Topic

[Borys]

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[The Fake Shemp]

This is kind of a loaded question, because there are a number of answers. How you pay a director can range drastically, from "pay-or-play" contracts, to scale, to a combination of a salary and percentage of the gross. Smaller, non-union directors might direct for absolutely nothing, with a deal for a percentage of any of the profits. Residuals are pretty much a union thing.

It is not uncommon for a lead actor to make more than a director. The exceptions being guys like Spielberg, who also produces his films, and are bankable just because of their name. Spielberg's name alone will put asses in seats, which is not common for most directors.

Usually, studios will have to link a director to a past success to try and sell him, which is why you get trailers that say, "FROM THE DIRECTOR [HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MOVIE]."

Producers usually have an agreement that includes a salary and points on the back end. The farther down you go, the salary is smaller (if non-existent) and but deals are in place to secure a percentage of the film's gross.

Producing is where the money is made, and it's not uncommon to see someone credited and paid as a producer, even though the project has long left his hands. But because he originally got the deal in place and may have absolutely nothing to do with the film after that, he gets his exec producer credit and a sack of cash.

[HyperZoneWasAwesome]

Making movies has never been more expensive, but most of the costs aren't as much going to the actual productions as they are going to the talent.  Much like how professional sporting leagues are spending ever increasing amounts of money towards even lesser talented players, even a mid-level star can command a salary for a film that would have been close to a top-tier deal only a decade or so ago.  Nowadays, paying the salaries of the headline stars can account for as much or even more then half of a film's budget, whereas in the 80's and the 90's this would have been highly unusual.

[The Fake Shemp]

That's not necessarily true.

Yeah, talent is costlier and the farther you go up the food chain, the more likely you'll have a studio mandate to have a short list of actors (tied to the studio) star in your film.

But the majority of the costs, which are rising exponentially, are thanks to unions and production costs. Especially, costs related to filming in Los Angeles. The production I'm involved shot in Los Angeles, and have vowed never to do it again. Not only is it costly, but it's dishonest, which is why you're seeing smaller productions shifting to places where local film commissions are more amicable.

[Human Snorenado]

Yup.  My friends' flick got made for SUPER DUPER RIDICULOUSLY cheap using local talent in the Atlanta area and other than some locations being kind of lame, it really doesn't suffer too badly.  It's really almost criminal how little they made that movie for, when you consider what studios will piss away money on...

[The Fake Shemp]

Yeah, and that's a great example, considering how good it looked considering the fact that a union-based SyFy "original film" likely shot in Los Angeles for twice the budget.

[Phoenix Dark]

I've heard Michigan has become an attraction for film production. What are your thoughts on that Willco

[Human Snorenado]

Yeah, and that's a great example, considering how good it looked considering the fact that a union-based SyFy "original film" likely shot in Los Angeles for twice the budget.

You are massively, massively overestimating how much they shot that movie for.

[The Fake Shemp]

I think you're overestimating how much a SyFy "original film" costs!

... Still, my colleague and I have followed that production for awhile, and it is undoubtedly an impressive feature for the budget.

I've heard Michigan has become an attraction for film production. What are your thoughts on that Willco

That's actually true, and one of the places my producers were looking at moving the production to if this project sells. Unfortunately, I don't think we will, since weather is a factor. The most likely candidates are the Carolinas and Vancouver, with odds on South Carolina.

I'd love to shoot in Michigan, if only because it's the birthing ground for Sam Raimi.

[The Fake Shemp]

Studio executives are the big fish, but the producers are right underneath them.

In a big production, you don't want to get into a pissing contest with producers, though. Especially ones tied to a studio.

I think Billy Walsh, the fake indie director from Entourage, called them suits.