Fair Pay in the Film Industry: The Case of Sally Choi and 'Obsession
The art director of the horror indie film "Obsession," Sally Choi, recently shared her frustrations about her low pay during the production. Despite the film's success at the box office, she revealed that she only made $300 per day for her work, which she found to be inadequate given the film's projected earnings.
Choi expressed her disappointment in a social media post, highlighting the disparity between the film's budget and her compensation. She emphasized the financial challenges faced by many filmmakers working below the line and called for a change in the industry's treatment of crew members.
She also mentioned that other crew members on the production were paid in gas and mileage, with some having to cover their expenses out of pocket. Choi regretted not negotiating better terms for herself and encouraged others in similar situations to speak up about their experiences.
The response to Choi's post has been mixed, with some sympathizing with her plight and sharing their own stories of low pay in the film industry. Others criticized her for not leveraging the film's success to negotiate better compensation and warned against burning bridges with filmmakers.
Despite the controversy, there is a call for studios and producers to consider rewarding low-wage artists and crew members when indie films like "Obsession" exceed expectations at the box office. The debate around fair compensation in the film industry continues to be a topic of discussion among industry professionals and fans alike.