So I've got a few questions about making movies from an actor's point of view. I've been an extra in a few indie films, but I was wondering about things that were on a much larger scale, big budget, major motion pictures, if anybody has experience with that...
First of all, I've heard of the occasional story of someone getting 'discovered' in a grocery store or whatever. Is it at all possible that a casting director might stumble upon the perfect person for a major part in a major movie and hire them on the spot? Or at least invite them for an audition on the spot? Or do they pretty much just hire name actors, and not even consider unknown actors for leads in major movies?
Secondly, does anybody know how much a lead in a movie would get paid? For the sake of this question, let's say the budget is about $15 million. How would the paycheck compare between a well-known actor and a no-name actor?
Are the producers/whoever writes the paycheck of a SAG/AFTRA sanctioned film required to pay a non-SAG/AFTRA actor to scale? What is the scale? Also, just out of curiosity, who DOES write the paycheck?
Also any other stories/information about movies/movie sets/etc... I know a bit, but more info would be helpful.
Note from moderator: edited to create [TOPIC].
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50,374 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2008 - 15 06
It's been a while since I worked on a movie, but I'll do my best.
For a studio film it's unlikely that a principal role would go to a complete unknonw unless that was the whole point (United 93 did that, because using reconized actors might make it feel less real). However, smaller supporting roles can go to unknowns (but that doesn't mean that they're not trained or experienced - crossing over from stage or music might be a help). Being hired on the spot? No, really really unlikely unless the person doing the hiring has that authority, which is rare with studios. But being invited for an audition? Absolutely! You never know and people are pretty open to at least seeing people.
$15 million is a very small budget for a movie these days. We're talking only a little over scale (depending on how long the shoot is). The "above the line" actors would be making about $40,000 to $200,000 on a movie of this size, depending on how many principals there are and how much of a risk the movie is. For smaller budget movies some actors get points, which means a percentage of the box office. (And often through some hinky bookkeeping they never see a dime and then there are lawsuits.)
If it's a union film everyone has to be union. So if they find someone who's not union, they have to get them in the union. You can check on the SAG website what scale is these days. It's usually a day rate with other riders like paid rehearsal days, allowances, per diem and whatnot.
Checks come from the production accountant and are signed by the line producer and/or producer. Most payroll actually comes out of a payroll company. (Well, we had a major one go under just before Christmas last year and took everyone's money with it.) Actors are usually paid several lump sums that go to their agent who then disburses it to them. (A lot of actors are actually incorporated so they don't have to withhold taxes and stuff but they do have to pay their union dues.)
----------NaNoWriMo & ScriptFrenzy Staff
0 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2008 - 16 54
Thanks, this is very helpful!
So what is a normal-sized budget for a major movie that will most likely do well in the box office?
Also, about unions...I thought you had to have been in an SAG film to be eligible to join? Or done three SAG commercials? Or do they just let people in if they've been cast?
50,374 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2008 - 18 27
So what is a normal-sized budget for a major movie that will most likely do well in the box office?
Also, about unions...I thought you had to have been in an SAG film to be eligible to join? Or done three SAG commercials? Or do they just let people in if they've been cast?
You know, I should back out the discussion about SAG, it's been a long time and we only had one issue with SAG actors when we ended up using a Non-SAG actor when the guy cast didn't show up and we had to do some paperwork to grandfather him in. (Basically, we got one of the writers to do the role because he knew it and most importantly, fit the costume.)
Your best bet is to look at budgets published online.
Smoking Gun posts a lot of contracts.
Here's one for The Village, which was $70 million:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/hollywood/hollywoodsides/0228061woods1.html
Check out page five for the principal actor's breakdowns and then page eight is where the other roles start.
You can kind of scale from there. There are some things that just don't change in price, scale is scale, though shooting overseas with local talent sure helps.
Here's a site that lists budgets for films:
http://www.the-numbers.com/movies
But if you're going for something like Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, that's probably around your budget range and so was Brokeback Mountain.
----------NaNoWriMo & ScriptFrenzy Staff
43,662 / 50,000
Oct 25, 2008 - 19 26
Budgets vary widely and so does an actor's cut of the budget. Actors get a weekly paycheck but it's usually mailed directly to the agent; the payroll company cuts the check, the accountant delivers the crew checks to the set, and someone in the production office will mail out the actors' checks and any crew that isn't on set that day. The production generally puts an extra 10% on the actors' checks so that the production, and not the actor, pays for the agent. The agent will have signed paperwork on file allowing him/her to cash the check, take the 10% fee, and deposit the rest into the actor's account.
Whatever rate the actor gets may or may not be broken down into a day or weekly rate; for a lead actor, it's usually a weekly rate. The minimum rate depends on the film's budget. In addition, the actor's contract (or "deal memo") will list details like accomodation, credit specifics, back-end points (a percentage of whatever money the movie eventually makes), etc. It's assumed that the actor will work a 12-hour day plus a 30-minute lunch after six hours. Overtime or meal penalties will add money (sometimes a lot) to his or her check. It's pretty common for the production to fudge the exhibit G a little bit to avoid paying overtime and/or meal penalties; a happy actor won't make an issue of this, which is why they're treated so well. (An exhibit G is sort of like a time card; the 2nd 2nd assistant director logs what time all the actors come in, when they get their meal breaks, when they go to set, travel time if applicable, etc, and has the actor sign off on it at the end of the day, though most actors just squiggle and don't really pay attention to it. The exhibit G's are faxed to SAG every week and the accountant uses them to fill out the actors' weekly time cards.)
If you have any other questions, feel free to message me. I was an assistant director for a few years, I'm married to one now, and I'm currently a production coordinator so I deal with a lot of industry paperwork.
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Writing: Connected (2008)
Winner: The Track (2007)
1,025 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2008 - 17 16
I don't think it ever happens that someone gets hired on the spot, and it's probably rare that anyone would be asked to audition on the spot either.
I have limited experience with this, as I generally do stage acting, but I can maybe help a little. Some auditions, especially for main characters, you only really find out about if you have an agent. Often times they do open auditions for more minor roles (I just went to one for Disney Channel).
You will probably never get a role if you have no experience at all. Most people have taken acting classes, dance classes, etc. And have some stage experience.
Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but that's my understanding of it. Like I said, I don't have a lot of experience with film.
Good luck!