their financing and expects to settle dues in the week. The film has faced a turbulent journey financially, typical of independent productions. Spielberg's debut film, starring Giancarlo Esposito and Michelle Dockery, was one of the few independent films allowed to continue filming during the last year's SAG-AFTRA strike. Spielberg has previously directed short films "Rosie" and "Let Me Go the Right Way". She initially planned to debut with "Four Assassins (And a Funeral)", but that project is still in development.
