Del Shores speaks against LOGO: Says he and cast have not been paid residuals for “Sordid Lives: The Series”

Sordid Lives is the kind of cult hit film that just took on a life of its own.

And deservedly so.When I saw the movie in Palm Springs several years ago, I laughed and cried. It had so much heart. I bought the movie the minute it came out on DVD.

Fans like me were rewarded with the 12-episode show on Logo last year called Sordid Lives: The Series with movie cast members Leslie Jordan, Bonnie Bedelia, Olivia Newton-John and Beth Grant joining newcomers Caroline Reah, Rue McClanahan and Jason Dottley.

Ratings were reportedly excellent and Logo immediately announced a second season.

It all goes downhill from there.

Writer-director Del Shores has gone public with allegations that he and the cast have not been paid any of the residuals owed to them by Logo and for Shores, that has meant his home has gone into foreclosure. He has posted a lengthy letter on his Facebook page detailing why the show is not returning and he does not hold back.

Here are some excerpts:

I’m tired of being told to be silent. You all deserve to know the truth about why “Sordid Lives: The Series” is not going forward into Season 2. First of all, I want you all to know that this has been an amazing experience for me, for the cast. We love each other, we love working together. AND WE LOVE OUR FANS.

When the show premiered July 23rd, according to the executives and marketing team at LOGO, “SLTS” was in a league of its own. We were told that it was off the charts for them. That it was 20 times bigger than any show they had ever aired. I brought them stars and beloved characters and they got mainstream press — TV Guide, People Magazine, Regis & Kelly, Conan, Today Show (3 times), New York Times, Star, LA Times, Associated Press…. RAVE REVIEWS across the board! Whoopi Goldberg even called me personally and told me that she wanted me to write her into Season 2. I did!

The 12 episodes have now aired 262 times collectively (in America alone). Each time SLTS airs, the writer, director and actors are to receive compensation — residuals. The production company is the signatory with all the Guilds, meaning they have agreed to pay the residuals. To this date, WE HAVE BEEN PAID NOTHING! I wrote and directed all twelve episodes and am personally owed hundreds of thousands of dollars. I have been paid nothing! I took a huge pay cut to do this show. I made less money in four years working on SLTS than I made in one season on “Queer As Folk”. The actors, who worked for minimums or slightly above, have also BEEN PAID NOTHING. The Guilds have stepped in, but these claims takes months.

Actors have lost health insurance and okay, now I’m going to really get honest and bare all. I worked exclusively on Sordid Lives: The Series for over four years. I was contractually bound to the show and turned down many opportunities — because I was doing what I loved — writing, creating, directing my own show, with amazing creative control (thank you LOGO). It was my choice and my extreme pleasure. But I took a hit. A big hit. It was a gamble. A risk. I thought I had won.

In January, our home went into foreclosure — and yes, the producers knew about my financial situation — still refused to pay me my residuals which would have saved the house and a lot of stress. I informed the executives of LOGO, hoping they would at least step in and pay me for the scripts of Season Two (which I had written). No response from the network.

Towleroad.com has posted Shores’ letter in its entirety.

Here are some clips from the show: