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Producer's fight for film enters bankruptcy court

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By MICHAEL SASSO

msasso@tampatrib.com

Published: October 16, 2009

TAMPA - The Bay area isn't known for its film industry, but a comedy produced by a Riverview businessman and starring Tim Allen, Andie MacDowell and Jenna Elfman wound up in bankruptcy court Wednesday in Tampa.

A small company called Six Wives LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. According to court records, Six Wives is the business entity behind a movie called "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay."

The movie hasn't gotten much attention, but according to a review on the New York Times Web site, it stars Allen as a salesman who disappears while skydiving. His many ex-wives, including MacDowell, Elfman, Paz Vega and others, are left to argue over his burial arrangements.

The film has been released overseas but not in the United States, said bankruptcy attorney Rich McIntyre, who's representing Six Wives LLC. McIntyre said the company is seeking court approval that will allow it to release the film in the United States.

Trouble brewed when the film's lender, Aramid Entertainment Fund, a Cayman Islands-based group, declared the film in "non-monetary default" and terminated its right to overseas distribution. Aramid Entertainment is owed about $4.5 million. Overall the film's production cost about $12 million, McIntyre said.

Aramid's action has prevented Six Wives LLC from making any money from the film's release in Europe and Asia, McIntyre said. By filing for bankruptcy protection, Six Wives hopes to prevent the lender from selling the film project out from under it, he said.

A Santa Monica, Calif.-based attorney for Aramid Entertainment could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Behind Six Wives LLC is Lance Ringhaver of Riverview, a local heavy hitter in the business world. Among other business interests, Ringhaver ran a large heavy equipment dealer called Ringhaver Equipment, once owned a piece of the Tampa Bay Rays and formerly sat on the Tampa Port Authority.

Ringhaver and partners formed a small Tampa-based film production company called Ring Productions. Partners included Ed Machek and Lou Maggio. According to articles in the Florida Times-Union newspaper in Jacksonville, Machek was one of the founders of Southeast Toyota in Jacksonville. He lists a home in Apollo Beach.

Maggio is a former executive at Venus Swimwear of Jacksonville.

Aside from "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay," Ring Productions has produced a film called "The Year of Getting to Know Us" starring comedian Jimmy Fallon and actress Sharon Stone.

Reporter Michael Sasso can be reached at (813) 259-7865.

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