It's a case which lays bare, so to speak, the grim realities of nudity negotiations in film production.
Actor Anne Greene is being sued by production company True Crime over an alleged breach of the unfortunately named "nudity rider" part of her contract for late-night TV series Femme Fatales, which aired in 2012.
Among the complaints swirling around, Greene is alleged to have refused to go topless for scenes and instead was fitted with "pasties" to cover her nipples, which is apparently a breach of network HBO's "no pasties" policy.
The trial, which will begin on February 17 next year, will highlight the complexities of filming sex scenes, and at its core is the debate about whether actors can be legally obligated to go nude.
Producers claim Greene was contractually obliged to film nude sex scenes and are blaming her for "substantial delay and disruption" on the set, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
In the latest development in the case, the production company was given permission on Monday to launch a countersuit against Greene.
Greene had previously filed a complaint in 2012 against Time Warner, HBO, Cinemax and True Crime alleging that she was bullied, sexually harassed and placed in a dangerous work environment.
Producers say there was no mistaking that the show was erotic in nature and that in Greene's casting breakdown it said the role would "require partial nudity", defined as "chest" and behind".
Greene apparently objected on set to being filmed topless and was fitted with "pasties", something which "would not be compliant with HBO's policy prohibiting the use of 'pasties' in sex scenes", according to the counterclaim. A body double and "substantial time editing" resulted in "significant unbudgeted expense", according to the claim.
The actor claims she only went ahead with filming under a $100,000-plus threat of breach of contract.
Greene, whose previous credits include Saw 3D: The Final Chapter, has said she would not have agreed to the job if she knew it involved "soft-core porn".
