Saw a listing today on Actors Access for “V”, a short film intended to be part of the horror anthology “The ABCs of Death 2”. The listing boasts that the movie has distribution secured through Alamo Drafthouse and Magnolia Pictures. Magnolia – for those of you outside the business – is co-owned by Mark Cuban, whose net worth was recently estimated at $2.4 billion.
The listing indicates that actors will not be paid. Not Union scale, not minimum wage. Nothing. Zero dollars. “Copy and Credit” only.
Now, unpaid listings are not unusual – in fact they’re increasingly, distressingly common. And there are arguments to be made for short films, workshop stuff, some independent web content, stuff that’s not a profit-making venture (theatre around here is almost never profit-making), something where all parties are risking and pooling sacrifice in the hopes of getting attention and raising profiles. But this is not that. This is a professional feature film that has distribution ALREADY SECURED, meaning there will be a revenue stream. And they are flat out saying actors won’t be paid, for no reason other than things have progressed in this business to the point where they can.
Those earlier arguments only have even a fig leaf of validity if, SOMEWHERE down the line, creative people are actually, eventually getting paid. I thought feature films with distribution were the end of the rainbow. But if we’re going to start not paying people for those, why “raise our profile” at all – the joy of being filmed for free by nicer equipment? Better lunches on set?
Now, I don’t namecheck Mark Cuban to say he’s legally responsible for this – I would bet that Magnolia’s deal is strictly acquisitions, and they simply don’t ask how the producers are providing them a whole film for such a low, low price (wink, wink). But just to let those of you outside of Hollywood who think we’re all swimming in dough know – a lot of us are working full-time, for people who will make money off our labor, for nothing.
End Crankypants Rant.