Chapter 985

The remuneration of Hollywood actors has always been the focus of people's attention, because actors often make tens of millions of dollars by shooting a movie. Compared with singers who rely on records, concerts, and commercial performances to expand their income, actors can earn tens of millions of dollars per movie. The remuneration of a movie is clearly marked, which is naturally more eye-catching. Moreover, actors' remuneration is also a measure of their status.

The history of Hollywood film development can be divided into three stages. The first stage is marked by the rise of innovative artist agencies. Arnold Schwarzenegger was paid $15 million when he filmed "Terminator 2". It was a watershed moment. Before that, most of the actors' remuneration could be solved by less than one million yuan, and the profit of the production company and major theater chains was very high; but after that, the actor's remuneration continued to rise, which directly led to the continuous increase in the cost of the film. , and also makes the proportion of commercial blockbusters in Hollywood gradually increase.

Fifteen million dollars, which was the standard for measuring top stars in the first half of the 1990s. There are no more than 20 Hollywood actors with this level of remuneration, which is the top benchmark in Hollywood.

Therefore, after "Life and Death", major Hollywood production companies were willing to provide Hugo with a salary of 15 million US dollars, which was considered a leap-forward development and received absolute attention from Rick.

The starting point of the second stage is 1996, relying on "Geek in disguise", "Detective plane head" series, "Dumb. And. Dumber" become the king of comedy Jim - Carrey, in the filming " When "The. Cable. Guy", Columbia Pictures offered $20 million in remuneration, officially marking the entry of Hollywood into the twenty-million-dollar era.

"The Correspondent" is a movie worth going down in history, not because it was a terrific box office, but in fact it almost lost money, nearly half of the $47 million cost was paid in gold As a result, the North American box office of the movie was only 60 million, and the global box office has just crossed the threshold of 100 million. It can be said to be a failed work, but this work has played an important role in changing the dynasty in the history of Hollywood.

Not only because this is the first film in Hollywood history to be paid $20 million, but also because the film raises the cost threshold for comedy films, which has become the biggest headache for major studios.

More importantly, because "Frat. Pack" was established after this movie.

The so-called Bad Boys Gang can be regarded as an organization composed of a group of comedians who were not very popular at the time. All of them were affiliated to the Creative Artists Agency. The Creative Artists Agency decided to bundle and sell this group of comedians. Supporting each other, participating in and supporting each other's movies with the attitude of "one hero and three gangs", this kind of teamwork has achieved very obvious results, and has created box office records for many comedy movies with low remuneration.

The gang leader of the Rotten Boys is Ben Stiller, who is the director of "The Ace Commissioner". The core members include Will. Ferrell, Owen. Wilson, and Jack Black. (JackBlack), Vince - Vaughn (Vice. Vaughn), Luke - Wilson (Luke. Wilson), Steven - Carell (Steve. Carell), and then the new generation of comedy star Seth - Rogen ( Seth. Rogen), Jonah - Hill (Jonah. Hill), James - Franco and others are also closely related to the Bad Boys.

In addition, Judd - Apatow (Judd. Apatow), Jennifer - Aniston, Paul - Luther (Paul. Rudd) and others also have a good relationship with the bad boy gang.

The Bad Boys Gang can almost be said to be the most important part of Hollywood comedy movies. Although the Bad Boys Gang was officially established in 2004, the "Ace Commissioner" is just a bud. After that, the whole of Hollywood entered a new era, and the 20 million club was officially established.

Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Jim Carrey, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Harrison Ford and others all became members of the 20 million club, and then Will Smith, Brad - Pitt, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, etc., have also become members of this club one after another.

At the turn of the century, Julia Roberts became the first actress in Hollywood history to break into the 20 million club. After her, Cameron Diaz, Angelina Jolie, Sandra Boo Locke has also entered the ranks of this club successively.

The final third stage is the change of actors' remuneration methods. 20 million yuan has become an acceptable salary limit for production companies. However, with the increase in production costs and box office income, actors' worth is still increasing, so in the late 1980s, The "remuneration plus bonus" that has already appeared has gradually become the mainstream - the basic remuneration is naturally not the same.

When Johnny Depp took over "Pirates of the Caribbean 4", the basic salary was 20 million, but after adding box office dividends, it was as high as 56 million; when Robert Downey Jr. took over "Iron Man 3", The basic salary is also 20 million, and after the high box office dividends are obtained, his salary will reach 50 million.

These actors are still nominally members of the 20 million club. The highest Hollywood salary has not changed since 1996, but the actual salary of the actors has changed dramatically. Production companies use box-office dividends to improve the status of actors, and at the same time, they also bind the actors' box-office appeal more closely with the film's performance. One is prosperous, and one is lost.

Hugo's previous "Life and Death" and "Pulp Fiction" paid more than $30 million, but they were all special cases of box office dividends. Hugo's basic pay in these two works was very low. Similar situations occurred occasionally in the 1990s, but not mainstream.

But no matter what, 20 million clubs are an important criterion for measuring top superstars in the 21st century. Hugo will not forget this. He clearly remembers that this day will be signed in 1996. When the time came, there was an uproar. After all, it's only been five years since "Terminator 2" created the era of 15 million paychecks.

However, Cameron said at this time, now Hollywood has the first 20 million salary? A full two years early! Why, is it because his little butterfly's wings flashed the Amazon hurricane again?

"Oh, $20 million? This is unexpected news. It is estimated that Hollywood is boiling now." Hugo couldn't help but teased with a chuckle, but he began to guess the target in his mind. Could it be Tom Hanks? "Forrest Gump" is really popular now, and Jim Carrey's words are definitely impossible now. "Geek in disguise" and "Detective Plane" are still not enough to see.

Cameron could also feel the excitement in Hugo's words, and the expression on his face couldn't help beating, "Now the major newspapers are racing to report, but unfortunately you can't see that lively scene. I went to the Actors Guild yesterday, then It's like crazy in there, everyone is talking about whether the pay is reasonable."

Indeed, since entering the 21st century, the topic of overpaid actors has not stopped, and it is an exaggeration to make a movie for 20 million US dollars. The profession of an actor seems to be synonymous with something unearned and easy to make money, which has also triggered more and more people to come to Los Angeles alone with an illusory dream of an actor.

"If it's me, I'm also wondering why I gave 20 million." Hugo shrugged, "This is ten times our film investment." Independent films like "Before Sunrise", even one It's a reality that top actors can't even afford to pay.

"Hehe, I can't see it." Cameron said playfully, but Hugo was stunned. "How?" Cameron didn't answer immediately, but instead asked, "Why haven't you asked me, Who is this actor who got paid $20 million?"

"Yes, yes, who?" Hugo asked again and again. Because he always thought it was Jim Carrey, so he forgot about it for a while, and now it seems... "Hanks or Schwarzenegger?" This is Hugo's best guess. If it is really the butterfly effect, then he really doesn't know who will become the first player in the 20 million club in 1994. This is too exaggerated. It was only three years since "Terminator 2" in 1991.

Cameron couldn't be more satisfied with Hugo's response, hehe, he laughed lightly, this time she didn't sell any more, she just said, "You."

"Oh... what?" Hugo originally nodded and said yes, but his brain was stunned, and then he was stunned. He felt as if he didn't hear Cameron's words.

"I mean, is it you who is paid 20 million yuan?" Cameron said clearly, word by word.

Hugo only felt that his jaw was about to dislocate, no wonder Cameron just asked Rick if he had contacted him, "What?" Hugo still made a subconscious voice, but this was not a question, but a surprise, "Why do I myself Don't know? When did I sign a contract?"

In fact, the major production companies shouted "20 million salary", and there have been voices since the end of last year. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise have companies shouting such a price, but in the end they failed to sign a contract. , so it doesn't count. After the "Speed ​​of Life and Death" achieved brilliant results, especially after the name "Mr. 400 million" appeared, Hugo's salary became more and more outrageous, starting from 10 million, jumping directly to 15 million, shouting There are actually two companies with 20 million dollars - Universal Pictures and MGM Pictures.

The reason why it is outrageous is because the highest basic salary of Hugo was only $6 million before, and it has not even reached $8 million. Now it has more than tripled - and Hugo has not signed a contract yet, which is almost It has become a Hollywood legend.

Hugo clearly remembered that Universal Pictures shouted 20 million for "Future Water World", and MGM shouted 20 million for "007" series and "Cutthroat Island", but he did not agree, so now the news is again. How did it come out? If there is no contract, it cannot be regarded as a salary of 20 million yuan!

Cameron couldn't answer, he could only shrug, "I don't know, anyway, I read the 'Los Angeles Times' report very clearly, as if you have actually signed a contract. So I wondered, what is the answer? It's weird. You're in Vienna and you haven't come back to Los Angeles, so when did the signing get done."

Cameron is just a spectator, naturally he doesn't understand. So, the question goes back to square one: why didn't Rick contact Hugo? Or, why didn't Joseph tell Hugo about it?