June
12Anxious Times for Superstars
We should take a moment to tell them collectively that we feel sorry for them.
Why empathize with beautiful people who make $100 million or so a year?
Several forces are working against them these days, that’s why. More and more major blockbusters are emerging that don’t have superstar casts – that makes them insecure.
Secondly, the possibility of an actors strike is growing by the hour. That may delay the start of many big movies, which makes the stars even more insecure.
Finally, as my colleague Mike Fleming spells out in this Sunday’s weekly Variety, the studios are trimming superstar deals. Specifically, they are trying to mandate a scaling back of first-dollar gross deals – the sort that Tom Cruise had on “Mission Impossible.”
Peering at their books, the major studios have figured out that too many stars have had big paydays from movies that never made money for the studios. As a result, studio chiefs are trying to sell stars and their agents on the concept of “no money ‘til recoupment.” That means if a movie costs $200 million to produce and market, the star will still get his gross percentage, but not until the company has recouped its $200 million.
The top agents don’t like this idea, but they’re bending. That’s because the jobs are getting few and far between – especially with the gloomy labor picture.
All of this calls for a show of compassion from filmgoers. Next time you see your favorite star in a film, know that some serious perspiration and angst went in to the dealmaking process.
Maybe that’s why the movie didn’t turn out quite as good as it should have.
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Please tell me it's true...Is Paul Thomas Anderson gonna do Power Play?
Posted by: Bronson | 6/12/2008 8:31:47 PM