Case Study For Fixed-Fee Cast Payment Model
'The Pitt' Is Case Study For Fixed-Fee Cast Payment Model Amid TV Industry Push To Cap Talent Costs https://t.co/X30kLlSdXM
- Deadline (@DEADLINE) November 9, 2024
The series’ unusual casting process that resembled hiring practices at a general company, where people apply for a position at a fixed salary denoted in the job listing ( Read more... )
I think a lot of the streamers *cough* HBO/Zaslav *cough* are betting on the premise that if actors want to keep working, they will take this deal, and for a lot of actors, TV shows are where they make their money. Even if they're not a star on one at the present, being a featured guest on one episode or a small arc is where the primary money they make for the year comes from. It diminishes the power of the actors to negotiate based on what they bring to the table, but at the same time, many jobs - particularly nonprofit ones - are moving to this model to eliminate "systemic bias". It's just weird. I get it for nonprofits, but not so much for inherently capitalistic film and TV production. At the end of the day, some roles require more effort/work, and just forcing everyone to be on set even when they're not working to even out the pay structure is just weird.
If they want to work, they will take it, even if they're not gonna get raises or are making less than they used to. Like many things in late-stage capitalism, it is less about "saving money" than it is about pushing more profits up the ladder into shareholder wallets. Should actors become shareholders in the companies that employ them if they want to get their voices heard more? Should pay packages come with shares in the company? It's just a lot to wrap your head around, but in this case, I think it's inherently about increasing profit margins at the expense of unionized labor.
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