James Bond Director Arrested On Prostitution Charges *UPdate*

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from stuff.co.nz by way of AOTS ............... Friends and colleagues of Once Were Warriors director Lee Tamahori were standing by the Kiwi film-maker yesterday as details of his private life emerged following his arrest on prostitution charges.

It was revealed on Friday the 55-year-old director, dressed in a black wig and off-the-shoulder dress, had allegedly approached an undercover police officer on Los Angeles' Santa Monica Boulevard, offering sex in return for cash.

Yesterday, Sunday newspapers reported that Tamahori was a frequent visitor to fetish clubs with girlfriend Sasha Turjak.

However, industry colleagues of Tamahori, who also directed the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day, told The Press the scandal should not be allowed to detract from his career.

Dan Salmon, the president of the Screen Directors' Guild of New Zealand (SDGNZ), said: "I don't think it has anything to do with what he does professionally."

He declined to comment on Tamahori's private life, on the grounds the SDGNZ was "a professional organisation".

Brian Kassler of the Auckland-based film company Flying Fish – of which Tamahori is a director – also declined to comment.

He said he had not heard from Tamahori since details of the alleged incident on January 8 became public.

Neighbours at Tolaga Bay, north of Gisborne, where Tamahori has a house, were also reluctant to talk to the media, telling reporters his private life was "his own business".

The director's sister, Renaye Tamahori, and his father, Philip Tamahori, also declined to comment.

An unnamed friend, who described Tamahori as a "consummate professional", told one Sunday newspaper it was an "open secret" that he was a regular visitor to London fetish clubs.

"During the filming of Die Another Day in London, Lee used to dress up in latex and got to fetish clubs," it quoted the friend as saying. The source said Tamahori "definitely liked the alternative side of sex with black tight latex costumes, uniforms and so", but never let his private life affect his work.

A Los Angeles police media spokesman said that Tamahori could lose his ability to work in the United States, if convicted, and face penalties of up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $US5000 ($NZ7391).

The spokesman said Tamahori, who is being represented by celebrity lawyer Mark Geragos, who also defended singer Michael Jackson on child-sex charges and actress Winona Ryder on shoplifting charges, had been charged with agreeing to engage in an act of prostitution and unlawfully loitering on Santa Monica Boulevard.

Tamahori, who was believed to be living in LA with a teenage son and Turjak, gained notice for directing the 1994 drama Once Were Warriors. His James Bond movie earned $US430 million, but his action film xXx: State of the Union bombed at the box office last year.


Lee Tamahori

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from wftv.com ......... POSTED: 4:49 pm EST February 23, 2006

LOS ANGELES -- James Bond director Lee Tamahori has pleaded no contest to criminal trespass, and in return two prostitution charges against him have been dropped.

City attorney's spokesman Frank Mateljan said the director struck a plea deal for allegedly soliciting an undercover police officer on Jan. 8 and offering to perform a sex act for money.

At the time, Tamahori was wearing an off-the-shoulder dress and black wig.

The New Zealand native was not present for today's Hollywood court hearing.

He was placed on three years probation, ordered to attend an AIDS education course and perform 15 days of community service for the Hollywood Beautification Project.

Tamahori's directing credits include James Bond film "Die Another Day," "xXx: State of the Union," "The Edge," "Mulholland Falls" and 1994's "Once Were Warriors."

He also directed an episode of "The Sopranos."