From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

“Believe me, it's not worth it for a mere four hundred thousand dollars.”

Andrew was expressionless, appearing serious, but his words were full of jest, clearly a deadpan comedian with a natural air of nonchalance.

Anson gently raised his chin, looking at Andrew with an attitude of humbly seeking advice and full of anticipation.

“So, are you saying my salary is higher than that number?”

Andrew: … …

How could that be possible!

In the entire Hollywood entertainment industry, movie actors are far ahead, not just in the top one percent, but even in terms of average income levels.

Followed by film directors, film producers, and film screenwriters.

Then come television actors, television directors, and television producers.

Next are those involved in the music industry, including singers and producers, etc.

Following that are television screenwriters, photographers, lighting technicians, editors, and so on.

Overall, film is the first tier, followed by television, music, hosts, models, etc., reflected both in average income and in the industry status of practitioners. Film, as the seventh art, has indeed been continuously rising in historical status.

In the television industry, the per-episode income of big-name actors can be as high as one hundred fifty thousand to three hundred thousand dollars, while experienced mid-level actors earn seventy thousand to one hundred thousand dollars. General newcomer actors start at ten thousand dollars and cap at twenty thousand dollars. If it's a supporting role, it may be even lower.

However, the slightly special aspect of the television industry is that actors' salaries gradually increase with the number of seasons, but a ceiling always exists.

And the work that broke the salary ceiling of the television industry is "Friends."

In 1994, "Friends" premiered. Before the first three seasons, the salaries of the six main actors were different, ranging from twenty thousand to forty thousand dollars per episode.

The highest salary in the first season was David Schwimmer, the actor who played Ross, at forty thousand dollars per episode, because he was the first actor chosen for the show, and he was also one of the main creators of the first season, so he can be said to be the absolute core of the first season.

By the sixth season, the salaries of the six main actors had reached an agreement, at one hundred twenty thousand dollars per episode.

Currently, although NBC has renewed the seventh season, salary negotiations between NBC and the six main actors are still ongoing. This is also why the show's ratings are still important, on the one hand, it is the bargaining chip of the six main actors, and on the other hand, it is the psychological expectation of the TV station. The two sides are in a tug-of-war.

Whether it is David Crane as the producer, or the six actors as the show's signboard, or the main creative team of the crew, no one can be an exception. They are all a community of interests, sharing prosperity and suffering losses together. Ratings are equally important to all of them.

The most special thing about "Friends" is that the six actors banded together, advancing and retreating together. They demanded that the salaries of the six people be the same, and that there should be no distinction between main and supporting roles.

In the first episode of the sixth season, in order to protest the bias of the Emmy Award nominations, the six actors uniformly added the last name “Arquette” of Counteney Cox's new husband, who played Monica, to the end of all the cast and crew names in the end credits, to show in this way that in this show, the six actors are all the main characters.

Similarly, no one is willing to negotiate with the TV station alone, like a solid iron plate, which makes it impossible for the TV station to exploit loopholes.

It is precisely because of this that, according to historical trajectory, they succeeded:

The per-episode salary for the seventh and eighth seasons was seven hundred fifty thousand dollars; the per-episode salary for the ninth and tenth seasons created a historical one million dollars.

History, it all started here.

The line of sight returns to Anson — —

Four hundred thousand dollars salary?

This is simply impossible.

Objectively speaking, the salary calculation methods for fixed cast members, rotating supporting roles, and guest stars are all different.

Fixed cast members and rotating supporting roles, this is looking at the long term, and the baseline for single-episode salaries is naturally lower; guest stars, this is a one-shot deal, often ending after a guest appearance in one episode, and the salary has another set of calculation methods, and even the crew's budget is listed separately under another item.

It is precisely because of this that guest stars often aim for big names.

But even so, four hundred thousand dollars is still impossible.

Andrew raised his eyes and glanced at Anson, looking at his earnest, inexperienced, and humble expression, and he immediately realized that he had shot himself in the foot — —

“But think about it, maybe you don’t care about this little bit of money at all?”

“So…”

Andrew dragged out the ending sound, paused, and carefully looked at Anson’s expression.

“Emma Roberts level?”

The subtext is, is your background as strong as Emma Roberts?

The reason is very simple. David Crane was willing to pay a guest star a salary of 50,000 US dollars, and Anson's background is self-evident.

As a reference, when "Friends" invited Robin Williams as a guest star in the third season, the salary was also 50,000 US dollars.

Although this price is already the level of the third season, the point is that it is the legendary comedy superstar Robin Williams, and what about Anson?

Without comparison, there is no harm.

According to Andrew's experience, if he only plays a role as a guest in the series, and only has one episode, although there may be some differences due to the weight of the role, it mainly depends on the agent's negotiation ability. In the end, the salary is estimated to be difficult to exceed 10,000 US dollars.

In the present of 2000, this is the norm.

Andrew carefully looked at Anson's expression, and then noticed a shallow light rippling in Anson's deep eyes, revealing a faint smile.

“Only that?”

Anson said.

Andrew was stunned, so is Anson bluffing, or does he really have a strong background?

However, from Anson's expression, it is impossible to judge a reason at all.

The air became slightly tense in the silence.

Andrew immediately reined in at the edge of the cliff — —

He doesn't care and is not curious about the subsequent inside story, so stop here.

Some secrets can be explored; but some secrets may be dangerous.

Sitting upright, handing over the confidentiality agreement and the performance agreement, Andrew returned to a businesslike attitude, his professional expression seemed to have never changed.

“Okay.”

“I believe you already know what you should know and what you shouldn't know.”

“According to the contract agreement, the shooting time is from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with two hours of rest in between. If the time exceeds, you have the right to leave the set directly, but if the crew does not allow it, you can call my phone or the union lawyer, and we will handle it for you.”

“If there are no accidents, the shooting cycle is Monday and Tuesday, and if additional reshoots are needed, it will be Thursday or Friday, and you will be notified additionally at that time.”

Nine to five?

For Anson, this is a brand new world he has never heard of. Are Hollywood actors the same as ordinary white-collar workers?

Snap.

Andrew closed the document and stared at Anson, “So, are there any other questions?”

Anson sat up straight and looked at Andrew seriously, “Yes.”

Andrew raised his eyes with a cigarette in his mouth.

Anson paused, “Are you in such a hurry to finish work because you are looking forward to getting off work as soon as possible?”

Andrew: … …

Ha, ha, very funny.

The entertainment newbie author is here to report, begging all book friends for your support, be sure to follow up to the latest chapter, love you!