Being a Hollywood actor comes with some amazing benefits. You get paid great money to do something creative and get to see yourself up on the silver screen in front of thousands, if not millions of adoring fans. But, once the filming is wrapped, it’s time for the real work to begin – promotion.
Many fans wonder what exactly is included in an actor’s contract. Let’s take a closer look at how much actors get paid and whether or not it includes the promo run.
How Much Do Actors Get Paid?
Being an actor is one of the most unpredictable professions when it comes to salary. While the top earners in Hollywood can make as much as $20 – $30 million per year, most don’t earn nearly that much. The median salary for an actor in 2020 was $43,760. The top 75% earned just over $60,000, while the bottom 25% earned just over $28,000. So, it’s a high-risk, high return profession with no guarantee that you’ll make it big.
Many top Hollywood actors opt-out of a yearly salary and instead agree to what is called a “profit participation deal”. This means they defer all or part of their salary in exchange for a percentage of the film’s gross profits. This can be a bit of a risk. If the film flops, then they may end up taking less than they otherwise could have earned from the studio. But, if the film is a success, they can often walk away with much more.
What is Typically Included in a Hollywood Actor’s Contract?
The contract an actor signs with the studio or production company will vary greatly depending on the film and the status level of the actor. An up-and-comer with a minor speaking role is not going to have the same kind of bargaining power as someone like Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson.
Most films require that all actors be part of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) – a union for actors. Anyone who is a member of SAG must be paid a flat rate per day for their work on set. This flat rate could be as little as $200 for background actors or several thousand for A-list celebrities.
Bigger stars with more leverage in the industry will typically get a flat fee per film or episode if it’s television, which could be in the millions. They will also negotiate for what are called residuals. Residuals are financial compensation that actors receive on an ongoing basis when the media is repurposed into new mediums.
For example, when an actor appears in a film, they will likely receive a check every time the film is shown on TV or rented on demand. Residual rights have gotten much more complicated with the development of new mediums like streaming companies, but they are still a major source of income for many actors.
Oscar-nominated film producer Chris Moore told Film Independent.org that even if a film is a total “ financial disaster”, {the studio} still has to pay residuals to the union talent every time it runs on cable, SVOD, or other platforms. Unions even require what are called residual bonds. So, even if the company goes under, actors can still get paid.
Do Actors Get Paid Extra to Promote Movies?
The answer is yes and no. Typically, an actor’s contract will include some kind of promotional obligation. But if the studio wants to increase viewership, they may pay the actor extra to do additional press appearances to promote the film.
It varies depending on the film and the type of promotion. Promoting is part of the job and few actors want to be in a movie that ultimately flops. So many are willing to do whatever it takes to get a good turnout.
But for certain press appearances such as talk shows, film festivals, press junkets, and premieres, the studio may pay the actor a flat rate outside of their normal salary. Or they may foot the bill for flights, hotels, hair, and makeup, and any other expenses related to the promotion.
It also comes down to the bargaining power of the actor. An up-and-coming actor who is just starting to gain recognition in the industry may agree to do certain media appearances to help themselves build their own brand. Whereas a Hollywood veteran who doesn’t need as much exposure may insist on being paid extra to do promo that may prevent them from taking on extra work.
There have been a few instances of actors who refused to promote their own movies after filming wrapped. For instance, Christopher Lee, who appeared in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy as Saruman the White, refused to show up to the premiere of the film after his scene was cut from the final edit. Not only did it feel like a slap in the face to not appear in the final film, but it also threatened the continuity of the entire series. So, actors may decide not to promote the film even if they’ve been paid because of artistic integrity or another disagreement with the studio.
Ultimately, like most things in Hollywood, promotion comes down to negotiation. If the studio feels like they could benefit from the added publicity, they may offer the talent extra incentives to perform additional duties. But if they feel like they have more leverage in the relationship, their promotional duties may be included in the contract. The best thing an actor can do is hire an experienced agent or attorney to help them negotiate, so they can get compensated for any additional work they put in outside of filming.
References:
Film Independent: The Fi Hall of Fame: Mo Money, No Problems – A Producer’s Guide to Residuals
US News Money: How Much Does an Actor Make?