Roles and Payment in the Entertainment Industry
- Base Salary Negotiation and Residuals
Actors negotiate a base salary with the production company before signing on for a movie. This amount is typically determined based on the actor’s experience, popularity, and the film’s budget. The base salary serves as a foundation for their earnings.
When shows are redistributed, released on DVD, purchased by a streaming service, or otherwise used beyond what the actors were originally paid for, those actors get residual checks called royalties. The amount and payment structure can vary based on the actor’s contract.
- Compensation and Rates
Principal performers can earn residuals whenever their work airs on television or is streamed, sold as a DVD, licensed to an airline, etc. The payment is based on formulas and agreements applied to the actor’s initial compensation.
SAG-AFTRA dictates minimum pay and wage rates for union film productions. The daily rate for low-budget actors is $630 while weekly SAG minimum pay is $2,130.
- Additional Payment Details
A-list movie stars average $15 million to $20 million per movie. Some are paid even more. In addition to base pay, actors may receive perks like accommodation and food allowances when traveling for shoots.